Our school is proud to be successfully participating in the Cork County Council Composting & Recycling for Schools Programme, an award-winning initiative that supports schools in taking meaningful action for the environment.
As part of this fully funded programme, delivered by Composting Ireland and supported by Cork County Council, Donal recently visited our school to install our new leaf mould composter and wormery. These on-site composting systems will play a vital role in helping us reduce waste, improve recycling practices, and enhance our school garden.
The programme aims to support schools in:
-
Tackling climate change through positive, practical action
-
Preventing waste and improving recycling systems
-
Separating food waste for composting
-
Setting up or upgrading on-site composting systems
-
Improving gardening efforts and increasing biodiversity
-
Supporting schools in working towards their Green School Flags and Sustainable Development Goals
We are extremely fortunate to have such excellent facilities in our school, which allow us to fully benefit from initiatives like this. Our wormery is ideally located beside our school garden, greenhouse, and outdoor sink, making it easily accessible for hands-on learning and daily use. Our leaf mould composter is located beside our much-loved bike shed, wild green area, and chicken coop, ensuring it is fully integrated into the wider life and outdoor learning spaces of our school.
A key strength of the programme is its focus on education and hands-on learning. Pupils will take part in fun, interactive activities that help them understand composting, ecology, biodiversity, and the importance of caring for our planet.
Participation in the programme also includes:
-
Online training workshops for staff and parents
-
A series of school visits to support waste management and composting systems
-
Ongoing guidance and support from composting specialists
-
Opportunities to share learning with other participating schools
The installation of our wormery and leaf mould composter marks an exciting step forward in our sustainability journey. Pupils will now be able to see first-hand how food and garden waste can be transformed into nutrient-rich compost, reinforcing the importance of environmental responsibility and sustainable living.
We are extremely thankful to Ms Regina Fitzmaurice, Ms Niamh Mac Auley, and Ms Marie Forristal for their outstanding engagement and commitment to this programme. Their dedication has been central to its success in our school. We also extend our sincere thanks to Donal, Composting Ireland, and Cork County Council for their continued support. This initiative will have a lasting positive impact on our school community and on the environmental awareness of our pupils 🌍🌱
