Recycling

In line with the Future Earth theme of National Science Week (special thank you to Mrs Lu Pollard and Mrs Shelley Hogan for organising such a variety of stimulating and interesting activities this week) I am happy to report that throughout the Junior College, the system for recycling food waste is functioning. Food scrap waste is collected daily from specially coloured bins and placed into a composting apparatus (OSCA), which turns organic waste into clean, usable compost. This compost is then used on gardens throughout the College grounds.

With the recycling of organic waste occurring successfully, the next step in the process of lowering our environmental footprint will be an increased focus on the collection of recyclable material and the lessening of waste going to landfill. At assembly earlier this term, I spoke with students about recycling and its importance.

We encourage parents to consider this when preparing food for their children’s morning tea and lunch. There are alternatives for replacing much of the plastic used in lunch boxes. Although the use of paper bags is not ideal, it is certainly preferable to plastic. Reusable stainless steel water bottles and cutlery can be used instead of plastic ones. Tupperware containers are also great for storing food items.

Developing a social culture of sustainability and environmental awareness begins in childhood. By involving students in the practical application of such a philosophy, we can help them grow into adults who are environmentally aware and who practise simple forms of waste management and recycling. Individually, we may perceive our actions to be small, but collaboratively as a community, the impact can be immense.