Lets Swap

Priority: Refuse, reuse, recycle, reduce and replace responsibly
Definition: To prevent excessive and unnecessary waste, and to limit the consumption of non-renewable resources.

What is the issue?

Landfill sites exist all over the UK, and the world. Landfills cause huge economic, social and environmental problems. It is estimated that the average UK household produces more than a tonne of landfill waste each year, adding up to a total of 31 million tonnes per year. As this waste decomposes, it produces hazardous toxins such as mercury, arsenic, cadmium and leachate, as well as nearly 1.7 million cubic meters of methane per month. These environmental and health risks disproportionately affect the poorest communities. Shockingly, an estimated 80% of this waste could have been recycled, which acts as a glimmer of hope for reducing landfill waste.

Fast fashion is the fastest growing contributor to landfill. This refers to inexpensive clothing produced rapidly by mass market retailers, often in unfair working conditions. An estimated 10,000 items of clothing are sent to landfill every five minutes, a large portion of this coming from fast fashion.

The BIG idea?

#LetsSwap is a theme that focuses on reducing landfill waste by reusing, repairing and upcycling. The Eco Committee asks you to consider alternatives to landfill waste, prioritising:

• Upcycling - can your waste be transformed into something new?
• Reusing to avoid buying new
• Donating to charity shops and buying second hand
• Recycling when possible

The eco committee chose this slogan as it encapsulates the idea of swapping old habits for new. It also refers to the Swap Shops that took place on Eco Day. Pupils collected unwanted books, toys and stationary in exchange for tokens. They were then able to #Swap these tokens at stalls for any other donation - one man's trash is another man's treasure!

This theme also relates to previous Eco campaigns. #OneLess showed us how we can avoid plastic bottles going to landfill, and Love Food/Hate Waste taught us how to avoid throwing away food.

Our Outcomes

• Developing sustainability activities in the curriculum
• Character growth and student confidence with sustainability
• Develop the Eco committees
• Increased emphasis on reuse, reduce, and replace responsibly
• Maintain Green flag eco award/RHS achievements

The #LetsSwap Eco Day was held on 18th November 2022. Students spent the morning learning about the impact of landfill disposal and the growing problem of fast fashion. The lower school came up with creative ways to upcycle household waste, and the upper school took part in debates on the role of fast fashion in the UK. Throughout the day pupils studied different aspects of this theme, for example learning about the waste from potatoes, E-Waste in Ghana, recycling discarded items to model genetics, French and Spanish role plays to educate people about landfills and making ornaments from scrap paper. Pupils were able to swap their tokens at the Swap Shops at lunchtime, and Villiers announced its new sustainability mascot, The Nature Man.