Grant boosts Condingup Primary School’s sustainability efforts

Condingup Primary School is one of dozens of schools across Western Australia that are benefiting from a generous $113,000 in grants aimed at encouraging waste management initiatives.

Through the WasteSorted Schools program, provided by Waste Authority WA, these funds will support projects designed to enhance waste education and establish crucial infrastructure. This initiative not only encourages waste avoidance and resource recovery, but also provides students with valuable hands-on learning experiences.

Condingup Primary School is already doing great things to reduce waste. This grant will support the school’s sustainability program. Micaela Worth and Jenny McDonald are the drivers for this amazing program.  

“This is a major component of a larger project that includes building a greenhouse, creating an outdoor kitchen area, creating a worm farm, building and managing a variety of garden systems, such as a compost system, hydroponic system, vertical gardens, raised garden beds, and wicking garden beds,” Micaela said.  

“Students will later make a comparison between the different gardening systems, to see which best suits our local environment.” 

Students at Condingup Primary School do not have access to commercial recycling facilities. Jenny said that food scraps have been identified as a high producer of waste in their school and the aim of their sustainable program is to divert the food scraps that are going to landfill into the composting and worm farm systems.

“We hope to divert recyclable materials from general waste as we do not have a recycling system within our school,” she said.  

“This will show students how to avoid and recover school waste. 

“We aim for students to understand closing the loop through actions and conscious decisions to recycle and reuse materials. Through these practices, students are set up with life-long knowledge and skills to effectively recycle materials and reduce waste in their daily lives.”  

Students from Year 3 to Year 6 have been leading these projects, which involve researching, budgeting, and building waste reduction systems.  

The entire Condingup school community also gets involved by either collecting food scraps and cardboard, sorting recycled materials, building the projects, or supporting the lead students. 

The second round of the WasteSorted grants for 2024 closed on 6 August, with more schools set to benefit. 

For more information about the program, visit WasteSorted Schools. 

Schools that received grants in Round 1 2024: 

• Attadale Primary School 
• Augusta Primary School 
• Baler Primary School 
• Belmont City College 
• Bullcreek Primary School 
• Cannington Community College 
• Carey Park Primary School 
• Carine Senior High School 
• Caversham Primary School 
• Christ the King Catholic Primary School 
• Condingup Primary School 
• Dalwallinu District High School 
• East Butler Primary School 
• Eton Farm Primary School 
• Exmouth District High School 
• Good Shepherd Catholic School Lockridge 
• Gwynne Park Education Support Centre 
• Harmony Primary School 
• Joondalup Education Support Centre 
• Kyilla Primary School 
• Leschenault Catholic Primary School 
• Lynwood Senior High School 
• Mindarie Senior College 
• North Mandurah Primary School 
• Northampton District High School 
• Ocean Road Primary School 
• Our Lady of Fatima School 
• Padbury Catholic Primary School 
• Pearsall Primary School 
• Perth Waldorf School 
• Peter Carnley Anglican Community School 
• Rossmoyne Primary School 
• Salvado Catholic College 
• St Damien’s Catholic Primary School 
• St Mary’s College 
• St Paul’s Primary School Karratha 
• Swanbourne Primary School 
• The King’s College Primary School 
• Wanneroo Secondary College 
• Woodbridge Primary School.