Last week, IGS Sustainable Futures students completed our third waste audit in six years. They collected, sorted, measured, and recorded data on the waste we generate. By analysing this information, they aim to gain deeper insights into the origins, categories, and destinations of IGS’s waste. Students collected over 150kg of waste, a total of 11,303 items. Most of the waste found was paper and card (47%), followed by miscellaneous (33.68%) and food and compostables (30.84%).
The good news is that IGS is producing less waste by weight. The weight of waste they measured decreased from our last waste audit in 2022. Weight reduced from 180kg in 2022 to 158kg in 2024, representing a decrease of 12%. If compared to 2020, we decreased 20% from 198kg.
According to their analysis, we have maintained our level of recycling. The amount of waste recycled increased from 19% in 2020 to 50% in 2022 and 50% in 2024 while the amount of waste to landfills decreased from 81% in 2020 to 50% in 2022 and 50% in 2024. And we are emitting less carbon from our waste because of our recycling improvements. The amount of carbon emissions decreased from 375kg CO2-e in 2020 to 170kg CO2-e in 2022 then to 149kg CO2-e in 2024.
Sustainable Futures students, Lilla Smyth-Langdon, Maya Isbister, Hugh Gibbons and Auden Graves presented this information to students at the High School assembly on Wednesday which coincided with World Environment Day. The audience included special guest Councillor Sylvie Ellsmore from the City of Sydney.
Lilla observed that “we need to be better at putting our rubbish in the correct bin. We also noticed that there were significantly less cleaning products and masks compared to the 2022 waste audit, during the height of the pandemic.”
Maya suggested “If you’re not too sure if your recycling is too contaminated with leftover food, no worries! Just chuck it in the landfill and try to learn more for next time! It may seem counterintuitive, but by putting it in the regular bin you avoid the possibility of the entire batch of recycling going to landfill. Food waste was also a bit of a problem, but thanks to the new FOGO bins now provided by most councils, if you have food scraps or uneaten food at school, just take it back home and compost it! Other ways to reduce your personal waste are to use a reusable water bottle and lunch containers.”
Thank you to all students involved and Carmelo Fedele Head of Sustainability for leading the audit.
Watch Mr Fedele speaking about the importance of taking the time to be conscious of our waste footprint.