Zali Steggall (Warringah, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This month I was invited by Zero Emissions Sydney North to judge their inaugural Trash Hack Challenge. Ten schools from the Warringah area competed, including Beauty Point Public School, Blessed Sacrament Catholic Primary, Middle Harbour Public School, Mosman High School, Mosman Prep, Mosman Public School, Queenwood School for Girls, SCECGS Redlands, Sacred Heart Primary School and St Cecilia's Catholic Primary.

The world generates over two billion tonnes of waste each year. The Trash Hack Challenge—originally developed by UNESCO—asked students to create an initiative to reduce waste in their local community and inspire others to do the same. The winning initiative was from Sacred Heart Catholic Primary for their 100 per cent waste-free lunches and other projects. Other entrants created community recycling stations and even eco-friendly homemade cleaning products. I was very impressed by these innovative student led initiatives. Not only did they curb a substantial amount of waste; their ideas were simple to execute and could easily be replicated by other schools and community groups. I want to congratulate these students for taking leadership in reducing their waste and encourage other schools and community groups to get involved. We know waste is a massive problem for the future, and it is our young people and students who will lead the way in solving the challenge.