Our first networking/support meeting on Education for Sustainability in Millfields Community School at the end of November gave attendees (varied school community members – parents, teachers, governors, admin staff) in depth information on waste minimisation.  As well as covering the 5 or 6 Rs Refusing (as well as Replacing plastic with other materials), Repairing, Reducing, Reusing and finally Recycling, in-school support and/or advice was offered by all our expert presenters.

For information on freeing your school from plastic, contact Bettina from Plastic Free Hackney - bettina@plasticfreehackney.com, or also Surfers against Sewage - and for reusing small plastic items -  see Eco-bricks.

Lucy Simler and Kelly Sullivan (LB of Hackney) Recycling offer support on recycling, food and garden waste, reusing of materials and furniture at Reyooz and earning school points for recycling resources such as felt tips, whiteboard pens etc. at Terracycle.   

Contact lucy.simler@hackney.gov.uk, or Kelly.sullivan@hackney.gov.uk, for more information on how schools can recycle and reuse.

EcoActive informed us of the many ways in which they support waste minimisation (et al) in schools with workshops, assemblies, INSETS, class and community sessions.

We hope you enjoy the end of term festivities and that your school will ensure that schools, Santa and all celebrations are sustainable and plastic-free! 

Challenge yourself, your pupils and staff to have a ‘Green Holiday Time’. Send us your ideas, innovations and photos to share.

FINALLY – SAVE THE DATE FOR OUR NEXT NETWORKING MEETING ON WEDS 30^TH JANUARY 2019 – ECO-SCHOOLS THEME – GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP and FAIRTRADE (Ready for Fairtrade Fortnight in February /March). LET US KNOW, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE DOING GOOD WORK IN THIS ECO-AREA AND WOULD LIKE TO HOST THE MEETING. (Preferably a venue in the north-ish area of the borough)

Or contact us for a sustainable start to the NEW YEAR for INSET, assemblies, workshops, advice sessions on – sustainablehackneyefsnetwork@gmail.com

Written by Sandra McLeod