Since 2017, AWARE has successfully delivered the Zero Waste Educator program for the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD), offering engaging waste reduction workshops to schools.
The workshop goals include increasing the knowledge and awareness of local, regional and global waste management challenges and reduction opportunities. Building an understanding of the key actions students and community members can take to reduce waste and maximize diversion from landfill at school and at home.
The workshops also ensure that classroom waste systems are aligned with regional best practice – all to empower students to become zero waste champions in their communities. This valuable time spent in the classroom brings the vital message of waste and how to manage it correctly to the next generation.
Image: Les Aiglons, Grade 7 Pledge Cards
Workshops in Numbers
The workshops have spanned across the last seven academic years, starting with 16 workshops to 372 students at 5 schools. Today, around 71 workshops are delivered to an average of 1281 students across 18 schools. The focus of the workshops has been with Grade 4, 7 and 10 however they have been delivered to all ages between 5 and 17. See below stats and some examples of Zero Waste Hero drawings from Grade 1 participants.
Since it’s initiation, we have seen…
- 210% increase in student participation
- 220% increase in school participation
- 343% increase in workshops taking place
| Year | Total Schools | Total Workshops | Total Students |
| 2017-18 | 5 | 16 | 372 |
| 2018-19 | 9 | 37 | 925 |
| 2019-20 | 15 | 54 | 1551 |
| 2020-21 | 13 | 38 | 669 |
| 2021-22 | 20 | 55 | 1153 |
| 2022-23 | 19 | 58 | 1266 |
| 2023-24 | 17 | 60 | 1424 |
| 2024-25 | 16 | 71 | 1154 |
Table 1: Number of schools & students participation, workshops delivered and total classes since initiation to last year.
| Year | Number of Students | ZW Educator Delivery Hours | Student Learning Hours |
| 2017/18 | 372 | 8 | 186 |
| 2018/19 | 925 | 18.5 | 463 |
| 2019/20 | 1551 | 27 | 698 |
| 2020/21 | 669 | 28.5 | 502 |
| 2021/22 | 1153 | 50 | 961 |
| 2022/23 | 1266 | 73.5 | 1611 |
| 2023/24 | 1424 | 69.75 | 1639 |
| 2024/25 | 1154 | 91.4 | 1485 |
Table 2: Number of students educated, the number of hours the Zero Waste (ZW) Educator spent with students and the overall student learning hours calculated based on this.
The team at AWARE are committed to ensuring the delivery of these workshops and educating young people on the importance of waste management. If you would like to learn more about all things waste, click here.
Images: Le Vallée de Pemberton Grade 1 How to become a Zero Waste Hero
This initiative is proudly delivered with funding support from the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD).
