Sustainability News

Sustainability Initiatives at FPS

I’m really excited to be starting my new role as Sustainability Coordinator at Fairfield PS and it’s an absolute honour to be part of the sustainability team. During the last few weeks of 2023, I learnt of the incredible work that has been done by the Environmental Sustainability Working Group (ESWG), the teachers, the Student Eco Club, and the entire community.

Fairfield PS is a ResourceSmart School. ResourceSmart Schools is a program run by Sustainability Victoria, which has been designed to help schools like ours embed sustainability across various aspects of our operations, learning & teaching as well as school community engagement.

For those of you who are new to the school, here is a little snapshot of four of the established sustainable practices at Fairfield PS.

1. Energy

Fairfield Primary School’s 80.52kWp PV solar system was installed in November 2021. In 2023, these solar panels saved the school $10,807.49 in energy costs. This chart shows the monthly solar generation in 2023 (yellow bars = direct consumption at the school, grey bars = energy exported back to the grid).

We also conserve energy with initiatives such as:

• LED lighting across the school.
• A passive cooling solution for the gym (achieved by infrared reflective coating applied to the building and low powered fans, which allow the gym to be used without the need for refrigerative cooling).
• Installation of an aircon-off system in all classrooms (using a movement sensor so systems automatically switch off after a period of time).

2. Waste

Did you know that by 2030, the Victorian Government aims to divert 80% of waste from landfill? This is partly because landfill itself creates emissions but also because Victoria is simply running out of room for all our rubbish. Fairfield PS is playing an important role by actively reducing waste production at the school and at the same time educating students about waste reduction initiatives.

Fairfield PS has five waste streams: organics, mixed recycling, paper recycling, soft plastics, and landfill. The year begins with waste sorting activities and the creation of bin signs in the classrooms. The staff and students do an incredible job managing the waste streams, which isn’t an easy task in a school. Fairfield PS also encourages waste-free lunches with Nude Food Friday every week and we participate in initiatives such as Plastic Free July.

Fairfield PS also has a recycling hub where our families can recycle textas and pens, batteries and disposable coffee cups.

The Fairfield PS community events are low waste. We avoid single-use wherever possible.

In 2023, Fairfield PS composted an estimated 1150L of food waste in the compost cones and 1000L of autumn leaves in the compost bays.

The Environmental Sustainability Working Group (ESWG) has instigated other initiatives. In 2019, it was observed that the volume of bins and playground litter increased on lunch order Wednesdays. The ESWG, worked with Classroom Cuisine to find more sustainable packaging options and lunch-orders now come mostly in recyclable paper bags and compostable packaging. Classrooms also now have shared bottles of soy sauce so there is no longer a need for the sushi soy sauce fish that can so easily end up in our waterways.

In the interests of the local economy as well as the environment, our uniform suppliers, A Plus Schoolwear are based in North Coburg, where most of their stock is made onsite. This firm is accredited by Ethical Clothing Australia. Fairfield PS also has a great second-hand uniform shop, selling good quality items at only $2 each, keeping clothes in use as long as possible.

3. Water

Water is considered a precious resource at FPS. Some of our water saving initiatives include:

• Measuring water use and monitoring leaks through SWEP.
• Dual flush toilets with use of tank water for flushing.
• Automatic taps in bathrooms and toilets.
• Mulch / compost use.
• Local, drought tolerant plants.

4. Biodiversity

A collaboration of students, staff, parents and the community created the beautiful Kaan’s Winya garden in 2017. Volunteer parents worked together to plant over 300 locally sourced plants and grasses while the students had the opportunity to be part of a whole-school artistic project guided by artist-in-residence, Simon Normand. More work has been done on the garden over the summer break and we look forward to using the space as a place of learning, reflection and play in 2024.

Getting involved in 2024!

In 2024, we hope more parents will join the Environmental Sustainability Working Group (ESWG). This parent-led group meets twice a term and is a great way to be involved in the school. You don’t have to have any prior experience in working in sustainability. The first meeting will be on Thursday 15th February at 3.45pm in the staff room. Please feel free to just come along to see if it’s something you’d like to be involved in. 

Alternatively, if you just want to chat about sustainability or have an idea you’d like to share, please reach out to me; I’m keen to get to know the whole community. I work onsite Thursdays 9.30am – 2.30pm, or you can send me an email: ameliatrompf@gmail.com.

~ Amelia Trompf, FPS Sustainability Coordinator