Applications are now open for the next round of funding to help Western Australian schools reduce waste to landfill.
Environment Minister Stephen Dawson today announced this year’s third funding opportunity for schools accredited under the State’s Waste Wise Schools program.
Waste Wise Schools Grants help primary and secondary schools set up a range of waste avoidance and recovery projects.
Previous recipient Hammond Park Primary School successfully secured a grant for $4,735 in 2018 which helped the Cockburn school set up composting, worm farms and infrastructure for chickens.
The school’s canteen – The Fabulous Food Factory – is also kicking goals in the war on waste.
The school recovers 60 per cent of its fruit and vegetable waste, diverting about 1,880 kilograms of scraps from landfill.
Hammond Park Primary School’s canteen uses reusable containers and cups, reusable sandwich wraps, paper straws, stainless steel utensils, reusable salad shakers and biodegradable fruit cups.
All the reusable items are returned to the canteen to be washed and dried by staff and volunteers.
More than 107,387 children attend 290 accredited Waste Wise Schools across Western Australia. The program delivers educational resources aimed at changing behaviour to avoid the generation of waste and encourage diverting waste from landfill.
The Waste Wise Schools program is funded by the State Government through the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Account, administered by the Waste Authority.
Applications for this round of funding close at 12pm on Tuesday December 3. For more information on the program or to become accredited, visit https://www.wasteauthority.wa.gov.au/programs/wws/
As stated by Environment Minister Stephen Dawson:
“Students at Hammond Park Primary School are real environmental ambassadors and it’s great to see they are so enthusiastic about reducing the volume of waste that ends up in our landfills.
“I commend student’s green efforts, particularly in the canteen which has cut waste dramatically by replacing single use plastics with reusable alternatives.
“The McGowan Government is committed to a cleaner, more sustainable environment.
“We have set a target to see 75 per cent of waste generated in WA reused or recycled by 2030.
“Hammond Park students are well on the way to achieving this target and are setting a great example – we all have a responsibility to do the right thing and adopt smarter ways to manage our waste at home, at work and at school.
“I encourage other WA schools to get on board.”
As stated by Hammond Park Primary School teacher Carmen Tulloch:
“The school is motivated by the realisation that behaviour change needed to start with children’s daily activities.
“Through its organic recycling projects the school has provided hands on, real life sustainability experiences for our students.”
