MANAGING YOUR PTA – Zero-waste PTAs


run non-uniform day fundraiser where they wore green and blue.’ Continue the conversation with


your school when it comes to spending funds. ‘If you’re asked to buy equipment, make sure it is as low-energy as possible and doesn’t come with loads of disposable elements. Whatever you’re funding, be aware of its ethics, sustainability and energy use. Suggest PTA funds might be used to create wildlife areas or forest schools, improving students’ sustainable education. Spend money in ways that are less carbon intensive, while creating opportunities to teach about carbon literacy,’ continues Green.


Work with the school Join forces with your school to create


a robust, impactful campaign. Find out about its ecological aims and complement them. Talk to the head about signing up to be a Let’s Go Zero school (letsgozero.org) or joining Eco-Schools (eco-schools.org.uk). ‘Joint activities will give focus to


the climate issue,’ says Green. ‘At our school, the children studied the environment across their subjects for a week, culminating in a PTA-


Community support While there are organisations


out there that can offer support to schools, it can be harder for PTAs to know where to turn to for support. ‘Facebook is one answer,’ says Green. ‘Communicating through Facebook groups and other networks is a key source of support. Most PTAs are trying to fi gure out the same things, so share ideas and ask for help when you need it.’ Mary Horesh of Fielding Primary


School PTFA started a local WhatsApp group. ‘The group has


recycling hub CASE STUDY:


‘We recently branded an outdoor area of our school as the ECO HUB: a collection of bins for various recycling schemes that both raise money and help the environment. One of our teachers developed our school’s recycling schemes, starting with crisp packets through TerraCycle. The PTA funded some bins, and, from there, we registered for more programmes and joined forces to promote the effort together. We’re part of six TerraCycle recycling


programmes, through which we earn points that are redeemable for a cash payment to our school. We all play our part: families sort their recyclables into the appropriate bins, PTA volunteers maintain the ECO HUB, while the school promotes it through a termly eco newsletter and pupil eco volunteers. We also support three charities by recycling milk bottle tops and stamps, and we recycle batteries through the local council. The ECO HUB has been a great success and is an excellent way to engage our children in climate change, reducing landfi ll and recycling our waste.’ Nathalie Dawson, secretary, St James’ CofE School PTA, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (420 pupils)


The community


CASE STUDY: The all-round eco code


‘To help our PTA remember what’s important to us, we developed an “eco code”. I used Eco-Schools’ ten topics for primary schools as a starting point, combining similar sections and omitting those that weren’t relevant to us as a PTA. Although our code isn’t particularly radical, and is aspirational rather than forming a strict set of rules, it’s helped us effect change. One thing I would encourage other PTAs to do is to separate some of the eco-friendly measures from event costs. We’ve found that volunteers can get quite competitive about


profi ts and are reluctant to spend extra money on reusable items. If the PTA plans to use items for future events, we list them as a general equipment expense rather than taking it from event profi ts. We also keep reminding everybody how it will save money in the long term. Our work as a PTA now fi ts in with the school’s general teaching of reduce-reuse-recycle and Eco-Schools policies. Most of the changes have actually made us more profi table, which is great for the school.’ Rachel Khan, secretary, Friends of Culvers House Primary School, Mitcham, Surrey (462 pupils)


helped us link up with like-minded PTAs in our area, which allows us to share initiatives and resources. The discussions within the group have led to better dialogue between local schools, rather than it being a competition,’ she says. It’s important that you don’t


READ MORE Go to pta.co.uk and search ‘Zero Waste’


measure your success with someone else’s ruler. What you’re able to achieve will be unique to your school and community. Take small steps, identify changes and keep sharing your passion with those around you. The combined effort of PTAs across the country will make a massive difference to the world we live in, and the futures of the students whose lives we strive so hard to enrich.


pta.co.uk SUMMER 2021 29


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