Through Sustainability Victoria's ResourceSmart Schools program, schools have the opportunity to complete one core module and four elective modules that embeds sustainability across the school facilities, community and curriculum, while saving resources and money for the school. The waste module helps schools minimise waste sent to landfill, recover resources and embed long-term waste management practices into the school and community.

East Gippsland Shire Council's ResourceSmart Schools Facilitator can assist schools in their ResourceSmart journey and provide resources to complete the waste module. Contact the ResourceSmart Schools Facilitator for more information.

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Reducing waste in the workplace is not only beneficial for the environment, it can also significantly reduce your overall costs. The war on waste toolkit has been designed by Planet Ark to take businesses step-by-step through the waste journey. You can audit your current waste generation, review process and make the necessary changes to save money and waste to landfill.

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Click on the links below to find out more about these great waste initiatives and how you can become more involved.

• Boomerang Bags is a global movement, connecting and empowering local communities to tackle plastic pollution. Volunteers are donated second-hand material and create reusable shopping bags.
• Buy Nothing New Month is an Australian-born initiative that asks everyone to buy nothing new during the month of October. By doing this, you are reducing your consumption, reusing second-hand items and being a role model to the community.
• Keep Australia Beautiful Week is held on 16-22 August 2021 and aims to raise awareness about the simple things we can do in our daily lives to reduce our impact on the environment and encourage action.
• National Recycling Week - Monday 8 - Sunday 14, November 2021. Starting in 1996, National Recycling Week aims to expand our knowledge on recycling in Australia.
• Plastic Free July invites anyone to pledge to refuse single-use plastic for the month of July. When you choose to make a difference for one month, you can create lifestyle changes to reduce single-use plastics.
• Responsible Cafés is an initiative that promotes and supports waste-conscious cafés. Any café that offer discounts to customers who bring their own cup can register for free.
• Share Waste connects people within the community who would like to divert food waste to landfill and those that have the facilities to compost, worm-farm or keep chickens.  
• Take 3 for the Sea asks everyone to commit to taking three pieces of litter with them when they are near a waterway, lake or beach to create a healthier marine environment.
• Women Against Waste - Founded in Bairnsdale and reaching out across Australia, Women Against Waste makes it easy for everyday households, businesses and community groups to reduce their waste through practical information and events where communities can swap, donate, recycle, mend and learn together.

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