Deloraine High School install new recycling bins for future

Following two dirty and smelly waste audits, carried out by the Sustainable Communities class, students have designed and built a new sorting system to reduce waste and improve recycling at the school.

About 300 students, staff and guests attended a one-hour presentation and exhibition space on Thursday, June 27 to learn about how to use the new bins.

They were also taught about ways to be more sustainable within the home.

The presentation was organised, planned and delivered by 12 dedicated grade 9-10 students.

The audience learnt more about the current plastic pollution crisis, the impact on their own health and the global environment, and were challenged to reduce their own plastic footprint, teacher Kim Cruwys said.

"Preparation paid off and the launch was a huge success with over 100 people signing up to Plastic Free July and many more people rethinking waste options," she said.

"Two students did the presentation. They did an excellent job and it was really engaging."

Ms Cruwys said a number of things fell together to make the day a success.

"The kids were very tired at the end of the day, it was a full day of presenting, and they spent the first session setting up," she said.

"But they were very happy with how it all went."

Ongoing and further projects planned for 2019 include energy audits, collaboration with other community groups, planning a native garden to improve biodiversity and screening of the film 2040.

The students will also be challenged to think globally and act locally to become part of the solution instead of just adding to the problem.

In April, the Sustainable Communities students did an audit on the school's bins.

More than 17 bins were audited. They ended up with about seven kilograms of organic waste from just one school day.

More than 40 straws that came with Nippy's containers and a lot of single-use plastics, like zip-lock bags, were also found.

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