“The totally natural way to reduce, reuse and recycle organic waste”

Kaiapoi North School - Bokashi Project

During 2003 Kaiapoi North School began investigating methods to reduce rubbish in the school. Because we are an environmentally friendly school we wanted to look at options that would benefit the environment as well as being child friendly. Prior to this we had encouraged all members of the school to reduce, reuse and recycle. This included all paper being either recycled or reused. We wanted the children at Kaiapoi North School to take responsibility for this project. We enlisted the assistance of Chris Duggan ( Terranova ).

He introduced us to 2 concepts,

1. – worm farms using tiger worms

2. – Bokashi

Worm farms were introduced in Koru (Junior area of the school), however the worms did not survive. They were fed on the childrens’ food scraps. On reflection it appears that the worms were fed too much citrus waste and this is intolerable for them.

Bokashi was introduced to Wheki ( Year 3/4 Syndicate ). This included Chris Duggan showing the children how to make Bokashi and supplying the team with Bokashi buckets. The children put all their food scraps in the bucket and when the bucket was full it was taken home by staff members to use in their gardens.

In 2007 Kaiapoi North School became a litter free school. Bokashi buckets became school wide. We expanded from recycling and reusing to completing reducing rubbish. The measures taken included:

1. - all rubbish bins were removed.

2. – training in using Bokashi for all staff members and pupils

3. – all class rooms and staff room issued with Bokashi buckets

4. – deposit area established for Bokashi compost (bunkers)

5. – Bokashi compost used on school gardens or supplied to school families if requested

6. – all paper rubbish to be recycled

7. – children to take home lunch rubbish (other than food scraps)

8. – children and families encouraged to use lunch containers that can be recycled instead of disposable wrappings

This project is continually being reviewed with guidance from Chris Duggan (Terranova).

D. E. Anderson

Assistant Principal
Kaiapoi North School
29 February, 2008