Recycling workshops

About our recycling workshops

We run a range of recycling events and workshops to help your school, community group or business reach recycling goals. All our events and workshops are free. Please email wasteeducation@belfastcity.gov.uk for more information about our recycling sessions.

Community initiatives

We can visit adult community based groups and businesses to provide free recycling workshops including:

• recycling talks and seminars
• cookery demonstrations showing how to reduce food waste
• informal chats at coffee mornings
• information stands at events
• recycling quizzes and "BinGo"
• composting workshops
• crafting sessions

We can create tailored sessions for your group based on your aims and objectives. 

For more information or to book a visit email wasteeducation@belfastcity.gov.uk

Educational initiatives

We provide an extensive free recycling education programme for schools. All sessions link in with the curriculum as well as contributing towards achieving the Eco-Schools Green Flag award. We can also offer help and advice to schools working on the Eco-Schools programme (link opens in new window).

Foundation

For foundation stage pupils, we offer "Mr Rat’s Recycling Roadshow". This session includes a simple introduction to recycling, Mr Rat’s Recycling Story and a visit from Mr Rat.

This session lasts about 25 minutes.

Key stage 1

Our key stage 1 programme includes:

• The story of paper: a general recycling talk with a specific focus on paper. This session lasts about 30 minutes.
• Assembly sessions: focused on general recycling, but can be adapted to focus on a specific issue or topic. The length of these sessions is flexible.
• Dig for Victory: compares recycling and food waste issues today with those during WW2. This session lasts between 30-45 minutes, and can include a planting activity.
• Food waste and composting: an introduction to composting and food waste. It includes the roles of mini beasts. Each session lasts about 30 minutes.

Key stage 2 and 3

Our key stage 2 and 3 programmes include:

• A general recycling talk which is 30 minutes long
• Assembly sessions: focused on general recycling, but can be adapted to focus on a specific issue or topic. The length of these sessions is flexible.
• Paper making workshop*: turn your classroom into a paper recycling factory. Each session lasts one hour.
• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle quiz: an interactive recycling quiz lasting 45 minutes.
• Food waste and composting quiz**: an interactive quiz lasting 45 minutes.
• Food waste and composting talk: an informative talk explaining composting, food waste and the vital role of decomposers in recycling nutrients. This session lasts about 30 minutes.
• Is plastic fantastic? talk: is plastic the villain it has been made out to be or is plastic a fantastic material and we are the problem?

We can also create tailored sessions for your school based on your individual aims and objectives. 

*Only available for key stage 2
**Only available for key stage 3

Further and Higher Education

Sessions are also available for further and higher education establishments, for both students and staff. Please email wasteeducation@belfastcity.gov.uk for more information.

Book a recycling session

To book a session with our Recycling Education Team, email wasteeducation@belfastcity.gov.uk. 

Free wormeries for schools and community organisations

Wormeries are a great way of recycling food waste into rich compost and liquid plant food.

Schools and community groups in Belfast can apply for a free Worm Works wormery. If your application is successful, your school will receive:

• a wormery
• one kilogram of composting worms
• an electronic information pack about how to use your wormery including how to set it up, what to feed the worms and answers to common questions

The design of the wormery makes it easy to use, to see what the worms are doing and to extract the finished compost.

How to apply

There are a limited number of wormeries available on a strictly first come first served basis. Applications are only open to schools and community organisations in the Belfast City Council area. Please note, this scheme is not open to individuals or households.

You can apply by emailing wasteeducation@belfastcity.gov.uk.