By Sustainability Committee
This year, Newington College is taking steps towards introducing a FOGO (Food Organics and Garden Organics) system driven by the Sustainability Committee, with the aim to reduce landfill waste, lower our carbon footprint, and build a strong culture of responsible waste management across our school.
As food waste is one of the biggest contributors to the school’s landfill, filling up the general waste bins where it emits harmful greenhouse gases like methane, FOGO will allow these compostable items to be separated and be turned into nutrient-rich soil instead of these harmful emissions.
However, as we all know, just rolling out bins alone isn’t enough. That is why the Sustainability Committee has developed a comprehensive education plan outlining the steps to help educate students to learn what goes where and why it matters. Our education plan includes engaging videos, clear signage, to year group meetings, and bin audits.
Our implementation of an organic waste system has been developed in close consultation with school leadership and staff. This initiative aligns with the NSW Government’s 2026 mandate for institutions, including schools. This will position Newington College ahead as a leader in being sustainable.
A rough estimate suggests that this initiative can help reduce our emissions by up to 144 tonnes of CO₂ annually, the equivalent of taking 31 cars off the road. Sustainability isn’t just a goal, it’s our responsibility.