Recycling is good for the environment, it seems like an obvious thing, right? However, many people fail to understand this concept and don’t realise that teaching kids during their schooling life what recycling is and why it is good for the environment, actually sets them up with a solid future of being conscious recyclers.

The Australian National Waste Report 2016 identifies that Australia produced approximately 64 million tonnes of waste in 2016 and with our population constantly growing, the amount of waste we produce will only increase. So, this begs the question, what more can we be doing as a school to protect not only our school environment but also our earth.

What is recycling?

Recycling is the process of breaking down and re-using materials, otherwise known as rubbish. There are so many positives involved with recycling and it not only benefits the environment but also our economy.

Why is recycling important?

Three words: environment, economy and community. Awareness and education play a significant role in recycling, and it is the duty of schools to ensure that kids are being taught the importance of developing a habit of recycling. Every lunch box contains packaged products, majority non-biodegradable. The National Report on Schooling in Australia 2013 stated that there are 9,393 schools in Australia, imagine how many lunch boxes that is…With the large quantity of waste being created, our environment is taking the brunt of damage as harmful chemicals and greenhouse gasses are being released from rubbish and landfill sites due to people’s lack awareness with recycling. In most cases, kids will have no clue what this means so the first step is to teach them how to responsibly eat and discard their lunch.

How can you help?

There are multiple things that can be done in the quest for a greener future. First of all, it might be hard to believe but recycling can be fun. Make it creative and get your school kids involved. Do a personal audit and take a week to monitor how much waste you are creating then develop a plan. Get the kids to work in teams to colour and decorate bins, and then set up a reward system for each classroom, using some old-fashioned rivalry to incentivise them. Getting the school involved in local recycling programs is also a fun way to learn about recycling.

On the 1st November 2018, Containers for Change launched Return-It QLD which encourages the community to drop their eligible containers to local Depot and Express sites in return for 10 cents. This is great way to get students started on their recycling journey and even get something in return. This is especially important to note as a large amount of money can be earned and put towards school facilities.

Visit www.containersforchange.com.au to register for a containers for change ID and find your nearest Return-It QLD Depot or Express site to get involved!