Schooling recycling champions

Local schools are working with Council to help their students become recycling champions.

Council’s Sustainability Officer Emma Menzies says most of Noosa’s schools are now recycling in some way, shape or form.

At Noosa High’s Pomona campus, the school’s student leaders have risen to the challenge. 

Council has provided the school with recycling bins for the classrooms and the student leaders are spreading the recycling message to other students.

They also make sure the bins are out at the kerb for collection each fortnight.

“There is a great energy around campus on the recycling campaign, the student leaders are taking the lead and everyone is coming up with great ideas,” says the school’s Junior Engagement Leader Alex Nockles.

Ms Menzies has met with many Noosa schools to explain what happens to our recycled items and show the students around Council’s landfill.

“The invitation is open to all schools and we can assist with transport. At the landfill we show students an old capped landfill cell and discuss what happens to the methane gas and leachate that is captured. Most people don’t think about where their waste goes once they put it in the bin,” Ms Menzies said.

Lots of the students go home and tell their parents why we should be trying to reduce our waste and why recycling makes a difference and what can be recycled. 

The workshops can be adjusted to fit each school’s curriculum. Generally, they include a short video screening and a presentation about what items can and can’t be recycled. 

“Plus we discuss what happens to waste and the simple things we can do to reduce the amount of waste ending up in landfill.  For example, many students don’t understand that all the garden waste that is put into Council’s green bins is recycled as mulch. 

“We also talk about the detrimental effects of plastic on marine life in the ocean,” Ms Menzies said.

Ms Menzies said all local schools could book a presentation from Council. Call (07) 5329 6500 for details.

“It’s great to see that students are really interested in caring for the environment and learning how to reuse and recycle more of their waste,” Ms Menzies said.

For more information about waste and recycling visit Council’s website.

27 February 2017