RCE Tasmania - 2021

Recycling walls from filing cabinets
CSV
Basic Information
Title of project : 
Recycling walls from filing cabinets
Submitting RCE: 
RCE Tasmania
Contributing organization(s) : 
University of Tasmania
Hobart City Council
Focal point(s) and affiliation(s)
Name: 
Belle Workman
Organizational Affiliation: 
Facilitator for Education for Sustainability Tasmania
E-mail: 
efstas@slt.org.au
Format of project: 
Audiovisual
Language of project: 
English
Date of submission:
Update
Web link: 
http://efs.tas.edu.au/previous-events/
Does this project link to any education and/or sustainable development policy or policies?: 
No
Geographical & Education Information
Region: 
Asia-Pacific
Country: 
Australia
Location(s): 
Tasmania
Address of focal point institution for project: 
Churchill Avenue, Hobart
TAS 7005
Ecosystem(s):

Target Audience:
Higher, Primary, Secondary, Teacher Ed.
Socioeconomic and environmental characteristics of the area : 
Tasmania is an island state in Australia, located 240 km to the south of the Australian continent. Tasmania has a unique natural heritage with almost 45% of Tasmania protected in reserves, national parks and World Heritage Sites. it is the most mountainous state in Australia with dense old growth temperate forest and a a high level of species endemicity.
Description of sustainable development challenge(s) in the area the project addresses: 
Although we can be great at protecting our environment, research shows that at the current rate of production, Tasmanians generate over 900,000 tonnes of waste each year. Most of this waste ends up in landfill, which is the least favourable waste management option. A lot of this waste can be reused, or treated differently to be reduced, recycled or even avoided altogether (Rethink Waste, 2021).
Contents
Status: 
Completed
Period: 
May, 2021
Rationale: 
The webinar shared the experiences of the University of Tasmania in diverting hard-to-recycle items from landfill. In December 2019, the University of Tasmania, with support from Hobart City Council, set up ‘an innovatively designed’ pilot recycling wall for difficult to recycle items in the Social Sciences building on the Sandy Bay campus using discarded filing cabinets. Given the immediate success of the pilot wall, the service expanded to other buildings and campuses. A total of 22 recycling walls are now utilised across UTAS campuses. UTAS sustainability team member, Will Plaister, presented details of the pilot project, including its implementation and success to date.
Objectives: 
The objective of the webinar was to share an innovative and successful initiative in recycling with EfS Tasmania members, and to guide them through the process of implementing the initiative in their own schools and educational institutions.
Activities and/or practices employed: 
An engaging and interactive online format that facilitated an explanation of the initiative and presented resources and recommendations for translating the initiative to other settings.
Size of academic audience: 
20
Results: 
Several attendees have since reported that they have implemented recycling walls in their own school/ educational institution.
Lessons learned: 
Beyond knowledge exchange and sharing innovative ideas, the project demonstrated the impact that a step-by-step virtual guide can play in affecting change.
Key messages: 
The recycling wall initiative presents an opportunity for tangible sustainability and educational outcomes.

Pictures:

File Name Caption for picture Photo Credit
Image icon recycling wall.jpg (127.53 KB) Recycling wall W. Plaister
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
(https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs) and other themes of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
SDG 3 - Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages 
Indirect
SDG 4 - Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all 
Direct
SDG 11 - Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable 
Direct
SDG 12 - Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns 
Direct
SDG 13 - Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts 
Indirect
SDG 14 - Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development 
Indirect
SDG 15 - Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification and halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss 
Direct
Theme
Forests/Trees 
Direct
Plants & Animals 
Direct
Waste 
Direct
ESD for 2030-Priority Action Areas
Priority Action Area 2 - Transforming learning and training environments 
state: 
Indirect
Priority Action Area 3 - Developing capacities of educators and trainers 
state: 
Direct
Priority Action Area 4 - Mobilizing youth 
state: 
Indirect
Priority Action Area 5 - Accelerating sustainable solutions at local level 
state: 
Direct
Update: 
Yes