"Take it home" Rubbish Policy

Last year a senior inquiry group looked into the issue of rubbish. They met with experts from the council and did research on the internet to decide what should be done about the amount of non-recyclable rubbish being generated at Amesbury School and also to address some of the rubbish-related problematic side effects - such as the plethora of wasps the rubbish attracts, the birds (and latterly sea gulls) who not only pick rubbish out of the bins and drop it around the school, but who also leave their highly germ-ridden droppings everywhere - especially around the rubbish bins. The Wellington wind is another culprit, blowing many light plastic wrappings (such as chippie bags) around the school.

After all their research, the students advocated for a "take it home" rubbish policy. The idea of this policy is that, as far as possible, students bring rubbish-free lunches to school but take home any rubbish that they do generate. This will relieve much of the wasp, bird and wind problems and will assist with two other problems....1..Families will become much more aware of the full amount of rubbish they are generating and are, therefore, more likely to reduce that rubbish and 2. Parents can see exactly how much and what their children are eating. 

Having concurred with the proposal from the senior students, we needed to decide what to do with the outdoor rubbish bins. We decided that a good solution was to put a cap on them which can be removed if needed for such occasions as gala days etc. 

We are really pleased to note that there is no more rubbish around the school grounds than usual. People who use our grounds out of school time and at the weekends appear to be taking their rubbish home. Parents are commenting that they now know exactly what their children are eating, and the boys have discovered the bins are great for drumming! All in all a good result. A big thanks to the inquiry group who recommended a "Take it home" rubbish policy. A great piece of work! And thanks to you all for your care of our environment.