Rubbish

Monday, August 28, 2017

S'Mart Tank Updates

Cool Cups

  • This group is working with Ben Reid to persuade cafes to use reusable cups rather than adding to landfill.
  • Their website is live.
  • They have had a meeting with the manager of Fava Cafe to get them onside with their project.
Image result for ideal cups


Scooter Mudguard
  • This group is working with Dave Green to create a scooter mudguard.
  • This group have a live website.
  • They are creating possible designs to go on the mudguards that people can select from.
  • They are contacting sticker companies to work alongside them.
  • Basic Bikes are sending a representative in this Friday to talk to the team about the possibilities of working with them.
Image result for scooter

Waste Warriors
  • This group is working with Catherine Fink to work on recycling soft plastic at St Martins School.
  • They have a live website.
  • They have communicated with St Martins New World to work alongside them to contribute to their soft plastics recycling project.
  • They are looking to use the current school rubbish bins as soft plastic recycling bins from next term.
  • They will be running a competition to design a logo for the soft plastic bins.
Image result for soft plastic bags

My Board Mate
  • They are working alongside Darrin Gordon to create a magnetic board mate for teachers.
  • They have a great prototype.
  • Their website is live.
  • Last Friday they visited Darrin's work and learned about shipping, costings, spreadsheets etc.
  • They have surveyed teachers on their interest in purchasing this product.


Real Paper
  • This group is working with Anne Lardner to create recycled paper.
  • They will be running their first session with children in Room 2 this Friday.
  • They have a live website.
  • They have experimented with making paper from pulp.
  • They are looking at selling packs of paper or cards, as well as running small group lessons.


Smart Worms
  • This group is working with Alison Low to create mini, portable worm farms.
  • Last week they visited Mitre 10 Mega and were gifted some materials.
  • They have a live website.
  • Today they have made their first group worm farm.
  • They are receiving worms and soil from our Garden to Table team.
  • This group is nearly ready to advertise in our school newsletter and begin selling their awesome product!

TIPS

Recycling Tips 
  • Wash out all containers before putting them in the yellow recycling bin
  • No food scraps in the recycling bin or the rubbish bin only the organic bin
  • Only clean cardboard and paper in the yellow recycling bin. For example if you have a greasy pizza box it goes in the green bin 
  • Don't buy the milk bottles that are white and not see through as it confuses the sorting machines at a recycling factory 
  • Don't put your recycling in bags keep it loose
  • When you are at the supermarket take your own reusable bags 
  • Soft plastics go in the New World bin
  • Minimise waste by buying in bulk
  • Buy fresh fruit not canned or in plastic 
  • Instead of glad wrap, use ziplock bags which can be used again, and reusable containers
  • All lids and caps go in the red rubbish bin including ice cream lids

Port Hills Ramble

On Tuesday 22nd August the "Local Environment" Eco Action group got to enjoy our wonderful Port Hills.

Starting with a ride up on the gondola and a beautiful panoramic view of Christchurch, we looked at the many wall displays in the building.  Next a trip through the Time Tunnel, before leaving for our walk.
The walk took us along the Crater rim walkway until we got to the pioneer women's memorial where we stopped for a snack and drink.
We then walked along the summit road until we came to the top of Rapaki Track.
After another food and drink break we headed down the track and back to school.



At the Time Tunnel

Top View

At the Pioneer Women's War memorial


Walking along the Summit Road we had to keep an eye out for cyclists also enjoying the day








Thank you to all the parents who were able to help us on this trip.

Monday, August 21, 2017

Bokashi Buckets!

We are going to trial Bokashi buckets in Navigators 3. It is a way of composting but it doesn't stink so we will keep it in the classroom. If it's successful we will use it all around the school. We got given some Bokashi mix and buckets. Here is a video explaining what they are.


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Monday, August 14, 2017

Websites Live!

Check out our websites.

Scooter Mudguards

Smart Worms

Waste Warriors

Recycling tip of the week

The group working on getting Bokashi Buckets into our school to compost food scraps, went to Kaiapoi North School to check out how the system works there. Kaiapoi North have been using the Bokashi Buckets for a long time. The children came back with plenty of enthusiasm and several buckets. There will be a trial of this system in Room 20/21 for the rest of the term. Huge thanks to Zaneta and Michelle for providing transport and parent help. We couldn't do without you.



 Meeting with the eco person from the Waimakariri area.

 The caretaker showing the larger compost bins the scraps get put into.
 Taiao with her treasure pile of buckets
 They even met the school cat.


A meeting to find out about the bokashi system.
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Have you seen the little triangles made out of arrows surrounding the numbers from 1 - 7 on plastic?
They tell you what type 
The Recycling Factory in Wellington
of plastic it is! - Did you know until now, we had to send our plastic overseas to be recycled, but now... New Zealand has a Recycling Factory all of its own! It is located in Wellington.

Monday, August 7, 2017

Recycling tip of the week

You should buy things from an  Eco Shop. If you buy things from the Eco Shop you are reusing items so they don't have to go to landfill. It is on Blenheim Rd, Riccarton, Christchurch

Hitting Roadblocks

A few of our groups are hitting roadblocks at the moment. With new people added into the groups the dynamics have changed.

Our worm farmers are creating a google sheet survey asking parents whether they would like a portable worm farm on its own, with soil or with soil and worms. They have also contacted Mitre 10 for advice on materials in the hope that some may be provided for them.

Our scooter mudguard team are creating a single page website and finalising designs. They are also due to work with Dave this afternoon to create some more models.

Our coffee cup team have contacted Fava to see if they are interested in trialling their cups. They are also contacting Ideal Cups to ask for a few free samples that could have logos placed on them.

My Board Mate are making a small website and working with Nerhys' dad next week.

Our plastics group have decided that they would like to initiate the placement of a soft plastics bin at St Martins School. They are making contact with the company.

Tristan's mum has been in teaching the group how to make recycled paper in preparation for them to be able to teach small groups in our school how to do this.