Broad Bay School pupils returned from the Green Island landfill with treasures yesterday - but rather than cast-offs, they took ideas on how to reduce their environmental footprint.Senior room teacher Amy Williams said 47 pupils aged between 5 and 12 visited the facility as part of studies on ways to reduce the "human footprint on the world".
Pupils asked staff about stray animals, the recycling centre and toxic waste and were interested in what would happen to refuse after the facility closed in 2023, when it reached capacity.
"They also asked several questions about the smell, and whether people were bothered by it," she said.
The visit would lead to more research, presentations and a documentary for school community members and parents on ways to reduce the environmental impact of human activity, Miss Williams said.
Dunedin City Council education promotion officer Jenny Neilson said the pupils asked some "very pertinent questions" about toxicity, leachates (or run-off) and methane emissions from decomposing material.
"I left them with the challenge I give to all schoolchildren - to think about the one thing they can do to reduce waste levels."
The council ran about 40 tours of the landfill for Dunedin school groups annually, she said.
About 10 pupils from South Otago High School were to visit the landfill yesterday afternoon to complete a comparative survey on recycling systems between the Dunedin facility, and those in South Otago.
