WasteSorted Schools Waste Audit

Understanding the types of waste our College produces is a crucial part of introducing recycling programs and other sustainability initiatives. On Tuesday 10 March, nineteen student volunteers participated in our Waste Audit during periods one and two. Their enthusiasm and dedication were inspiring as they tackled this unappealing but important task. The Waste Audit was led by Haylee Porter from WasteSorted Schools and supported by Ms Bolton and Mr McDonald.

We began by discussing the purpose of the Waste Audit before sorting the contents from the general student bins used during breaks. Waste was separated into categories such as paper and cardboard, Containers for Change, snack packaging and food waste. Each category was weighed and some items were also counted. WasteSorted Schools will analyse the results and provide a report with recommendations on which waste-reduction initiatives would most benefit our College. 

Once the sorting was complete, we cleaned up and reviewed some initial findings. We discovered a significant amount of snack packaging, counting 692 items across this category (for example, wrappers and chip packets). There was also a considerable volume of fruit and vegetable scraps, with over 5 kg thrown out.

This audit marks the College's first step towards becoming a WasteSorted School and supports our broader commitment to caring for our common home as called for in Pope Francis' encyclical 'Laudato Si'. 

This is a positive beginning to our sustainability journey. Students who would like to help make a difference are invited to join our new Sustainability Stewards Team.

Gita Bolton

Sustainability Coordinator