School lunches go junk-free

BERWICK Fields Primary School students are doing their best to keep Australia beautiful.
The local school was rewarded with a State Government award last week for students’ efforts in minimising the amount of rubbish coming from lunches.
The school finished a runner-up in the environmentally focused advanced category of the Rubbish Free Lunch Challenge.
School environmental education specialist and coordinator Joan Gaudion helped organise the program and also launched a competition for the best recycled outfit, with students creating costumes from recycled paper and cardboard.
Education Minister Bronwyn Pike also presented awards to another eight schools for dramatically reducing the amount of rubbish they generated, with 27 schools receiving encouragement awards for their commitment to environmental programs.
Ms Pike said the challenge was a fun way for schools to educate students about the impact their daily activities could have on the environment.
“Whether it’s through composting and mulching or recycling and re-using, the challenge encourages students to think about their impact on the environment and stamp out rubbish in school grounds,” Ms Pike said.
Hillsmeade Primary School was also acknowledged for its rubbish saving efforts.
The Narre Warren South school received an encouragement award in the primary school beginner category.
Schools participating in the challenge weighed their lunch rubbish in July as a reference point and then compared it with the volume accumulated on Rubbish Free Lunch Challenge Day in August.
“It is wonderful to see Victoria’s schools taking up the challenge and giving rubbish the boot,” Ms Pike said.
Ms Pike said the challenge was an excellent way to help students develop their leadership skills and take the waste reducing message beyond the school gates to the wider community.