In September 2000 a module entitled “Environmental Studies” was introduced to the Transition year programme. Students who participated in this module initiated a recycling programme focussing on four main waste materials generated within our school these included:

• Aluminium cans
• Paper
• Cardboard
• Fruit/Vegetables.

The recycling programme is a very prominent feature of our school life and consequently when we found the ranks of Transition year students we joined this module.

Although waste materials were being collected and recycled we considered it necessary to design and implement a waste management plan, this would provide us with a more structured arrangement for the recycling system in operation.

So we drafted up a policy document stating:

• Waste management policy statement
• Roles were defined
• Potential recyclable materials were identified
• Collection points and times were listed
• Identification of waste materials that required unacceptably high levels of recycling last year.

Emphasis was placed on collection of the waste materials for recycling last year. So this year we decided to introduce the idea of reducing the waste level of each material by at least a factor of 4 if not by a factor of 2. We achieved the greatest success in this area with waste white paper, this involved:

• Quantifying the waste white paper collected from the computer room, staff room, office and classrooms comparing data on a weekly basis
• We also drafted up notices to ensure that the teachers and students would print/photocopy front and back on the white paper
• We then charged students for printing which was not associated with a school project.

As a further development of last years project we investigated how the materials, which we delivered to the V&W recycling centre located 5 miles from our school were treated. This recycling centre is one of just two in Ireland. It is leased from Monaghan County Council. The V&W recycling centre recycles: cans, waste white paper, cardboard, aluminium cans, glass/plastic bottles, wood, oil, scrap metal free of charge.

• The screening and grading of the waste materials delivered to the centre
• Storage of the graded material
• Companies who purchase the waste for further recycling
• Products produced from the recyclable material.

We were aware from last year's entry of the supporting role provided by Monaghan County Council. This year we approached them with the request for funding for a strapper, which is necessary for the compacting of the flattened cardboard boxes as we could store this material for longer periods and in greater quantities before it required delivery to the V&W recycling factory in Scotch Corner.

For a successful application for funding we found it necessary to make several phone calls to the Environmental section of Monaghan County Council and submit literature outlining how the device worked together with quotations. Finally it was agreed that we receive 50% funding towards the cost and our school principal agreed to match this 50%. We received a strapping device in September. The council have also supplied us with a second compost maker as the volume of material requiring composting has increased dramatically.

We discovered that storage of the recycling material was very difficult as it represented a fire hazard- we have now successfully secured the creation of a recycling shed. Where material previously destined for our school skip and eventually landfill may be used in another way. Funding for the shed came from successful application for grants from Volvo. We were awarded the top two grants in Ireland, €1000 and €260. The competition entitled "Volvo Ocean Adventure" selected our entry to represent Ireland at the international stage, which was held in Gothenburg. Five students from last year’s class represented Ireland at this competition that involved workshops during which a policy document was drafted concerning environmental issues it was called “The Leaders Of Tomorrow Must Act Today”- UNICEF will publish this and distributed to world leaders.

The system developed by last year's Environmental Studies class for collection of waste is still continued this involves.

• Collection of cans from local shops, pubs & restaurants and school, these are then crushed using specially erected can crushers
• Collection of decayed fruit & veg from local supermarkets and school kitchen, this is deposited into the compost bins and eventually used in the school greenhouse
• Manufacture of paper fire logs using newspapers
• Collection of waste white paper from office, staff room, classrooms
• Flattening of cardboard from school canteen & shop
• Collection of waste wood from Materials Technology class.

Materials, which can’t be reused or recycled within the school from the above list, are delivered to the V & W recycling yard for recycling. Any profit made from the selling of paper fire logs and cans is deposited into the Credit Union account that was opened last year. We have now applied for the Green Flag Award and assessment is due in March.

Sinead Mc Eneaney, Leesa Durnin, Vivienne Tavey, Brian Quinn and Louise Cunningham

For more information or to register your school in the YRE Programme, please contact:

Carina Dolly, YRE Manager
An Taisce, Tailors' Hall, BackLane, Dublin 8
Tel: 01 707 7067 Fax: 01 454 1802 E-mail: yre@antaisce.org