Students have lunchtime rubbish all wrapped up

ST Cuthbert’s students are leaving their rubbish at home as they strive to become a waste-free school.

School board member and parent Wayne Burley said the Catholic primary school had previously conducted wastefree days once per term.

This has now been increased to three times a term, at no additional cost to the school, in preparation for Planet Ark’s National Recycling Week in November.

“Students are encouraged to pack lunch boxes either free of, or with minimal waste,” Mr Burley said.

Assistant principal Dianne O’Rourke said her primary role in waste management at the school was to educate the children to create social change.

“The children need to be educated on all basic waste management initiatives here at school, which will hopefully branch out into their homes and communities,” Ms O’Rourke said.

“All 280 students from Kinder to Year 6 are participating in the activity,” she said.

“The amount of waste from classrooms has been monitored as part of the initiative and this is just another step to reduce that waste,” she said.

This is the second year that St Cuthbert’s Catholic School has conducted waste-free days in association with Planet Ark with awareness activities combined into the classroom learning process.

“Its good that the school is having these waste-free days more often because it really helps to clean up the school,” Grade 6 student representative council member Charlotte Coutts said.

Planet Ark’s National Recycling Week will start on November 13.

St Cuthbert’s Catholic School encourages other schools to participate.

More information is available at http:// recyclingweek.planetark.org/ about/