Information about waste education
What is the ARL?
The ARL is an evidence based standardised system that provides you with easy to understand recycling information for packaging. It shows what needs to be done with each piece of a package to dispose of it in the best way.Why do we need it?
Australian and New Zealanders are keen to recycle but are often confused about what packaging is recyclable and what is not. The ARL is designed to reduce this confusion with clear, on-pack instructions on what to do.
Many products already have the Australasian Recycling Label and many more items are being labelled everyday.
How does it work?
Worm farming and composting are fantastic for your garden and helps the environment. Adding compost and worm farm liquids to your garden soil:
- Loosens clay soils
- Helps sandy soils retain water
- Improves soil nutrients
- Suppresses plant diseases and pests
The following resources will help you to set up a compost bin or worm farm:
The City in partnership with Cleanaway offer a school incursion program where an Education Officer will visit schools within the Mandurah area to teach about waste education and sustainability. The program is free and aims to educate students in Years 1 - 6 about waste minimisation and management through the implementation of the Reduce, Reuse and Recycle principles. The program has been designed to integrate with the curriculum, making it easy for teachers to use the sessions efficiently and as part of the school year, rather than an additional topic to cover.
Children are recognised as great agents of change, and are encouraged to take what they learn from the program and utilise the principles within the school, at home and within the community. They will learn concepts and approaches for sustainable practices that should be carried forward into their adult life.
For learning suitability, the program has been broken into two age groups:
- Years 1-3
- Years 4-6
The program consists of two, one-hour sessions for each class. The second session is normally held one week apart and reviews, consolidates and builds on the learning experiences in session one.
If your school would like to get involved in the program please contact Cleanaway’s Education Officer on 0438 951 392 or email:
Waste Wise school program
The Waste Wise Schools program is run through the Waste Authority, and offers WA schools the opportunity to develop smarter waste practices through the “Reduce, Reuse and Recycle” principle. The program is free to Western Australian schools and provides great support and resources to teachers with activities linked to the WA Curriculum. Schools also have the opportunity to apply for grants towards their Waste Wise activities.
Further information on the program can be found on the Waste Authority website.
Containers for Change is a new state-wide container deposit scheme that lets you cash in eligible containers for a 10 cents refund. The program will commence in Western Australia on 1 October 2020.
There are three proposed drop off locations designated for the Mandurah area. The exact details of these drop off locations will be released by the Scheme Coordinator shortly.
The Containers for Change program aims to:
- Increase recovery and recycling of empty beverage containers
- Reduce the number of empty beverage containers that are disposed of as litter or to landfill
- Provide opportunities to social enterprise and benefits for community organisations
- Create opportunities for employment
- Complement existing collection and recycling activities for recyclable waste
Collect Eligible Containers
Most aluminium, glass, plastic, steel and liquid paperboard containers between 150ml and 3L are eligible for a refund. The scheme targets beverage containers most commonly seen as litter. Check if your container is eligible for a refund below.
Please be sure that all containers are empty and have their lids removed.
Eligible Items
- Aluminium, steel, plastic (HDPE/PET), glass, liquid paperboard
- From 150 millilitres to 3 litres
- Purchased in WA
- Displays the refund mark
- Be an approved container
Ineligible Items
- Glass containers which have contained wine or pure spirits
- Plain milk containers
- Containers 1 litre or more which have contained flavoured milk, pure fruit or vegetable juice, cask wine or cask water
- Concentrated/ Undiluted cordials or syrup containers
- Registered health tonics
Note: Most ineligible containers can still be recycled through Councils kerbside recycling collection.
