At Cudgegong Valley Public School, students aren’t just learning about sustainability, they’re living it. Thanks to the dedication of Environmental Education teacher Rebecca Daniell, collecting empty bottles, cans and cartons to deposit with Return and Earn has become a hands-on lesson in recycling, litter reduction and environmental responsibility.
Rebecca first introduced container recycling to the school in 2019. It grew out of a classroom initiative called Trash-Free Tuesday, which encouraged students to reduce their lunchbox waste. One way to reduce what went into rubbish bins was to look at what could be recycled.
“When we started, all recyclables were commingled, but the students decided to introduce dedicated Return and Earn bins,” said Rebecca.
The Eco Team, a group of students from Years 3 to 6, now leads the charge — collecting and sorting rubbish daily, holding weekly meetings to problem-solve, and ensuring Return and Earn containers are properly separated.
The school recently upgraded to larger steel bins with Return and Earn labels and the school logo, making it easier for students to recycle correctly. Once a term, Rebecca loads up a trailer of containers and takes them to Dubbo Return and Earn Depot.
The funds raised through Return and Earn, around $300 per year, are reinvested into the school’s sustainability initiatives. The money supports garden club projects, rewards for the Eco Team, and even hot chip parties for winners of the school’s ‘Eco Warrior Award’, a prize given to the classes that generate the least waste.
“We use that money every day. It’s a great way to show students the circular economy in action. What we collect goes back into making our school more sustainable,” said Rebecca.
Rebecca’s hard work was recognised at the 2024 NSW Environmental Education Awards, where she was awarded Highly Commended in the category of Sustainable Schools NSW Teacher of the Year. Return and Earn is a proud sponsor of these awards.
In 2023, Cudgegong Valley Public School also became the first Central West school to receive the ECO Schools Green Flag. This award gives international recognition as a sustainable school. The school was further recognised at the 2021, 2022 and 2023 Keep Australia Beautiful NSW Tidy Towns Awards.
