By CASEY NEILL
DANDENONG students will be binning it to do their bit for the environment.
Emerson School was among 21 recipients of cash from The Beverage Container Recycling Community Grants.
The Keep Australia Beautiful and Coca-Cola Australia Foundation program funding will provide 11 dual bin recycling points around the school grounds.
Teacher Fiona Bateman is educating children about the importance of recycling and the environment to provide a path to a greener future.
“It is one of the most powerful things we can all do to create a positive future for the planet,” she said.
“Recycling is promoted and used in our classroom as a desirable behaviour with great overall benefits.”
Ms Bateman said the grant would allow Emerson School to upgrade its school yard bins and introduce recycling in the school yard.
“The new sustainable recycling system allows us to have a consistent message for our students both in and out of the classroom,” she said.
Principal John Mooney said the new bins would encourage students to keep their school tidy and to continue to raise community consciousness of the importance of recycling and sustainability.
“These bins will make it easier for students and staff to keep our school environment in great shape,” he said.
Recycling one plastic drink bottle saves enough energy to power a computer for 25 minutes and recycling one aluminium can saves enough energy to run a television for three hours.
Manufacturing 20 aluminium cans from recycled materials uses the same amount of energy as making one can from raw materials.
Keep Australia Beautiful national CEO Philip Robinson said the grants had been available since 2010 to enable community groups, councils and other organisations to implement projects to benefit their area and the environment.
“The grants of up to $10,000 are a practical and educational tool that keep the community free of litter and divert waste from landfill,” he said.
