Little learners, big sorting skills
In Fredrikstad one of the biggest challenges in local waste management has been poor sorting of household waste. So, to make a lasting difference, we decided to begin where habits are formed early — in the classroom.
Through an engaging school outreach program, Fredrikstad Municipality set out to teach fourth graders across the municiplaity how to sort waste correctly and understand why it matters. We developed colorful, interactive lessons that make sustainability both fun and memorable.
Over 2024 and 2025, we visited 36 classes in 19 schools, reaching around 830 students. Each session combined a lively presentation, hands-on sorting games, and quizzes. Every child proudly earned a “Waste Sorting Champion” diploma to take home.
Trygve the Fox inspires better habits
Thanks to TREASoURcE, we created a storybook following Trygve the Fox, who teaches his forest friends (and us humans!) about protecting nature and reducing litter. During school visits, children met Trygve, our beloved mascot in person as well.
Teachers have praised the program for being both engaging and educational. Many said their students became more aware of what happens to waste, and even started correcting sorting mistakes at home! To reach even more people, we brought our waste-sorting activities to some major community events. Hundreds of children and families participated, proving that sustainability can be fun, social, and inspiring. Our long term goal is that Trygve the Fox will become a cheerful symbol of circular thinking in Fredrikstad and that we can expand the program to kindergartens.
Youth Innovation Camps inspire
In June 2025 Fredrikstad Municipality, Ungt Entreprenørskap, and the TREASoURcE project joined forces to host a series of innovation camps for lower secondary school students. The goal was clear: inspire young people to think creatively about textile and food waste sorting, reduce waste, and spark new ideas for a more circular future.
We organized the camps at four schools in Fredrikstad. The camps were designed for 8th and 9th grade students — a generation that will shape tomorrow’s habits.
We asked students to work on two challenges:
- Food waste: Create a solution that reduces food waste and ensures correct sorting of food waste.
- Textiles: Develop ways to reduce textile consumption, increase reuse and recycling, and make repair easier.
Across the four schools, 368 students took part. At the end of the camp day, teams presented their solutions to a jury, and the winning groups received cinema tickets, which was a very popular prize.
The students impressed us with both creativity and practicality. Many groups presented solutions that could be implemented in real life — such as smart textile collection bins with QR-code alerts, systems for clothing return and reuse, and fun challenge-based concepts to reduce food waste.
Impact and Feedback
The feedback from schools and students was very positive. Teachers appreciated the mix of expert knowledge and hands-on creativity. Students were engaged, motivated, and eager to contribute ideas to real environmental problems. Many expressed that they learned new things about waste systems and felt inspired to take action. These camps helped spark curiosity, build problem-solving skills, and encourage circular thinking among the next generation.
19.02.2026 | Anna Gyüre-Szamosi (Fredrikstad Municipality)
For more information, contact: anngyu@fredrikstad.kommune.no