TechCollect was thrilled to attend Sustainability Victoria’s ResourceSmart Schools Awards event on Friday 8 November where the hard work of Victorian teachers and students were celebrated.
The event at the Melbourne Convention Centre was attended by more than 300 students and teachers from across Victoria. It featured student-led presentations from schools leading the way in sustainability and an exciting awards ceremony where the winners were announced.
In 2013, TechCollect was a major sponsor of the ResourceSmart Waste Secondary School of the Year category which recognised schools that achieved inspiring results in reducing resource use, reusing materials and controlling litter through innovative activities and initiatives.
Tim Fullerton, National Marketing Manager, TechCollect, was on hand to present the ResourceSmart Waste Secondary School of the Year award to the students and teachers at Western Port Secondary College, Hastings.
Western Port Secondary College reduced its waste to landfill by 15 per cent over a period of 5 months. The school increased the number of wheelie bins used for soft plastic recycling from 5 to 12 a week. Students organised signage and bins in offices, the canteen, home economics and staff rooms.
After gathering feedback from classes, students recommended installing pedal bins to replace older bins in the school yard. Environment students encouraged students to recycle plastic and reuse paper by organising Litter Lottery Week. The Environment Team made recommendations to the local council for bins to be installed on High Street in Hastings which was successfully actioned.
The number of schools participating in the ResourceSmart Schools Awards increased by 35 per cent this year and 160 entries were received across the award categories.
Our support provided finalist and winning schools with prize money to help grow their sustainability initiatives and help them attend the exciting awards event.
For a full list of winners visit: www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/schoolsawards.
