Sustainable Schools

Brunswick East PS (BEPS) is an inner Melbourne primary school located close to the Merri Creek, with CERES and Merri Creek Management Committee just around the corner. The school has been working towards a 5 star sustainable certification firstly as part of the Waste Wise program and now the ResourceSmart Sustainable Schools program.

Living sustainably is a core part of the school’s philosophy and practice.

The BEPS School Council supports the Environment and Sustainability Committee, and the student committees, Green Team, Nude Food and Active Travel/Ride2School program.

Sustainable practices are encouraged on all sub-committees of School Council and throughout the school community as part of a whole school approach to reducing our carbon footprint.

Whilst working through the sustainability modules we have implemented the following initiatives:

 Biodiversity

• Indigenous plants in our garden – the right plant in the right spot
• Maintain existing vegetation except weeds (though sometimes we do for discussions on edible weeds)
• As many natural surfaces in the playground as possible
• All green waste from the grounds and gardens goes into the compost bays, branches, weeds, grass clippings, etc.
• All green waste from the classrooms, staffroom, OSHC goes into the compost bays
• Our Veggie garden incorporates companion planting, permaculture and organic practices

Located close to the Merri Creek, the emphasis in the school gardens has been on Indigenous plants to help provide corridors for native flora and fauna. The school has been involved in re-introducing the Murnong (Yam Daisy) into the environment surrounding the Merri Creek.

A variety of surfaces have been established within the school, with the emphasis on natural materials, minimising hard surfaces to improve the water table and to naturally irrigate the gardens and create mini ecosystems.

 Water

• Storm water harvesting from the roof and bitumen
• Oval irrigated with storm water, water saving practices of watering at night and warm season grasses used - Kikuyu
• Green team Water Wise reminders
• Low flow restrictors installed on taps
• Tanks for toilet flushing
• Tanks for the veggie garden
• Dual flush toilets in school and low water use urinals
• Low water use appliances installed when replaced
• Buckets under bubblers to collect excess water to be put on the gardens and veggie garden in the school

 Energy

• Solar panels installed
• Green power on electricity bill
• Green team Save Energy campaigns
• Renovations installed sensor lights
• Renovations installed low energy light fittings
• Low energy use appliances installed when replaced
• Regular Ride2School day - leave the car at home
• Fans and low energy use heaters in classrooms
• Low energy use air conditioners

 Waste

• Reuse paper in the classrooms, drawing, notepads, etc.
• Waste centres in each Learning Community, staffroom and OSHC - landfill, co-mingled recyclables, paper/cardboard, and organic waste/compostable material
• Nude Food encouraged in the school to limit/eliminate packaging in lunch boxes
• Green team Reduce Waste campaigns
• Working towards green purchasing wherever possible
• Working towards green events - markets, etc.
• Recycled materials used in building projects where possible