Litter and Waste Action Plan - Green Schools Ireland

Litter and Waste Action Plan
Step 3 - Action Plan
Aim: the action plan aims to identify goals and provide a
structured timetable for the reduction of the environmental
impacts identified in the review.
The action plan is the core of the Green-Schools Programme. It is a timetabled series of
specific goals for improvement over a fixed time scale. Quantifiable targets should be set
where possible e.g. a 40% reduction in waste going to landfill in 9 months. The action plan
should always be developed from the results of the environmental review.
The action plan, if possible should be linked to curriculum work and have realistic and
achievable targets. These goals should be specific and quantifiable where possible with
proposed completion dates that will show real success. Success increases confidence and
builds enthusiasm for setting subsequent targets.
Do not be tempted to be too ambitious at first as failure is very demotivating.
It is crucial you work out how you will monitor and measure your progress and this should
be integrated into your action plan. Try to involve all the committee members in the
development of the action plan, and as much of the school as possible in its
implementation.
TOP TIP! The action plan is not a review of the work that has already been carried out, but a
list of future targets and goals of your programme and a detailed description of the actions to
be implemented (and by whom) within specific time frames in order to achieve those goals
and targets.
In summary, your action plan should:
• Be developed from the results of your review.
• Contain realistic and quantifiable goals and targets with timeframes, where possible.
These goals should be displayed at the top of the action plan.
• Be in table format (as below), identifying action, person or group responsible, and
the timeframe for completion.

• Be displayed on your Green-Schools notice board.
Sample Litter and Waste Action Plan
Action
Establish the Green-
Schools Committee
Conduct a Litter and
Waste
Environmental
Review to establish
the current situation
in the school
Person/Group
Responsible
Mrs. Murphy
Green-Schools
Committee
Timeframe
By the middle of
September
Sept 2010
Progress Made
Achieved
Achieved
Contact waste
provider to get
recycling bins in
school
Begin monitoring the
amount of waste
going to landfill and
to recycling
Hold a litter quiz to
find out levels of
awareness
Contact Local
Authority about
getting compost bin
for school
Establish a Litter
Squad to conduct
weekly litter pickups
Organise a Bin
Warden rota – rota
of students to check
bins and ensure all
bins are
Conduct a lunchbox
survey
Reduce waste to
landfill by 30%
Caretaker Within the next week Achieved
Green-Schools
Committee
Sept 2010
Continuous
All Classes Sept 2010 Achieved
Green Schools
Coordinator
By the end of
September
Ongoing
All Classes Ongoing Continuous
Green Schools
Committee, All
Classes
With the next 2
months
All Classes Sept 2010 Achieved
Whole School
Ongoing

Display
Environmental
Review findings on
Notice Board
Put 3 bins in every
classroom (landfill,
recycling, compost)
Encourage use of
lunchboxes in school
Inform parents of
aims for the Green-
School programme
and encourage
recycling at home –
School Newsletter.
Create posters to
increase awareness
of litter and waste
issues
Create Halloween
costumes from
recycled materials
Start collections of
mobile phones for
charity
Source battery
recycling boxes from
WEEE
Write recycling tips
to be included in
parish newsletter
Investigate
composting in the
school
Install a scrap box in
every classroom for
paper that can be
reused
Register for National
Spring Clean
Organise a visit to
the local recycling
Art Class Sept 2010 Achieved
Mrs. Murphy Sept 2010 Achieved
Green Schools On-going
Committee,
Teachers, Principal
Principal September Ongoing
Art class Oct 2010 Achieved
All Classes Oct 2010 Achieved
Green-Schools
Committee
November 2010
Principal November 2010
1 st class December 2010
Caretaker January 2011
Mr. Walshe February 2011
Green-Schools
Committee
March 2011
Achieved
4th class April 2011 Achieved

centre
Contact local animal
shelter to see if they
can take shredded
paper as bedding
Contact the local
Authority to invite a
speaker out to the
school.
Redo the Litter Quiz
from last year to see
if awareness has
increased
Train all staff how to
print and photocopy
on both sides
Hold a Fashion Show
with outfits made
from recycled
materials.
Fill in and submit
Application Form for
Green Flag
Hold a school cleanup
Green-Schools
Committee
May 2011
Mrs. Murphy May 2011 Achieved
All Classes September 2011 Achieved
Principal September 2011 Achieved
All Classes October 2011
Green-Schools
Committee
November 2011
All Classes January 2012
TOP TIP! Remember to display your Action Plan on your Notice Board so
that the whole school community is aware of the programme and can see
how much has been achieved!