YES - Year of Environmental Sustainability

Promote a whole of school waste minimisation policy that includes recycling all recyclable materials (check with waste contractors to confirm what can be recycled in your region).

Implement the waste hierarchy 5 'Rs' process for managing the waste stream in schools i.e. Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rubbish.

Term 1: Energy efficiency

Energy use is a critical issue for the planet with limited fossil fuels and increasing demand. We need to reduce energy use and to develop alternative energy sources.

January: Smart Travel Trends
February: Power Down Computers
March: lights off for Earth Hour

Term 2: Waste minimisation

Most waste can be avoided, reduced, reused and recycled. Is your school implementing sustainable waste management practices? Do you know where your waste comes from and where it goes?

April: Paper consumption
May: Composting waste
June: Reduce, re-use, recycle

Term 3: Biodiversity improvement

Biodiversity is all life on earth including plants, animals, humans- even microscopic organisms. It includes all things that are alive and growing as well as the places they call home.

July: Endemic plant preservation
August: Habitat enhancement
September: Native animal awareness

Term 4: Water conservation

Water is a vital resource. We live in the driest inhabited continent on the planet. We need to conserve and protect our water supplies.

October: Water conservation
November: Catchment care
December: Coast care

2010 - Year of Environmental Sustainability in Queensland Schools

To support the department's vision for sustainable schools in Queensland, Enough for all forever, 2010 has been declared the Year of Environmental Sustainability in Queensland schools.

The aims of the Year of Environmental Sustainability are to:

increase awareness and understanding of environmental sustainability issues
support teachers to include environmental education for sustainability elements in their teaching practice
empower students and schools to be more environmentally sustainable in everyday practices to reduce their ecological footprint
promote the achievements of Queensland state schools and their students in adopting environmentally sustainable practices Click here for more...