Waste education programs
We provide a range of waste education sessions that can be delivered face to face or online for schools, kindergartens and early learning centres.
The sessions are designed to educate students about how waste and recycling impact on the environment, and how students can reduce their waste at home and school.
A choice of 8 different waste education sessions is available, these can be adapted for preschool to Year 10 students. A limited number of free sessions are available per year. Individual or multi-class sessions can be arranged.
Schools, kindergartens and early learning centres are invited to make bookings directly by emailing envirocom.
Classroom resources
The Moreland Kids Recycling Book (PDF 8Mb) is a new resource available for download and print by any school or children's centre wanting information and activities on recycling for use in the classroom.
Waste avoidance, waste audit, litter and composting incursions
The following sessions are delivered by Envirocom and run for 30 - 45 minutes for a maximum of 30 students. Sessions on the following six topics can be booked by emailing Envirocom.
1. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Students will be introduced to the three Rs - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, encouraging them to reuse materials for other purposes.
Students will also be introduced to the concept of waste disposal and learn about the importance of recycling correctly. An exciting relay game allows participants to test their newly gained knowledge.
Bookings can be made by emailing Envirocom.
2. Litter Detectives
Where does litter come from and where does it go? Students will have a discussion on the origins of litter and its effects on our local and natural environment. This will be followed by a walk around the school grounds to identify problem litter areas or an interactive story about litter moving through the environment.
Students will have the opportunity to brainstorm solutions to help reduce litter.
These sessions are great to have around the time of Clean Up Australia Day, with a focus on why students might be involved in a litter clean up, the impact of various types of litter and why it is important to keep our environment clean and free of pollution.
Bookings can be made by emailing Envirocom.
3. Nude food - rubbish free lunches
This session explores the waste that can be produced by everyday school lunches.
Not only does this session help reduce the school's waste and litter, it can also help promote healthy eating through curriculum based activities.
Bookings can be made by emailing Envirocom.
4. Worms and composting
Delve into the wonderful world of worms and compost critters.
Students will learn the difference between a compost bin and a worm farm and learn to look after one at home or school.
Students get the chance to get an up close look at worms and other critteres that live in the complex compost community. Sessions cover the benefits of composting food waste as a way to reduce waste going to landfill.
Bookings can be made by emailing Envirocom.
5. Waste Wise shopping
Students will learn the reasons behind waste wise shopping, while also learning how to reduce waste by changing purchasing patterns at home.
The concept of product lifecycle is explained and how buying certain types of products can help save both the environment and money. examples are used to show differences in packaging, before students get the chance to put their new knowledge into practice in a simulated supermarket.
Bookings can be made by emailing Envirocom.
6. Waste audit
Waste audits are a great way for schools to identify what waste they are generating and ways they can reduce waste.
Students will collect a sample of waste from the school bins and sort this into categories according to material type. Each category is weighed and the data is used to determine a waste profile and an estimation of the school's total waste generation.
This information is used to assist students to assess the school's current waste practices and develop a waste minimisation action plan.
Participating schools will receive a summary report containing audit results, recommendations and observations and the waste minimisation actions suggested by students throughout the audit.
Session runs for 1 - 1.5 hours, maximum 30 students.
Bookings can be made by emailing Envirocom.
Resource Smart Schools
Each year Council provides funding for 2 schools and 3 early learning centes in Merri-bek to participate in the Core or Waste module of Resource Smart Schools, an initiative of the Victorian Government which is delivered by CERES.
Contact CERES to enrol in the program or visit Sustainability Victoria for more information.
To enquire about funding for the core or waste module for your school or early learning centre please contact Council.