Zero Waste - School Submissions

Reducing waste, reusing where possible, and ultimately sending zero waste to landfill.

In the UK we see waste as anything but a useful resource. When we are done with something we simply throw it away and forget about it. The One Planet vision is of a future where resources are used efficiently, waste levels are close to zero and ultimately zero waste is sent to landfill.

This means using the waste hierarchy as a management system, prioritising waste prevention first, then re-use, recycling, and composting and lastly, energy recovery, before disposal to landfill. There is a presumption of promoting resource efficiency and avoiding wasteful consumption. One Planet Communities promote recycling of waste to high value uses and fostering ‘closed loop’ recycling. Currently around 70% of household waste is able to be reused, recycled or composted, yet recycling rates are no way near this high.