Zero waste school

Zero waste school

Project number: BGENVIRONMENT-3.001-0004

Beneficiary: SEU Sv. Paisii Hilendarski, Dupnitsa

Partners: GREEN INDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGICAL TRANSFER FOUNDATION, International Development Norway, OU “Hristo Botev” Dupnitsa and PG “Hristo Botev” Dupnitsa

Budget: 351 840,35 BGN / 179 893,12 €, of which the maximum amount of the grant is: 344 166,63 BGN / 175 969,61 €

Duration: 20 months

PROJECT OBJECTIVE

The main objective of the project is to develop and implement educational programs and campaigns to raise awareness regarding resource management, waste recycling and the circular economy targeting educational institutions and the population in Dupnitsa and Krainitsi.

The specific objectives of the project are:

1. Development and implementation of 7 educational programs in 3 schools and 7 campaigns in 6 schools and kindergartens.

2. Organizing 7 information campaigns to raise awareness among educational institutions and the population in Dupnitsa and Krainitsi;

3. Development of an open-air training site for education on the circular economy;

4. Establishment of a system for separate waste collection in the three schools;

5. Study visit to Norway to learn about good practices in outdoor learning.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT:

Food waste generated by the population and in particular in schools and kindergartens is a serious problem that faces not only educational institutions but also the population of Dupnitsa in general. The local population does not have established habits and culture to separate waste and to use resources rationally. One of the identified reasons is the lack of sufficient information on the harmful effects on the environment and the ways to reduce waste generation.

To solve this problem SEU Sv. Paisii Hilendarski and PG Hristo Botev – Dupnitsa and Hristo Botev Primary School – Kraynitsi village in partnership with Green Industry, Innovation and Technology Transfer Foundation and the Norwegian consulting company International Development Norway, which will assist in the implementation of good practices from Norway, will introduce an innovative model of school without food waste and will pass the required 7 steps for certification with a “Green Flag”.

The target groups are primary and secondary school students, teachers, as well as children from local kindergartens and the general public in the municipality of Dupnitsa.

The results will be achieved through the following activities:

– Development of 7 programs and implementation of 7 educational campaigns concerning circular economy and recycling;

– Development and implementation of 7 awareness-raising campaigns; –

 Promotion of activities in support of recycling and reuse of waste;

– Transfer of good practice from Norway.

The development and implementation of the planned educational programs and educational and information campaigns aims to achieve results, both in the school and in the local community, through the positive impact on students, their families, school and teaching staff and the general public in the three settlements. As a result of the project implementation, the use of resources at the municipal level will be improved on the basis of experience, knowledge and good practice gained from Norway.

PLAN FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROJECT:

Activity 1:  Development of programmes and implementation of educational campaigns under the programmes on circular economy and recycling

9 training programs will be developed. The training will focus on the introduction of environmental culture, environmental awareness and environmental behaviour in their relationship with each other in order to know environmental laws, protect, improve, manage and use natural resources, as well as protect the natural environment and ecological balance. The educational programs and 10 educational campaigns will target teachers and students from primary and lower secondary levels. hey will be implemented in the 3 schools, project partners and in 3 more schools and 7 kindergartens in Dupnitsa

Activity 2: Awareness-raising campaigns regarding the circular economy and recycling in educational institutions

The following campaigns will be organized:

  • Circular economy (food and food waste and packaging) – Games, competitions, demonstrations and learning experiences;
  • 2: Eco day – Cleaning the environment and sorting the collected waste;
  • 3: Study visit to a municipal waste sorting plant – Introducing children to the process of sorting and recycling;
  • 4: Circular economy and resource efficiency -Bazaar for exchange of used school supplies between students, exhibition – bazaar with items made by students from waste;
  • 5: Circular economy and recycling – Competition for the best drawing and the best essay on “My family recycles”
  • 6: European Green Week –  Surveys and Information campaigns for the local community. Planting plants grown by children in gardens in Dupnitsa..
  • 7: Youth Eco Parliament – Meetings of school representatives with local authorities and presentation of ideas on how to make Dupnitsa cleaner, as well as the results achieved from the implementation of project activities.

Activity 3: Promoting activities to support the recycling and reuse of waste.

The aim is to form habits in youngsters for rational use of resources and skills for recycling of basic waste streams generated by the population – food, textiles, paper, plastic and glass. 2 schemes for recycling of waste, generated by students and school staff, will be implemented:

  1. School without food waste. For this purpose, two types of composters for food waste and for green waste will be purchased and installed in the three partner schools. As a result, all biodegradable waste generated in the three types of schools will be composted, and the resulting compost will be used to fertilize the plants that will be grown in the greenhouse built within the present subject. Rainwater collected by the students through the rainwater tank built under the project and underground water will be used for the irrigation of the plants. As a result, students will acquire skills for separate collection, recycling and utilization of biodegradable waste, which they generate in their daily lives and will get acquainted with the principles of the circular economy.
  2. Separate collection of waste – paper, plastic, glass and textiles and recycling of generated waste by making items for reuse. The waste will be collected in separate containers, intended for different types of waste and placed on the territory of the schools. Children will make various items from waste that they have collected and will use the items made in their daily lives and during school activities. As a result, students will acquire skills for the rational use of resources.

Activity 4: Transfer of good practices from Norway

Good practices from Norway concerning the application of innovative teaching methods in educational institutions – joining the Eco-Schools network and certification with the Green Flag in the field of circular economy and recycling will be adopted. Good practices will be analyzed and applied and the three partner schools will be certified with a Green Flag: label.

PROJECT RESULTS

– 14 experts will be hired;

– 7 educational programs prepared and implemented: Circular Economics (for teachers); Circular Economics (for students); Separate waste collection; Impact of waste on the environment and ways to reduce it; Basics of household waste recycling; The food path – separate collection and composting; Resource efficiency;

– 7 educational campaigns will be implemented

– 3 outdoor eco labs on the territory of each of the partner schools will be developed

– 7 awareness raising campaigns will be organized

– Construction of a training greenhouse in Kraynitsi

– Delivery of 3 garden and 4 kitchen composters for each of the schools

– Delivery and installation of separate collection bins for each of the schools