WAITAKERE WASTE TRANSFER STATION
Ever wondered what happens to your rubbish after you throw it in the bin?
We found out when we went on our school trip to the Waitakere Waste Transfer Station. This term we have been learning how to be planet superheroes by reducing, reusing and recycling our waste. It was interesting to see what the Transfer people had to say about this too!
We went with Room 4 and when we got there we had a big talk together and were then split into our 2 classes.
First we went into the classroom and learnt how to be responsible with our waste. We talked about how to really make a difference in reducing our rubbish. We need to think about how to make zero waste and reuse and recycle as much as we can rather than filling up our land fill areas.
We learnt that when we fill our land fill the food and other waste we throw out eventually produces things called leachate and methane which leak into the earth and the air and are very bad for our environment.
The teacher explained to us that we want to always try and use a recycle model like this:
See. Here we grow apples on the tree, we eat the apple, we compost the apple core and use that compost to help the tree to grow more apples and so the cycle begins again. This is called "sustainability".
This diagram shows a linear pattern (a line not a cycle). We eat the food in the plastic wrapper and throw it in the bin. This rubbish is not recycled. It goes straight to the land fill, to sit there for hundreds of years or worse to be blown into our waterways and oceans to kill sea creatures.
After this discussion we had a look around the room at all the ways things that could have been rubbish but have been reused or recycled into something else. Some things were amazing and most were so simple to make. Why have we not thought of doing these things before?
Hey we are doing these pencil
holders for Market Day though!
These are old wooden blinds.
Look at that piece of cube artwork. Can you guess how many drink cans are squashed to make it?
These are old rice bags made into cushions.
Look closely. What can you see?
However, the best part of the whole trip was playing in the amazing backyard/garden area. There were heaps of things to climb on, ride, press, pull around and look at.
When you pedaled the bike it made water come out of the pipes on the machine nearby. We collected the water and watered the plants. Neat huh?
Go Aaliyah!
Thank you to the people pedaling!
Tic tac toe anyone?
Look at all those cans!
The worm farm. The worms are special worms called tiger worms.
We had a great day out. Who said that learning isn't fun!
We found out when we went on our school trip to the Waitakere Waste Transfer Station. This term we have been learning how to be planet superheroes by reducing, reusing and recycling our waste. It was interesting to see what the Transfer people had to say about this too!
We went with Room 4 and when we got there we had a big talk together and were then split into our 2 classes.
First we went into the classroom and learnt how to be responsible with our waste. We talked about how to really make a difference in reducing our rubbish. We need to think about how to make zero waste and reuse and recycle as much as we can rather than filling up our land fill areas.
We learnt that when we fill our land fill the food and other waste we throw out eventually produces things called leachate and methane which leak into the earth and the air and are very bad for our environment.
The teacher explained to us that we want to always try and use a recycle model like this:
See. Here we grow apples on the tree, we eat the apple, we compost the apple core and use that compost to help the tree to grow more apples and so the cycle begins again. This is called "sustainability".
This diagram shows a linear pattern (a line not a cycle). We eat the food in the plastic wrapper and throw it in the bin. This rubbish is not recycled. It goes straight to the land fill, to sit there for hundreds of years or worse to be blown into our waterways and oceans to kill sea creatures.
After this discussion we had a look around the room at all the ways things that could have been rubbish but have been reused or recycled into something else. Some things were amazing and most were so simple to make. Why have we not thought of doing these things before?
Hey we are doing these pencil
holders for Market Day though!
These are old wooden blinds.
Look at that piece of cube artwork. Can you guess how many drink cans are squashed to make it?
These are old rice bags made into cushions.
Next we had to sort out a full rubbish bin of rubbish into separate categories like recyclable, reusable, compost, worm farm and land fill. That was fun. In the end the only thing that had to go to land fill was a disposable nappy. Everything else could be put into another kind of bin!
We are going to be much more thoughtful about throwing away rubbish now. Remember be a Planet Superhero!
After the classroom session, it was time to go outside into the garden to look at the worm farm. We were allowed to look up close at the worms on a plate. We had to look for a worm egg. Mrs Dobbie didn't even know worms lay eggs! It was fascinating. I think most of us found a worm egg.
Look closely. What can you see?
We also got dressed up in the safety hi viz vests and put on hard hats. We got super excited because we thought we were going to walk around the station. In the end we got tricked. It was only for a photo! We had to get on the bus for the tour. Mrs Dobbie said a few years ago you were allowed to walk around but now it is too busy and dangerous to do that. Shame!
When you pedaled the bike it made water come out of the pipes on the machine nearby. We collected the water and watered the plants. Neat huh? |
Mrs Dobbie couldn't pedal that fast because she is too old! |
Go Aaliyah!
Can you see what this cow is made out of?
Look at all those cans!
The worm farm. The worms are special worms called tiger worms.
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