Our School’s Waste Footprint Students in Mrs. Baker’s Grade 4 class did two comparative waste audits, a year apart, to get a better understanding of and make improvements to the waste footprint at Lincoln Elementary Community School.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THEIR FINDINGS* By implementing a composting program, LECS has diverted the amount of compost ending up in the garbage by 71%. Since starting a recycling program for milk cartons, drink containers, and bottles, LECS has reduced the number of recyclables in their garbage by 72%.
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63%
25 20 15 10 5 0
2014
2015
To further decrease waste generation at LECS, students came up with these ideas: • Eat the food you bring for lunch • Use reusable containers instead of baggies • Place more recycling bins throughout the school • Remind people about recycling through posters and announcements
Waste Generated Daily (kg)
Waste Generated Daily (kg)
In the past year, LECS has reduced the waste they produce daily by 63%, from 28.6kg to 10.5kg.
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Paper Garbage Recyclable Plastics Bottles & Boxes Milk Cartons Compost
25 20 15 10 5 0
2014
Each student at LECS produces 0.06kg of waste per day and 11kg annually. In 2014, each student produced 0.16kg daily and 30kg per year.
facebook.com/gaiaproject twitter.com/gaiaproject www.thegaiaproject.ca *Findings based on estimates.
2015