Case study: Kenmore District Kindergarten and Preschool
Kenmore District Kindergarten and Preschool is a not-for-profit community kindergarten about ten kilometres south-west of Brisbane. It has been caring and educating children for almost 65 years.
The kindergarten had their first ecoBiz coaching session in 2020 and became an ecoBiz Star Partner a year later in recognition of the initiatives they have in place to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill.
Key initiatives to reduce waste
- Using a Woolworths Junior Landcare Grant, the kindergarten purchased a worm farm. They educate children about sorting waste and how organic waste can be composted or fed to chickens.
- Organic waste that is not placed into the worm farm is taken by staff or parents for chickens.
- Paper towels are no longer used in the toilets. Each child has their own cloth towel, which is taken home and washed.
- Items are reused for arts and craft activities (e.g. milk lids, egg cartons, cardboard rolls, wrapping paper, etc.).
- Various items are collected and recycled from the school operations and families, including:
- toothbrushes and tubes (via Terracycle)
- bread tags (via Bread Tags for Wheelchairs to raise funds to buy wheelchairs for disadvantaged people)
- batteries (taken to Aldi)
- cans and plastic bottles (via Containers for Change)
- milk bottles, yoghurt tubs, and paper (placed in the yellow-lid bin).