Waste Not, Lead More: Shaping Climate Action Leaders With the Trash Tracker Program

When it comes to teaching young people about sustainability, waste is one of the most powerful (and practical) places to start. Whether it’s the wrappers from their snacks or the paper tossed in classroom bins, waste is something students see and interact with every day. It’s a tangible topic that helps them make the connection between daily choices and environmental impact; that’s why it makes the perfect entry point for meaningful conversations about sustainability and climate action.

Enter the Trash Tracker program with a twist – a waste audit followed by implementing an impactful climate solution!

By tracking what’s being thrown away in classrooms and across the school, students gain insight into habits around food waste, recycling, and composting. Trash Tracker Champions goes even further; to selected, keen schools, we now provide year-round support to teachers and students as they implement waste solutions in their schools!

Students sorting through waste during the Trash Tracker Program

After completing an initial waste audit, students and teachers assess the results and co-create solutions tailored to their school’s specific needs. This could mean anything from starting a composting system, adding better recycling bins, or launching awareness campaigns. With support from our team, each classroom builds a plan that fits their unique situation and puts it into action.

Once the changes are made, students carry out a second waste audit to measure the difference their efforts have made. This process not only brings data to life but also gives students the chance to celebrate their progress and reflect on what worked. We then share engaging infographics with the class to summarize how their efforts were successful. Teachers have loved receiving these end-of-program results presentations, as we’ve received awesome feedback on it, just like this one: 

“Oh wow, that’s exciting! I love how you have displayed the results…so professional! I am going to present the results to my class tomorrow. They will love it! We cannot thank you enough for coming to MCS and sharing your knowledge. We are all better citizens and environmentally friendly because of you. We are very proud of our results and will continue to come up with new programs to help reduce our waste…You are very much appreciated. Hope we can have you back next year!” 
– Christine Thorpe, Macdonald Consolidated School

Grade 4 students at Macdonald Consolidated School in action with Jamylynn during a fun and hands-on outdoor sorting activity! 

This school year, we’ve partnered with 27 classrooms across 15 schools in New Brunswick. Every class designed their own solution, and the results have been inspiring. 

At Camille-Vautour School, students discovered that although bins for recycling and composting were available, they weren’t clearly marked or consistently used. So, they created colorful, easy-to-understand posters for every classroom, and installed them in the hallways and classrooms, helping everyone in the school make informed choices when sorting their waste. 

Posters created by students in the program at Camille-Vautour to promote proper compost sorting and illustrate the composting process.

At Salem Elementary School, a class found that their composting system had been forgotten and left unused. With the help of their teacher, they brought it back to life! They placed compost bins in every classroom, restarted the outdoor tumbling composter, and even set up vermicomposting using materials the school already had. The teacher also introduced a FoodCycler in the classroom to further reduce waste. Best of all, the students plan to carry this project with them into the next grade next year.

One of many solutions implemented this year: Compost bins that The Gaia Project has helped classes acquire and distribute through their school. 

Students at Edith Cavell School designed and implemented a refundables program as part of their numerous sustainable initiatives. This initiative is meant so that, each week, students are tasked with collecting refundable containers from around the school and returning them for deposit refunds. The money raised is then used to support other environmental initiatives within their school community. 

“It was a pleasure to have you, and we are very grateful for this learning opportunity! Please know that you have greatly contributed to sparking the next generation’s passion for more sustainable solutions in this region.” 
– Olivia McNair, Salem Elementary School 

This kind of feedback reminds us why programs like Trash Tracker matter. They don’t just change habits; they spark a sense of responsibility, curiosity, and commitment in students. 

Want your class to be part of this change this upcoming year? 
We’d love to work with you! Click here to request a Trash Tracker program 

Author: Léane Journault, Programs Coordinator (Francophone), The Gaia Project 

 

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