New Launch: Empowering Our Youth with Free Zero Waste Educational Resources from Twinkl
- admin928473
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
Here at Zero Waste SG, we believe that achieving a Zero Waste Nation is a collective effort that requires dedication from individuals, communities, and organisations alike. Crucially, the journey towards resource conservation must begin with education - instilling the right values and practical knowledge in the next generation.
As part of this vision, we launched the Zero Waste Explorers (ZWEX) programme in 2025 to build the right zero waste habits from a young age. Zero Waste Explorers is an interactive programme designed for both preschoolers and educators. It entails 3 learning sessions, combining workshops, hands-on activities, and teaching resources to build lifelong sustainability habits. By bringing waste reduction practices into classrooms and homes, the programme will lay the foundation for a new generation of waste-conscious citizens.
We are therefore delighted to announce a meaningful new partnership with Twinkl, the world’s trusted educational publisher. This collaboration has produced a new suite of localised and engaging Zero Waste Educational Resources, equipping teachers with ready-to-use materials that help them reinforce key concepts long after each workshop. This continuity is essential for helping children build lasting habits around waste reduction and mindful consumption, ensuring that the values introduced during the programme continue to grow throughout the school year. The resources are available for free to all educators and parents in Singapore.
By combining Twinkl’s expertise in creating compelling learning materials with our deep understanding of Singapore’s environmental challenges and solutions, we are bridging the gap between advocacy and the classroom.
The Imperative for Change: Why Waste Education in Singapore is Critical
Our advocacy is driven by a clear national imperative. We must accelerate our transition towards a Circular Economy to ensure resource resilience for the future.
The Semakau Landfill Challenge
Singapore’s resource constraints are well-known. At the current rate of disposal, our only landfill, Semakau Landfill, is projected to reach its full capacity by 2035. This fact underscores the critical need to drastically reduce the waste generated per capita, a core objective of the Zero Waste Masterplan.
Teaching waste consciousness to children is not just an optional enrichment activity; it is a foundational life skill. It encourages them to critically assess consumption habits and understand the profound, physical impact their choices have on our land.
Adopting the 5Rs and the Circular Economy Mindset
The philosophy of Zero Waste is fundamentally anchored in the 5Rs: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Rot. These actions are placed in a deliberate order of priority:
Refuse to say no to what you don’t need (avoiding waste at the source).
Reduce consumption and waste minimisation.
Reuse items in their current form for as long as possible.
Recycle materials that cannot be avoided or reused.
Rot organic items by composting, letting them safely return to the environment.
At its core, the shift to the 5Rs is a mindset change. It moves us away from the traditional, linear way of consuming things, towards becoming deeply conscious of our own consumption patterns. Every effort to reduce waste counts. Through these Singapore sustainability lessons, our collaboration with Twinkl aims to empower students with the tools to understand and practise the 5Rs and become active stewards of a sustainable society.
Zero Waste SG x Twinkl: Bringing Advocacy to the Classroom
The strength of this partnership lies in localisation and accessibility. We ensured the new materials are accurate, highly engaging, and contextualised to resonate with the Singaporean experience.
These free educational resources enable teachers, educators and parents to easily integrate vital environmental themes into children’s learning experiences, making complex topics like waste processing and resource recovery understandable for younger learners.
You can access all these free resources by signing up for a free Twinkl membership at www.twinkl.com.sg/sign-up
Discover the New, Localised Resource Suite
We encourage all teachers, parents, and community partners to download and utilise these resources to drive awareness in their spheres of influence.
Following the Rubbish Journey: Semakau Landfill Activities
These resources explore the complex topic of waste disposal in Singapore, visualising the journey of our rubbish - from the blue bin to the incinerator, and finally to Semakau Landfill. Through engaging, hands-on activities like the Help Us Dispose Items at Singapore’s Semakau Landfill and What Happens to Our Rubbish? Process Map Activity, children can better understand how waste is managed and appreciate the importance of reducing and recycling.
Practical Action: Conscious Decision-Making
This resource provides the practical steps necessary for action.
The Conscious Decisions Kit focuses on the upstream part of the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle), guiding children through scenarios where they can choose the sustainable path over the convenient, disposable one.
Creative Reinforcement: Localised Colouring Sheets
Even simple creative activities can reinforce key messages. These themed sheets use local context to familiarise children with Zero Waste concepts while developing positive associations with environmental responsibility.
Join Us in Empowering the Next Generation
We invite all partners - from teachers and schools to corporations and individuals - to champion these resources. By making Zero Waste education accessible and impactful, we are collectively investing in a Singapore where resources are valued and conserved.
Discover these free resources and join us in guiding young learners toward a more sustainable tomorrow.
Together, we can realise the vision of a truly sustainable and Zero Waste Singapore.
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