As part of our integrated learning immersion this term, the year 5 hub visited the Eco Drop and Eco Sort at the Materials Recovery Facility at Parkhouse Road and the Eco Shop on Blenheim Road.

The bus picked us up from school and took us to the Materials Recovery Facility at Parkhouse Road. Just across from the huge space where they all the yellow bin recycled waste is brought and processed, there is a classroom where students learn about the different types of yellow bin waste, how they are separated at the processing station, and what things the recycled material is made into.

We learned about the 5 Rs of waste management ( in descending importance) -  Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover, Residual disposal. Our instructor shared with us many different ways we can contribute to minimising waste.

We also learned that it is very important to remove the lid / top from plastic containers as the colours in them discolour the recycled plastic. This makes it less desirable to recycling companies who purchase the recycled plastic. Cleaning these containers is also very helpful.

After our session with our instructor we jumped on the bus and took off to the Eco Shop in Blenheim. We were given a task - Spend $500 to furnish a room in our flat (imagining we are 19years old).

There was much to view and many options to consider - a bed, a mirror, a couch, a mower, a vacuum cleaner, plates, cups, art work, jet ski.

A jet ski, you say. Well, yes, there were jetskis for sale and a couple of groups decided that they would make great seats in their flat.

We learned so much from our visit and have generated many ideas about how we can do our part to contribute to environmental sustainability. Watch this space.