Students driving the three R's in our schools

News article |

Reduce, re-use and recycle are the three important R’s at Kirton Point Primary School, with the reduction of waste culture being driven by students. The school recently signed up with the Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative – South Australia (AuSSI-SA) with its students leading the way in reducing waste and helping it to become more sustainable.

Reduce, re-use and recycle are the three important R’s at Kirton Point Primary School, with the reduction of waste culture being driven by students.

The school recently signed up with the Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative – South Australia (AuSSI-SA) with its students leading the way in reducing waste and helping it to become more sustainable.

Eyre Peninsula Natural Resources Education and Volunteer Support Officer Barb Murphy encourages schools across the Eyre Peninsula to join up to the initiative.

“The initiative is a partnership between South Australian schools and the Natural Resources Management Board where they work together to develop a shared vision, values, understandings and practices to build a more sustainable community,” Ms Murphy said.

“More than 350 schools and pre-schools are registered with AuSSI-SA with the Eyre Peninsula having 12 schools registered and Kirton Point Primary School is the most recent to sign up.

“Natural Resources EP partners with schools and councils to reduce the waste in schools and in the local community, and we are encouraged that students are leading the change.”

Kirton Point Primary School Principal Heather Curtis said she is grateful for the assistance provided by the EP NRM Board.

“We recently attended the Wipe out Waste performances presented by KESAB,” Ms Curtis said.

“Being able to attend performances such as KESAB’s Wipe out Waste shows the students the difference that we can make at a community level and how that impacts globally.

“We thank the Eyre Peninsula Natural Resources Management Board in assisting with transport costs for these performances.

“Kirton Point Primary School is proud to be a sustainable school and play a role in the community to reduce our waste.”

“Through reducing, re-using and recycling our waste we have been able to reduce the weekly number of rubbish bins from 22 down to 8, with 6 being our lowest number .

“We’re also now growing herbs, fruit and vegetables utilising our composting systems and water stored in our large rainwater tanks. The students then use these fresh products in their cooking classes.

“Students are responsible for maintaining the garden, sorting and recycling materials and ensuring that the teachers place their own rubbish in the correct bins.”

Natural Resources EP works with schools across the region and are available to assist educators with resources upon request.

To find out more information, or to sign up for the AuSSI-SA program, please visit https://www.education.sa.gov.au/sites-and-facilities/environmental-sustainability-programs/aussi-sa

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