Environment Waikato has granted $2000 to Taupo Nui A Tia College to expand its recycling programme.

The school created an Environment Committee to improve the school’s environmental performance and increase students’ knowledge of environmental issues. A paper recycling programme reduced the amount of paper being sent to the landfill by 40 percent, even while new NCEA requirements dramatically increased paper use.

The committee now wants to expand the programme to glass and plastic, and generally raise awareness of environmental issues. For example, they recently took students on a pest trapping trip with DoC and are hoping to do some native plantings at the school.