Kilrossanty National School is a small rural school with 89 pupils and 4 class teachers, nestled in the Comeragh Mountains in Co. Waterford. Their initial Green-Schools Committee was comprised of 2 students from each class from 2nd class upwards, as well as 4 teachers, the school secretary, and a parent representative. Students who were interested were asked to come forward on a voluntary basis, and committee members are changed from time to time to give other students a chance to be involved at committee level.

For their environmental review they undertook a litter survey and a waste audit. The litter survey (carried out by 3rd and 4th class) was carried out by dividing the school into different areas and grading each area. For the waste audit, both the amount and type of waste being produced and sent to landfill were examined. The cost of disposing this waste was also looked at. A paper audit was also carried out to see how much paper was being re-used and recycled wisely in the classrooms and in the office.

Targets were then set to be achieved within the year. Actions such as a litter picking rota and a litter management plan were implemented, including the “Every child has a lunchbox” policy to cut down on litter. Efforts were also made to cut down on the amount of paper being used in the school.

The monitoring and evaluation of progress was carried out and results were displayed in the forms of charts and graphs on the Green-Schools notice board. Students on the committee also reported back to their classes about decisions made at the meetings. The community were informed of the programme through the notice board, school newsletters, items in the parish newsletter, and notes sent to parents of developments as they happened.

Through monitoring and calculations (carried out by the students in class and graphed for display), it was found that the total cost of waste disposal (including landfill and recycled waste) for the period of September to March before the Green-Schools programme was implemented was €172. For the same period (September to March) after implementation of the programme the total cost of waste disposal was €39.25. This was a 77% reduction in cost of waste disposal for the school! The money saved was then put into buying products made from recyclable materials, such as toilet paper and envelopes.

The school is also virtually a litter-free environment with staff and students alike on a constant lookout for any sign of stray litter.

Kilrossanty N.S. believe that the experience of Green-Schools has been immensely beneficial to their school, and that students and teachers are taking the Green-Schools ethos home and applying it in their everyday lives. They achieved their first Green Flag for Litter and Waste in 2005.