This section is intended to give you an introduction and background information on the current ten Eco-Schools Scotland topics, and provide some suggestions for ways to take these forward.

Litter
Waste Minimisation
Energy
Water
Transport
Health and Well-Being
School Grounds
Biodiversity
Sustaining Our World
Food and the Environment

Each topic section provides useful background information that puts the topic into the context of schools and the wider world, together with advice about how your school can make a difference. You will also find suggestions for ways to link each topic to curriculum subjects that will help you to carry out the Environmental Review, target setting and monitoring stages of the Eco-Schools programme.

You must cover all ten environmental topics in your Environmental Review, but you need not tackle all ten topics in one go. Three Topics (including Litter) must be tackled for each Green Flag Award. Set realistic targets and concentrate on the areas that are most relevant to your school. Litter, however, is the one environmental topic that ALL schools must have taken action on when applying for each Green Flag Award.

Many of the topics in this section overlap or are closely related. Litter, for example, is closely related to Waste Minimisation, and Transport can be linked to Health and Well-Being. You may often find that by making progress in one area, you are taking steps towards improving your performance in another.

Information and links to specialist organisations that can provide additional support and resources for your Eco-Schools work are listed on our website.