Waste Education Events
Cairns Regional Council's Waste Education Program offers many free events that residents can take part in to learn how to reduce, reuse and recycle waste better. Council also offers ongoing free Kindy, School & Community Group tours & presentation events which interested participants can register their interest for.
For a full list of upcoming Council events please visit Council's Upcoming Events Page.
Further Information about Waste Education Specific Events:
The 2024 Trash to Treasure was held on Saturday 10 August.
The Trash to Treasure is an annual event organised by the Council to promote waste reduction and sustainability. This year's event offered workshops, entertainment, and stalls where attendees could learn how to repurpose and reuse unwanted items.
By encouraging the community to rethink their waste, Trash to Treasure aims to create a more sustainable future.
- Numerous market stalls including: Puparazzi Haus, Delilah Mae Handstamping, Peggy Walker Art
- Food and drink trucks including: Coffee Your Way, Mr Dairy Whipp and Hungry Nomad
- Interactive workshops including: “Confidence with Tools”, Clifton Art Shack, Junk Weavers
- Awarding of the “Reuse, rethink, repurpose” school and Early Learning Centre Competition
- Raffle draw for people that vote at the event for the school and ELC competition
Exciting Workshops at the Trash to Treasure
Thank you to the community and local business owners for getting involved in the event and the cause that it represents. Some of the workshops that were available at the 2024 event were:
Confidence with Tools Workshop
Empowered kids by teaching them how to safely use power tools. This workshop helped build confidence and practical skills through fun, hands-on activities.
Junk Weavers Workshop
Transformed everyday junk into usable items like bags, baskets, and keyrings. People were invited to learn weaving techniques that transform trash into treasures.
Clifton Art Shack Workshop
This year, the Clifton Art Shack focused on repurposing all types of plastic containers, expanding from last year's bottle lid projects.
Other workshops that were at Trash to Treasure are:
- Breathe and Weave: Participants learned the art of turning palm fronds into beautiful baskets and more, embracing sustainable crafting and taking home their handmade creations.
- Zine Workshop: Provided a hands-on experience in creating keepsake mini books from old paper, perfect for those who loved storytelling and recycling
- Relived Sculptures: Participants of all ages transformed everyday waste into unique mini sculptures, exploring the art of upcycling and discovering the beauty in discarded items.
- Ride on Cycles: Attendees discovered essential maintenance skills through comprehensive bike repair and servicing, ensuring their bikes stayed in top condition.
- Fabric Rescue: Innovative techniques for repurposing textiles, allowing participants to transform old fabrics into new, creative projects.
- Precious Plastics FNQ: Provided demonstrations on plastic reuse, helping to keep plastic waste out of landfill, rainforests, and waterways
A total value of over $5000 was won in prizes.
Prize | Draw |
---|---|
1 x $10 voucher and 2 x $20 voucher to spend at the Buy Back Shop | Lucky draw |
Family pass to Sugarworld | Lucky draw |
One adult and one child entry into Cairns Aquarium | Lucky draw |
$100 voucher for Harvey Norman | Lucky draw |
One Adult pass to Fitzroy Island & One Adult pass to Green Island | Lucky draw |
Double pass to a performance at CPAC or Tanks Arts Centre | Lucky draw |
1 x $10 voucher and 1 x $20 voucher to spend at Cazalys | Lucky draw |
2 Flow Rider vouchers at Tobruk Pool | Lucky draw |
4 x All ages entry to Inflatable Kingdom | Workshop passport competition |
4 x Play packs at iPlay | Lucky draw and Workshop passport competition |
20 x Event Cinema tickets | School competition |
20 x Taipans tickets | School competition |
30 x Northern Pride tickets | School competition |
3 lots of $1000 cash | School competition |
Announcing the Grand Finalists of the Reuse, Rethink, Repurpose Competition!
We are thrilled to announce the grand finalists for the Reuse, Rethink, Repurpose competition! These innovative and creative projects were selected for their outstanding contributions to sustainability and environmental awareness. The winner was revealed at the Trash to Treasure event on 10 August, where attendees could vote for their favourite project.
Early Learning Centre Grand Finalists
![ELC - Natural Beginnings](https://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0004/660451/Early-Learning-Centre-Natural-Beginnings-Recyclosaurus_Web.jpg)
Natural Beginnings Childcare - Meet Recyclosaurus!
First place
This impressive dinosaur is made entirely from donated recycled items like boxes, plastic bottles, egg cartons, tins, and milk cartons. Painted by the children, Recyclosaurus will serve as a mascot promoting recycling, reusing, and repurposing within the centre.
![Comp Winner ELC Just Kids](https://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0007/660472/Early-Learning-Centre-Just-Kids-Propergation-Station-1_web.jpg)
Just Kids Early Learning - Propagation Station
Runner-Up
Using donated glass jars and plant cuttings, this project extends children's learning about the natural environment. It involves the safe handling of materials, fostering teamwork, critical thinking, and environmental awareness. As the plants grow, they'll be potted around the centre or gifted to families
Primary School Grand Finalists
![Comp Winner Waste Pyramid](https://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0003/660477/Primary-School-Gordonvale-Lunch-Waste-Pyramid_Web.jpg)
Gordonvale State School - Recycled Lunch Waste Pyramid
First place
This pyramid, made from lunch waste, showcases various aspects of Gordonvale. One side features sugarcane paddocks and a cane train, another side depicts the Mulgrave River with a waterfall and rainforest, the third side highlights the river with cane toads, and the fourth side represents the town centre with its original pub, school, and new overpasses.
![Comp Winner St Andrews](https://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0018/660501/St-Andrews-Web.jpg)
St Andrews Catholic College - Sensory Garden
Runner-Up
The Primary School children are constructing a Sensory Garden using recycled tyres, featuring scented and colourful plants. Stage 2 of the garden, currently underway, will focus on touch.
High School Grand Finalists
![Comp Winner HS Bottle Cap Mural](https://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0009/660474/High-School-Cape-York-Girls-Bottle-Cap-Mural_Web.jpg)
Cape York Girls Academy - Bottle Cap Mural
First place
Senior girls from the Cape York Girls Academy dedicated six months to create this stunning mural using recycled caps collected from local beaches and recycling centres. Depicting a sea bird, the mural symbolises a healthy marine ecosystem and fish population.
![Comp Winner HS Ocean Pollution](https://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0010/660475/High-School-St-Monicas-Ocean-Pollution-Costume_web.jpg)
St Monica's College Cairns - Ocean Pollution Awareness Costume
Runner-Up
This costume symbolises the impact of ocean pollution on marine life. The corset, made from cardboard and bubble wrap, depicts ocean waves and features a headpiece with a bin pouring rubbish into the ocean, accompanied by a turtle plushie trapped in debris. The skirt, repurposed from a Cinderella dress, showcases various types of garbage and shades of blue to represent ocean diversity.
Thank you to everyone that came to the event to vote for their favourite project and support our community's efforts in sustainability and creativity!
School Competition Prize Suppliers
Raffle Prize Suppliers
We'd like to thank Reef Unlimited for supporting our event. We encourage you to sign up to their newsletter here to keep up to date with local offers, discounts for visiting family & friends, new products & services.
Planet Ark’s National Recycling Week is taking place 11 - 17 November 2024.
This year for National Recycling Week, we are encouraging all residents to change their habits and keep recycling out of waste. Last year over 5,000 tonnes of perfectly good recycling were incorrectly placed in waste bins and sent to landfill where its recycling journey stops, forever.
To help residents avoid sending recyclables to landfill, Council has launched a new community education campaign called "Lift the right lid – keep recycling out of waste". The education campaign highlights four simple tips to help the Cairns community make the most of recyclable materials currently being lost to landfill.
How do we get started?
Watch our tips for keeping recycling out of waste.
The following materials do not belong in waste bins, and must instead be placed in recycling:
- Steel and aluminium cans
- Hard plastic bottles and containers
- Paper and cardboard
- Glass bottles and jars.
How to recycle right, during National Recycling Week
Council's recycle right campaign is also a great place to start with answering how to recycle right by providing residents with simplified captions, easy-to-follow guides and resources to help keep it simple and put the right thing in the right bin.
Cairns Regional Council offers a unique opportunity for schools, early learning centres, community groups, and residents to book free waste & recycling presentation (incursion) sessions.
Interested Schools, Early Learning Centres, community groups, and individuals can now book their own presentation session requests directly through Council's automated booking system. Please note, terms and conditions apply for each presentation session.
Cairns Regional Council offers a unique opportunity for schools, early learning centres, community groups, and residents to book free guided tours of our waste & resource recovery facilities in Portsmith, just 5 minutes from the Cairns CBD.
Interested Schools, Early Learning Centres, community groups, and individuals can now book their own tour (excursions) requests directly through our Council's automated booking system. Please note that terms and conditions apply for each tour.
Last Updated: 27 August 2024
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