Most of our solid waste going to landfill can be reduced simply by changing our habits. Here are some of the "Don'ts" from our waste stream:

Don't buy small packs of glue if larger or refillable ones are available.

Don't buy tea bags. Use a teapot with cozy instead (good for the compost and saves boiling the jug again.)

Don't buy polystyrene cups. Our teachers and school tuckshop use crockery coffee mugs and plastic washable/  reusable milkshake and drink containers.

Don't waste paper.  It takes a lot of energy, herbicides and habitat destruction to grow a tree for paper.

Don't buy over packaged products such as chip packets inside larger packets.

Paper can be re-used at school and we reuse most paper.  Paper is used on both sides and when one side only is used we cut the sheets into four pieces and staple the corner for scratch and scribble pads.  We also use foam packing, paper and other scraps for craft and papier-mâché.  We use a neighbouring schools paper shredder.

Mallanganee Student Council owned and operated a recycling centre which serviced the community and raised funds for the students to buy educational games etc.  Richmond Waste collected Glass and Aluminium from twenty five 240 litre wheelie bins.  The school had problems with recycling because of the distance a collector must travel and the load weight restrictions.  Any service provided to the school because of this was viewed as a donation.  Plastic was far to costly because of the high volume to weight ratio and paper was not practical to store.  This recycling service is now provided by Kyogle Shire Council.

Despite these problems we are composting food and garden waste and recycling shredded paper and cardboard packaging as mulch.

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