How the new law effects your school

Given the current financial pressures on the Council and school budgets, it has been decided to use the existing bin infrastructure. Your existing internal bins will need to be repurposed and relabelled with the labels provided by the Council.

It’s important that you contact your waste collection provider to find how they can help you to be compliant with the new regulations. They may need to adjust your external bin setups, and might even offer internal bin liners and containers for certain types of waste.

• Create a floor plan showing the new bin locations, including the number of bins needed for each waste stream. This plan will help coordinate the changes and can be used to inform staff and students of the updated bin locations.
• Consider replacing individual classroom bins with central bin stations in corridors or communal areas. This change saves money and time since it's easier to empty bins in one location rather than multiple classrooms. Plus, it frees up space since you won't need bins in every room.
• Ensure a representative in the school is appointed as a waste coordinator to cover all areas of the school including any kitchen/dining hall and external spaces within the grounds. This person will need to have details of your current waste contract and act as a liaison officer with school personnel and contractors.

How we can support you:

The Council’s Waste Team are on hand to support you with advice and materials. We can provide the following items:

• School plans and audit sheets to assist you to record what bins you currently have that could be repurposed and where. We have carried out sample audits in a secondary and a primary school which are available as a reference to assist you.
• Bin signage for your internal bins, using nationally recognised waste stream iconography for the new categories.
• Bin station posters.
• General posters on why bins have been relocated.
• Playground litter bin signage for the metal, plastic and cartons category and general waste category.
• Assistance with navigating waste contract agreements/ term.

For more information, visit: The Business of Recycling Wales - guidance for the education sector