Bega Valley Shire Council's - Let's Get it Sorted Waste Education
Program Overview
This program helps students to re-think what they call ‘waste’ and empowers them to be the change makers at their school. The aim of the program is to reduce the amount of waste that schools send to landfill and to help educate school communities about the issues surrounding waste and its management.
Students develop action plans and strategies to implement practical changes, fostering a sense of responsibility and active citizenship. The program incorporates interactive games, real-world examples, and collaboration to inspire creativity and critical thinking.
Aligned with the NSW Curriculum and strongly supporting sustainability cross-curriculum priorities, the program equips students with knowledge and skills to make lasting environmental impacts. It encourages the whole school community to participate in waste reduction efforts, promoting a culture of sustainability and care for Australia’s environments.
This program has been successfully run in schools since 2019 and is fully funded by the Bega Valley Shire Council.
– Stage 2
Geography
People have responsibility to care for Australia's environments
- Identify strategies that minimise waste and make the most of resources to sustain environments
People participate in Australian society through active citizenship
- Design a response to a need in the school or local community
Syllabus Outcomes- Stage 3
Science
A fixed amount of usable matter makes up all the material on Earth
- Explain how recyclable, reusable, renewable, biodegradable and compostable materials enhance sustainability
- Recognise that in a fair test, an independent variable is changed, a dependent variable is measured, and controlled variables remain the same
- Investigate ways to collect and process waste to reduce pollution or increase the sustainable use of materials
- Create and communicate a plan to implement a sustainable practice in a community that addresses an identified environmental concern
Learning experiences
The program begins with a hands-on Waste Audit, where students investigate the types and amounts of waste produced at their school. Through sorting and analysing their school’s waste, students identify key problem areas and brainstorm sustainable solutions.
After implementing actions, a second waste audit shows the behaviour change impacts on waste at their school.
Through an action planning workshop BEEC supports schools and students to recognise their main issues with waste and to identify actions to minimise waste and educate their school community.
Every school is different in the waste minimisation actions they chose to focus on. View the schools in action page on the google site below.
All participating schools are offered a fully funded excursion where students see first-hand the workings of the Central Waste Facility (landfill site near Wolumla), the Merimbula Organics (FOGO) site and the transfer and community recycling centre.
During the day, students learn about the process of turning FOGO into compost, experience the challenges of contamination, view the various community recycling streams, including e-waste, metals, and other household items. At the CWF students see the impacts of landfill practices, explore landfill design and management, including gas and leachate capture, and understand the environmental impacts of landfill sites.
Let's Get It Sorted - Google Site
This Website is designed to support teachers with information about the Let's Get it Sorted program, provide up to date waste minimisation information, share resources to support the learning in your school and to showcase school's participating in the program.
Important information
Contact us
Get in touch to ask a question, plan a visit or find out more about what we offer.
About our centre
Learn how our centre helps students explore, learn and connect with nature.