Resources & Links
The following web-based resources have been collated for easy access by schools and the general public:
Government Policy Papers / Strategies / Reports
Curriculum and lessons plans
Waste Wise to Zero Waste
Waste facts – from land to sea
Fact sheets, posters and stickers
Government Policy Papers / Strategies / Reports
QLD's Waste Management Policy and Regulation (2000)
State of Waste and Recycling in QLD (2006)
QESSI Alliance Strategic Plan (2005-2007)
QLD Waste Strategy (Discussion paper 2007)
Curriculum & Lessons Plans
Education Queensland ists resources on Environmental Education for Sustainability applicable to schools, including ‘significant’ documents, organizations, initiatives and activities.
Queensland Studies Authority (QSA) has a comprehensive SOSE (Studies of Society and Environment) sourcebook module (level 1) titled “Lean, green cleaning machine: Caring for the environment” (download directly) with specific Core Learning Outcomes and activities (e.g. Reuse, recycle, planting garbage).
NICA has a slide show on Caring for the Oceans (54 slides, PDF 4MB) designed for junior primary. An animated powerpoint version is available from NICA.
NICA's Minimising Waste
talk (53 slides, PDF 4.6MB), as delivered to Noosa District State High
School (Nov 08), fits well in year 9's Geography curriculum. An animated powerpoint version is available from NICA.
Sustainability Victoria has very detailed Waste Wise Curriculum spanning a wide range of learning areas with practical projects.
Education Victoria has curriculum materials (in 6 levels) specific to Rubbish Free Lunches.
Zero Waste South Australia’s “Wipe Out Waste” (WOW) Program provides detailed Suggested Learning Activities for early, middle & senior primary years, as well as key words, case studies and other resources.
Planet Ark has practical lesson plans on waste minimization & recycling for junior to upper primary years. It also has fun recycling activities & colouring sheets for kids.
EPA NSW has practical Stormwater Teaching Guide with interactive activities designed for science, technology, HSIE (SOSE) and Geography curriculum.
“Boobie Bigfoot” by Earthdaynetwork and Redefining Progress gives practical lesson plans on ecological footprint, with curriculum linkages to science, social studies, geography, maths, languages and even macro-economics. "Waste Walk" is of particular relevance to the Waste-Wise program.
Redefining Progress has lesson plans "The Trash We Pass" (middle primary) and "Sustainable Dining" (early high school) with particular relevance to waste and consumerism.
Aluminium Cans Group has a range of "School Stuff" providing activities and lessons linked to the curriculum, including how to set up an Al cans recycling program.
Visy Recycling runs an Environmental Detective Program annually. By completing specific lesson plans and class activities (from Prep to year 12), schools, students and teachers may win various prizes.
Pomona State School has an Integrated Unit Plan for Year 6/7 on energy resources, with direct links to key learning areas.
Waste Wise to Zero Waste
NICA's slide show Minimizing Waste in Schools (total 42 slides, PDF 4.46 MB), as delivered to St. Teresa Catholic College's World Changing Centre on 15 Aug 08.
NICA's slide show Minimizing Waste in Schools Part 2: Be a Waste Wise Schools (1.4 MB) presents the many systematic ways which schools may undertake to become waste wise.
Sustainability Victoria has a five steps approach on How to become Waste Wise.
NevrWaste Victoria provides an easy waste assessment form for schools.
Clean Up Australia's Triple Bin Challenge provides detailed manual, worksheets and practical activities for reporting for schools wanting to participate in the challenge. The three bin system allows clear segregation of wastes into paper, tins and plastics, and general rubbish, to reduce contamination and maximize recycling efficiency.
Zero Waste SA gives detailed guidelines to the planning and organization of Zero Waste Events which can apply to various school functions such as school fairs. Case studies are also provided.
North East Waste Forum presents an interesting case study on the process and results of turning the Bangalow Billy Cart Derby 2007 into a Waste Wise Event.
Eco-cycle has an alarming video on waste and its driving forces, with interesting economic and health perspectives, and explains the Zero Waste System.
AIUS provides a series of environmental indicators and case studies, notably on litter and waste, focussing on Melbourne or Victoria, some may be adaptable to schools.
Planet Ark's Recycling Near You gives detailed and practical informaiton on what can be put in the kerbside recycling bin and collection points in specific areas for particular goods (e.g. batteries, printer cartridges, plastic bags and electronics).
Recycling Near You also has fun fact sheets (e.g. 25 Things you can reuse at home; Top recycling myths busted...), reports and links to educational resources.
Reusablebags.com has detailed information about plastic bags and products including potential health risks and environmental problems, and provides links to alternative products.
Global Stewards gives practical "eco tips" for individuals, including how to pack a waste-free lunch, and much more.
Sustainability Victoria has detailed information about composting.
Waste Facts – from Land to Sea
NICA's slide show Minimizing Waste in Schools Part 1: Waste - What's the Problem? (2 MB) illustrates in detail the wide range of environmental, health and economic problems of wastes (e.g. harmful marine debris, climate change, e-waste...).
NICA has a slide show on Caring for our Oceans (54 slides, PDF 4MB), suitable for junior primary. It includes a section on marine debris and plastic wastes in the ocean. An animated powerpoint version is available from NICA.
The Sunshine Coast Regional Council website provides information about local Waste Management Program, including services through kerbside refuse and recyclables collection, transfer stations and landfills.
Cleanaway's search engine on waste covers the history of waste in Australia, the 3 Rs and detailed information about different materials and if / how they can be recycled.
Plastic Debris Rivers to Sea provides alarming statistics on the amount of plastic debris in the ocean, and includes a categorized bibliography (e.g. on industrial plastics and impacts on wildlife...).
Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts has a Harmful Marine Debris information page.
The chapter titled "Polymers are forever" in Alan Weisman's The World Without Us gives detailed information about the global problem of plastic wastes especially in the ocean.
Floating rubbish dump bigger than the US (the Great Pacific Garbage Patch) reveals the enormity of our global plastic waste problem, and the ecological impacts as microplastic attracts pollutants and ends up in the food chain.
Algalita Marine Foundation shows a well explained video titled Synthetic Sea, on the cause, extent and impact of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch on the ecosystems.
Greenpeace has a good visual animation showing how the Pacific Trash Vortices form and how plastic wastes are spread by the vortices.
For a more local perspective about plastic wastes, check out the story Beyond guilt's horizons a plastic invasion fleet gathers.
Planet Ark has a powerful search engine on various international environmental news, and information about their waste related programs.
Fact Sheets, Posters & Stickers
Queensland EPA has made available sticker and poster templates for:
Milk & juice cartons recycling
Litter Critters (postcard / sticker)
Litter Critters (colouring sheet)
Zero Waste SA provides bin signage / sticker designs for drink containers and biodegradables, suitably especially for Zero Waste Events.
Queensland EPA has a series of fact sheets on litter, litter impacts and the new Queensland Litter Laws.
Queensland EPA's recently launched Public Place Recycling campaign also has a catalogue of promotion and signage materials available upon request.
WA Towards Zero Waste has a series of well presented fact sheets about different materials (e.g. Aluminium cans, glass bottles, etc.), what they are made of, the energy required to make new or recycle them, etc. The sheets also include interesting statistics and tips about how to reduce, reuse and recycle them.
Cleanaway has a series of informative fact sheets on waste avoidance, recycling, composting, worm farming and litter.
NSW Dept of Environment & Conservation has fun and informative posters on composting, worm-farming and mulching.
Various fact sheets & posters are also available at the local Council website, on waste minimization, organic waste, kerbside recycling and litter.
Waterwatch QLD provides a range of posters about catchments and activities affecting catchment health.
