Engaging with Peel’s School Communities through Waste Education Katya Seckar Region of Peel Public Works MWA Spring Workshop May 2017

MWA Spring Workshop May 2017 Outline Background Objectives New Waste Education Programs Workshops Campaigns Measurement Results & Lessons Learned MWA Spring Workshop May 2017

MWA Spring Workshop May 2017 Overview Cities of Brampton, Mississauga and Town of Caledon 1,454,600 residents 403 publicly-funded schools with over 234,800 students 75% diversion target MWA Spring Workshop May 2017

MWA Spring Workshop May 2017 Background Goals: Have consistent programming across the region Ensure priority messages are captured and are the focus of programs Implement educational best practices into programs MWA Spring Workshop May 2017

MWA Spring Workshop May 2017 Program Objectives Target: Reach 100 schools and 25% of student population each year Collaboration with Waste Management client group identified priority waste messaging. MWA Spring Workshop May 2017

MWA Spring Workshop May 2017 Topics of Focus Topics of focus were outlined based on current and emerging Regional priorities: Applying the 3Rs to reduce waste generation at school and home Product Life Cycles Landfills Composting How recycling and organic waste are processed by the Region of Peel MWA Spring Workshop May 2017

MWA Spring Workshop May 2017 New Waste Education Programs Peel has developed and implemented the following programs: In-class curriculum-connected workshops (K-12) Whole school waste reduction campaigns (elementary, middle, and secondary) MWA Spring Workshop May 2017

MWA Spring Workshop May 2017 Workshops Workshops focus on specific waste themes and connect to the Ontario Curriculum (electronics, 3Rs, food waste, consumerism, product lifecycles, etc.) Includes hands-on activities and follow-up lesson plans that further support waste reduction education MWA Spring Workshop May 2017

MWA Spring Workshop May 2017 Workshops MWA Spring Workshop May 2017

MWA Spring Workshop May 2017 Campaigns Campaigns engage the whole school community in waste reduction behaviours Recycle Right Wasteless Lunch Reusable Bottle Food Waste MWA Spring Workshop May 2017

MWA Spring Workshop May 2017 Campaigns Pre- and post-campaign waste audits School-wide challenge with weekly checks Elementary schools: Kickoff and celebration assemblies Secondary schools: Fun and educational activities in cafeteria Announcements, newsletters, parent handouts, etc. Tracking and measurement MWA Spring Workshop May 2017

Campaigns In-depth school waste audits take place before the campaign to inform waste reduction initiatives

Campaigns

MWA Spring Workshop May 2017 Program Delivery Agencies Brampton schools: Region of Peel Caledon schools: ecoCaledon Mississauga schools: Ecosource MWA Spring Workshop May 2017

Program Promotion teachgreeninpeel.ca

Program Promotion www.peelregion.ca/pw/education-outreach/

Program Promotion www.ecosource.ca ecocaledon.org

MWA Spring Workshop May 2017 Program Measurement Programs are measured through a variety of means: Cost (per student, per unit) Satisfaction (teacher surveys) Agency delivery performance Behaviour change (pre/post audits and weekly checks in campaigns) Knowledge transfer questions (workshops) MWA Spring Workshop May 2017

MWA Spring Workshop May 2017 Program Measurement Knowledge transfer (Workshops) Pre and post questions Hands-up survey for younger grades Electronic or paper format for older grades Overall: 66% of students who did not know the answer before the workshop learned the answer MWA Spring Workshop May 2017

MWA Spring Workshop May 2017 Delivery Results Jan-June 2016 - Delivered: 847 workshops 11 waste reduction campaigns 112 schools engaged Sept 2016 - April 2017 - Delivered: 1380 workshops 43 waste reduction campaigns 195 schools engaged (Target:100 schools) 54,819 students engaged (Target: 58,700 by end of school year) MWA Spring Workshop May 2017

MWA Spring Workshop May 2017 Lessons Learned Good uptake indicates a demand for these programs *Supports EcoSchools Certification Process of continual improvement to enhance program delivery Larger uptake in elementary schools than secondary MWA Spring Workshop May 2017

MWA Spring Workshop May 2017 Transferability Across Peel, the average cost per workshop is approximately $200. Can be delivered inexpensively by hiring university co-op students and focusing efforts on the elementary school audience. MWA Spring Workshop May 2017

MWA Spring Workshop May 2017 Questions? Education Programs and Services Katya Seckar, Education Specialist katya.seckar@peelregion.ca Megan McCombe, Specialist megan.mccombe@peelregion.ca MWA Spring Workshop May 2017