Waste Reduction in Escola Secundária Abel Salazar
Last week (22-30 November 2014), the European Week for Waste Reduction (EWWR) took place. The main objective of this event is to draw people’s attention towards the need to change their own behavior, in order to reduce waste. Inevitably, the Abel Salazar School Group (Agrupamento de Escolas Abel Salazar, AEAS) took action and participated in this event, having several initiatives on this subject organized by the eco-school team of the Abel Salazar High Scool (Escola Secundária Abel Salazar).
Regarding this initiative, teacher Renata Santos (eco-schools project manager) told us a bit about the several initiatives promoted by the team, specifically the selfies wall and the required time to decompose some materials.
As for the selfies wall and quoting teacher Renata: “… the challenge was taken as we deemed it an easy one, where the whole school community could join us without any additional cost…”. The teacher also added: “Besides the awareness-raising messages displayed on the environment selfies, we tried to change the students mind regarding waste reduction, by showing them how long it takes to decompose some materials. The environment preservation begins with simple daily actions, which make all the difference.”
This event was also attended by Mr. Fernando Maia, environmental education technician (from LIPOR – Inter-municipal Waste Management Service of Greater Porto), who gave a lecture on the importance of waste reduction.
This technician stressed the fact that if everyone took part in waste separation, we would have a circular economy, i.e., there would be no need to use raw products to produce glass, paper, plastic or metal.
He left us an awareness-raising suggestion, which is creating task forces to promote positive environmental actions, raising the needed awareness in the school community. In fact, this suggestion is already part of the initiatives developed by the eco-schools team.
Carlos Gonçalves 11º B
ESCOLA SECUNDÁRIA ABEL SALAZAR
S.MAMEDE INFESTA