Integral Ecology

Environmental Action Group

Our student-led Environmental Action Group chose its focus for the year to be reducing the use of plastics in our College, beach and bay, with an important reminder for all: we are a litter free lunch school.

Plastics are found in so many everyday disposable items, and its harmful litter goes into Port Phillip Bay, which wreaks havoc with marine life - dolphins, sharks, fish and birds included. 

Ecological Leaders Bailey Mitchell and Marcus Lobianco share their recent experience at a campus clean-up. 

“The Year 12 Environmental Science class went around the school picking up rubbish after recess. It revealed just how quickly litter can accumulate in our school environment. All the rubbish shown in the photo was collected following the single 20-minute recess, which was extremely concerning but not so surprising.

There was a recurring theme of zip lock bags, yogurt lids and plastic wrappings. This is a very big issue with massive impacts to our surrounding environments of Mentone beach, as it damages marine ecosystems, reduces water quality, and threatens the plants and animals that rely on the bay for survival. 

Please put your food into reusable containers, so we can protect our beautiful environment from this major issue.

The "little piece of rubbish' isn't a standalone piece, but a large accumulation of individual pieces. The amount of waste left behind in such a short time highlights the importance of every student taking responsibility.

Participating in the cleanup made it clear that small actions like placing items in the correct bin or holding onto rubbish until you find one can make a significant difference to the cleanliness of our school grounds. This activity always serves as a reminder that caring for our environment isn’t just something we learn about in class; it’s a daily habit that helps keep our school a cleaner, safer, and more respectful place for everyone.”

“Pope Francis's 2015 encyclical Laudato Si' frames plastic pollution as a profound spiritual and moral crisis, condemning the "throwaway culture" that treats both the Earth and vulnerable human communities as disposable. He has explicitly called dumping plastics in the sea a "criminal" act that destroys biodiversity.” Laudato Si’ Movement. 

“Plastics and microplastics are harmful to aquatic and marine life including birds, sharks, turtles and marine mammals, and may cause injury or death through drowning, entanglement and internal injuries, or starvation following ingestion. In addition, concerns have been raised about the potential for plastic litter to collect toxic substances which bio-accumulates in foodwebs.”- Sustainability Victoria. 

“Port Phillip Bay is home to a unique, resident population of around 120 bottlenose dolphins (including the critically endangered endemic Burrunan dolphin) and a smaller, distinct community of 20 to 30 short-beaked common dolphins.”- Dolphine Research Institute. 

Just this year, three Burrunan dolphins have washed up dead on local beaches. As a community, we can ensure our waste is responsibly disposed of into the correct bins. 

To support our Litter Free environment, use lunch boxes and reusable containers over single use packaging. 

Together these small acts help protect the beauty of our precious bay, our local environment, our state and our country. 

Kylie Paterson-Zigouras

Integral Ecology Leader