Research Questions
Task 1
What types and amounts of waste are produced in Australian households over one day?
- How can you categorise the different types of waste your household produces (e.g. glass, metal, paper, cardboard, plastics, organic, other)?
- How much of each type of waste did your household produce in one day?
- What percentage does each waste type contribute to the total waste in your home?
Task 2
How does waste generation and management differ between households, and what factors influence this?
- Compare your household’s waste data with that of your classmates. What similarities and differences do you notice?
- What are some factors (e.g. family size, recycling habits, types of products used) that could explain differences in waste amounts and types between households?
- How much of your household’s waste could be recycled or composted, and what challenges might families face in sorting waste correctly?
Task 3
How can applying the Waste Hierarchy and sustainability principles help reduce household waste, and what strategies can you design to educate your school community?
- Using the Waste Hierarchy, identify which actions (reduce, reuse, recycle, etc.) could make the biggest difference in your home’s waste production.
- Develop a waste reduction message or campaign (e.g. a blog post, infographic, presentation) for your school community, incorporating digital literacy and critical and creative thinking.
- How will you evaluate whether your strategies or messages could change people’s behaviour and help the environment?