Southern Waste Solutions (SWS) will partner with Landcare Tasmania to deliver a comprehensive waste education program to primary schools across Tasmania.
The three-year partnership will allow Landcare Tasmania to deliver its Waste and Wildlife incursions program statewide, while also funding Let’s Explore Waste excursions to the Copping Waste Precinct and the Lutana Resource Recovery Centre.
SWS has also directly employed a waste education specialist to improve the coordination and consistency of waste education.
SWS CEO, Nick Gifford, said SWS was passionate about improving waste education and changing the way people think about items that they throw away and their potential future use and value.
“Kids can be a powerful influence in changing household behaviours – whether it is the proper sorting of recyclables, adoption of the food organics and garden organics (FOGO) program, or looking at ways to reuse and repair things rather than throwing them away,” Mr Gifford said.
“Seeing where waste goes after it is picked up from the kerbside is always a massive eye opener for kids and reinforces why it is so important that we reduce the amount of waste we produce.
“This long-term partnership strengthens Landcare Tasmania’s ability to deliver this program beyond the Copping Precinct.”
Landcare Tasmania CEO Peter Stronach, said the three-year agreement with SWS would expand on a successful pilot program delivered in 2024.
“Southern Waste Solutions has demonstrated impressive leadership in funding activities that we hope will deliver long-term environmental benefits and a zero-waste future,” Mr Stronach said.
“We are excited to have the opportunity to work with SWS to expand this important program to more schools, including delivering education about the impact of waste on native wildlife.
“The feedback from both teachers and students during the pilot was overwhelmingly positive – they came away from the Copping operations with a fresh view of what waste is doing to our environment and where it ends up.”
The Waste Education partnership will fund nine Let’s Explore Waste excursions and 18 Waste and Wildlife workshops over three years, with the program commencing from Term 1 this year.
Find out more about Landcare Tasmania’s education program here: https://www.landcaretas.org.au/education-program