waste audit guide: measuring our progress audit... · waste audit guide: measuring our progress •...

© 2014 Toronto District School Board

Waste Audit Guide: Measuring Our Progress • 2014/15

Acknowledgements

Writer: Mieke Foster

Revisions (2014): Erin Wood

Contributors: Arminda Aliu, Cheryl Carr, Eleanor Dudar, Helen Elliott,

Sonya Goldberg, Cindy Lim, Steve Trearty, Mary Triadafilopolos,

Editor: Jenn Vetter

TDSB EcoSchools acknowledges the support provided by the staff and

students from the following schools:

Bennington Heights PS

Teacher: Mary Triadafilopolos

Students: Samana, Rachel, Maddie, Nathan, Katie, Taso, Grace, and

Samantha.

Photographer: Lisa Goodman.

Dr. Norman Bethune CI

Teacher: Sonya Goldberg

Students: Freddie, Julia, Yi Ding, Jessica, Jimmy, Thivya, Marta, Julie,

Jennifer, Sam, and Gerry.

Photographer: Cheryl Carr.

North Toronto CI

Teacher: Helen Elliott

Students: Angela, Daniel I, Daniel C, Kamran, Sajeev, Emily, Lauren

and Chris.

Photographer: Cindy Lim.

Waste Audit Guide: Measuring our Progress


Revised 2014

Reproduction of this document for use in schools within the Toronto

District School Board is encouraged.

For anyone other than Toronto District School Board staff, no part of this

publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted

in any form or by any other means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,

recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the Toronto District

School Board. This permission must be requested and obtained in writing

from:

Toronto District School Board

School Programs and Services

3 Tippett Road

Toronto, ON M3H 2V1

Tel: 416.397.2595

Fax: 416.395.8357

Email: [email protected]

Printer: TDSB Printing Services

Cover: Features the Bethune Environment Action Team (BEAT) after its February 12th, 2009

waste audit.

i



Table of Contents

Why conduct a waste audit? 1

Waste audit overview 2

A. Plan and organize

1. Schedule your waste audit 3

2. Identify areas to audit 3

3. Assemble your audit supplies 4

4. Identify your waste audit team and assign responsibilities 5

5. Know your waste audit categories 6

6. Plan how to engage the rest of your school 6

B. Set-up

1. Review 7

2. Prepare the space 7

C. Conduct your waste audit

1. Sort first waste source 8

2. Weigh and record 9

3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 for the other

two waste sources 9

4. Tidy up 9

D. Analyze and act

1. Calculate waste audit results 10

2. Discuss results and develop work plan 10

3. Communicate the results 11

4. Take action! 11

Waste audit worksheets

1. Waste Source Worksheet 12

2. Record Weights 13

3. Waste Audit Results 14

4. Waste Reduction Work Plan 15

Sorting signs and display posters

1. Sorting signs for chairs 16

2. Sorting posters for display 17

3. Waste Audit Safety poster 18

i ii



1

Why conduct a waste audit?

Waste audits help you identify key waste issues at your school so you

can develop targeted action plans for addressing them. Actions could

include using less stuff, reusing what you can, and improving sorting

practices. These actions have multiple benefits—reducing the energy

required to extract, process, and transport resources, as well as

reducing the land impacts of unnecessary waste disposal.

The interactive format of the audit provides opportunities to share

your findings with the rest of the school, raising awareness to help

kick-start future waste minimization campaigns and building student

leadership skills.

Provincially, the Ministry of the Environment has renewed its

requirement for annual school waste audits and waste reduction work

plans. The requirement of analyzing school waste and developing

targeted waste reduction plans is also a part of the EcoSchools

certification process. To earn a level four for the 2.2.13 look-for of

the EcoSchools program schools are expected to complete a waste

audit and post the results as outlined in this guide.

Finally, waste audits are fun. Think of a waste audit as a treasure

hunt—you never know what you might find!

Contact: Erin Wood

If you have questions, need help, or have suggestions, feedback, or

ideas to further help schools understand the waste audit process

contact Erin Wood, EcoSchools Specialist at 416.697.1949 or

[email protected].

————————————————

What is a waste audit?

A waste audit is a structured

process used to measure and

assess the amount and types

of waste being generated by

a school.

————————————————



2

Waste Audit Overview

Conducting a waste audit involves the following four steps. This guide

provides details on how to complete each step and includes related

resources.

————————————————

First time conducting an audit?

Visit ecoschools.ca to watch our new video Waste Audits: Measuring our Progress for a

step by step guide!

————————————————

Tip:

Consider holding your audit at the start of the year so you can address any issues you find early on.

————————————————



3

Plan and organize

1. Schedule your waste audit

Consult with EcoTeam members (and include your caretaker) to

identify:

day of the week (any day but Monday)

time of day and year (Morning is usually better as the garbage

is fresher! Avoid hot weather).

location (empty classroom, foyer, hallway, or gymnasium—use

a larger space if others are coming for a tour/assembly).

2. Identify areas to audit

Arrange for the caretaker to collect, label and store

designated waste the day before the audit takes place.

(Clearly labelling bags by location and source helps in

providing feedback where needed).

Collect at least 2 bags from each waste source—

garbage, recycling and green bin (total of 6 bags), for

your audit.

Possible areas to include are:

cafeteria/lunchroom (1 set of bags)

office/caretaker area (1 set of bags)

selected classrooms (2-3 sets of bags)

outside, optional (1 set of bags)

————————————————

Allow two to three hours to

complete your waste audit and then develop your waste reduction work plan.

————————————————

————————————————

If your school has a child care centre consider auditing its waste separately.

————————————————

Planning to audit all of your school's garbage? It works best

if you focus on specific school areas over several days.

————————————————

A

Audit in the hallway at North Toronto CI



4

3. Assemble your audit supplies

Set up Supplies

Sorting table. Tape two 6' x 3' tables together to create a large

surface and to prevent leaks. Use as is or cover with plastic.

Waste Audit Safety Poster (p.21) and First Aid kit

Clean-up supplies: broom, dust pan and brush, rags

5—7 chairs (to support plastic bags for sorted waste)

Sorting Supplies

You will need 5-7 clear plastic bags for each waste type

(garbage, recycling, green bin) you decide to sort.

5—7 medium sized basins labelled by waste category for sorted

waste (available from the Distribution Centre, item #133 @

$5.00)

Waste category signs fastened to chair backs with large binder

clips (see p.19 for examples)

Audit posters listing items in each sorting category for easy

reference during audit (see p.20 for examples)

Gloves for auditors (Reusable rubber gloves may be best for

infrequent audits.)

Recording Supplies

A hanging spring or digital scale. If your caretaker does not

have one, you can use a luggage scale (ideally one that can

measure in kilograms and includes two decimal places).

The four waste audit worksheets available for download at

ecoschools.ca>Forms (see pp.15-18 examples).

Clipboard, pens, scissors

Camera for recording audit process, findings, and team

members in action!

————————————————

Waste Categories

1. Recyclable containers

2. Recyclable papers

3. Other recyclables

4. Food wastes and soiled papers

5. Real garbage

Optional

6. Unopened food

7. Reusable things

————————————————



5

4. Identify your waste audit team and assign

responsibilities

Your EcoTeam can help identify staff, parents, and students (8-12

participants recommended) to be involved in your waste audit.

Appoint one person to be in charge. Think about how to define roles/

tasks for all participants. Possible roles/tasks to cover include:

Planning team: Train and prepare audit team beforehand, ensure all

waste audit steps are completed. Tasks could include:

ensure students have permission to participate

gather supplies

copy signs, posters, and waste audit worksheets

organize audit set-up/clean-up

review sorting rules

lead audit debrief with audit team

ensure waste audit worksheets are completed

Audit team: Help run the audit and brainstorm next steps. Roles

could include:

sorters: ensure waste is sorted correctly

recorder(s): record observations, weights and audit debrief

reflections on appropriate audit worksheets

set-up/clean-up: help set-up space, keep things tidy during

and after audit

Communications team: Plan how to engage the school before,

during and/or after the audit. Roles could include:

promoters: create posters and/or announcements to engage

school leading up to audit

photographers/videographers: document audit

presenters: share findings with classes during the audit or

through an assembly/class presentations after the audit

reporters: tweet during the audit, write article/web post, work

with team to create PowerPoint, video and/or display board

Plan and organize (cont’d)



6

5. Know your waste audit categories

(see p.20 for display posters)

Recyclable containers: metal and cardboard cans, plastic

bottles/jugs, glass bottles/jars, milk cartons and juice boxes,

yoghurt tubs/lids, Styrofoam containers, clamshell containers

Recyclable papers: copy paper, newspaper, notebooks,

magazines, books, cardboard

Other recyclables: e-waste, printer/toner cartridges, CFL

bulbs, batteries, hazardous wastes

Food wastes and soiled papers: fruit peels and cores, paper

towels, tissues and napkins, paper plates (includes unconsumed

beverages such as water, juice, and pop)

Real garbage: plastic and foil wrapping, coffee cups, juice

pouches must all go to landfill (includes emptied garbage bags)

6. Plan how to engage the rest of your school

During your audit invite other classes to come and observe your audit

process and hear about your results (this works best if the audit is in

the gym). Invite classes to join you for a follow-up assembly to share

your results and plans for taking action. Create a visual display to

share your results and next steps.

————————————————

There are two other optional

categories:

1. Unopened food

2. Reusable things

They can be included in the

waste audit by adding two extra

basins and chairs or by

incorporating them as

subcategories of “Food wastes

and soiled papers” and “Real

garbage”.

————————————————



7

Set-up

1. Review

Mount sorting and safety

posters on wall (see sorting

posters for display on p.20,

and Waste Audit Safety poster

on p.21).

Gather your audit team together and review tasks/roles.

Review sorting categories and safety procedures (be sure

students understand that they are not to handle any dangerous

waste—see safety poster on p.21).

Review the waste audit worksheets and how they will be

completed during the audit (see pp.15—18).

2. Prepare the space

Deliver/bring labelled bags of waste to audit location (include 2

bags each of garbage, recycling and if possible green bin).

Set up sorting area: sorting tables (taped together if necessary)

with labelled basins.

Set up collecting area: set of bagged, labelled chairs for

collecting waste from labelled basins when they are full (see

“Sorting signs for chairs” on p.19)

Have your other supplies ready (see list on p.7)

————————————————

Locate sorting and safety posters close to the sorting area for easy reference.

————————————————

B

Sorting area Collecting area



8

Conduct your waste audit

1. Sort first waste source

Choose a waste source to start sorting. We recommend starting

with a drier source (typically recycling) and ending with a wetter

one (green bin).

Use the Waste Source Worksheet (p.15) to record location,

waste source, and contents of each bag.

Carefully empty your first bag onto sorting table. Review sorting

process with students. See sidebar for details.

Sort items into labelled storage basins.

Empty full basins into corresponding plastic bags.

Continue until you have sorted all of the bags for this waste

source.

————————————————

Sorting tips

Start at the top and work

your way down.

Pick off large items and let

small items fall to the

bottom.

Have each student be

responsible for a particular waste category, e.g., recyclable paper, garbage, food waste and soiled paper.

Sort into labelled basins

to save time and help keep the auditors and recorders focused.

Return basins to the same

spot on the sorting table

after emptying into the collection bags.

Jot down reactions and

suggestions as you audit. These jottings become the ideas for your Waste Reduction Work Plan

(p.18).

————————————————

C



9

2. Weigh and record

Weigh each bag of sorted waste

in your collection area.

Record each bags’ weight on

the “Record Waste” sheet

(p.16).

At the same time tidy the

sorting table and basins so you

are ready for the next waste

type.

3. Repeat steps 1 and 2

for the other two waste sources

4. Tidy up

Clean sorting table, wash basins, and sweep/mop floor.

Deliver sorted waste to appropriate containers.

Return tables, chairs, and supplies.

Thank caretakers, parents, and teachers for their assistance.

Your caretaker will appreciate your assistance in tidying the

audit area!



10

Analyze and act

1. Calculate waste audit results

Visit ecoschools.ca>

Forms to download a

copy of the Waste Audit

Results excel

spreadsheet (p.17).

Enter the data from

your Record Weights

worksheet (p.16) to

calculate the percent

composition of the

waste you audited.

2. Discuss results and develop work plan

Debrief the audit as a team. Consider using the questions on

the back of the Waste Reduction Work Plan (see p.18) to help

guide your discussion.

As a team, use your observations and suggestions, to develop

your Waste Reduction Work Plan. Try to create specific rather

than general goals to target key issues: e.g., “improve

recycling” becomes “improve paper recycling in staff room”.

Plan when to meet again if you need to further develop your

Waste Reduction Work Plan.

————————————————

Not sure how to address an issue?

Go to ecoschools.ca> Resources and Guides and

check out:

EcoSchools Certification

Toolkit, Section 2.2 for different tools to help you minimize your waste.

Best Practices, Section 2.2

for various examples of actions schools have taken to minimize their waste.

————————————————

D



11

3. Communicate the results

Decide how to communicate what you have

learned to the whole school.

Create a waste audit display to share your

results. Posting information about the school’s

waste can open staff and students’ eyes to key

waste issues and helps promote next steps.

Your waste audit display should include:

Waste Audit Results worksheet (p.17)

Waste Reduction Work Plan worksheet

(p.18)

Visuals that will engage viewers. For

example, graphs, photos, highlights of

actions/next steps

4. Take action!

Now that you’ve completed your Waste Reduction Work Plan and

communicated the results it’s time to put your plans into action.

Work as a team to target the key issues revealed during the

audit.

As you address these issues don’t forget to reflect on and

recognize positive steps taken by the whole school community.

————————————————

NOTE:

Don’t forget to keep your

waste audit display up for the final EcoSchools certification audit or take photos and include in your

portfolio.

For additional waste audit display examples go to ecoschools.ca> Resources and Guides and see the

Best Practices guide, section 2.2

————————————————

Waste audit follow-up assembly at Bennington

Heights



12

Waste audit worksheets

Use these forms to guide your waste audit process. All forms are in your

portfolio binder inserts and available for download at ecoschools.ca>

Forms.

1. Waste Audit Step 1 of 4: Waste Source Worksheet

Use this worksheet to record the waste source (garbage, recycling, or

green bin), location, and observations on specific items found in each

waste category (e.g., apple cores (lots)).



13

2. Waste Audit: Step 2 of 4: Record Weights

As you sort the waste from garbage, recycling and green bin use this

worksheet to record the weights for each bag of sorted waste.



14

3. Waste Audit step 3 of 4: Waste Audit Results

This worksheet is available as an excel file and can be downloaded at

ecoschools.ca>Forms. To calculate your results all you need to do is

enter the weights you’ve recorded and it will complete the

calculations for you. Use this information to inform your Waste

Reduction Work Plan (Waste Audit Step 4).

————————————————

NOTE:

Include this worksheet in your waste audit display and have

the display up for the final EcoSchools certification audit.

————————————————



15

4. Waste Audit Step 4 of 4: Waste Reduction Work Plan

Use the observations and data from your other sheets to identify

what needs to be improved, what actions you will take, etc. Consider

using the questions on the back of this sheet to help guide your

discussion. When developing actions be specific: e.g., a target might

be to encourage full use of paper. Two actions might be to “provide

the classrooms with Good On One Side (GOOS) boxes for collecting

the paper” and to “make announcements to promote the program”.

————————————————

NOTE:

Include this worksheet in your waste audit display and have the display up for the final EcoSchools certification audit or

take photos and include them in your portfolio print or online.

————————————————



16

Sorting Signs and Display Posters

The following resources are available for download at ecoschools.ca>

Forms.

1. Sorting signs for chairs



17

2. Sorting posters for display

Use these posters to educate the team on what goes where.

Still not sure where some items go?

Consult the City of Toronto’s Waste Wizard website

http://app.toronto.ca/wes/winfo/search.do

Go to the Waste Minimization Section in the EcoSchools

Certification Toolkit for information on what is or is not

recyclable.

http://app.toronto.ca/wes/winfo/search.do



18

3. Waste Audit Safety Poster

PLA

NN

ING

TO

OLS

Portfolio Requirements

This is a how-to guide for the

portfolio requirements that

outlines what each submission

should include.

Best Practices

Looking for new ideas? Explore

exciting examples from schools

across the Board.

Green Bin Program Start Up

Outlines how to implement the

Green Bin program in your school

and includes recommendations,

resources and curriculum

connections.

Certification Toolkit

Provides ‘one-stop-shopping’ with

tools and tips for all areas of the

program.

Available for download at:

waste audit guide: measuring our progress audit... · waste audit guide: measuring our progress •...

Documents