Schools can be a powerful force in driving change towards environmental sustainability within communities.
CCGS aims to reduce its ecological footprint through the adoption of environmentally sustainable practices in our everyday lives. We aim to lead the community by developing strategies to reduce waste and water usage, monitor and reduce energy usage, enhance campus biodiversity and advance environmental literacy.
We have a strategic commitment as outlined in the Striving for Excellence strategic plan 2021-25 to enhance the environmental sustainability of the School's operations.
Environmental sustainability achievements
Just some of our achievements to date:
- LED lights installed campus wide.
- Only compostable food containers, utensils and other sustainable packaging options provided by the school canteen.
- Student-led Environmental Action Group and involvement in Take 3 and Clean Up Australia Day.
- Steady reduction in waste sent to landfill through increased recycling and initiatives such as Waste Free Wednesday.
- Solar panels installed on the Junior School, Library, RLC and Performing Arts Centre roofs; 100 percent of the School's power requirements come from renewable sources with 33 percent now generated onsite. The remainder is from renewable sources on the grid.
- Reduction in water usage through the collection of water on site.
- Only biodegradable disposable gloves used onsite.
- Extensive planting, in particular of native species, to support biodiversity.
- Steady reduction of onsite printing.
- Purposeful environmental design of the Junior School to take advantage of natural ventilation and lighting to reduce energy usage.
- UPPAREL old school uniform collection and a general clothing bank.
- Review of cleaning products to ensure the highest environmental credentials.
Next steps
- Establish separate organic waste collection in suitable locations.
- Review options for comingled and soft plastics recycling.
- Review procurement procedures to favour organisations that are committed to reducing their carbon footprint and improving their environmental credentials.
- Complete an environmental sustainability scope and sequence across K to 12.
- Review environmental credentials for all products used in maintaining gardens and grounds.
- Digitisation of current paper-based work processes.
- Continued reduction of onsite printing.
- Audit of current carbon footprint to enable the development of reduction targets.
