HAWKESDALE P12 College Year 11 and 12 VCAL students have been working in partnership with Moyne Shire Council’s Waste and Environment Team on a project named Hawkesdale P12 Bin Chickens, which involved a whole school recycling survey and an audit of the school’s waste management costs and practices.

Moyne mayor, Ian Smith, said it was fantastic to see students taking the lead and driving change in the school community.

“I’m so pleased our Council teams have been able to work closely with the school, to provide them with information and resources about what happens to waste once it’s collected,” he said.

“The resources and information our team provided helped the students develop and implement their project which is now helping the whole school community reshape their waste management.

Cr Smith said Council provided the College with new kerbside recycling bins and informative ‘yes’ and ‘no’ signage – the new bins have been placed in strategic positions throughout to maximise accessibility and use.

“FOGO caddies were also supplied by Council and positioned in the staff lunchroom, canteen and home classrooms to assist with the reduction of food finding its way into kerbside landfill bins,” he said.

“The students have said ‘by educating ourselves and the school community we can rethink our waste management and produce easy solutions that are sustainable’ – through these relativity simple measures they are driving significant change.

“The improvements to waste reduction won’t just be restricted to the school, the students and staff will take what they have learnt home and start driving change with their families and friends.

“This project highlights the importance of the partnerships our teams form to drive better outcomes for our environment and for the community.”

Cr Smith said Council’s website featured a range of information about what items to put in which bin and other useful tips to reduce waste around the house.

For more information, visit moyne.vic.gov.au/Your-Property/Waste-and-recycling