WasteSorted school grants tackle waste and support recycling

• More than $143,000 in grants helping WA students lead the way in reducing waste, recycling more and protecting the environment
• Forty-nine schools across the State are turning classrooms into hands-on sustainability hubs through practical waste and recycling projects
• Funding announced as part of National Recycling Week, which is being held 9-15 November
• Cook Labor Government empowering the next generation of environmental leaders with real-world skills that will benefit their communities for years to come

As National Recycling Week celebrates its 30th anniversary, Western Australian students are being empowered to lead positive environmental change through more than $143,000 in WasteSorted Schools Grants.

Awarded to 49 schools across the State, the funding will support practical projects that reduce waste, improve recycling and give students hands-on experience in sustainability, helping build lifelong habits that benefit both their communities and the environment.

Through activities such as composting, worm farming, recycling programs and kitchen gardens, students gain real-world experience in sustainability and learn how their everyday actions can contribute to a cleaner, more sustainable future.

By putting students at the centre of waste reduction efforts, the program helps build environmental awareness, responsibility and leadership, empowering young Western Australians to become active participants in protecting the environment.

Riverside Primary School in Mandurah will receive almost $5,500 to establish classroom food waste collection systems, install in-ground worm farms and re-establish its closed-loop vegetable garden.

A grant of more than $3,500 has been awarded to York District High School for a food waste reduction initiative that will recycle food scraps through composting and worm farming.

Meanwhile Leeman Primary School will receive nearly $4,600 to establish a composting and kitchen garden system using worm farms, raised garden beds and food waste recycling infrastructure.

Other projects include colour-coded bins, waste sorting stations, Containers for Change collection systems, community recycling hubs and reusable alternatives to single-use items such as cutlery, food containers and lunch bags.

The complete list of grant recipients is available on the WasteSorted Schools website .

The next WasteSorted Schools Grant round will open on 25 January 2027 and close on 9 March 2027.

As stated by the Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourn:

“WasteSorted Schools Grants help schools turn sustainability into action, supporting projects that reduce waste and recover valuable resources.

“Students are learning practical skills that benefit both their school community and the environment, whether that’s composting food scraps, improving recycling or replacing single-use items.

“These projects deliver real environmental outcomes today while helping build the behaviours and leadership needed for a low-waste future.”

As stated by Education Minister Sabine Winton:

“It’s fantastic to see schools finding practical ways to cut waste and get students involved.

“Whether it’s composting food scraps, setting up worm farms or improving recycling, these projects help students build habits they can take beyond the school gate.

“Just as importantly, they give students a sense of ownership and pride in their school environment while helping create cleaner, more sustainable communities.”