Another Waste Audit

Guess what! Jackman’s Eco Team conducted another Waste Audit. Here’s what you need to know… the total mass of Wednesday’s garbage was... drum roll please… 10kg!!! Wow! That’s even better than last year’s waste (11kg)! And to think, six years ago, we had 36kg! Our waste reduction strategies are working!!! Way to go, Jackman!!! Here is a summary of what we found…

Some things in the garbage should have been RECYCLED - about 1.5kg

Papers, paper scraps & cardboard boxes

2 juice boxes & 37 plastic cups

Plastic utensils

Plastic & Styrofoam food containers

Milk bags, bread bags & plastic shopping bags

Some things in the garbage was FOOD that should have been EATEN or COMPOSTED - about 1.5kg

Pizza crusts, pitas & crackers

Apple slices, grapes, orange slices, carrots, cucumber & banana peels

Pencil shavings

Food stained paper plates

Some of our garbage were soiled papers that should have been COMPOSTED– about 1.5kg

Paper towels & tissues

Some of our garbage were things that should have been REUSED 

- about 0.5kg

Pencils, markers, crayons, erasers, glue sticks & even a pair of scissors

Lego, game pieces & math manipulatives

Reusable plastic containers

About ½ of our GARBAGE was truly GARBAGE & is sadly heading to a LANDFILL - about 5kg

Snack wrappers, candy wrappers & chip bags

Single-use coffee cups

Note: Our garbage is mostly food packaging

Craft materials like beads, felt & popsicle sticks

Small disposable Dixie cups

There you have it, another successful waste audit. The eco team will use this information to create new waste reduction projects at Jackman. We want everyone to be more mindful about waste as we inch closer and closer to becoming a ZERO Waste School.  Let’s Go ECO!

Getting Ready for Another Waste Audit

Jackman's #1 eco goal is simple... MAKE LESS GARBAGE!   Yep, we’re learning to be more mindful about the garbage we create. It takes a little effort. But it's worth it. 

And soon, we will put our garbage goal to the test.  We are getting ready for another waste audit.  We will save a whole day's worth of Jackman's garbage. Then the eco team will conduct a thorough investigation to see exactly what’s in it. It's a messy job, but someone's got to do it.  We will sort it, count it, measure it, and discuss it. Then we use this data to make plans for further waste reduction. Look at our data from the last few years...

 

2013 - 36 kg     

2014 - 32 kg 

2015 - 22 kg

2016 - 24 kg

2017 - 20 kg

2018 - 11 kg

As you can see, we are making less garbage overall.  What will 2019 bring?  Are we making less garbage at Jackman?  We hope so.  And soon we'll know the answer.

Granola Bar Recipe

Here's what you've all been waiting for... Jackman's Granola bar recipe.  More homemade granola bars, less granola bar wrappers, less waste.  That's our goal.

Mmmmmmm… Homemade Granola Bars

You know those granola bars from the grocery store? Well, guess what? You can make even better tasting granola bars at home. And they’re fun to make too. Have you read the list of ingredients on a box of granola bars? There are so many strange ingredients listed there. With homemade granola bars, you know exactly what’s in them. So, get ready… it’s time to make your own special granola bars! You may never buy wrapped granola bars again.

Ingredients:

2½ cups oats

½ cup honey

¼ cup butter

¼ cup brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla

¼ tsp salt

½ cup chocolate chips

½ cup raisins

Note: Try other dried fruits or seeds. Make granola bars with your favourite ingredients.

Instructions:
1.  Spread the oats on a tray and toast them in the oven at 350°F for about 10 minutes. Stir. Then toast for another 5 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl.
2. While the oats are toasting, combine honey, butter, sugar, vanilla and salt in small pot and melt on the stovetop.
3.  Pour the sugar mixture into the bowl of oats. Mix well.  
4.  Let it cool for 30 minutes before adding chocolate and raisins. Mix again.
5.  Pour onto pan lined with parchment paper. Cover with another piece of parchment paper. Press down firmly.
6. Let them sit for about one hour before you cut them into bars with a sharp knife.

This recipe is brought to you by… the JETs, Jackman’s Eco Team!  We hope you enjoy this tasty, homemade, waste-free snack!