In keeping with Cleanaway’s mission statement — making a sustainable future possible together — Cleanaway encourages the young to think sustainably. At the recent Gympie EnviroTech day, Cleanaway and Gympie Regional Council challenged school students to upcycle their waste items and create junk boats.
EnviroTech aimed to highlight sustainable technologies across a range of sectors and celebrated the sustainable work already undertaken by households, schools and businesses. A wide range of stalls displayed information about the importance of reducing emissions, financial benefits of these technologies and empowering a sustainable community.
This year, the event also showcased sustainable schools within the district. The organisers of Envirotech, Gympie Regional Council and local Councillors approached Cleanaway’s Education Officer to create a competition to encourage the participation of youth in the local area.
The junk boat entries were showcased in the Junk to Junk Competition and judged by members of Gympie District Sustainability Alliance.
The Prep to Year 3 category was awarded to students from Tin Can Bay State School. Their innovative junk boat design transformed multiple waste items into a floating boat.
“It was amazing to see all the effort that went into creating each junk boat. Students were very creative in upcycling their waste items into various parts for their boats. One of the requirements of the competition was the junk boats had to float. I think the judges had the most fun picking the winner”. Chloe Zatta, Cleanaway Education Officer and organiser of the Junk to Junk Competition.
Pictured: Junk boat competition at EnviroTech event challenges youth to find new innovative ways to reuse their waste.
Part of the prize for Tin Can Bay State School was Prep to Year 4 receiving a Cleanaway truck visit and recycling education lessons. Students were able to meet the Cleanaway driver, Kevin and learn how the rubbish truck picks up a bin and where it goes once the truck is full.
Pictured: Students from Tin Can Bay State School get up close with Cleanaway’s rubbish truck and learn about ways to reduce their waste at school.
During the recycling lesson, students discovered the importance of resource recovery and how they can reduce their waste at school and at home.
Cleanaway’s Waste Education Program encourages the development of short and long term environmental behaviour change through curriculum aligned lessons and supported activities.
The program is available to local schools in the Gympie region and offers a variety of topics that improve recycling habits and waste reduction within schools and the community.
Contact us to learn more about how we’re making a sustainable future possible for communities and businesses across Australia.