Hot on the tails of Earth Day, our participation in the Tianjin Recycling Challenge and the Sustainability and the Environment concept, during May and June Yew Chung International School of Beijing is hosting a variety of events, guest speakers and workshops in promotion of our Zero Waste Month. Organised with the help of the Parent Organisation, so far this week Years 1-2, 3-5 and 6-8 have all enjoyed informative assemblies on sustainability hosted by external experts.

For Years 1-5, Jessie Zhao and Mikel L’Italien from Pursuit Education hosted a brilliant assembly on plastic waste. Students learned where plastic comes from, where it goes when we’re finished with it, and that the weight of 30 million elephants in plastic is produced each year – that’s enough for the elephants to line up round the earth five times!

Natalie Bennett, environmental educator and initiator of the “Live Well with Less” movement, came in to lead an assembly with Years 6-8. She introduced our students to the idea of a circular economy – where, instead of going into landfill, waste can be used to produce new items. She also encouraged our students to pledge one small change to reduce their wastefulness. One thought-provoking example was to use only bar soap not shower gel. Bar soap is wrapped in less packaging (often only paper), and does not use a throwaway plastic container.

But Zero Waste Month is not just for students. Parents are warmly invited to attend one of two parent seminars next week hosted by Carrie Yu and Joe Harvey, environmental educators and founders of China’s first zero waste community and store THE BULK HOUSE.

The seminars – one in English and one in Chinese – will cover Carrie and Joe’s journey to becoming zero waste practitioners, the reasoning behind the zero waste concept, and guidance for moving towards a zero waste way of life. 

The seminar will be hosted in English on 29^th May, 08:30-10:00 and in Chinese on 30^th May, 13:30-15:00. We look forward to welcoming you to the event.

On Saturday 9^th June, Zero Waste Month will be culminating the Recycle, Reuse and Reduce ‘Re-Market’ – a community-wide, family-friendly event open to all. Please join us on campus to buy and exchange books, clothes, toys and furniture and partake in workshops and activities including a special composting workshop – all in promotion of waste reduction.

Annique Claussen, an active member of the YCIS PO and organiser of the Zero Waste Month commented:

“I previously thought that there was little difference between throwing organic waste into landfill versus compost, but I have recently learned that in fact there really is. In landfill, organic waste doesn’t rot but instead releases methane gas – the impact of methane on global warming is 60 times greater than that of CO2. The composting workshop at our Re-Market will be a great opportunity for all to learn more about this rewarding and environmentally friendly practise.”

A special thanks to the YCIS Beijing Parent Organisation for organising this brilliant month intended to raise awareness and improve our own sustainability. In introducing our students to these important principals and practises, we hope to support our ongoing endeavour to raise socially responsible Global Citizens.

Event Details:

Bulk House Parent Seminar: Open to YCIS Beijing Parents

• [English] Tuesday 29^th May, 08:30-10:00
• [Chinese] Wednesday 30^th May, 13:30-15:00

Re-Market: Open to all

Saturday 9^th June, 13:00-17:00

There will be two workshops taking place during the Re-Market:

• 13:30 Composting Workshop
• 15:00 Uniform Recycling and Fashion Show

To sign up for these workshops, and to hire a stand for the day, please visit https://yoopay.cn/event/70553914 or contact phoebe.yu@bj.ycef.com

If you are not an existing YCIS Beijing parent, please register for this event on our Yoopay page