Green Board - Waste and Recycling
The VSB has a draft Waste Action Plan.
The VSB currently has recycling programs for paper, batteries, mixed containers such as bottles and cans and electronics.
The district provides recycling bins and containers to schools free of charge. To order a recycling bin please contact us.
On the composting front a number of schools have onsite composters that take fruit and vegetable scraps. We also have 3 Earth Tubs installed at Grandview, David Thompson and Windermere schools. The Earth Tubs take fruit and vegetables, leaves, some paper plates and other items. We are currently investigating industrial composting systems that would allow us to compost cooked foods such as meat, dairy and breads as well disposable serving ware.
About 40% of the waste from our schools is compostable and our goal is set up systems which would allow us to divert as much of this as we can from our waste stream while we work to reduce the amount of resources that we consume on the front.
2010 Waste Composition Study results from 7 VSB schools
Components found in VSB study |
Paper: Office paper, envelopes, newspaper, inserts, magazines, books, tissue/paper toweling, containers (tetra), dairy or dairy substitute, non-dairy/deposit, paper single serve cups, wrappers, paper plates. |
Plastic: Bags – retail & grocery carry out bags re-used as kitchen catchers, empty retail and grocery carry-out bags that have not been reused, deposit beverage pouches (milk, juice, etc.), textiles clothing, dairy or dairy subst., deposit containers (juice, pop, alcohol) |
Compostable Organics: Small yard waste (leaves, branches, wood chips, potting soil), food waste backyard compostable (e.g. fruits, vegetables), backyard non-compostable (meat, bones, breads, non-liquid dairy, fats.), other wood (mixed lumber, rotting wood – unpainted/untreated) |
Non Compostable Organics: Finished wood - painted, stained, natural fiber textiles, rubber |
Metals: Alcoholic, non-alcoholic, food containers, foil wrap, (kitchen, bathroom, hangers, nails) |
Glass: Beverage containers - Non-Alcoholic & non-dairy food containers |
Building Material: Rock, sand, dirt, ceramic, porcelains, carpet waste |
Electronic Waste: Stereo/video equipment |
Household Hazardous: Household batteries, latex paint, paint aerosols, pharmaceuticals, other |
Household hygiene: Diapers, pet waste, other (sanitary napkins, tampons) |
Fines: Dust (most likely from construction activity) |
Waste resources and links
VSB DRAFT Waste Action Plan outlines actions the VSB can take to reduce both the amount of resources consumed and the amount of waste kept out of the landfill
VSB Composting guidelines are contained on pages 11, 12 and 17-20 of the VSB Garden Process Document
Zero Waste Challenge from Metro Vancouver is a good resource with tools and tips to help you reduce your waste at home and at school.
Zero Waste Vancouver is a local group working for smart and workable solutions around recycling and waste.
