Rubbish & waste reduction

Rubbish

During early childhood, children form beliefs about rubbish. Early childhood educators can help shape children's understanding of rubbish to include safety and sustainability perspectives.

There are some things children generally shouldn't touch, like dog poo or broken glass. But educators can teach children the value of rubbish that can be recycled or reused. Items that are broken can be repaired or turned into new things. And unnecessary rubbish can be refused or reduced in the first place.

NQS and EYLF

The National Quality Standard requires early learning services to care for the environment and support children to become environmentally responsible (3.2.3).

The Early Years Learning Framework encourages children to become socially responsible and show respect for the environment (2.4). Rubbish connects children to natural materials and processed materials (4.4).

Learning experiences

Arrange materials into art

Children can easily observe Mask IV, a mixed-media artwork by Gonçalo Mabunda, and see how it is made from metal objects. Encourage your children to make their own pictures by arranging pieces of rubbish.

Long Term Parking is an artwork by Arman who inserted toy cars inside a concrete block. Does your childcare centre have old toys or books to throw away? Can you use them in an artwork?

Make a waste timeline

Support children to create a visual timeline that communicates how long different items take to break down in the environment. This could be a poster or a large wall display. This learning experience will help children and their families understand the long-lasting impact of improper waste disposal.

Conduct an experiment

Burry several items of rubbish in your garden (e.g. slice of bread, piece of paper, plastic bag, tin can.) Check on them every week and document the changes. What happens when rubbish is buried? What types of waste break down the quickest?

Explore a sensory bin

Create a sensory bin filled with waste materials that have a variety of colours and textures. Ensure the items are clean and safe. This is an excellent opportunity for children to develop sensory awareness while learning about processed materials and sustainability.

Become a zero-waste children's service

Jane Ting is the author of a children's book series that promotes sustainability, Zac's Happy Planet. She explains that the main focus of zero waste is stopping before you send something to landfill to see if the item has another purpose.

Ting says when childcare centres are planning to become zero waste, “there are lots of topics that can be covered. A great exercise for educators and children is to come up with new ideas together.

“Make a list of ways everyone can make sustainable choices, trying to think outside the box.”

Ting suggests these ideas:

Encourage children to think about all items and make good choices throughout the day.
Ask children to think about items that can be reused or gifted when they don’t use them anymore.
Discuss fixing things, like clothes, rather than throwing them away.
Teach children to think first before wanting something they have seen in a shop. Is it something they need or is it something they want because they have just seen it? When will it end up in landfill?

Hold a zero-waste picnic

Organise a real picnic for families or simply hold a pretend one for dolls and stuffed toys. Use reusable containers, cups, and utensils. Discuss the benefits of reducing waste by avoiding disposable items.

If families supply their own meals at your service, emphasise the importance of "nude lunches" that are free from single-use packaging. Hold a special week where everyone provides a waste-free lunch box.