Schools produce so much waste. But what we think is waste, can be a resource that doesn’t even need to leave the school grounds. By recycling more waste on site, we educate our students that waste is a valuable resource, and it takes energy to remove and process it.
At Winters Flat Primary School, we were inspired by the ABC’s 'War on Waste' series to investigate our own waste and make some changes.
First, we had to work out how much waste was going into recycling bins and general waste bins. Students found that bins were a lot of time half full and having large amounts of scrap paper from classrooms.
We decided to try to reduce the scrap paper and cardboard from our waste system and recycle it on site through our worm farms and compost bays. The first term of running in 2017 we recycled 9 cubic meters of waste on site.
On average we now recycle roughly 6.5 – 8 cubic meters per term. The total that has increased steadily is the soft plastic. At the end of 2019 it had risen to 1.75 cubic meters. As we don’t have anywhere to deliver it in Castlemaine, teachers take it to Bendigo when they go shopping.
All up Winters Flat Primary School’s War on Waste has been a great success.
2020
TERM 1
Here are our Term 1 totals for paper, organic and green waste recycling through our worm farms and compost bays.
Green Waste – 2.25 cubic meters
Organic Waste – 1.33 cubic meter
Paper/cardboard Waste – 1.30 cubic meters
Total waste recycled on site = 6.33 cubic meters!!
Also 1.45 cubic meters of soft plastics have been recycled through REDcycle.
.
TERM 2
Here are our Term 2 totals for paper, organic and green waste recycling through our worm farms and compost bays.
Green Waste – 2.00 cubic meters
Organic Waste – .90 cubic meter
Paper/cardboard Waste – .60 cubic meters
Total waste recycled on site = 3.50 cubic meters!!
Also .55 cubic meters of soft plastics have been recycled through REDcycle.
.
TERM 3
Here are our Term 3 totals for paper, organic and green waste recycling through our worm farms and compost bays.
Green Waste – 4.50 cubic meters
Organic Waste – .70 cubic meter
Paper/cardboard Waste – .25 cubic meters
Total waste recycled on site = 5.45 cubic meters!!
Also .36 cubic meters of soft plastics have been recycled through REDcycle.
.
2019
TERM 1
Here are our Term 1 totals for paper, organic and green waste recycling through our worm farms and compost bays.
Green Waste – 1.80 cubic meters
Organic Waste – 1.74 cubic meter
Paper/cardboard Waste – 1.80 cubic meters
Total waste recycled on site = 6.94 cubic meters!!
Also 1.6 cubic meters of soft plastics have been recycled through REDcycle.
TERM 2
Here are our Term 2 totals for paper, organic and green waste recycling through our worm farms and compost bays.
Green Waste – 2.30 cubic meters
Organic Waste – 1.86 cubic meter
Paper/cardboard Waste – 1.70 cubic meters
Total waste recycled on site = 7.41 cubic meters!!
Also 1.55 cubic meters of soft plastics have been recycled through REDcycle.
TERM 3
Here are our Term 3 totals for paper, organic and green waste recycling through our worm farms and compost bays.
Green Waste – 1.60 cubic meters
Organic Waste – 1.42 cubic meter
Paper/cardboard Waste – 1.45 cubic meters
Total waste recycled on site = 6.37 cubic meters!!
Also 1.9 cubic meters of soft plastics have been recycled through REDcycle.
TERM 4
Here are our Term 4 totals for paper, organic and green waste recycling through our worm farms and compost bays.
Green Waste – 2.55 cubic meters
Organic Waste – 1.64 cubic meter
Paper/cardboard Waste – 2.10 cubic meters
Total waste recycled on site = 8.04 cubic meters!!
Also 1.75 cubic meters of soft plastics have been recycled through REDcycle.
.
2018
TERM 1
Here are our Term 1 totals for paper, organic and green waste recycling through our worm farms and compost bays.
Green Waste – 1.5 cubic meters
Organic Waste – 1.86 cubic meter
Paper/cardboard Waste – 3.62 cubic meters
Total waste recycled on site = 6.98 cubic meters!!
Also .11 cubic meters of soft plastics have been recycled through REDcycle.
TERM 2
Here are our Term 2 totals for paper, organic and green waste recycling through our worm farms and compost bays.
Green Waste – 1.5 cubic meters
Organic Waste – 1.94 cubic meter
Paper/cardboard Waste – 2.8 cubic meters
Total waste recycled on site = 6.24 cubic meters!!
Also .28 cubic meters of soft plastics have been recycled through REDcycle.
TERM 3
Here are our Term 3 totals for paper, organic and green waste recycling through our worm farms and compost bays.
Green Waste – 2.5 cubic meters
Organic Waste – 2.94 cubic meter
Paper/cardboard Waste – 1.95 cubic meters
Total waste recycled on site = 7.39 cubic meters!!
Also 1.1 cubic meters of soft plastics have been recycled through REDcycle.
TERM 4
Here are our Term 4 totals for paper, organic and green waste recycling through our worm farms and compost bays.
Green Waste – 2.25 cubic meters
Organic Waste – 2.67 cubic meter
Paper/cardboard Waste – 1.50 cubic meters
Total waste recycled on site = 7.82 cubic meters!!
Also 1.4 cubic meters of soft plastics have been recycled through REDcycle.
.
2017
TERM 4
Total waste recycled on site = 7.6 cubic meters!!
Green Waste – 1.5 cubic metersOrganic Waste – 2.83 cubic meter
Paper/cardboard Waste – 3.27 cubic meters
Also .5 cubic meters of soft plastics have been recycled through REDcycle.