Climate Action Schools
Regional Pilot Program

Logan, Queensland, Australia 2024

Yagara and Yugambeh Country

Executive Summary

The Climate Action Schools Logan Regional Pilot Program demonstrates significant progress in resource recovery providing schools with a model of sustainability in practice. The initiative not only improves resource recovery management practices but also fosters a culture of environmental responsibility among students and staff.

We’ve seen an increase in cultural maturity, unleashed the economic benefits of the circular economy, and provided and hope for the future. Schools operations are run by Business Managers who love the cost savings, data and grants. Teachers love the STEM learnings and systems thinkings and the working model of sustainability in practice to assist teach the curriculum.

School leadership appreciates the strategic alignment, the increase in cultural maturity the system provides. Shailer Park SHS Principal, Megan Herbert calls us a ‘critical support partner’. Cleaners are appreciated and valued by teaching staff, leadership, and students alike. Purposeful work.

The students understand they’re global citizens living in a first world nation with the privilege of education. Australian students learnt of the harmful damage first world nations behaviour is causing and they’re committed to a positive future where they have power and a responsibility of making a better future for the planet we share.

Industry appreciate students coming with sustainability systems thinking mindsets. Learning take 5 personal safety, 5S, 8 wastes, 5why’s and using Fishbone tools and understanding their neuro type has increased their cultural maturity. They appreciate quality ESG and finding a workforce development solution providing sustainability in the supply chains.

CAS is living the vision of codesigning success: people and planet, thriving together.

Overview

Climate Action Schools (CAS) was trialled in Logan, Australia in 2024. The pilot was to deliver a circular, resource recovery, sustainability system, inside schools. We aimed to reduce student resources going to landfill, improve recycling quality (decontamination) and material redemption, divert organic waste, and offer sustainable pathways to industry, using industry based ‘systems thinking’ tools.

Program Focus

The program centred on testing CAS delivery systems were fit for purpose, by developing prototype operational Sustainability Skills Centres (SSC). These centres serve as mini resource recovery centres which mimic an industry production process (similar to manufacturing), acting as ‘live’ STEM and LEAN (functional sustainability) systems thinking training hub. Once developed and operational, we connected schools with industry to showcase the results. Could it divert student waste from landfill to under 0.03m2 per student? Could it increase cultural awareness? Could they join the circular economy and provide positive behavioural change in participants whilst offering hope for the future?

Partnership & Collaboration

In collaboration with Cummins ESG, the program integrated sustainability practices, resource recovery, and circular economy principles within schools in Logan, Queensland, Australia. Climate Action Schools mimics industry sustainability. The pilot also included a professional development tour for teachers and cleaners, linking them directly with industry to enhance team engagement and outcomes leading to an increase in cultural maturity.

Participating Schools

Woodridge State High School
Shailer Park State High School.

Results at Woodridge State High School – updated May 2025 through #continuousimprovement

Woodridge State High School established its Sustainability Skills Centre (SSC) within the first four months after signing The Pledge. The data highlights the following achievements to date through #continuousimprovement:

Daily Resource Diversion: On average, 555 litres of recoverable resources are diverted from landfill each day, representing 53.3% of the total material sorted daily in the SSC. Update: May 2025 – through #continuousimprovement, this is now on average 66% and up to 75%.
10c Cans and Bottles: Of the 555 litres diverted, 113 litres were 10c cans and bottles. Update: The P&C and Scouts partner (50/50) and have now both received their second $600 circular economy income via Containers for Change scheme.
Waste Reduction: There was a 66% reduction in the number of general waste bins each week and a 42% reduction in the total number of bins requiring collection by August 2024. Update: through continuous improvement, this is now a 65% reduction in student waste costs representing a $27K saving in 2025

Results at Shailer Park State High School

Teachers and cleaners have worked together and bonded as a team going upstream and innovating increasing cultural maturity amongst the team. We learnt schools must have an operational and quality bin lifter to ensure cleaners are safe. We learnt putting the cleaners and teachers on a bus into industry together to see sustainability in action using these functional tools works. We also learnt the requirements of what a school requires to be ready, willing and able to become a Climate Action School.