Submitted by Payton Lisk, BPDS Student
Bruce Peninsula Distract School (BPDS) is famously known for being an Eco School. “What is an Eco School?” you might ask. An Eco School involves the local community from the very beginning in Environmental Education that aims to empower students to be the change in the world. The lessons the students pick up are transferred back into the community where they take hold and lead to more sustainable, environmentally responsible behavior patterns all round.
Home – EcoSchools Canada
Hello and welcome to Eco Corner where you, the community, can read all about the wonderful lessons, activities, and artwork that the teachers and students will be doing this year as part of the Eco School program.
At BPDS every single classroom has a GOOS paper bin. What is GOOS paper? Any piece of paper that has been used on one side, but still has a blank side that is good for all kinds of uses (Good On One Side). By having and using GOOS paper bins it raises awareness about the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling paper. April 1st is National GOOS Paper Day, so join in the fun with BPDS and help spread the word about recycling paper.
Another thing that BPDS is doing is encouraging Waste-Free Lunches, but why waste free? Well, the Recycling Council of Ontario says that on average, student’s school lunches create about 30 kilograms of waste per year! And of course, when BPDS heard that we knew we had to change things and raise awareness. We are asking students to pack waste free lunches which means:
•Reduce – by bringing prepacked snacks or letting nature wrap your food like oranges, bananas, and apples.
•Reuse – using items like reusable utensils, stainless steel water bottles and a reusable lunch bag.
•Recycle – recycle things like pop cans, juice boxes, plastic containers, and cardboard packaging.
•Compost – Only bring as much food as you can finish and place the leftovers in a compost bin. Our composting program is back up and running again this year, so food waste can be put to good use in the garden.
We hope you will try packing a waste-free lunch!
