At present it is discretionary on part of schools and local authorities to provide playground recycling facilities. If not available it makes hypocritical any teaching that recycling is a necessary activity. Opportunities to increase lifelong conscientiousness about reducing waste are lost. Also if recycling is a more effective way of developing anti litter attitudes than traditional anti litter work then efforts to alleviate Scotland’s notorious litter problem are compromised.
Despite considerable public investment in kerbside recycling facilities, the need for industry to reduce its waste production to cut costs and a notorious problem with litter and fly tipping Scotland is STILL not teaching its young about reduce, reuse, recycle and how to dispose of unavoidable waste properly. Efforts to reduce waste are suffering because educational work was not carried out effectively, if at all, in the past. The authorities have still not learned that lesson; the failing has not been resolved. I was involved in setting up educational projects for schools on waste reduction 22 years ago and am EXTREMELY frustrated because although it can be very effective it still isn’t being taken seriously.
If this isn’t true then why are there no mandatory requirements for how it is taught – obligatory recycling bins in school playgrounds would be a start. A national survey to determine best practice in how waste reduction is promoted and practiced in schools would help ensure that it becomes the standard practice.
If it can be established that children CAN influence their parents to participate in existing kerbside recycling projects then more effective educational work with children could be a significant tool in raising local authority recycling rates. Of course this can’t happen without the basic provision of in school recycling and a national survey to see how best practice could yield economic benefits for councils right now. The investment in recycling infrastructure is undermined by poor participation in too many areas.
The proposed massive investment in incineration represents educational failure in the school, home and workplace. It will commit us to producing waste for many years. Education is a much better investment.
The present situation is indicative of national apathy and educational, economic and environmental incompetence.