James Bolton Public School students and teachers went through a garbage audit on Wednesday, hauling the 23 small garbage bags the school produced in one day into the gym.

Principal Lisa Miller-Wood and Vice Principal John Cumming ripped open one of the bags to examine the contents and show the children what should and should not have made it into the bin.

The school hopes to start a boomerang lunch program where everything that kids bring to school goes home with them. In the end the goal is to get the children to use reusable containers to ultimately reduce the amount of waste created, and also to make sure that everything ends up in its proper place.

“Fifty per cent or more has a place that’s not the garbage,” said parent volunteer Nancy Sutherland of what the 23 bags contained.

James Bolton will do another garbage audit near the end of the year to mark what progress has been made, and also hopes to become a certified eco-school next year.