We are committed to actively encouraging, promoting, and supporting best-practice waste management in our communities.
We do this through offering a wide range of waste and recycling education tools, services, and programs, encouraging residents, schools, and businesses to learn about waste disposal and recycling practices. We have something for everyone!
For more information visit the topics below and contact Council's Waste team if you have further questions about waste and recycling.
Waste education for schools and early learning
Our Waste and Recycling education team offers free support to primary schools, kindergartens and childcare centres across the shire to help reduce waste and boost recycling.
We also provide presentations and education for community groups and businesses looking to improve their waste management processes or educate members and staff.
We can help you with:
Our waste audits and incursions are a great way to set a baseline for your school’s progress and inspire your students to make real change.
Get Grubby program
Council is excited to offer FREE access to the award-winning Get Grubby sustainability program for all East Gippsland childcare centres, family daycares, homeschool groups and primary schools.
Created by Dirtgirl, Scrapboy and Costa the Garden Gnome, this fun online program includes:
Kids will learn how to:
🌻 Grow food 🐛 Create worm farms 🚯 Reduce waste 💧 Save water ⚡ Be energy wise
Join thousands of kids across Australia becoming confident, eco-smart “planet dwellers.”
To get started: Contact Council’s Waste Education Team for your unique access code, then visit the Get Grubby login page to begin your adventure!
ResourceSmart Schools is a free program from Sustainability Victoria that helps schools bring sustainability into everyday learning and operations.
This award-winning framework supports schools to:
🌏 Save energy and water ♻️ Reduce waste 🌳 Boost biodiversity 💰 Save money 🤝 Engage the whole school community
The program includes five modules:
*Council’s Waste & Recycling Education Officer can help your school complete the Waste Module. Please get in touch for local guidance, audits and classroom support, once you’ve joined and finished the Core Module. For other modules or general program information, please contact ResourceSmart Schools directly.
We have a range of publications to help residents learn more about waste and recycling. These resources explain how to recycle correctly and encourage better household recycling practices to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill.
The resources listed below are all available from our customer service centres and libraries.
The Land of Away is a children’s storybook created by Council to help young readers understand where our rubbish really goes – and why everyday choices matter.
Written and illustrated by local author Megan West, the story follows Pippa the Pelican as she sets out to find the mysterious “Land of Away”. Along the way, Pippa discovers what happens to waste after it’s thrown out, and how recycling, composting and reducing waste can help protect wildlife, waterways and the places we love.
Designed for early-years and primary‑aged children (and the adults who read with them), The Land of Away uses storytelling to spark curiosity, encourage environmental responsibility, and start conversations about caring for our natural environment.
The book is used in schools, libraries and community programs across our shire as part of Council’s waste education and sustainability work.
It's also available to buy from The Forge Theatre in Bairnsdale and Council's visitor information centres for $20 or you can borrow it from our libraries.
For recycling information and links to all available waste and recycling streams we offer, simply click on the Waste Wise image >>>
To support our recycling education efforts Tambo Waste trucks have been wrapped in prints matching our printed material, keep an eye out for them on the road.
The development of these resources was made possible by a grant from Sustainability Victoria Circular Economy Household Education Fund and reflects our commitment to actively encourage, promote, and support best practice waste management in our communities. Through ongoing education and collective efforts like this, we can work towards a more sustainable future for East Gippsland.
Ever wondered what happens to your recycling after it is collected? Take a behind-the-scenes look at the Bairnsdale Materials Recovery Facility, operated by Tambo Waste. See how your recyclables are sorted and processed, bringing your efforts full circle.
We are available to come to other events as required.
The East Gippsland Secondhand Guide helps residents look after what they already have, while making it easy to buy and donate secondhand across the region. The guide brings together secondhand dealers, op shops and community markets, showing how everyday choices can reduce waste, save money and support local communities. Buying secondhand keeps quality items in use for longer, reduces demand for new products by prioritising reuse before recycling or disposal.
Across East Gippsland there are many opportunities to donate unwanted items and buy secondhand, from clothing, furniture and homewares to books, tools and household goods, including at local community and grassroots markets. Donating good quality items helps divert valuable materials from landfill while supporting charities, community groups and market stallholders. Choosing to buy secondhand can save money and give these items a second life, keeps resources circulating locally, and strengthens a shared culture of repair, reuse and practicality – proving that a stitch in time really can make a difference.
There are also online markets place options for buying and selling items such as Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace and community Buy Swap and Sell pages. Garage sales are often listed on community notice boards and local papers.
