Logan Leads the Way: Pioneering a Sustainable Future in Queensland Schools
Our Vision in Action: This story embodies Climate Action Schools' vision of "Redesigning Success: People and planet, thriving together," showcasing how functional sustainability can drive profound change.
The Opportunity: In 2024, Climate Action Schools launched its Logan Regional Pilot Program to address critical challenges in school waste management. The goal was clear: transform schools into hubs of functional sustainability, reduce landfill waste, and create tangible pathways to industry.
The Climate Action Schools Solution: CAS partnered with pioneering schools in Logan to establish on-site Sustainability Skills Centres (SSC). These centres mimic industry production processes, becoming 'live' STEM and LEAN (industry functional sustainability) training hubs. The program focused on diverting student resources, improving recycling quality, and fostering a culture of environmental responsibility.
Key Achievements & Impact:
Environmental: Significant reduction in waste to landfill (up to 75% diversion), improved recycling quality, and successful organic waste diversion within 3 months of the program implementation.
Economic: Schools realised substantial cost savings (up to 65% reduction in waste removal costs) and generated new income streams through circular economy initiatives.
Social: Increased cultural maturity around sustainability, empowered staff, and fostered stronger community connections with volunteers, P&C and third-party circular partners for resource recovery.
Industry Connection: Demonstrated how functional sustainability skills (LEAN tools) are directly applicable and highly valued by industry, creating early career awareness.
Functional Sustainability in Action: The pilot proved that by applying industry-based systems thinking, schools can achieve measurable environmental and economic outcomes. This foundational work has set the stage for deeper sustainability integration and STEM learnings and expanded industry partnerships.
What's Next: The success in Logan is now a blueprint for scaling impact of the program. We're building on these learnings to empower more schools, connect more students to industry, and continue co-creating a thriving future.
Discover how your school or business can join the Climate Action Schools movement:
#ClimateActionSchools #LoganPilot #SustainabilityInSchools #CircularEconomy #FutureLeaders #Learnerstodayleaderstomorrow #livingthevision
People: Principal Kathleen Janechek (WSHS), Andrew Byrne (teacher and CAS contact), Business Manager ( and Principal Megan Herbert (SPSHS) and Ineke McGuire (Teacher and CAS Contact). Cummins: Kristina Lambkin Corporate Responsibility Leader – Asia Pacific Technical Education in Communities (TEC) Program Manager – South Pacific and the leadership from Cummins Feb 2024 program started and completed Sept 2025