Centre wastes no time in recycling message

IPSWICH is learning to go green and out here they start them young.

Bush Kidz Childcare Centre at Blacksoil is leading the city's charge to green-up its act with a sustainability message that is not just confined to the classroom.

Ipswich's landfills have breathed a sigh of relief after the centre brought in an army of recycling bins for waste and a worm farm, calves, chickens and goats to chomp up all the organic scraps.

Student Tristan Cunningham, 5, explained why it was very important to recycle and feed the farm animals the lunch scraps.

“Otherwise the planet will get rubbish all inside it,” he said.

Bush Kidz area manager Lolita Brennan said they encouraged the kids to get involved at every opportunity so it became second nature as they grew.

“When they get old enough to really understand they can be active in looking after the planet,” Ms Brennan said.

She said along with tanks dramatically reducing water use the green mission had been a big success.

“Once we started the program it reduced our waste to a quarter,” she said.

And the initiatives keep on coming.

Ipswich City Council is proposing to run an organic waste collection trial to address a recent report that showed organic combustibles consitute half of all domestic waste.

“It is proposed that organic waste, including all kitchen scraps and green waste, is separated at the source and collected from households in addition to the existing refuse and recycling domestic services,” Councillor Trevor Nardi said.

“This has the potential to divert significant volumes of organic waste from landfill by turning it into high quality compost that can be used around Ipswich.”

He said Ipswich currently diverts 51 per cent of domestic waste away from landfill for recycling but they were always looking for more ways to promote the recycling message.

• For more information download the What a Waste! brochure at ipswich.qld.gov.au or call 3810 6666.