Recycling at Shore

We are pleased to share some fantastic feedback from our cleaning and waste management partner, Quayclean, about our recycling programmes at Shore. The latest report shows impressive recycling numbers for both our campuses. For the year ended May 2022, the School achieved a recycling rate of 73% at the North Sydney campus and 85% at the Northbridge campus. Mark Piwkowski from Quayclean said, “This is amazing – not many schools are achieving these numbers.” Both staff and students are to be congratulated for their focus and efforts in managing waste and recycling effectively.   

“This is amazing – not many schools are achieving these numbers.”

In the context of a school setting, waste encompasses a few different elements – dry waste, organic waste, green waste, paper and cardboard and mixed recycling. The recycling rate refers to what is known as the ‘diversion’ rate, meaning that 73% of all waste on the North Sydney campus was recycled. At Northbridge, the diversion rate across the year was 85%, and in the month of May a 92% diversion rate was achieved which is exceptional. Northbridge campus was able to reach outstanding figures of above 90% in six of their monthly scores. The North Sydney Campus was not far behind, with a rate above 80% in two of the monthly scores. 

Shore has engaged Quayclean to partner with us in these efforts and they have identified that habit is the biggest factor in achieving solid recycling rates. The strong desire by staff and students to care for God’s creation and protect our planet has fostered high levels of engagement that has led to effective ongoing habits which have cemented recycling as an important part of our Shore culture. 

As we aim to further increase our recycling rates, please continue to use the yellow mixed recycling bins and take care to separate your waste. In future we will look to move to communal bins and waste stations to improve waste sorting as well as utilising specialist recycling streams such as TerraCycling for hard to recycle items like coffee pods and e-waste. 

Congratulations to the entire School Community for your efforts to separate and recycle. With continued good habits we can continue to strive for a 100% diversion rate in future!