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Grade 5 students see what’s in their trash

The students performed a waste audit on a week’s worth of their own garbage
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“Gross” was a common word uttered on Wednesday at Cumberland Community School as Grade 5 students dug through the trash. Photo by Jolene Rudisuela

Grade 5 students at Cumberland Community School dug through their trash Wednesday afternoon.

The students had been saving their garbage for a week, and with help from Tina Willard-Stepan from Strathcona Waste Management, they dug through the piles to see how much was thrown out that doesn’t need to go to the landfill.

At the beginning of the waste audit, there was 8.7 kg of trash, but after separating out the compostable, recyclable and reusable items, they reduced the amount headed to the landfill to 1 kg.

“It’s gross,” said grade 5 student Kira, adding she was surprised by how much shouldn’t be thrown in the garbage.

Another student, Dylan, said he used to throw his food waste in the trash but will remember to compost from now on.

As part of SD71’s Environmental and Outdoor Learning programs, led by Serina Allison, Willard-Stepan will be doing more classroom visits to get kids thinking about the importance of recycling and composting.

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Grade 5 students pick through the garbage to remove any reusable, compostable or recyclable items. Photo by Jolene Rudisuela