Zero waste junior workshop: 11 ideas to explore in class with 9 to 14 year olds

Young people have lots of ideas for reducing waste… as long as they are given a voice! The Ecofrugal Zero waste junior workshop was created at the request of teachers who had taken part in our adult workshops. Ready to use and free, it lets you run a whole class: pupils share their solutions, learn from each other, and come up together with actions for their school.

In English too. The booklet and the pupils' workbook are written in French and their English version is being prepared: contact us to receive a translated copy.

Who is it for?

The booklet is designed for teachers, from the last years of primary school to lower secondary school — history and geography, citizenship, life and earth sciences… — but also for anyone working with young people aged 9 to 14 who wants to get them thinking about their habits. It's an excellent tool to support eco-delegates in their projects.

Unlike the adult workshops, there is no need to register the workshop on the platform: just download the booklet and print the pupils' workbook.

How does it work?

The workshop lasts about 2 hours, in one go or in two sessions. The materials are simple: about 80 sticky notes, a board, a pen per team and a timer. The teacher introduces the workshop, keeps time and leads the feedback.

The 11 zero waste ideas

1. I avoid disposable products: water bottle, rechargeable batteries, fruit compote in a jar rather than in a disposable pouch…
2. I repair and make my things last: taking care of your phone and your games console, and why not organise a Repair Café at school.
3. I buy second-hand: clothes, trainers, games, books…
4. I give and I take: what about a give-box in the school hall?
5. I sort and recycle: in France, since 2023, all packaging goes in the recycling bin everywhere. Pupils can also train as recycling ambassadors or collect used pens.
6. I reduce my packaging and discover bulk buying: homemade snacks, refusing bags, canteen packaging…
7. I swap: a clothes swap or an object swap in class.
8. I borrow and I lend: library, toy library, between friends.
9. I reduce food waste: at home and in the canteen.
10. I go for homemade: recipes, and even hygiene or cleaning products.
11. I compost: a composter at school, a vegetable garden, a nesting box for birds…

And after the workshop?

The pupils' proposals can be presented to the school management, and other classes can do the workshop in turn: the more often the same ideas come up, the more weight they carry! The photo of the Wish Tree makes a great poster for the classroom.

And if you enjoyed the experience, you can continue with an adult workshop, with your colleagues, your neighbours or your family.

To respect the neutrality of public education, no box containing branded products is sent for this workshop.

The spirit of the workshop

We keep it practical, we use examples, we listen to each other, and we try to build on other people's ideas rather than contradict them. Each pupil discovers that they already hold part of the solution, and that collective intelligence takes us much further. A first step towards learning to act together!

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to be an environmental specialist?

No. The booklet gives the teacher the whole running order, the instructions and the pupils' workbook. The pupils bring the solutions!

How much does it cost?

Nothing. The booklet is free: just enter your email address to receive it.

Can we take photos?

Yes, to keep a record of the workshop, with the parents' consent for any sharing, and letting pupils who don't want to be photographed go behind the camera.

How can we tell you about our experience?

Write to us at team@monatelier-ecofrugal.fr with the number of pupils, the name of the school and the subject taught: your feedback helps us improve the booklet.

To go further

Discover the Ecofrugal Zero waste workshop for adults, and find many ideas to reduce waste in the Consumption section of Le Guide Écofrugal (Leduc, 2025, in French), with a foreword by Fabrice Bonnifet.