Sustainability - can we have your plastic? 

STEM plastic recycling,

In celebration of National Recycling Week, we are excited to announce the official launch of our Precious Plastic Recycling Program! Our Bank First Teachers Initiative Program grant has enabled us to begin this process.

Recently, our Sustainability Leaders and Wildlife Warriors from Years 1 to 6 joined an inspiring Precious Plastic incursion. They explored the environmental impact of plastic, discovered different types of plastics and their recyclability, and learned about innovative ways to repurpose plastic "waste." Using small-scale recycling equipment, they transformed discarded plastics into new, functional items—leaving with handmade pens, carabiners, Jenga blocks, and door knobs. They walked away inspired and empowered to tackle the pressing issue of plastic waste!

We have now placed collection bins at the school office and in the STEM room for plastic waste. Waste plastic donation requirements:

• Labelled 2 or 4 only
• Must be 100% clean and dry
• No bigger than a jar lid in size (you’re welcome to cut larger items down to size)
• Any inserts (foam/silicone) must be removed

Families and community members are invited to regularly contribute their waste plastics, which will become part of our STEM lessons. Students will learn to sort plastics, and, with future funding for more equipment, they’ll start making new products from the collected materials, creating a circular economy.

This initiative is an exciting opportunity for our entire school community to rethink how we consume and repurpose our waste, creating real, positive change for the planet!

Paul Todd

STEM

points to remember - 

• Must be clean and dry for us to use
• Any insert or plastic removed from the piece
• No bigger than a milk lid size
• Must be labelled with a 2 HDPE ( examples HDPE is a plastic-type commonly used in a grocery bag, opaque milk, juice container, shampoo bottle, and medicine bottle)
• or 4 LDPE  (is mostly used for bags (grocery, dry cleaning, bread, frozen food bags, newspapers, garbage), plastic wraps; coatings for paper milk cartons and hot & cold beverage cups; some squeezable bottles (honey, mustard), food storage containers, container lids. They are also used for wire and cable covering.

Nude Food Wednesdays 

The Sustainability Team 

Mrs Smith, Mrs Bulled, Mr Todd, Issy and Layla.