North London primary schools soon to be In The Know about waste prevention

North London Waste Authority (NLWA) has launched In The Know – a new in-schools programme designed to increase environmental awareness and develop a ‘waste less, recycle more’ culture within north London schools.

A first of its kind for the Authority, the outreach programme was conceived off the back of a research project NLWA carried out in partnership with Keep Britain Tidy, which looked into waste minimisation in 61 primary schools in 2022. In The Know is NLWA’s response to a key gap that emerged from the research – the need to embed waste education and minimisation activities into the heart of primary schools and make a positive change to pupil, teacher and staff attitudes.

The in-depth outreach programme has been curated with teachers, for teachers. It incorporates the school’s and NLWA’s ambitious but attainable shared goals. Boroughs will be working closely with NLWA to ensure that the schools have the right waste and recycling infrastructure to enable successful waste reduction. 

Pupil engagement is the lifeblood of In The Know and will be achieved through waste prevention education designed according to the needs of each school and delivered in a fun and interactive way. 

Participating schools will receive: two waste audits eight months apart with the aim of reducing general waste and increasing recycling; stakeholder workshops for teachers, leadership and canteen or premises staff; improvements to signage and communications to staff and parents; and long-term waste prevention planning with supporting materials for teachers. 

The first seven schools to undertake the programme are:

• Monkfrith Primary School– Barnet
• Rosary Catholic Primary School – Camden
• Merryhills Primary School – Enfield
• Parkwood Primary School – Hackney
• Ferry Lane Primary School– Haringey
• Ambler Primary School – Islington
• Parkside Primary School– Waltham Forest

Complementing this work, NLWA is soon opening a new education and community centre called EcoPark House, delivered as part of the North London Heat and Power Project. At EcoPark House visitors will be able to find out more about recycling resources, heat, power, and reducing the carbon impact of their waste. 

Delivery of In The Know will begin in September 2024, with plans for the programme to be a long-term, recurring activity, in line with the Authority’s commitment to preserve the planet’s resources for future generations.