Thomas Shore and James Gardner.
Camera IconThomas Shore and James Gardner. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Clarkson PS reducing waste thanks to colour-coded wheelie bins and 4000 worms

Lucy JarvisNorth Coast Times

COLOUR-CODED wheelie bins and more than 4000 worms are helping Clarkson Primary School students to reduce waste.

The school received funding from the Waste Authority for initiatives to reduce waste to landfill by implementing the 3Rs – reduce, reuse, and recycle – while developing positive environmental values.

A waste audit showed that more than 53 per cent of the school’s waste was food scraps.

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The four worm farms are now breaking down more than 20kg of fruit and vegetable scraps a week from five kindergarten and pre primary classes.

“Our young students are fascinated at how the worms eat all of the scraps and love going outside to explore the worms and vegie patch,” kindergarten teacher Paula Elieff said.

Yellow and red bins stand beside green bins throughout the school grounds, with students taking on the task of teaching fellow students the correct bins to dispose of hard and soft plastics.

“The Rubbish Rangers are beyond keen to reduce the school’s waste,” Year 5 teacher Gemma Kennedy said.

More than 75 per cent of plastic waste at the school is now being diverted from landfill through the bin system.

The school has 28 solar panels which power the science and music learning area and a 5000L rainwater tank that waters the community vegetable and fruit garden.

It is also developing an indigenous heritage ‘learnscape’.

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