School to be rewarded for recycling

Taupo schools are going to be rewarded with native trees in return for their paper recycling efforts as part of a national project. Paper4Trees has been officially kicked-off throughout the district with funding support from Environment Waikato.

 

Paper4Trees was established by the Environmental Education for Resource Sustainability Trust (EERST) in 2001 and provides recycling bins and posters for every classroom, school office and photocopy room. EERST also works with school caretakers and principals to help them set up effective recycling processes.

 

Taupo District Council’s environmental educator, Sarah Painter, says the project will be an excellent incentive for the district’s schools to continue the recycling efforts they already make.

 

“It will nice to see school’s rewarded for their dedication to recycling. Paper and cardboard make up a huge portion of a school’s rubbish so any effort they make has a positive impact on our environment,” says Ms Painter. “The project also complements the waste minimisation education the Council promotes in schools.”

Paper4Trees is already successfully operating in approximately 700 schools around the country.

EERST spokesman Marty Hoffart says the schools do not have to plant the native trees on their school grounds. “They may choose to plant them in a community planting project or with the council or other organisations like the Department of Conservation,” he says.