WHAT A LOAD OF RUBBISH!! - Waste Week At Parklands

19th - 23rd March, 2012 is Waste week at Parklands Infant and Nursery School. You might be reading this because you've heard Mrs Mellor talking about the Carbon Monster in assembly, or you got a random  paper bag in your childs book bag with this blog address on it and you wondered what was going on. 

First of all Welcome to the Parklands Eco Team Eco blog - this is where we record a lot of the exciting, eco friendly activities that happen at Parklands infant and Nursery school. As you can see we've been going for a while and we're really excited to have new readers pupils, parents, grandparents, carers - all are welcome. 

Now to business!!

Waste Free Lunch - Thursday 22nd March

This week the children will be hearing the story of the Carbon monster, you can click on the link on the right to have a look at this brilliant book. 

In the story George learns about his Carbon monster which grows and grows as it eats all the waste that George generates, by not recycling packaging, or leaving the lights on. 

On Wednesday we are going to collect up all the rubbish that we generate in one lunchtime to see how much we get, how much we can compost, how much we can recycle and how much goes to landfill.

On Thursday we are going to try and have a waste free lunch, and we need everyone's help. The eco team are sending out paper bags to tell everyone about waste free lunch. the idea is you use the paper bags to keep your sandwiches fresh - rather than cling film. Because paper bags can be composted or recycled, and cling film is pretty much impossible to recycle and will always end up in landfill sites. So the paper bags generate less waste.

It doesn't have to be fancy, the simplest ideas work best. Anything you can do to reduce the amount of waste is an improvement, and talk to your mum, dad, son, daughter about waste week - work out what you can do together.

Ideas for Waste Free Lunch

• Have an apple or satsuma rather than apple slices in a packet.
• Wrap food in fabric rather than plastic - these nifty wrap'n'mat's are even better and ultimately cheaper than the paper bags. http://www.onyabags.co.uk/shop.php?crn=213
• Only pack as much food as the lunch-eater will eat
• Use a re-usable bottle for drinks, rather than a carton.
• Instead of babybels and cheese strings which all have extra packaging, try cubing up some block cheese, or cutting out shapes with cookie cutters to make them more fun.
• Instead of little packets or boxes of raisins, buy a big bag and put some in a reusable pot.
• When the water bottle comes home half full at the end of the day - water the house plants rather than pouring it down the sink.

Here are some more links with handy hints on reducing your Carbon monster.

http://myfriendlylunchbox.co.uk/waste-free-lunch-info.html

http://www.easylunchboxes.co.uk/Waste_less.html
http://www.recycle-more.co.uk/nav/page560.aspx
http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/HAPPENS-RUBBISH/story-11572186-detail/story.html

Waste Week at Parklands Ladies Pamper Evening - Friday 23rd March

Friends of Parklands (Parents who raise money for Parklands school) are holding a Ladies Pamper Evening this Friday and are on board with Waste week. Ladies bring your old beauty products, make-up that's out of date, old shampoo that didn't quite work out, that skin cream you couldn't live without that just sits in your bathroom cabinet....you can recycle all of these products courtesy of 'Origins' at the Ladies Pamper evening, AND you'll get a free sample of Origins products and possibly a voucher for a free mini-facial at the nearest Origins counter (Boots in Derby, John Lewis in Nottingham).

This sort of stuff  is often really hard to recycle, and often ends  up in landfill sites so why not have a clear out and get yourself a little treat into the bargain!! 

Tickets are still available to buy for the pamper evening, it costs £3 which includes a complimentary glass of wine/soft drink upon arrival and chocolate fountain.  You can buy your tickets on the door - or better yet get one in advance from the family room at Parklands before and after school on Tuesday or Wednesday, and during the Parents Open morning this Thursday.

Thanks for reading.

Mrs Padley.