Helping Whitsunday schools to reduce their carbon footprint
A new waste education program for schools in the Whitsunday Region will aim to educate our youngest citizens on how to reduce organic waste going to landfill to reduce their carbon footprint and contribute to broader efforts to help protect the Great Barrier Reef.
The School Waste Minimisation Program being delivered by Whitsunday Regional Council and EnviroCom Australia will support schools to take a bigger step in reducing rubbish and food waste.
Acting Mayor Mike Brunker said that implementing a program like this in our region’s schools aims to change behaviours around waste from an early age, help students develop good habits and of course take those ideas home to share with the family.
“This program provides a fantastic opportunity to show our children how to make the right choices when it comes to waste with a focus on the reduction of food and garden waste to landfill, and how to prevent waste in the first place,” he said.
“Not only will they learn about waste minimisation, but they conduct a school waste audit, be set up with a goal-oriented Waste Management Plan, receive support in developing a grant application for funding for the school community to reduce organic waste and a one-on-one consultation with a waste consultant to develop and implement an ongoing program.
“Projects will differ across the schools however typical organic waste diversion systems used schools include worm farming and composting.
“Living on the doorstep to the Great Barrier Reef, it’s exciting we can provide them with the tools they need to implement ongoing sustainable waste management practices and help protect our environment now and into the future.”
Whitsunday schools will soon be asked to complete an Expression of Interest to participate in the program anticipated to commence in Term 3.
The program which comes under the banner of 'Helping local schools, businesses and families reduce their carbon footprint by reducing food waste' is one of ten projects identified in the Community Action Plan (CAP) for our region developed by Reef Catchments.
The School Waste Minimisation Program and Mackay Whitsunday Isaac Community Action Plan are funded by the partnership between the Australian Government’s Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, and Whitsunday Regional Council.