Environment Matters Spring - Summer 2023

Ipswich’s first

school leads the way

At Haigslea State School students are making sure their food waste is destined for compost through signing up to a FOGO service with Ipswich Waste Services. Teacher Christine Moore said Haigslea State School were looking at ways to make their school more sustainable, and composting on site had run into some difficulties.

Council’s Environmental Education Officer suggested signing up to a FOGO (food organics, garden organics) service, which accepts food and garden waste and turns it into compost. Ms Moore said students had been active leaders in this and other initiatives to reduce as much waste as possible from landfill. “Our Year 6 students formed the Sustainability Squad for which they have created their own logo and hold their own meetings. They take turns completing different roles which include Bin Monitors – helping our younger students to figure out which bin their rubbish should be placed into. They are also educating the students on assembly each week,” she said. Ms Moore said they had changed lunch routines, with rubbish now only placed in bins when the bell goes at the end. This means the Bin Monitors can help students with correct sorting. “This has actually made lunch a more calm, enjoyable time and it has helped significantly with educating the diversion initiatives such as FOGO they hope to remove at least one red lid bin from their school for good. “This FOGO initiative will help us to implement other initiatives such as Nude Lunch on Fridays as the students can then go home with an empty lunch box.” younger students,” she said. Ms Moore said through waste

What goes into ? It’s important that you only put organic and compostable items in the FOGO bin.

Food scraps and leftovers

Meat scraps and bones

Dairy products Egg shells

Garden waste

Branches and twigs

Grass clippings

Coffee grounds

For more information see Ipswich.qld.gov.au/FOGO

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