Climate Action Schools Program delivering results

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A little while back we shared a story how in 2018 LEAN manufacturing (Industry’s Quality Management System) was used to turn the waste of Advanced Manufacturing Gateway School Marsden State High, into a commercial income stream and help save the planet. 

The experiment was to address recycling and waste reduction.  A social, economic and environmental dilemma that our future generations are set to inherit. Marsden State High School’s waste cost was $ 21 per student, higher than the $19 for the state average. Three years on, they are tracking at $2.99. From the onset we took an industry best practice quality systems approach, to reduce the amount of waste to landfill and improving the rates of recycling.

Outcomes so far

  • Tonnes of valuable white paper that has been diverted from landfill and sold back into the circular economy for continued use.

  • Tonnes of organics diverted from landfill and used to grow healthy topsoil and vegetables at the school.

  • Valuable positive demonstration of making a difference in our communities recycling and sustainability efforts. 

  • It’s creating job ready youth with a team and quality systems approach to work and continuously improve. Hopeful youth empowered and capable to make a difference.

  • It’s created valuable industry partnerships, including the Logan Council

 

As a former teacher at Marsden SHS it makes me very proud to hear of your incredible efforts to minimise waste. Keep up the great work!

Leeanne Enoch MP
Former Minister for Environment and Great Barrier Reef,
Minister for Science and Minister for the Arts

 
 
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Industry 5.0 lessons

Some of the Industry 5.0 lessons we can take from Climate Action Schools Sustainability Skills Centre at Marsden State High School are:

  • The importance of leadership, thanks to Principal Andrew Peach and the school’s leadership team. Andrew has since won Principal of the Year in 2019!

  • The importance of people connecting to purpose, Terry Thomson’s continued efforts in making a difference and running the Sustainability Skills Centre. Terry Thomson, the Steve Irwin of School Sustainability.

  • The effectiveness of the State government’s recommended operating system, Competitive Systems and Practices (LEAN) when aligned to quality strategy and a committed team.

  • The performance of connecting people, purpose and process and the measured difference this can make for the planet.

We are thrilled to be able to inspire other schools to operate in a more sustainable way, the financial benefits and job ready skills that the students gain make it a powerful program.

Andrew Peach
Executive Principal, Marsden State High School

 
 
 
 
 
 

If you would like to learn more about how you can also make a difference and Climate Action Schools please contact us

 

Climate Action Schools is a positive initiative that not only equips young people with the skills and knowledge to create change, it also directly benefits their school and broader communities. It’s great to see initiative programs focus on waste reduction education and recycling principles and I look forward to seeing the program grow.

Trevor Evans MP
Assistant Minister for Waste Reduction and Environmental Management