At Creaney Primary School, we are committed to respecting our environment and understanding the importance of conservation and sustainability. As a proud WasteSorted School for over 10 years, we take a whole-school approach to environmental education. Our students, staff, and wider community are empowered to take responsibility for waste minimisation while developing positive environmental values and long-term sustainable habits.

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Responsible Waste Management

We promote responsible waste behaviours through a variety of initiatives:

• School Chickens
  Our chickens help reduce food waste by eating suitable fruit and vegetable scraps from student lunchboxes and our vegetable gardens. Their natural fertiliser enriches our garden beds, and the eggs they lay are used in classroom cooking activities. Caring for the chickens teaches students about responsibility, food systems, and environmental stewardship, offering a hands-on understanding of sustainability.

• Litter Reduction
  Waste minimisation and correct disposal are practised at both classroom and whole-school levels. We use food scrap bins for composting and feeding our chickens, paper recycling bins in every classroom, large cardboard recycling bins, and Containers for Change bins. All funds raised from container donations go towards feeding our chickens.

 

Gardening Club

Every Tuesday, our Year 5 “Creaney Greenies” support Early Years students in maintaining our school vegetable gardens. Through this hands-on experience, students learn how to grow food, understand where it comes from, and appreciate the effort involved. The Gardening Club also promotes healthy eating, supports mental well-being, and fosters teamwork and responsibility. It helps students connect with nature and understand the importance of caring for the environment.

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Whole-School Sustainability Events

Each year, students participate in events such as Clean Up Australia Day and Plastic Free July, raising awareness about environmental issues and encouraging positive change. We also plan to reintroduce Waste-Free Wednesdays to reduce lunchbox packaging and litter, reinforcing sustainable habits and making a visible impact on our school grounds.

Sustainability principles are also embedded in the curriculum. STEM and other projects often reuse materials that would otherwise go to landfill, making learning both practical and eco-friendly.

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Community Partnerships

Our Sustainability Hub allows families to donate items that can’t be recycled through regular systems—such as coffee pods, batteries, toothbrushes, bread tags, plastic lids, mobile phones, and used stationery. We partner with specialised organisations that repurpose these items into new products. For example, used stationery is donated to Give Write, which supports local students in need.

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At Creaney Primary School, we are dedicated to developing environmentally responsible attitudes, habits, and values. By educating our students and engaging our community, we aim to nurture mindful stewards of the world we share.