we sell products to support these programs

Step 1 - A solid waste audit

This is a great starting point for understanding and then planning reduction to the waste stream. A day’s waste is set aside and students separate waste into various categories. While this can be confronting it is very  rewarding for students to see exactly what is thrown away in their school. The report from SCRAP includes a series of recommendations.

A complete DIY kit is available from SCRAP for hire at $185 + GST, including delivery and collection within the Sydney metropolitan area. This includes the SWA kit (with instructions and audit sheet) and ARR kit plus gloves, tongs, labelled buckets, tarpaulin and scales. Also available for purchase at $500 + GST, including delivery, see the Green Buys Catalogue - these are member's prices.

Avoid, Reduce & Reuse Kit - Many areas of the school can benefit from an Action Plan to reduce waste and reuse items. The kit provides your students with opportunities to do action research that can lead to a Whole School Action Plan on improved resource use and conservation. You will also explore issues of environmentally friendly purchasing; ­ SCRAP offers 15% Green Buys Discounts on a range of products and services to its members.

The Avoid Reduce & Reuse Kit

Step 2 - Implementing programs for paper recycling

Paper Recycling - The starting point for most schools is the Paper Recycling Program. Recyclable paper is around one third of the school waste stream by weight and around half by volume, and sometimes more.
The solid waste audit indicates what kinds of paper are going to landfill and assists in choosing the kind of paper recycling system. In most major cities skip and wheelie bins are the preferred option. Many other areas use wool bales and/or bags to collect white office paper products. Skip bin services typically cost 60% of the cost of removal as waste (the current charge from Remondis in Sydney is $8.46 per cubic metre including GST + weekly rental of $2.20). Waste charges are running at a minimum of $15 - $16 per cubic metre in Sydney (early 2009).
A whole school effort is required to effectively separate and collect recyclable paper however as most people recycle paper in their homes it is an achievable program to start off with.

In Sydney and the Blue Mountains SCRAP is able to offer a WHITE PAPER collection system which is FREE to our members. By separating your office quality, printing and writing papers (white paper only) you will save money on your recycling skip removal and contribute to higher quality recycling.

Cost: free initial consultation from SCRAP staff and follow up support.

Many areas have agents who also impose charges for bag and bale services (skip and wheelie bins are becoming more common outside major cities but many area still rely on bags or bales).

Cartridge Recycling - SCRAP has found that the major cartridge manufacturers have gradually pushed the smaller companies out of the market and made it harder and harder for us to continue offering services in this area. As a result we have to reluctantly end our cartridge recycling efforts and refer people back to their manufacturer. Please insist on a cartridge recycling service from your manufacturer as part of the Extended Producer Responsibility laws in Australia. Your cartridge recycling will stop harmful toxins going to landfill and extend the life of the cartridges through reuse, remanufacture and recycling.

Step 3 - ­ Implementing a Green Waste Strategy

Green Waste consists of food, garden and anything else organic (eg, compostable paper such as lunch bags, etc). This usually comprises around 45% of the school waste stream. This means that a typical school of 400 students may generate up to 20 kg of food waste per day and up to 4 tonnes per year will go to landfill. This will cost the school almost $1000/year in disposal costs.

SCRAP’s Green Waste Reduction Program (now coupled with our worm farming division) aims to assist schools to reuse this green waste within the school and so avoid sending it to landfill. The savings on disposal costs can also be channelled back into further environment education activities to manage this waste and hence keep the funds in the global budget.

SCRAP will work with the school to develop and implement the program. This includes staff and student workshops, infrastructure and back-up, with options in each area to suit your budget. The educational component has a strong focus on both curriculum and management integration and is supported by our teaching and learning kit, “If you didn’t eat your Greens” (book and video), normally $33. There are few better programs of practical, hands-on work in environmental education for students.

Costs: the implementation costs vary with the size of the school. The cost includes supply of a system as well as educational and management training and advice.

Worm Farms:

1. The Reln Can O' Worms is a system that will recycle green waste for domestic, educational class based activities or small businesses only. Our service includes a 30 minute set up workshop, the Can O' Worms worm farm, 2,000 worms, jute cover and a supply of dolomite, book and video for just $198 including GST and delivery, in Sydney. The worm farm and worms, with cover and dolomite only for $140 including GST and delivery in Sydney. Also available are the older style Worm Factory (same cost as Can O' Worms) or the new version - Worm Cafe (improved features include a lid with hook and better legs) which costs $10 more than the Can O' Worms. Please see our Green Buys Catalogue - Worm Farms for further details.

2. The Clarry Wormery is for schools/other bodies over 250 students/staff and is an enclosed, fully prepared worm farm with one year's backup from a worm farmer. Set up workshops may run for several hours and up to a full day to establish the worm farm and induct staff/students to the maintenance process. Buckets (20 litres) with labels are also provided to collect food wastes. SCRAP's "If you didn't eat your Greens" book and video are included. The full cost is $3000 + GST if all features are included. We can quote on other set ups if you wish but we mandate the one years' back up as this is often necessary for the successful implementation of the system.

The Clarry Worm Farm # 2

Composting systems:

Composting in schools is an ideal way to reduce garden waste going to landfill. Schools often have irregular yet large amounts of this type of waste and often it can fill a skip bin. SCRAP’s composting systems are designed in conjunction with a green waste and garden strategy and may be constructed of resused pallets in bays or use commercial tumblers for example.

Cost: by negotiation depending on the size of the school grounds. SCRAP will work with the school to develop a garden waste reduction strategy. This can include construction of pallet bays for composting and/or storage. typical costs are between $400 - $600. Contact SCRAP for more information and/or see our Worm Farm section of the Green Buys Catalogue.