MacKillop has been awarded a $20,000 Keep Australia Beautiful Beverage Container Recycling Grant, to set up recycling facilities and develop a trained Wastewise team of students to educate both students and staff about correct recycling practices.

According to Sustainability Coordinator Eugene Lehmensich, the costs associated with starting a comprehensive recycling program in a school can be ‘prohibitive’.

“The grant from Keep Australia Beautiful makes sustainable decisions and best practice accessible,” Mr Lehmensich said.

“It will certainly make a difference to the ecological footprint of our College.”

Among the first to try out the new system were students from the Wanniassa Campus’ Environmental Committee, Principal Michael Lee, and Brendan Smyth MLA, Member for Brindabella.

The Keep Australia Beautiful community grants program, funded by Coca-Cola, is now in its fourth year, with $440,000 shared across 71 local communities nationally in 2013. Keep Australia Beautiful seeks to lead, challenge and inspire all Australians to strive for a sustainable and litter free environment.

The Keep Australia Beautiful National Executive, Peter McLean, said the provision of recycling bins was one of the most important steps in helping MacKillop to be a sustainable school.

“For many people, the barrier to recycling when they are out and about is simply due to a lack of recycling bins in public places,” Mr McLean said.

“When you consider that recycling 1 tonne of glass saves 1.1 tonnes of raw materials and 30% energy use, and recycling one plastic drink bottle saves enough energy to power a computer for 25 minutes, it’s clear we need the right infrastructure in place to assist people with recycling.”

MacKillop thanks and congratulates Mr Lehmensich for the work he did to secure the grant.