Glenorchy Primary School

Glenorchy Primary School is located in the northern suburban area of Hobart, Tasmania, in the City of Glenorchy. The School has an enrolment of 350 students K-6. The school is set in spacious grounds nestled below the foothills of Mount Wellington has been operating in a variety of locations since 1839. The current site has been occupied since 1926

Waste Reduction Objectives

• To establish paper, cardboard and aluminum can recycling programs.
• To encourage composting through the establishment and use of worm farms.
• To encourage the reusing of suitable materials.

Actions

• A submission was prepared and presented to the SWSA. $700.00 in seed funding was granted thus enabling GPS to commence their proposed program.
• 22 recycling crates to replace the stryofoam boxes that were being used as collection containers for recycled paper and cardboard, were purchased from the GCC and placed in each classroom and administrative area within the school.
• 3 wheelie bins were purchased to add to the three that were already in use within the school, thus making central collection of recycled paper and cardboard easier and more efficient.
• Aluminum can collection was promoted and continued by grade 5/6 Oldfield.
• Another worm farm was purchased and established in the early childhood area as an addition to the two farms that were already operational in the primary school.
• A school policy on recycling was formulated and integrated into the school curriculum.
• A Draft Curriculum Guide was formulated but needs to be revised so as to effectively accommodate the Essential Learnings.
• An Integrated Unit of work on Reducing, Reusing and Recycling was or will be completed in each classroom at various stages throughout the year.
• Folders of curriculum support materials were developed to support classes in each area of the school.
• Monitors from each classroom empty recycling crates from each room supported by students from Grades 5/6 Oldfield and 4 Douglas.
• Mr. Scott Langworthy, the School Groundsman, actively supports recycling within the school and coordinates the collection of recycling materials from the school.
• A seminar has been planned to provide professional learning to interested schools about establishing recycling programs based on the experience of GPS.
• A room is to be established as an area for the storage of reusable materials.

Outcomes

• The whole school now has the infrastructure in place to support paper and cardboard recycling.
• All areas of the school are actively recycling paper and cardboard.
• Skip bin collections have been reduced to once a fortnight instead of weekly resulting in a reduction in waste collection costs.
• A school recycling and environmental policy has been developed and implemented.
• A draft curriculum guide for the environment has been developed.
• All classes have included an integrated study of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle as part of their class program.
• A worm farm has been established in the Early Childhood area of the school. -Aluminium can recycling is still being conducted.
• An area for collection and storage of reusable materials has been fully operational since 2004.