EarthCARE Projects and Activities

EarthCARE has been enthusiastically adopted across the OCDSB (Ottawa-Carleton District School Board) with a variety of projects and activities resulting. The following are just a few:

• The Paper Revolution - paper that has only been used on one side and is not confidential is stored in boxes in classrooms for re-use. Teachers accept assignments on these recyclables and some schools are accepting newsprint as well.
• Pizza Boxes - pizza boxes are now accepted for recycling because of a partnership between the schools and the pizza outlets that frees the boxes from contamination. Schools only order from outlets that use plastic liners to absorb grease and all food is cleaned from the boxes before recycling, leaving them free from contamination.
• Overhead projector and Power Point use - reduces photocopying, thereby saving paper.
• LOCO (lights off, computers off) - school audits revealed that significant energy is wasted in empty classrooms with lights and computers left on, so students and staff practice "LOCO".
• Battery recycling - battery bake sales, battery raffles, battery collection competitions - the imaginative ideas keep coming as schools develop strategies to encourage people to recycle dead batteries.
• EarthCARE Fair - held on April 20, this board-wide event featured three dimensional globe projects, conservation posters and Innovation presentations. Dr. David Suzuki was on hand to congratulate the winners and speak to the students.