Waste education

Waste education

1. Overview

WickED (Waste In Campaspe - Know, Educate, Do) is Campaspe Shire Council's Waste and Environment Behaviour Change Program. The WickED Program provides a community-based approach to waste and resource recovery education across the shire.

2. Purpose of the program

The purpose of the program is to help the community become aware of the environmental impact of their consumption and waste management behaviours, and to influence positive behaviour change in order to reduce our environmental impact.

The goals of the WickED program are to:

  1. Prevent the generation of waste
  2. Avoid creating food waste
  3. Increase the diversion of comingled recyclable material from the waste stream
  4. Increase the diversion of organic material from the waste stream
  5. Increase the recovery of resources from the waste stream (non-comingled)
  6. Reduce contamination of recyclable and organic material
  7. Reduce litter on Council owned and managed land
  8. Reduce illegal dumping on Council owned and managed land

To find out more about WickED contact our Environment Projects Officer on 1300 666 535 or see the events and services offered below.

The following documents provide details about Council’s Waste and Environment Behaviour Change Program:

Waste and Environment Behaviour Change Program(PDF, 2MB) (2019-2024)

Summary - Waste and Environment Behaviour Change Program(PDF, 2MB)

3. Waste and recycling facility tours

'Trace your waste' tours are free of charge and are led by a member of Council's Waste and Environment team. To discuss booking a tour, please contact our Environmental Projects Officer – Education on 1300 666 535 or email [email protected]  Tours are available for the following sites:

Echuca and the Mt Scobie (Kyabram) Resource Recovery Centres

The Echuca and Mt Scobie Resource Recovery Centres are hubs designed to maximise the re-use and recycling of items that don’t typically go into your household kerbside bins. The centres also host re-sale shops where customers can buy secondhand goods. Come and learn what you can and can't recycle, and how your waste is managed.

Echuca Materials Recovery Facility (MRF)

A Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) is a depot where the recyclable materials from your yellow bin are taken. Materials are sorted into different types or ‘streams’ including glass, aluminium, paper, steel and plastic. In the Campaspe Shire, everything that is put into the recycling bin (yellow lid) is transported to the MRF located in Echuca which is operated by Veolia.

Biomix Composting Facility

Biomix is a facility located within the shire (Stanhope) that processes the food and garden waste collected from your green bins and turns it into nutrient-rich compost which can then be applied to parks, gardens and farms to improve soil health and productivity.

Please note that schools and community groups need to organise their own transport.

4. Waste presentations and activities 

Presentations and talks about waste avoidance, recycling, resource recovery, littering and food waste can be given by Council's Environmental Projects Officer and can be tailored for different age groups and audiences. Presentations and activities can be provided to school, business or community groups.

“What Bin Does This Go In?” is an interactive activity that teaches individuals what waste item should placed in each of the three kerbside bins. This activity is popular with early learning and primary school students.

Presentations are given free of charge.

5. Waste free school programs

There are many existing programs and initiatives that tackle waste education. 

Check out the Waste Free School programs(PDF, 431KB) booklet for links and information on recommended Victorian and Australian initiatives.

6. ResourceSmart Schools program

ResourceSmart Schools is a free program offered by Sustainability Victoria that supports Victorian schools to embed sustainability across the school facilities, community and curriculum, while saving resources and money for the school.

Council can assist certified ResourceSmart Schools within the shire to complete actions associated with the Waste or Core module of the ResourceSmart Schools program. Council can also provide resources for schools interested in joining the program. For more information on ResourceSmart Schools, visit the this website, or email the Loddon Mallee Waste and Resource Recovery Group at [email protected].

7. Clean Up Australia Day

Council will provide support for schools, individuals or community groups across the shire in hosting a clean-up event on Clean Up Australia Day. For more information and to register your event visit the www.cleanup.org.au website.

Alternatively you can host an everyday clean-up throughout the year.

8. WickED Sustainability Awards

Every year, Council hosts the WickED Sustainability Awards which invites individuals, community groups, schools, businesses and industry to enter by sharing their waste and environmental success stories. Each year has a theme, with winners judged for each category and winners are announced at the Campaspe Regional Library in Echuca.

To find out more details, please contact Council’s Environmental Projects Officer – Education.

9. Food and Garden Waste program - Give a Scrap

More than half of what Campaspe sends to landfill from kerbside general waste bins is food and garden waste. The aim of Council’s Give A Scrap program is to reduce the amount of organic material currently ending up in landfill and educate the community on the benefits of recycling their food and garden waste. This is largely achieved by providing a food and garden waste (green bin) service to residents so that this valuable waste stream is not lost to landfill. The organic material is then sent to a commercial composting facility to be turned into nutrient-rich compost.

See the 2018-2020 Give a Scrap Program Evaluation Summary here(PDF, 230KB)

For more information on the Give A Scrap program click here or contact Council’s Environmental Projects Officer – Education.

Watch a video on how your food scraps are turned into compost, where new food is grown.