By Hugo Rodrigues
Ottawa-area schools are already participating in waste-reduction programs but there’s now a push to expand them to emphasize sustainable development.
The EcoSchools Recognition Program, a national program developed by Terra Choice Environmental Services under license from Environment Canada, is one such initiative currently being piloted in two Ottawa-area schools.
Once it’s implemented, EcoSchools will challenge individual schools to improve and expand their environmental programs using a virtual “EcoTree” to both measure and reward their progress.
“This way you can encourage people on the way to achieving their larger goals,” says Ted Cooke, a consultant with TerraChoice. “The tree is a tool for schools to report their success and define priorities for further action. It also allows them to find out what works best elsewhere.”
The goal is to have each school working towards earning green leaves to place on the four branches of the tree. For example, a recycling program within a school would be part of the grounds branch, and would earn the school a green leaf to place on that branch.
As their tree became greener, each school could compare it to other EcoTrees via the program’s web page.
The EcoSchools program is being piloted by Uplands Catholic School in Gloucester and St. Catherine Catholic School in Metcalfe.
Faye Powell is the principal at Uplands Catholic, and is also the chair of the Environmental Action Committee of the regional Catholic school board.
Her school’s approach to environmentalism and sustainable development is reflective of the approach that many schools in this area take.
“The curriculum is bound by ministry guidelines,” meaning that teachers are limited in the amount of classroom time they can devote to teaching these concepts, says Powell.
The solution is to work with students outside of class to set up clubs that compost, recycle and promote environmental thinking within the whole school.
The challenge for environmental educators across the country is that there is a lack of recognition for these efforts on a national scale, says Cooke.
EcoSchools is now searching for further funding to implement the program across the country. Current efforts are focused on piloting the waste reduction branch of the program. Its main partner in this area is the Recycling Council of Ontario.
“We plan on using this as a model for the national program,” says council co-ordinator Cora Hallsworth.
Forty-seven schools piloting the waste reduction program were sent surveys in September asking them what waste reduction activities were already underway. Once the results have been processed, they will be used to recognize those schools with exceptional waste-reduction programs.
Uplands school is awaiting its response from the council, which should happen by the end of this month. In the meantime, Powell’s students will continue to compost, recycle and save energy, just as they’ve always done.