Merryhill Primary School is among the first to take part in a new educational programme run by North London Waste Authority

Pupils at a World’s End primary school are being taught a load of rubbish.

Merryhill Primary School’s 600 students are among the first to take part in a new educational programme run by North London Waste Authority (NLWA) that teaches children about the environmental impacts of waste.

For the first session this month, NLWA staff visited the school in Bincote Road and helped teachers and students conduct a ‘waste audit’, essentially a stocktake of what goes into their school bins every day. This provides a benchmark so that at the end of eight months of lessons and waste-related activities, the school can see the impact the programme has had in helping them to reduce their waste.

One of the key principles being taught as part of the ‘In the Know‘ programme is that waste doesn’t just disappear when it’s thrown away.

Clyde Loakes, NLWA chair, explained: “Reducing our waste is an important part of looking after the environment, but that link isn’t always well understood. Our students want to protect the planet for the future, and we’re helping them do that by equipping them with the tools and knowledge they need to waste less and recycle more.” 

By conducting the waste audit, Merryhill pupils and staff now have a good idea of how they can tackle the most common types of rubbish. Food waste is among the trickiest problems to solve, making up around 40% of the waste in most school bins, while paper waste and plastic food wrappers make up around one third.

In the Know was developed by NLWA following research conducted in collaboration with national environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy. The research found there was an educational gap in primary schools when it came to teaching about the environmental impacts of waste.

From early next year, a new community centre at Edmonton Eco Park, where a new incinerator is currently being constructed, will be hosting classes of school students so they can get tailored lessons about waste and the environment. 

The seven schools taking part in the In the Know programme across North London will get lessons with NLWA’s education officer and access to a range of free, tailor-made educational resources. In addition to in-school learning, the programme also offers help with improving waste infrastructure in schools and advice on how to embed waste reduction behaviours in the school environment. 

Cllr Loakes, who is also deputy leader of Waltham Forest Council, added: “If these first sessions are anything to go by, In the Know is going to be big hit in North London’s schools. I look forward to seeing the programme get bigger and better in the years to come!” 

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