Investigate effective waste minimisation and management processes through a visit to two key sites in Christchurch.

Students learning at the organics processing plant

At the organics processing plant students will see where the green bin contents are processed, resulting in organic composting on a massive scale.

Then, an opportunity to witness the drop zone in action at EcoDrop to see unnecessary waste being taken to the landfill.

Students will put their understanding to the test in a final challenge to reduce, reuse and recycle.

Programme overview

Year level 3 to 13
Curriculum Level 2 to 8
Availability Year-round
Times 9.30 to 11.45am, or 12:15pm to 2.30pm
Site Organic Processing Plant (OPP), EcoDrop (Metro Place)
Cost Free
Number of students Maximum of 35
Special requirements Closed in shoes must be worn. There are special parking requirements for this programme.

Risk analysis and management (RAM)

Key concepts

  • Waste minimization and management
  • Sustainability
  • Personal and social responsibility for action
  • Waste hierarchy
  • Natural cycles for dealing with waste
  • Commercial composting

Lesson description

Students will gain an understanding of waste hierarchy and effective waste minimisation and management processes through a visit to two key sites in Christchurch.

Organics Processing Plant

Students will see where the green bins are dumped and composted on a commercial scale, and understand the principals of organics recycling.

EcoDrop, Metro Place

Students will see where the red bins are dropped for transport to the landfill. This is an opportunity for students to see the unnecessary waste being created.

Students will put their understanding to the test in a challenge to reduce, reuse and recycle rather than dispose of items.

Learning outcomes

We are learning to:

  • Organise the key waste actions into a hierarchy order for waste minimisation (the 7Rs).
  • Understand the fundamentals of the organic life cycle and how it is used in a commercial composting facility.
  • Understand how Council kerbside collection works and what goes where.
  • Make decisions that result in more sustainable use of our resources.

Key competencies

Using language, symbols and texts

Students will use oral, written and visual texts to interpret key waste concepts and processes.

Thinking

Students will use creative and critical thinking skills to problem-solve and expand knowledge of waste systems, waste minimisations and personal habits.

Managing self

Students will manage their behaviour so as to maximise their learning and that of their peers; recognising they are present at an industrial work site.

Participating and contributing

Students contribute to group tasks and class games (Top of the Pile, Win It or Bin It, The World According to MRF).

Achievement objectives

Curriculum area

Strand and level

Objective

Science
Pūtaiao

Nature of Science

Levels 2 to 8

Investigating in science

Communicating in science

Participating and contributing

Living World

Levels 2 to 8

Life Processes

Ecology

Technology 
Hangarau

Technological Knowledge

Levels 2 to 8

Technological Systems, Levels 2-6, 8

Technological Products, Level 7

Nature of Technology

Levels 2 to 8

Characteristics of Technology, Levels 2, 4, 6, 7, 8

Characteristics of Technological Outcomes, Levels 3, 5

Social Sciences 
Tikanga ā-Iwi

Social Studies

Levels 2-5

Social Studies, Levels 2-5

Geography, Levels 6, 7, 8

Economics Levels 6, 7

NCEA

Level 1

Subject

Standard

Biology

1.2 AS90926

1.3 AS90927

Chemistry

1.2 AS90931

Science

1.11 AS90950

Generic  Technology

1.5 AS91048

1.7 AS91050

1.8 AS91051

1.9 AS 91052

Processing Technology

1.61 AS91083

Social Studies

1.4 AS91042

1.5 AS91043

Level 2

Subject

Standard

Biology

2.2 AS91154

2.3 AS91155

2.8 AS 91160

Chemistry

2.1 AS91910

2.3 AS91163

Generic Technology

2.8 AS91361

2.9 AS91362

2.10 AS91363

Processing Technologies

2.61 AS91352

Social Studies

2.4 AS91282

Level 3

Subject

Standard

Biology

3.2 AS91602

3.3 AS91603

Generic Technology

3.8 AS91615

3.13 AS91618

3.14 AS91619

Social Studies

3.1 AS91596