NLWA | North London schools cut waste nearly in half with ‘In the Know’ programme

Seven north London primary schools have cut their waste by 45% through the North London Waste Authority’s (NLWA) In the Know education programme. Pupils and teachers audited their bins, introduced new recycling and waste reduction initiatives, and, where food waste services were in place, halved the amount of food thrown away. Nearly 3 000 students, staff, governors, and parents were engaged, with students leading recycling campaigns and teachers receiving tailored sustainability resources to embed lasting change. 

If sustained over a school year, this reduction equates to 124 tonnes of waste saved. Schools have praised the programme for sparking curiosity and responsible habits among pupils, while NLWA emphasises the importance of reducing and reusing over simply recycling. Building on this success, the programme will expand to more schools in September 2025, with new teacher training and a partnership with Chefs in Schools to strengthen food waste education. 

Source: www.nlwa.gov.uk