CGGS IS A
WASTE WISE SCHOOL
Helen Shaw
Waste Wise Coordinator
Sarah Francis
Junior School Environment Captain
Posted CGGS Newsletter 36 - 28 November 2008
Buckets
The Waste Wise program in the Junior School includes the collection of food scraps generated by the students throughout the day form Recess and Lunch. We use large 20 litre buckets for this collection. These buckets are generously donated to us by clubs such as The Southern Cross Club, Vikings Club and Hellenic Club. The buckets originally held mayonnaise, pickles and other food items. They are becoming scarcer as the clubs are re-using them rather than donating them. This is a great thing for the waste wise ideal but not necessarily for us.
We are looking for other organisations that would be able to donate these buckets and lids. If you can help could you please send them to the Junior School. This will help us continue to run the Waste Wise Program more effectively.
Thank you
Helen Shaw
Waste Wise Program Coordinator
Posted CGGS Newsletter 31 - 24 October 2008
WATER WISE TIP FOR THIS WEEK
A dripping tap can waste between 30 and 200 litres of water a day. That's over 70,000 litres a year! So make sure that all the taps are off so they do not drip.
Also, did you know that you can support the Waste Busters Club at the Fête this year? Please remember to come and visit our stall.
Posted CGGS Newsletter 30 - 17 October 2008
WASTE BUSTERS AT THE FÊTE
The Fête is fast approaching and the Junior School Waste Busters Club has been very busy making items for sale at the Fête. These include:
- Lavender Bags
- Wheat and Lavender Heat Packs
- Christmas Cards
- Christmas Gift Tags
- Christmas Stockings for the Christmas Tree
- Herb Seedlings
- Screen Printed Calico Bags
- Badge Making – bring along a photo or come and draw your own and we will turn it into a badge. There will also birthday and Christmas Badges available.
- Quilt Raffle – we have a beautiful quilt that has been hand made and donated, tickets will be on sale at our Waste Busters Stall
Please come and spend your money at our stall.
Posted CGGS Newsletter 27 - 12 September 2008
WASTE WISE TIP FOR THE WEEK
Did you know - as well as using up to 30 litres of water a day, garbage-disposal units send extra rubbish and nutrients to sewage treatment plants.
A better option is to compost your vegetable food scraps for your garden and to dispose of other food scraps in the rubbish bin. If you must use a garbage-disposal unit, connect the outlet to a tank and use the water on your garden. The mulched vegetables and water are rich in nutrients and are a great fertiliser for the garden.
Sarah Francis
Environment Captain
Regional Achievement and Community Awards
It is with delight that I announce that once again CGGS Junior School has been successful in being selected as one of the ten semi finalists in the Environment and Landcare category for NSW and ACT. There were over 400 nominations for these prestigious awards this year and the organisers reported that they were very impressed with the quality of nominations, reinforcing that there is extraordinary commitment and dedication among the people who initiate these programs. We are very proud of the work our school undertakes in this area and are particularly grateful to teacher, Helen Shaw, who drives the Environment program in the Junior School, along with the student Environment Committee.
The Executive Judging Panel will select three finalists and a winner before the end of September, so perhaps there may be more news on this front!
Heather Ablett
Head of the Junior School
Please click here to return to CGGS Newsletter 27 - 12 September 2008
Posted CGGS Newsletter 26 - 5 September 2008
PLASTIC BAGS for LANDCARE
There’s no better time to encourage children to care for the environment than Landcare Week, 1 to 7 September. To celebrate Landcare Week, Coles is asking shoppers to turn their plastic bags into plants and raise money for Junior Landcare.
For each plastic bag returned to Coles throughout the whole of September, the retailer will donate money towards the Junior Landcare School Garden Grant program – a nationwide initiative that allows schools to develop environmentally friendly gardens.
To help this great cause, the School will take all supermarket plastic bags to Coles on your behalf. Please drop off the bags at the Senior School Reception, the Junior School Reception or directly to Helen Shaw, Y3 teacher.
Posted in CGGS Newsletter 25 - 29 August 2008
WATERWISE TIP
Did you know approximately 10% of a household’s water usage occurs in the kitchen. The water is used for cooking, drinking, washing and cleaning? It’s easy to get distracted with other tasks in the kitchen and leave the water running. Make sure you turn off kitchen taps when they are not needed. Also, installing three-star or AAA-rated flow control valves and aerators on your kitchen taps will reduce water usage.
Sarah Francis
Environment Captain
Posted in CGGS Newsletter 24 - 22 August 2008
WATERWISE TIP
Washing - if clothes aren’t too dirty, use the shorter cycles on the washing machine. Also check hoses for cracks and laundry taps for leaks. If available, use sub-saving settings on your washing machine if you have more than one load to wash. This saves water and detergent.
Did you know - a top-loading washing machine uses 170-265 litres per load while a front-loader unses only 100 litres per load, and washing only full loads can save an average of 10 litres of water per load?
Sarah Francis
Environment Captain
Posted CGGS Newsletter 22 - 8 August 2008
WATERWISE TIP
Did you know that about 20% of a household’s water use occurs in the toilet? This can be reduced by replacing single-flush toilets with dual-flush toilets and using the half flush option whenever you can. Older single-flush toilets use about 12 litres of water per flush. Dual flush cisterns use 9 litres on a full flush or 4.5 litres on a half flush but the new complete dual flush toilet systems use 6 litres and only 3 litres per flush.
A cheaper option than replacing the cistern or the whole toilet system is to put bricks, sealed (and weighted) plactic bottles or a cistern saver into your existing cistern to reduce the amount of water in each flush. A cistern saver is usually a balloon-like device that can be purchased from the hardware store and put into existing cisterns to displace about 2 litres of water.
These can save several litres of water each time you flush.
SUSTAINABILITY IN SCHOOLS
CGGS continues to help with the reduction of waste going to landfill. Both campuses send waste that can be recycled to the Materials Recovery Facility at Hume while plastic and other non recyclable items are sent to the Mugga Lane Landfill.
The School encourages students not only to recycle but to reduce the recyclable items by bringing lunches and drinks in reusable containers. Although paper products can be recycled we can reduce the energy used to recycle by changing to reusable containers including drink bottles instead of ‘Poppas’ and ‘Juice boxes’. It is less expensive too.
We also collect products from outside the School that can be recycled and can generate funds for charity.
The following items can be brought into the School and given to either the Senior School or Junior School reception for recycling:
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Corks which are given to the Girl Guides who get 10c per kilo
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Mobile phones are given to the Spastic Society who get $5 per phone
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Variety store plastic bags for the uniform shop
Please ‘do your bit’ to reduce the waste.
JUNIOR SCHOOL NO WASTE WEEK
From 11 to 15 August the Junior School will be having a NO WASTE WEEK. Students are encouraged to bring their lunches in either recyclable wrapping or reusable containers. Any non recyclable wrappings will need to be taken home as there will not be any Landfill bins on the playground for the week
Please click here to return to CGGs Newsletter 22 - 8 August 2008
Posted CGGS Newsletter No. 20 - 25 July 2008
WATERWISE TIP
Check the bath as it fills so it doesn’t overflow . Also, only fill baths to a level appropriate for your needs. If you are small (or bathing pets) you don’t need a full bath. Even consider using a baby bath if you are bathing pets or a baby. If you are using a baby bath, tip the water out on plants rather than down the drain.
Sarah Francis
Environment Captain - Junior School
Posted CGGS Newsletter No. 18 - 20 June 2008
Did you know: A top-loading washing machine uses 170-265 litres per load, while a front loader only uses 100 litres. Tip: Minimise washing small loads. If you must wash less than a full load, adjust the water level on the machine. Some machines have an option that will automatically adjust the water level to the size of the load
Sarah Francis
Junior School Environment Captain
Posted CGGS Newsletter No. 17 - 13 June 2008
For those families whose members like baths and showers. Let those who like to shower go first and plug the bath. Afterwards those who like baths just have to add a little hot water to the water from the shower. This saves the shower water that would otherwise have been wasted. If you have a separate shower you can collect the shower water in a bucket and put it into the bath.
Sarah Francis
Junior School Environment Captain
Please click here to return to CGGS Newsletter No. 17 - 13 June 2008
Posted CGGS Newsletter No. 16 - 6 June 2008.
BUCKET HELP
The Junior School collect all food scraps generated from lunches etc and send them to an organic poultry farm. Both the ACT and NSW Animal Regulatory Division have verified that we are able to do this.
We send the scraps in large 20 litre buckets (ones that Clubs and restaurants have mayonnaise or pickles in)
We are in desperate need of more buckets and lids. If you are able to provide these buckets now and /or on a continuing basis it would be greatly appreciated. Just send them to either the Senior School or Junior School and Mrs Shaw will collect them from Reception.
Junior School Environment Committee
Please click here to return to CGGS Newsletter No. 16 - 6 June 2008
Posted CGGS Newsletter No. 15 - 30 May 2008
WATER SAVING TIP
Catch water that is wasted while the water warms up in a bucket or container for watering plants. In the shower, you can even collect water with soap subs in it for use on some plants, but remember to check that the soap will not harm the plants."
Sarah Francis
Junior School Environment Captain
Posted CGGS Newsletter No. 14 - 23 May 2008
WATER SAVING TIP
Have a navy shower, used by sailors to conserve water on sea voyages. Simply turn the shower on to get wet and then turn the water off. Clean yourself with soap and shampoo before you turn the water back on just long enough to rinse off. This is a great water saving idea that we can all use every day.
Sarah Francis
Junior School Environment Captain
Posted CGGS Newsletter No. 13 - 16 May 2008
FOOD SCRAPS
At the Junior School we collect any food scraps and feed them to the worms and give them to a local poultry farm. The food scraps from fruit break and lunch go to make up the scrap amount. Over the last month the food scraps have increased dramatically. There are a lot of half eaten apples (some with only one bite taken), full sandwiches, half oranges and bananas, canteen bought food and generally food that should have been eaten by the students.
Please check your child’s lunch to make sure that the amount they are given is not too much for them. Also encourage your child to eat all their lunch or recess before they go off to play as this is often a time when food is thrown out in an effort to join their friends quickly.
Although the scraps go to the chickens it is better that the children eat all their food.
Helen Shaw
Waste Wise Coordinator
Posted CGGS Newsletter No. 11 - 2 May 2008
WASTE WISE NEWS
 This term we are continuing to work hard to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill and to remember to recycle what we can.
If you have any corks or mobile phones we would like to have them. We give the corks to the Girl Guides who receive 10c per kilo from the cork company and we give the mobile phones to the Spastic Society that gets $5 for each phone to help with the great work they do. Please send them to the Junior School via the Senior School Reception or if you are at the Junior School they can either be given directly to Helen Shaw or handed in at Reception.
Last year the Waste Wise Schools held a competition to see how much Easter Egg foil could be collected and made into a large ball. Our Easter Egg Foil ball last year weighed 5.4kg and this year the one we made weighed 5.7kg. Although the Waste Wise Schools did not have a competition this year we decided to have our own collection. As you can see from the photo, it is an impressive size.
Remember - you can still reduce your recyclable waste by using reusable containers for lunch and drink bottles instead of poppas or juice bottles. Buy a large amount from the Supermarket (cheaper too) and put it into a reusable container each day. It also means that a straw is not required... less plastic for landfill.
SAY NO TO PLASTIC!
Posted: CGGS Newsletter No. 8 - 28 Mar 2008
LET’S GET INVOLVED IN EARTH HOUR ON SATURDAY AT 8PM
Created to take a stand against the greatest threat our planet has ever faced, Earth Hour uses the simple action of turning off the lights for one hour to deliver a powerful message about the need for action on global warming.
On 31 March 2007, Sydney made a powerful statement about the greatest contributor to global warming – coal-fired electricity – by turning off its lights for one hour. Over 2.2 million Sydney residents and over 2,100 businesses switched off, leading to a 10.2% energy reduction across the city. What began as one city taking a stand against global warming caught the attention of the world.
In 2008, 24 global cities will participate in Earth Hour at 8pm on 29 March. Earth Hour is the highlight of a major campaign to encourage businesses, communities and individuals to take the simple steps needed to cut their emissions on an ongoing basis. It is about simple changes that will collectively make a difference – from businesses turning off their lights when their offices are empty, to households turning off appliances rather than leaving them on standby.
WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
WATER SAVING TIP
One of the best ways to save water in the bathroom is to install low-flow water efficient shower heads. Look for the WELS three-star or AAA rated shower heads, but check that they’ll work with your plumbing.
Sarah Francis
Junior School Environment Captain
Posted: CGGS Newsletter No. 6 - 17 Mar 2008
WATER SAVING TIP
Don’t leave the basin tap running while you brush your teeth. Instead, fill a glass for rinsing your mouth and the basin.
Sarah Francis
Junior School Environment Captain
Posted: CGGS Newsletter No. 5 - 7 Mar 2008
WATER SAVING TIP
Using single level taps means that you can find your preferred temperature faster, reducing the amount of water wasted.
Sarah Francis
Junior School Environment Captain
Posted: CGGS Newsletter No. 4 - 29 Feb 2008
WATER SAVING TIP
An instantaneous water heater will ensure water stays hot from the hot water system to the bathroom, reducing the need to waste water as you wait for it to heat up.
Sarah Francis
Junior School Environment Captain
Posted: CGGS Newsletter No. 01 - 8 Feb 2008
WASTE AND RECYCLING
CGGS is a Waste Wise School and we are very proud of the differences we have made to improve our environment.
We continue to separate our waste and the landfill waste the Junior School sent to the Mugga Lane Landfill decreased from 94kg to 4kg per week during last year.
We also help other organisations with their recycling programs. We collect corks for the Girl Guide Association and they receive 10cents per kilogram from the manufacturing company. We also collect old mobile phones which we give to the Spastic Society that gets $5 for each phone collected.
If you have any of these items please send them to school and drop them off at Reception on either the Senior School campus or the Junior School campus.
Any plastic bags (department store type) can be given to the Uniform Shop for re-use and we are starting to collect Easter egg foil for recycling as well.
The Junior School has No Waste Wednesday each week where students are encouraged to bring their lunch in reusable containers or packaging. The canteen staff are partners in maintaining a waste wise environment and do not sell chips or packaged lollies on Wednesdays. We encourage all children to help educate their parents in the ways to use a more environmentally friendly type of packaging.
Another item we are collecting is Lavender. In the Junior School we have a thriving Waste Busters Club. The students make items that can be sold at the School Fête. If you have any lavender bushes could you please send in the lavender flowers when you do your pruning.
As part of the Waste Wise Program in the School all students from Years 1 to 6 will be going to visit the Materials Recovery facility at Hume to see what happens after the recycling items leave either the School, home or businesses. This is a terrific excursion and open to all schools, businesses and organisations to visit.
We all look forward to a great Waste Wise School Year.
Helen Shaw
Waste Wise Coordinator
Posted: CGGS Newsletter 37 - 7 December 2007
RECYCLING AT THE JUNIOR SCHOOL
Recycling at the Junior School has continued to improve. Our landfill total that was sent to the tip went from 94kg in the first week of school in 2007 to 5.8kg in the last week of the year.
Please remember that we will still be collecting corks and mobile phones for recycling. Hang onto them over the break and then send them in at the beginning of the year.
Also, we are collecting stalks of lavender so, if you are cutting back your lavender plant, please keep them in a bag and then send them in at the beginning of 2008.
Posted: CGGS Newsletter 35 - 23 November 2007
NO WASTE WEEK
Next week 26 – 30 November the Junior School will be having the second and final NO WASTE WEEK for 2007.
During this week we would like all students to bring their lunches in recyclable wrap or in a reusable container. This also includes drinks.
We encourage students not to purchase any items from the Canteen that is wrapped in plastic (chips, icy poles), and if they do, they are to take the plastic wrap home with them.
On Wednesday, which is our usual No Waste Wednesday, the ice-cream in paper cups will be sold only if each student has brought a spoon from home.
We continue to reduce our landfill and this will help even more.
Thank you for supporting us in reducing the landfill and helping our future environment.
Helen Shaw
Waste Wise School Coordinator
Please click here to return to CGGS Newsletter 34 - 16 November 2007
DID YOU KNOW?
Waste management in Canberra costs the ACT in excess of $15 million. If you don’t have a compost bin, the fruit and veggie scraps can be dug directly into the garden and egg shells can be dried, crushed and added to the garden.
Helen Shaw
Waste Wise Coordinator
WHAT IS SUSTAINABILITY AND WHO CARES?
Apparently quite a few people do, judging by the number of students and interested teachers who attended the AuSSi Youth Forum on 9 November in the Botanic Gardens. There were approximately 40 students and some interested teachers from a range of schools and colleges around Canberra. We all learned about sustainability, what it means and who can help. Some of the terms in general use were briefly explained, and everyone discussed problems and possible solutions at a school level.
In the afternoon the different schools regrouped and formulated individual plans for implementing better practices in the future. It was gratifying to see our students participating confidently, explaining how we might encourage the school community to view sustainable practice in a new light. Katie Bryant, Ellie Sharp and Julia Zhu were excellent ambassadors for the School and they deserve every encouragement in preparing for a big task ahead.
Christine Fifield
Senior School teacher
Posted: CGGS Newsletter 30 - 19 October 2007
NEXT WEEK - NO WASTE WEEK
Next week, Monday 22 October to Friday 26 October, will be a No Waste Week.
This means that no plastic wrap or soft plastic wrapping is to be brought to school. If any is brought to school the children will need to take it back home for disposal.
Could the children please bring their lunches either in a recyclable container or wrapped in kitchen paper.
No bins except the food scrap buckets and recyclable bins will be out on the playground area for the whole week.
The students have been doing a wonderful job keeping the landfill waste to under 12kg a week. This is an 89% reduction from the first week of 2007, and No waste Wednesdays have been a great success.
Please help our environment by continuing to send lunches in recyclable paper or reusable plastic containers. Your help is greatly appreciated.
RECYCLE, RECYCLE, RECYCLE
At CGGS we are doing our best to improve the environment through waste reduction and recycling methods.
We collect CORKS which are given to the Girl Guide Association. They then send it to the cork manufacturer who gives then 10 cents per kilogram.
We collect MOBILE PHONES which are given to the Spastic Society who gets $5 for each phone.
We collect PLASTIC BAGS (NOT Supermarket ones) and they are given to the Uniform Shop.
If you are able to help with any of these items please send them to the Senior Campus Reception or to Helen Shaw at the Junior Campus.
IF WE ALL DO A LITTLE IT CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE.
LET’S BECOME MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS FOR THE SAKE OF ALL OUR FUTURES.
Helen Shaw
Waste Wise School Coordinator
Posted: CGGS Newsletter 20 - 27 July 2007
SCHOOLS TREE DAY - 27 JULY 2007
As part of Planet Ark’s National Tree Day (29 July), Schools’ Tree Day was set up to raise awarness amongst students about environmental issues such as salinity, erosion and loss of habitat for native bird and animal species.
To celebrate Schools Tree Day, Deputy Principal, Fiona Godfrey and Year 9 students - Amy Goodall, Tanya McKay and Anna Douglass, planted an ornamental pear tree, near the Empire Circuit gate on the Senior School campus.
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JUNIOR CAMPUS WASTE WISE PROGRAM
Since the beginning of the year the Junior Campus has worked hard to continue to maintain the title of ‘Accredited Waste Wise School’
In the first week of school all waste created over the recess and lunchtime by the students was weighed. This gave a starting point for our recycling program. 89kg was collected during that first week. From the second week on the waste was divided into three categories.
- Waste for landfill
- Food scraps
- Recyclable items
The food scraps are collected by a person who keeps chickens and the recyclable items are collected by Cleanaway.
As of Term 2, Week 8 we are sending an average of 13.5 kg of waste top landfill each week. Approximately 15%. A reduction of approximately 85%.
This year, we also introduced ‘No Waste Wednesday’. Every Wednesday the students are encouraged to bring their lunch in reusable containers or packaging. The canteen staff are partners in maintaining a waste wise environment and do not sell chips or packaged lollies on Wednesdays. We encourage all children to help educate their parents in the ways to use a more environmentally friendly type of packaging. We are very proud of all the students for working hard to reduce the waste going to landfill.
In March, the Junior school campus students participated in the ‘Clean Up Australia’ program. They picked up rubbish both at the Junior School campus and the Senior School campus. The results are documented below.
SENIOR SCHOOL RESULTS
The total weight of all rubbish collected was 10.6 kg
Only 3.2 kg (three quarters of a large black garbage bag) of the total waste was landfill waste. The landfill waste was general rubbish of chip packets, plastic wrap, straws and other non-recyclable items.
The 7.4kg recyclable waste consisted of paper, cans, containers, drink bottles, etc.Type of recyclable items and the number of items
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Drink cans 49
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Plastic drink bottles 28
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Fruit box drinks 23
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Food containers (Chinese food style) 19
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Plastic and foam cups 6
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Small yoghurt style containers 12
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Small tuna style tins 6
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Milk shake cups (large) 8
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Glass bottles 2
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Paper ¾ black garbage bag/600g
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Food scraps 1.6kg
JUNIOR CAMPUS RESULTS
The breakdown of contents 2.6 kg (one half of a large black garbage bag) was landfill waste and the rest of the waste was able to be recycled.Type of recyclable items and the number of items
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Frozen cordial container 48
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Plastic drink bottles 7
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Fruit box drinks 9
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Foil pie plates 7
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Straws 57
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Small yoghurt style containers 3
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Small tuna style tins 1
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Icy pole sticks 23
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Plastic spoons 37
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Paper Less than ½ black garbage bag /150 g
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Food scraps 250g
RECYCLING COMPETITION
This term we also entered a competition using products that can be recycled in the creation of a 3D scene. We are very hopeful that one of our entries will be successful.
The Junior Campus students entered a competition run by ACTNOWaste to create a ball made entirely of Easter Egg foil. Our ball weighed 4.2 kg and although we did not win it highlighted the amount of foil that can be recycled.
This coming semester the Waste Wise Program will be moving into the area of sustainability and looking at reducing both water and electricity use. Apart from the new classrooms all other rooms have energy saving light switches and we encourage all staff and students to turn off switches; even the energy saver ones; when not in the room.
The maintenance staff are also partners in making our school more waste wise. This program cannot run without the support of everyone.
The students in Year 4 are the section of the student body who take on the responsibility for consolidating the four food scrap buckets in the playground into one bucket of food scraps for a local poultry farm. They do a fantastic job and are ensure that the correct waste is not mixed up in the wrong bins.
The Senior Campus are also now involved in the Waste Wise Program and there are stations of bins set up around the School for the division of waste.
Helen Shaw
Waste Wise School Coordinator
Posted: CGGS Newsletter 12 - 11 May 2007
RECYCLING at CGGS
 The Junior School entered a competition with other schools in Canberra to see which school could collect the most Easter Egg foil and make it into a ball or block. Last Friday Portia Lawson, Kaitlin Miller and Mrs Helen Shaw attended the judging. Although we did not win we had a fun time collecting the foil and the judging day included activities for the children and morning tea. Our ‘Ball’ weighed 4.2 kg and the winning school collected 6kg of foil.
We learnt a lot of interesting facts about aluminium recycling.
Did you know that the energy saved by recycling the 4.2kg we collected could run a television continuously for 31.5 days?
Did you know that two thirds of the aluminium produced in 1886 is still in use today?
Hopefully the competition will be on next year and we will try again.
DON’T DUMP IT, DONATE IT
In the Junior School we collect:
CORKS which we donate to the Girl Guides, who then get 10c for each kilogram collected
MOBILE PHONES which we give to the Spastic Society who gets $5 for each phone
VARIETY STORE style plastic bags which we give to the Uniform Shop
If you have any of these items please send them to the Junior Campus or drop them in at the Senior School Reception.
Our small donation definitely helps. It helps us make a difference to our environment as well as these wonderful organisations.
LANDFILL WASTE
Since the beginning of this year the Junior School has reduced the waste going to landfill from 89kg to 16kg. We are very proud of the efforts of the students. They continue to improve their recycling knowledge as they divide their waste between items that can be recycled, food scraps for the chickens and landfill waste.
Every Wednesday is NO WASTE WEDNESDAY and students bring their lunches in reusable containers or wrapped in kitchen paper.
The canteen do not sell chips or lollies on those days which also helps the children choose healthier options.
Helen Shaw
Waste Wise Coordinator
Posted: CGGS Newsletter 09 2007 - 5 April 2007
EASTER EGG FOIL BALL COMPETITION
Our School has decided to participate in the Sustainable Schools ‘Easter Egg Foil Ball Competition’. Sustainable Schools ACT is run through Territory and Municipal Services in the ACT Government as part of a national partnership with the Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative.
The competition is aimed at raising awareness of recyclable materials and Easter egg foil wrapping is one of them!
In order for our school to win, in the weeks following Easter (up to Friday 4 May), students can bring in all the foil from their chocolates. Staff and students will then produce one giant ball on behalf of the School in order to win $1000 that we can put towards making our school more sustainable!
But beware – we can ONLY use FOIL. Foil is different to metallic shiny plastics. Foil can be easily torn, and when scrunched, it stays in a ball. For example, the wrapping around muesli bars and some chips packets looks foil-like on the inside, but it is actually plastic as it does not scrunch and stay in a ball. If we contaminate the foil ball with plastics and other non-aluminium foil products, the ball will not be able to be recycled.
Helen Shaw
Waste Wise Coordinator
Posted: CGGS Newsletter 05 2007
CLEAN UP AUSTRALIA ACTIVITIES
Senior School
On Monday 5 March, 110 Junior School students went to the Senior School to collect any litter. The students spent 15 minutes picking up litter. In that time not all areas of the campus were done throughly.The total weight of all rubbish collected was 10.6 kg
Only 3.2 kg (three quarters of a large black garbage bag) of the total waste was landfill waste. The landfill waste was general rubbish of chip packets, plastic wrap, straws and other non-recyclable items.
The 7.4kg recyclable waste consisted of paper, cans, containers, drink bottles, etc.Type of recyclable items and the number of items
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Drink cans 49
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Plastic drink bottles 28
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Fruit box drinks 23
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Food containers (Chinese food style) 19
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Plastic and foam cups 6
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Small yoghurt style containers 12
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Small tuna style tins 6
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Milk shake cups (large) 8
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Glass bottles 2
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Paper ¾ black garbage bag/600g
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Food scraps 1.6kg
The recyclable items filled ¾ of the red recycling wheelie bin.
Junior School
On the same day, appromately 370 Junior School students collected litter on the Junior School campus. The students spent only 10 to 15 minutes picking up litter.%20WEB.jpg) The total weight of all rubbish collected was 4.7 kg
The breakdown of contents 2.6 kg (one half of a large black garbage bag) was landfill waste and the rest of the waste was able to be recycled.Type of recyclable items and the number of items
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Frozen cordial container 48
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Plastic drink bottles 7
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Fruit box drinks 9
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Foil pie plates 7
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Straws 57
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Small yoghurt style containers 3
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Small tuna style tins 1
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Icy pole sticks 23
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Plastic spoons 37
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Paper Less than ½ black garbage bag /150 g
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Food scraps 250g
Posted: CGGS Newsletter 01 2007
RECYLING AT CGGS
At CGGS we are making our environment better not only for now but for the future. In the Junior School we divide the waste generated into paper, recyclable items, food scraps and landfill waste. In the Senior School the waste is divided into paper, recyclable items and landfill waste.
The School also collects corks which are taken to the Girl Guide Association for recycling – they receive 10 cents per kilogram from the cork recycling company, and mobile phones which are given to Lifeline Canberra, who then donate $5 for each phone to the Spastic Society.
If you have either corks or old mobile phones please bring them to school. In the Senior School take corks and mobiles to Reception and in the Junior School please take them to Mrs Helen Shaw.
Together we can all make a big difference. It only takes a little from each of us.
IT’S NOT EASY BEING GREEN….OR IS IT?
 Canberra Girls’ Grammar School has recently been named a ‘Waste Wise’ school and was officially presented with their certificate by ACT NOWaste’s Senior Education Officer, Vanessa Whelan on Monday 25 July. In receiving the award, Canberra Girls’ Grammar School (CGGS) became only the third school in the ACT to be awarded the title of Waste Wise School.
ACT NOWaste, Urban Services bought the waste Wise Schools programme from Victoria and plans to implement it into Primary Schools, High Schools and Colleges throughout Canberra to support their initiative of No Waste by 2010. Ecorecycle in Victoria developed the programme in 1998 and Victoria now has hundreds of accredited ‘Waste Wise’ school. An accredited ‘Waste Wise’ school is a school that has reduced their waste that would normally be sent to landfill by recycling it instead.
CGGS Waste Wise Coordinator, Helen Shaw carried out a waste audit of the Junior School campus in May 2004. The result of this audit showed that the clean paper that was being separated in the classroom was being placed into the dumpster with all of the rubbish that was going to landfill. Also, no recycling of paper and plastic products was happening.
“The Year 4 curriculum at CGGS now incorporates the ‘No Waste by 2010’ programme. We are using the curriculum resource ‘Learning to be Waste Wise’ and the schools programme ‘Beyond the Bin’ to implement the No Waste programme,” Helen said.
“Students at CGGS are committed to ‘No Waste by 2010’. The knowledge that our students will take into the community from participating in this programme will be of great benefit. We look forward to continuing with the programme over the coming years.”
The ‘Waste Wise’ school programme helps schools save money by reducing waste disposal costs and teaches students lifelong waste management skills. The practical ‘hands on’ activities linked to the curriculum involve the whole school community in reducing the amount of waste going to landfill.
.jpg) CGGS places an emphasis on environmental awareness and several staff and students got down and dirty recently for National Tree Day’s 10th Anniversary.
Over the past ten years the event has helped to combat serious problems like salinity, erosion and loss of habitat for native bird and animal species. National Tree Day is organised nationally by Planet Ark in association with Toyota and the AMP Foundation. This year, Schools Tree Day took place on Friday 29 July with National Tree Day being celebrated on Sunday 31 July.
“Tree Day shows kids how easy it is to help the environment,” says Old Grammarian, Margaret Cornwell. “It’s a lot of fun for them and as the child grows, so does the tree that they plant.”
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