ACTION PLAN

We've created an action plan to help plan the year, and make sure you're reaching different actions across the spectrum of sustainability. This template may also help to communicate with families and the community on what the centre is doing! 

ACTIVITIES WITH KIDS AND FAMILIES

We encourage you to get creative with resources! For instance, try leaf painting/printing instead of paintbrushes. 

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A number of our activities with both kids and their families improve sustainability within your centre while also engaging others.
 

IMPROVE BIODIVERSITY
Lizard Lounge, Butterfly Puddle, and Bug Hotel

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REUSE MATERIALS

Recycle activities and Recycled Art 

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REDUCE FOOD WASTE

Community Garden and Compost reduce food waste.

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REDUCE WASTE

Litter Free Lunches, Recycle Mission and Swap and Go 

WASTE AUDIT

STEP 1:
Use our waste audit form below to identify the key litter items, or waste items found in your centre over a 5 day period. *organic waste is excluded* 

STEP 2:
Pick the top 3 items you want to focus on and start collecting them. Brainstorm ideas on how you can make an art piece out of these items collected to raise awareness in your community. 

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STEP 3:
Work with the children to make an art piece out of the materials collected. 

STEP 4:
Educate your community with these steps:

- Display your art piece and talk to students and families about these problematic waste items.

- Suggest alternatives that could be used instead of these items.

- Share your hard work and lessons learnt in your school newsletter and social media as well!

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Tip: We suggest doing another audit to see if those key waste items have decreased. This will prove if you’ve successfully created behavioural change at your centre

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STEP 5:
Tell us all about it! Submit 2-3 photos of your art piece and a very brief write up about your creation to info@ecomarines.com

RECYCLING

ALREADY ON TOP OF RECYCLING? CHECK OUT OUR RECYCLE MISSION FOR A NEXT LEVEL CHALLENGE!

STEP 1. RESEARCH

Did you know every Council accepts different items in the recycle bins? Search your local Council to find out what items can be recycled. Here are a few helpful links below:
 

Brisbane City Council    (they also have an online recycling quiz​ for students). 

Moreton Bay Regional Council

Redland City Council

City of Gold Coast

Ipswich City Council

Logan City Council

Scenic Rim Regional Council

Lockyer Valley Regional Council

Somerset Regional Council

STEP 2. IMPLEMENT

Set up a recycling system in your centre including clearly labelled bins to collect recyclables in the classroom, and a disposal bin for collection. You may choose to use milk crates or repurpose other containers to separate recycling, or check out ecobin. 

STEP 3. EDUCATE

Most importantly, educate your community on how to use your wonderful new recycling system! Make it fun and keep it simple with picture posters, games, and quizzes. Your local council should have some ready-to-go resources you can use.

LOCATED IN MORETON BAY REGIONAL COUNCIL?

They provide free waste presentations and tours, videos, workshops and more!

LOCATED IN BRISBANE CITY COUNCIL?

Free online resources such as bin stickers, posters, golden bin award, online fact sheets.

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Download the Brisbane Bin and Recycling app to remind you of pickup dates and which items go in which bin.

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To dispose of large items that don't go in your household bins, visit 1 of the 4 resource recovery centres in Brisbane.

COMPOSTING

STEP 1.

Check out this compost and worm farm guide, and this worm farm guide to get you started. Some Councils provide free compost or worm farms.

STEP 2.

Work out a plan to get composting happening. Implement compost collection bins and create a system to add to the compost bin. If you have a school garden – this is a perfect fertiliser to help your plants grow!

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STEP 3.

Educate the kids on how to use your great new composting system! Check out the videos below, and our picture guide on composting.

BONUS STEP 4.

You could also consider chickens to help eat some of the food scraps.