YOUNGSTERS in the community are leading environmental sustainability with St Martins Kindergarten winning top honours in the Limestone Coast School Waste Reduction and Recycling Challenge.
The kindergarten picked up gold for the least amount of general waste and recycling per capita and highest amount of waste composed per capita in the Limestone Coast Local Government Association’s initiative.
The students were also placed second in the least general waste per capita category, tailing their primary counterparts at St Martins Lutheran College, which received first place.
St Anthony’s Catholic Primary School was awarded first place for the most recyclables per capita, followed by Naracoorte South Primary School and St Martin’s Lutheran College.
Now in its second year, the challenge seeks to change attitudes towards waste and recycling, reduce the amount of resources consumed and provide young people with knowledge and skills about the environment.
St Martins Lutheran College Year 6 student Rachel Lindsay said the challenge encouraged the school community to be aware of the implications of creating waste, as well as identifying ways to recycle more.
“In the end, we are all responsible for the planet and we want future generations to be able to go to a clean beach like we have,” she said.
“We did things like taking reusable containers and drink bottles to school to reduce waste.
“We encouraged a couple of businesses to stop using plastic straws.”
Limestone Coast Local Government Association chair Erika Vickery said the month-long challenge saw 15 schools and learning centres participate in this year’s competition.
“We are slowly but surely increasing the number of schools participating and it is growing in status,” she said.
“Waste management is a really topical subject at the moment and what a wonderful way to start with our younger population because they are our future.”
In presenting the awards, Shadow Local Government Minister Tony Piccolo commended the schools, teachers and students for their waste reduction efforts.
Mr Piccolo also praised the association and the seven member councils for driving the initiative.
“This is a great project as it helps to encourage people to recycle and changes the way we try to live,” he said.
“We live on a finite planet and we need to look after it.
“Everybody should be congratulated for this and be proud that you have a very progressive region.”
