Sustainability Report

ResourceSmart Schools – Next Steps

This term, we are very excited to be working on the Waste Module for ResourceSmart Schools (RSS). 

The emphasis will be on reducing waste wherever possible and making sure the waste we produce goes into the right bin (thus increasing the chance of it being recycled). Fairfield PS already has brilliant practices in place with the five waste streams (compost, comingled recycling, soft plastics, paper and landfill). Each classroom now has consistent signage for the Resource Recovery Hubs (renamed to emphasise the fact that waste is a resource). I love the fact that the landfill bins in the classrooms at FPS are appropriately small compared to the recycling bins because in reality, very little waste needs to go to landfill. 

The staff attended a waste PD last Tuesday delivered by myself and Jason from CERES (our RSS support person). You can view it here if you would like to know more about waste at FPS.

The Eco Club students have worked on a display for Earth Day with great enthusiasm, which is near the office so take a look next time you are there.

The theme for Earth Day 2024 is Planet Vs Plastic. It’s an important theme considering: Australia is one of the highest consumers of single use plastics per person in the world;  only 18% of plastic packaging is recycled in Australia; and around 90% of the plastics we use in Australia are virgin plastics (made from fossil fuels – oil and gas). 

The Eco Club will continue to promote Nude Food Fridays, but, of course, any day you can do a nude food lunch box is a great day. I’m not going to pretend this is easy and I find it a challenge making lunches at 6am every morning for three children; I wish I could say that I always home bake crackers from ingredients only bought from the bulk food shop but I don’t. Sometimes I do and sometimes I don’t. I just do what I can on any given day. What I am trying to say that is while we definitely want to reduce single-use plastic at school, we want to do it without pressure or judgement.  Just by buying a big packet of crackers, chips or cookies and distributing them into reusable containers rather than buying the individual mini packs, you will automatically halve your soft plastic use. We are not aiming for zero. 

Reusable containers can often go missing at school but if they are labelled, they will find themselves back to your children. There is also a box of containers and lunch boxes on the Earth Day display (second-hand but clean) that you are welcome to take. 

As always, please reach out with any questions or ideas.

~ Amelia Trompf, FPS Sustainability Coordinator