Here is a tray of clean classroom waste. Look carefully at each thing. Where should it go when we are finished with it?

Hands up: which of these do you think could be used again somehow?

Now look at the crisp packet. Landfill is where rubbish goes when we cannot recycle, compost or reuse it. Many crisp packets still end up there.

Hands up: which place is better for a clean plastic bottle, recycle or landfill? Which place is worst for the environment if we send everything there?

Now look at a dry leaf or fruit peel. Plant scraps can go to compost, where they break down into compost that feeds soil.

Look at a clean jar or the blank side of scrap paper. That can be reuse: use it again as it is.

Call out: dry leaf — compost or landfill? Clean jar — reuse or landfill?

In your group, look carefully at each clean waste item on your tray. Talk about what it is made of. Then place it in one of the four places: recycle, compost, reuse or landfill.

If your group disagrees, say why. Be ready to explain one choice to the class.

Your trays are sorted. Now we settle the arguments.

The board holds six hard cases, the kind groups argue about. For each one, answer the yes-or-no questions together. Then say whether the board's answer matches what your group decided, and what changed your mind.