How the Gloucestershire Energy from Waste Facility is helping students learn about sustainable waste management

The Gloucestershire Energy from Waste Facility supports local schools, colleges, and universities by helping their students learn about sustainable waste management and resource use. In 2023, the Facility accommodated just under 20 bookings for educational institutions including Dinglewell Junior School, Balcarras School, Hartpury College and Gloucestershire College, among others.

Students are given the opportunity to tour the Facility, discover more about the energy from waste process, and see first-hand how household residual waste is treated to generate the equivalent electricity to power around 25,000 homes. Bookings, which are free of charge for educational institutions, also include the use of the Visitor Centre’s Aerodrome classroom where groups can learn more about sustainable waste management and the 4Rs: reduce, reuse, recycle and recover, through insightful presentations, films, and posters. The Aerodrome is also available to book as a standalone classroom and includes a number of resources which provide useful tips on how households can reduce waste and recycle responsibly.

Wednesdays are set aside for bookings from any educational institution, with the next available dates starting in October 2024. Bookings for groups with certain SEND requirements are also available upon request.

In addition to on-site learning opportunities, the Facility’s website also offers a range of educational resources which are free to use including videos, information boards, lesson plans and games for those wanting to find out more about the energy from waste process.

Dan Pearson, General Manager, commented: 

“Alongside treating waste, we understand that we have a responsibility to help educate the local community in sustainable waste practices. The interest in tours for schools has been overwhelming and we look forward to welcoming more in the future. Make sure you keep up to date with our future activities by visiting our website or our Facebook Group.”

The Facility is constantly looking for new and exciting ways to engage with students and, in the last year, has delivered two poppy seed bomb workshops, a papermaking workshop, and an art competition. The Facility also provides opportunities for apprenticeships and work experience placements to help local young people gain valuable knowledge and skills – please visit our Apprenticeships and Work Experience webpage for more information on how to apply.

Find out more about booking a school tour on the Site Tours and Visitor Centre page. Also, sign up for the newsletter to receive regular updates from the Facility.