Waste Issues Project

VCE Vocational Major Personal Development and Skills 12W - Waste issues around Wantirna College Project

As part of our final Unit for Year 12, we are completing an extended project relating to a community issue. With Knox Council recently introducing the changes to waste collection, this became a topic of relevance for our community. 

As a class, we have divided into researching different types of waste and searching up issues relating to the problems of waste management. Each group will be developing a strategy about how their issue could be managed more effectively within the college. Please find more details about what each group’s part in the waste management project below:

Media Team: Reporting Information

The aim of our group is to minimize the amount of time groups would have to talk with key stakeholders so that their valuable time is not wasted. Recently this group arranged a meeting with the Principal, Mr Murphy, where waste issues were discussed with certain queries addressed. 

A message from Mr Murphy 

When talking to Mr Murphy about what can be done in regards to waste management, we came to the conclusion that we can put up promotional material in the classrooms and other areas of the college: Such as turning off the lights and such appliances to conserve electricity when possible, using the correct bins for their purpose and not contaminating the recylcing bin, and Reducing, Repurposing or Recycling products in our control.

Another fact that came up is that we don’t have any green waste bins, because they come at a cost and would be useless if people aren’t properly educated on what does and doesn’t go into them. But we do have general and recycling bins, but they rely on proper usage. Jarrod Hunter, Maddison Jones and Mikayla Skantzos

Electrical Waste Team 

The electrical waste team are putting up promotional items to remind people to turn off the power if they aren't using it. Electrical waste is a big issue in the school with people leaving electrical appliances on when leaving the classroom to go to lunch and even after school ends, such as leaving on the lights. This is a massive waste of a resource. Imagine how many lights there are in the school and how much it cost to keep them all on. That's not even mentioning the projectors and, even more importantly, the heaters and aircons. Luke Marshman, Tarkyn Carusi and Nick Maltzahn-Higgins

Green and Food Waste Team 

Separating waste would be the first step with managing our school’s rubbish but why does our school not take the right step into a more environmentally friendly way of managing our school’s environment? Having a colorful collection of clearly labeled bins would highly benefit our outside area. Placing these in strategic areas in the locations that gain high amount of trash in our school yard would help reduce the amount of trash we see in our day-to-day school life and encourage an eco-friendlier way of living for the younger generation. Lily Foscarini, Ryan Kalisperis and Kailee Smedley

Plastic Waste Team 

Plastic is a significant issue at our school due to its environmental impact and its implications for sustainability. Our school generates vast amounts of plastic waste through various sources such as single-use water bottles, food packaging and stationery supplies. Addressing the plastic problem at school is crucial for educating students about responsible consumption, promoting eco-friendly alternatives, and fostering a more sustainable future. In our school we currently only have one recycling bin in the orchard so we need to implement more in the school and make them obvious to the students and teachers and how they are there to be used. Joanna Beswick, Thomas Will and Rachael Carter

Paper and Cardboard Waste Team 

We understand that the school does paper and cardboard recycling, but to what level?  Our aim as a group is to improve our recycling and keep it sustainable and cheap. The school has recently introduced some new paper recycling bins in the College and we have been tasked with promoting how these are to be used, with the aim to make students and teachers aware. Maybe even by installing more bins around the school. Ronan Gelsi, Rory Geinitz, Logan Lee

Building and Water Waste Team 

In Wantirna College we waste a lot of water. We use it for flushing the toilet, washing our hands, drinking and cooking. We do these things without thinking much about the waste we produce or ways to reduce or prevent the problem. The most obvious way is to always be conscious about what uses water and how much of it. 

The group is also focused on Building waste (when construction goes on, parts of material is wasted and left around (sawdust, wood, screws, etc.). The best way to keep track of this is to know what you are using on a project and try to only use the planned amount of material for the project.  If what you have is not enough, then have a small surplus, just in case, but keep that surplus or your waste so you don't have to keep buying more material. More important is how this waste can be repurposed, reused or recycled. Ryan Beary, Henry Walter and Kai Radnage

In conclusion, everyone is trying to do their part in managing waste in all forms to prevent more waste and if possible make sure the waste is being recycled.

Tristan Rashleigh

12W