Resources for Schools

Waste Services offer a range of resources which link directly with the Curriculum for Excellence and Eco-Schools to promote the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle message. Take a look at our Eco kits or to book or enquire about other resources and activities, please complete our online form. We can offer visits to assemblies or classes with presentations and activities, or help support your school in improving how you manage your waste and encourage more engagement in recycling.

Zero Waste Scotland

Zero Waste Scotland have a range of resources for Primary and Secondary Schools which fit directly into the Scottish Curriculum.

These include lesson plans, presentations and teachers guides on topics such as Recycling, Food Waste and the Circular Economy.

• Food Waste Teaching Resources (opens new window)
• Circular Economy Teaching Resources (opens new window)
• Recycling Teaching Resources (opens new window)

Learn with Levenseat

Levenseat is a waste management site situated just south of Fauldhouse. West Lothian Council currently sends grey and brown bin waste there to be processed.

Levenseat have created a bespoke learning package specifically for use by schools in West Lothian to aid teachers in the Learning for Sustainability topics relating to Waste Management, Reduction, Reuse and Recycling and how this can be incorporated into the classroom and community. The resources embrace the values, purpose and principles set out by Curriculum for Excellence and provide a variety of relevant and engaging resources and activities for ages 3-18.

For more information you can download the Learn with Levenseat launch pack (PDF, 3 MB)(opens new window) or visit the Learn with Levenseat (opens new window) website.

Waste and Recycling in School Buildings

It is important that we teach and encourage pupils to take care and responsibility for their surrounding environment and to help look after it in the future.  An increase in recycling is beneficial to the environment and contributes to several of the Eco-Schools topics including: Waste, Litter and Global citizenship. There is also a legal duty for schools to separate materials for recycling which SEPA is now enforcing.

The Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2012 make the following provisions:

• All businesses, public sector and not-for-profit organisations are required to present metals, plastic, glass, paper and card (including cardboard) for separate collection from 1 January 2014.
• Businesses (except in rural areas) which produce more than 5kg of food waste per week are required to present that food waste for separate collection from 1 January 2016.

In the past, Waste Services provided the corrugated recycling bins to Council run schools and nurseries. However we no longer have a stock of these bins. Should your school, nursery or community centre require replacement bins, you should discuss this with your Facilities Management team.

Recycling should be placed in the outside recycling bins in a clear plastic sack. Non recyclable general waste should be in a black bag and placed in the grey outside bin and food waste should be placed in the slim green outside bin in a compostable bag.

Contaminated recycling will not be collected and may incur a charge to the school.