SUSTAINABILITY 

Reducing Waste: Don’t Trash Your Pens –        Recycle Them! ♻️♻️♻️

We were shocked to find out that millions of pens, textas, markers, and highlighters end up in landfill every year and we knew we had to dig a little deeper to find out more!

Every year over 10 billion plastic pens worldwide are thrown out and end up in landfill. In Australia alone, over 140 million pens are sold annually, contributing to around 700 tonnes of plastic waste in our community landfills. 

These everyday stationery items may seem small, but when we no longer need them, they have a significant impact on our planet. Most pens and markers are made from plastic, metal, and ink, which take hundreds of years to break down in landfill. As they breakdown, they release harmful chemicals into the soil and waterways, affecting wildlife and ecosystems.

At Bittern PS, we want to work on simple projects that have big impacts, so we are setting up a stationary recycling system! Each learning space will have a box set up with instructions on what we can recycle. These items include pens, felt tips, highlighters, markers, mechanical pencils, correction tape, liquid paper and fountain pens. 

Once we have collected all of our stationary we will drop it off at Officeworks who send it to recycling facilities, where the plastic and metal are turned into new products like park benches, outdoor furniture, and even new stationery! This helps reduce waste, saves natural resources, and protects the environment. 

By embedding sustainable practices into our school, we are shaping a generation that understands the importance of protecting our world. These efforts not only reduce environmental harm today but also create a lasting impact that helps build a cleaner, greener future for everyone. 🌿♻️