Waste Management at Hattah: Our Collective Impact

Throughout Hattah, our Year 8 Outdoor Education program, sustainability and waste management were at the forefront of our efforts, demonstrating how small actions can lead to significant environmental impact. Here’s a breakdown of what we achieved together.

Composting Efforts

One of the key highlights was our composting initiative, where we successfully diverted 352.5kg of food waste from landfills. That’s equivalent to the weight of 705 Olympic gold medals! By composting this food waste, we not only reduced the volume of waste sent to landfills but also contributed to nutrient-rich soil that can support local plant life. This initiative helps to minimise greenhouse gas emissions from food waste decomposing in landfills.

Recycling Initiatives

Recycling was another area where our collective efforts made a difference. We managed to recycle 100kg of materials, including a significant amount of cardboard. Behind the scenes, teams worked hard to ensure proper segregation of recyclables, making sure they would be repurposed effectively.

Our recycling bags were a key part of the process. Feedback showed that most people found them easy to use, which contributed to our high recycling rates.

Soft Plastics

In just two weeks, we collected a considerable volume of soft plastics, all of which will be recycled into new plastic products. These materials can be repurposed into items such as fishing line, 3D printer filament and containers. By recycling soft plastics, we are reducing the need for virgin materials and the energy required to produce new plastic products.

Landfill Reduction

Despite having 280 students and staff participating, we only produced 250kg of landfill waste. This amount of waste translates into 87.5kg of CO2 emissions. To put it into perspective, this is roughly the same as one car driving from Carey to Adelaide! Our efforts in reducing landfill waste not only minimised our environmental footprint but also highlighted how effective waste management can make a real difference.

Our Continued Commitment

Hattah was an incredible demonstration of how we can collectively manage waste and reduce our environmental impact. Through composting, recycling and reducing landfill waste, we are taking important steps towards sustainability. Let’s continue to carry these lessons forward and apply them in our everyday lives, creating a cleaner and more sustainable future for all.

The Outdoor Education team