About the Pod

The Pod our award winning school’s programme, was launched back in September 2008 and has since become the largest programme of its type. In the summer of 2019, Wastebuster (CIC) UK, took over the programme from EDF Energy and we’re looking forward to taking it on to even more exciting things.

Since the launch more than 22,000 schools and 38,000 teachers have registered with us – plus over 200 schools across 56 countries including Hong Kong, India, Costa Rica, Japan, Russia, South Africa and Australia.

Through the Pod, Wastebuster aims to use its engaging multi-media resources and characters to inspire young people and their families to choose a more sustainable lifestyle. We have a particular focus on energy, waste and biodiversity but also cover a range of other environmental topics.

www.jointhepod.org is an interactive website for teachers, community group leaders and children. All of the resources are curriculum linked, free and are aimed at 4 – 16 year olds. We have lesson plans, practical activities, assemblies, films, games and information packs as well as posters, stickers and badges.

Our national campaigns; Switch-Off Fortnight, Waste Week, and What’s under your feet? help the whole school, parents and the local community to engage with important sustainability messages. We have worked closely with Eco-Schools England to ensure that participation in a Pod environmental campaign will help a school reach their bronze, silver or green flag ambitions.

To ensure the Pod continues to deliver what schools need – we undertake annual research with teachers and students from across the UK. We also regularly consult with a panel of teachers who help us by giving feedback on our resources, our website, our communications and future development plans and ideas.

Wastebuster is a not-for-profit community interest company. We are actively looking for like-minded organisations to work with us, to provide sponsorship and/or support so that we are able to continue to run and grow the programme.

If you would like to give us feedback, or work with the Pod – please contact us.