Grade 3/4 students at Brighton Primary School are taking a stand against waste with the launch of a new food and garden waste col­lection service aimed at reducing landfill. The initiative is supported by Brighton Council, who funds the Food Organics Garden Organics (FOGO) service and provides classrooms with caddies and curriculum materials.

FOGO ensures food scraps are composted for farmers instead of being sent to landfill where they decompose and emit the green­house gas, methane.

“By introducing FOGO, we’re showing students how they can reduce food waste in landfill and make a positive environmental difference,” said Sonya Plunkett-Smith, Principal of Brighton Primary. “This in turn grows confidence and an understanding of how their actions affect the world around them.”

Brighton Council’s Waste Education Officer, Gwen Harper, praised the school’s efforts. “This is a significant achievement for a large school like Brighton Primary,” said Gwen. “FOGO complements their kitchen-garden composting and impressive paper and cardboard recycling efforts, and is yet another testament to this school’s leadership team.”

To mark the launch, students were each given a unique pencil made from recycled newspaper, printed with the message ‘Sustainability Champion’. Students participated in an assembly presentation on the journey of food waste from paddock to plate and the environmental benefits of composting.

Students were also treated to a visit from the FOGO collection truck. Some lucky students got the chance to sit in the driver’s cab and see the many controls and cameras that help drivers collect and examine FOGO wheelie bin contents.

To encourage awareness on the correct way to FOGO, Council has introduced a friendly classroom competition to collect the most fruit stickers, which are considered a compost contaminate. The classroom with the most collected stickers at the end of the term will be rewarded with reusable metal drink bottles.

With their enthusiasm and commitment, Brighton Primary is fostering a culture of sustainability among students, empowering them with waste-reduction programs that make a real impact on our environment.