Recycling Monitoring Spreadsheet

Teachers' notes
This spreadsheet has been developed to meet these objectives:
1. Provide children, especially Years 5 and 6 with opportunities to use spreadsheets, and observe their capa
calculations using formulae; graph making
2. Provide schools with tools to assist with Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship, in
the Eco-schools award scheme: www.eco-schoolswales.org.uk

How to Use this Spreadsheet

This spreadsheet (or 'workbook', to use Microsoft's terminology), is made of several worksheets, each of wh
clicking on the labelled tabs at the bottom of this screen e.g. 'White paper'.
This spreadsheet has been designed with the expectation that data will be collected over seven weeks, with
over a longer period.
The idea has been to simplyfy the recording process (counting units of waste, such as bags), but using a ex
some more specific data.

All that needs to be filled in on each sheet is

a) The weight of an example unit (be it box, caddy or bag) in box E3
b) The units of weight you will use (grams/kilograms/pounds etc) in E4
c) Replace Week number in Column B (optional)
d) The number of units collected (use decimals to indicated fractions of bags e.g half full bag = 0.5)
The table should now calculate the weekly weight total for you, and show the running total.
If you are able to weigh all items, or don't have standard bags, you can leave E3 empty, and ent
individually.
To do this, a)Click on the review tab on toolbar. b)Click on Unprotect sheet. c)Select th
then right click. d)Select Format Cells from the menu. E)Click on the protection tab an
locked box. You should now be able to enter your own weights.

Notes on the ICT involved in this spreadshe

Some sophisticated geekery has been used to create this spreadsheet, but most of the technical aspects are
working at National Curriculum Levels 3-5 in IT. This spreadsheet is intended to show the possibilities to up
for them to use in the spreadsheets they work with themselves. Here are some examples:
Formatting: as with word-processing software, the appearance is greatly enhanced by editing the size and
tool enables selected cells to have coloured backgrounds, which improves the readability of tables.

The Tools/Options/View tab give the option to un-tick the Gridlines box, which also improves the look of the

Clicking and dragging on the boundaries between column headings (e.g. between A and B) enables tables t
Selecting a cell, right-clicking and choosing 'Format Cells' reveals possibilities such as in the Alignment tab,
can flow over several lines within one cell, or shrink to fit the cell (as is used where you enter the types of f
most)
Using formulae: all of the formulae used can be seen, by viewing the '=' letterbox at the top of the screen
can be studied by children, with a view to creating their own. Where formulae are complicated, this has bee
spreadsheet to cope with eventualities such as there being no data for certain days (e.g. if the infants were
was closed for a day of the week)

Notes for those keen on the ICT

Protecting sheets You are free to amend this spreadsheet for your own purposes. To do so, you will need
you want to change. (On the Tools menu, select Protection, then 'Unprotect Sheet') You can then protect th
others tampering with it (Tools/Protection/Protect Sheet). This will give you the option of adding a password
dangerous, because if forgotten, the sheet is protected forever.
To leave certain cells alterable whilst the sheet is protected (as has been done in this workbook), the releva
formatted before the protection is applied to the sheet (select the cell, right click, 'Format Cells', Protection
tickbox)
Inserting comments: right-click on a selected cell, select 'Insert Comment', and type one in. The cell will
triangle on the top right-hand corner, and show the comment when the pointer is placed over the cell.
 Eco-schools
Recycling Template
White Paper
a) How much does a unit (e.g bags) of paper weigh?
b) What is the unit used? (e.g g or Kg)
c) How much white paper are we recycling each week?
Week ending: Number of Weekly Total Running Total Weekly
units used 1

0.9
Leave Blank 0
0.8
Week 1 0 0
Week 2 0 0 0.7
Week 3 0 0

Weight recycled
0.6
Week 4 0 0
0.5
Week5 0 0
Week 6 0 0 0.4
Week 7 0 0 0.3
Week 8 0 0
0.2
Week 9 0 0
Week 10 0 0 0.1
0 0
0
0 0 Week 1 Week 2 Wee
0 0
0 0
d) How does our white paper use change over the time it has been measured?
e) What exactly uses white paper in our school?

f) What might be the reasons for the changes in our white paper use?

g) What could we do, to try to reduce our white paper use?

 Weekly White paper recycling

ek 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week5 Week 6 Week 7

Date
 Eco-schools
Recycling Template
Coloured paper
a) How much does a unit (e.g bags) of paper weigh?
b) What is the unit used? (e.g g or Kg)
c) How much Coloured paper are we recycling each week?
Week ending: Number of Weekly Total Running Total
units used

Leave Blank 0
Week 1 0 0
Week 2 0 0
Week 3 0 0
Week 4 0 0
Week5 0 0
Week 6 0 0
Week 7 0 0
Week 8 0 0
Week 9 0 0
Week 10 0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
d) How does our Coloured paper use change over the time it has been measured?
e) What exactly uses Coloured paper in our school?

f) What might be the reasons for the changes in our Coloured paper use?

g) What could we do, to try to reduce our Coloured paper use?

 Weekly coloured paper recycling
1

0.9

0.8

0.7
Weight recycled

0.6

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week5 Week 6 Week 7
Date

asured?
 Eco-schools
Recycling Template
Cardboard
a) How much does a unit (e.g bags) of card weigh?
b) What is the unit used? (e.g g or Kg)
c) How much Cardboard are we recycling each week?
Week ending: Number of Weekly Total Running Total Weekly
units used 1

0.9
Leave Blank 0
0.8
Week 1 0 0
Week 2 0 0 0.7
Week 3 0 0

Weight recycled
0.6
Week 4 0 0
0.5
Week5 0 0
Week 6 0 0 0.4
Week 7 0 0 0.3
Week 8 0 0
0.2
Week 9 0 0
Week 10 0 0 0.1
0 0
0
0 0 Week 1 Week 2 Wee
0 0
0 0
d) How does our Cardboard use change over the time it has been measured?
e) What exactly uses Cardboard in our school?

f) What might be the reasons for the changes in our Cardboard use?

g) What could we do, to try to reduce our Cardboard use?

 Weekly cardboard recycling

ek 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week5 Week 6 Week 7

Date
 Eco-schools
Recycling Template
Food Waste
a) How much does a unit (e.g bags) of food waste weigh?
b) What is the unit used? (e.g g or Kg)
c) How much Food Waste are we recycling each week?
Week ending: Number of Weekly Total Running Total Weekly
units used 1

0.9
Leave Blank 0
0.8
Week 1 0 0
Week 2 0 0 0.7
Week 3 0 0

Weight recycled
0.6
Week 4 0 0
0.5
Week5 0 0
Week 6 0 0 0.4
Week 7 0 0 0.3
Week 8 0 0
0.2
Week 9 0 0
Week 10 0 0 0.1
0 0
0
0 0 Week 1 Week 2 Wee
0 0
0 0
d) How does our Food Waste use change over the time it has been measured?
e) What exactly uses Food Waste in our school?

f) What might be the reasons for the changes in our Food Waste use?
 Weekly Food Waste recycling

ek 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week5 Week 6 Week 7

Date
 Eco-schools
Recycling Template
Plastic
a) How much does a unit (e.g bags) of plastic weigh?
b) What is the unit used? (e.g g or Kg)
c) How much Plastic are we recycling each week?
Week ending: Number of Weekly Total Running Total Week
units used 1

0.9
Leave Blank 0
0.8
Week 1 0 0
Week 2 0 0 0.7
Week 3 0 0

Weight recycled
0.6
Week 4 0 0
0.5
Week5 0 0
Week 6 0 0 0.4
Week 7 0 0 0.3
Week 8 0 0
0.2
Week 9 0 0
Week 10 0 0 0.1
0 0
0
0 0 Week 1 Week 2 Wee
0 0
0 0
d) How does our Plastic use change over the time it has been measured?
e) What exactly uses Plastic in our school?

f) What might be the reasons for the changes in our Plastic use?

g) What could we do, to try to reduce our Plastic use?

 Weekly plastic recycling

ek 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week5 Week 6 Week 7

Date
 Eco-schools
Recycling Template
Glass
a) How much does a unit (e.g bags) of glass weigh?
b) What is the unit used? (e.g g or Kg)
c) How much Glass are we recycling each week?
Week ending: Number of Weekly Total Running Total Wee
units used 1

0.9
Leave Blank 0
0.8
Week 1 0 0
Week 2 0 0 0.7
Week 3 0 0

Weight recycled
0.6
Week 4 0 0
0.5
Week5 0 0
Week 6 0 0 0.4
Week 7 0 0 0.3
Week 8 0 0
0.2
Week 9 0 0
Week 10 0 0 0.1
0 0
0
0 0 Week 1 Week 2 Wee
0 0
0 0
d) How does our Glass use change over the time it has been measured?
e) What exactly uses Glass in our school?

f) What might be the reasons for the changes in our Glass use?

g) What could we do, to try to reduce our Glass use?

 Weekly glass recycling

ek 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week5 Week 6 Week 7

Date
 Eco-schools
Recycling Template
Metal
a) How much does a unit (e.g bags) of metal weigh?
b) What is the unit used? (e.g g or Kg)
c) How much Metal are we recycling each week?
Week ending: Number of Weekly Total Running Total Weekly
units used 1

0.9
Leave Blank 0
0.8
Week 1 0 0
Week 2 0 0 0.7
Week 3 0 0

Weight recycled
0.6
Week 4 0 0
0.5
Week5 0 0
Week 6 0 0 0.4
Week 7 0 0 0.3
Week 8 0 0
0.2
Week 9 0 0
Week 10 0 0 0.1
0 0
0
0 0 Week 1 Week 2 Wee
0 0
0 0
d) How does our Metal use change over the time it has been measured?
e) What exactly uses Metal in our school?

f) What might be the reasons for the changes in our Metal use?

g) What could we do, to try to reduce our Metal use?

 Weekly cardboard recycling

ek 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week5 Week 6 Week 7

Date
 Eco-schools
Recycling Template
Other items 1

a) How much does a unit (e.g bags) of Other items 1 weigh?

b) What is the unit used? (e.g g or Kg)
c) How much Other items 1 are we recycling each week?
Week ending: Number of Weekly Total Running Total Weekly
units used 1

0.9
Leave Blank 0
0.8
Week 1 0 0
Week 2 0 0 0.7
Week 3 0 0

Weight recycled
0.6
Week 4 0 0
0.5
Week5 0 0
Week 6 0 0 0.4
Week 7 0 0 0.3
Week 8 0 0
0.2
Week 9 0 0
Week 10 0 0 0.1
0 0
0
0 0 Week 1 Week 2 Wee
0 0
0 0
d) How does our Other items 1 use change over the time it has been measured?
e) What exactly uses Other items 1 in our school?

f) What might be the reasons for the changes in our Other items 1 use?

g) What could we do, to try to reduce our Other items 1 use?

 Weekly cardboard recycling

ek 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week5 Week 6 Week 7

Date
 Evaluat
How much d
recycle
Total Weight Total Weight
White Paper 0
Coloured Paper 0 White Paper
Cardboard 0
Coloured
Food Waste 0 Paper
Plastic 0
Cardboard
Glass 0
Food Waste
Metal 0
Other 1 0

TOTAL 0

What made up most of your recycling?

How much did you recycle in total, and where would it have gone otherwise?

What might your recycling be used for in the future?

 Evaluation:
How much did you
recycle?
Weight
White Paper Plastic
Coloured Glass
Paper
Cardboard Metal
Food Waste Other 1