At Brunswick East Primary School, we are deeply committed to creating a sustainable future for both our local and global communities.
ResourceSmart Schools Program
We believe in the importance of environmental stewardship and are proud to be part of the Resource Smart Schools Program, an initiative run by Sustainability Victoria. This program helps schools embed sustainability into their facilities, community, and curriculum while saving valuable resources and reducing costs.
We are currently working through our Resource Smart Core module, which includes conducting a Biodiversity Audit and developing a four-year Environmental Management Plan for the school. We have created a Green Team made up of students representative to help plan, organise and communicate the sustainability actions we’re taking throughout the school.
Vibrant kitchen garden
One of the standout features of Brunswick East is our vibrant kitchen garden. Through this hands-on initiative, students connect with the natural world by growing, propagating, and harvesting plants. This experience helps them observe seasonal changes and gain a deeper understanding of where their food comes from. It’s a fantastic way for our students to learn about sustainable food production, biodiversity, and the environment. Read more about our garden program.
Our green community
Sustainability is not just part of our curriculum – it’s a part of our school culture. Our regular fundraising markets, including the popular Twilight Market, have become increasingly focused on sustainable practices and going waste free. From using eco-friendly products to reducing waste, we strive to make every event as green as possible.
Our Environment and Sustainability Committee
We have a dedicated Environment and Sustainability Committee made up of teachers and parent volunteers. This committee plays a key role in guiding our sustainability efforts and ensuring that environmental practices are integrated across the curriculum.
Waste Management at BEPS
At BEPS we work to support not just our kids but our whole community to join in on our sustainability Initiatives.
Community Wide Compost
Located near our garden area we have a row of composting barrels our classrooms and staffroom contribute to every day. Families are also welcome to bring their compostable materials from home. We have added barrels to ensure we meet the community needs as we have nearly doubled our compost output. This system is carefully managed to ensure we always have a compost barrel full and ready for use in our garden.
Worm Farm
Our Green Team leaders are working closely with one senior learning community to get our worm farms going. This learning community has a bucket specifically for worm-friendly scraps that the worms are fed daily. The castings are used for fertiliser in our garden program.
Chicken Coop
The Chicken coop is both delightful to students of all ages, and a significant contributor to our garden program. Our Chickens are fed their favourites: weeds, bugs and kitchen scraps, and in return we utilise their droppings in our garden program and composting system.
Bottles4BEPS
Spearheaded by our student run Green Team and assisted by parent and staff volunteers, Bottles4BEPS is a fundraising program where bottles are deposited in exchange for money. Our school has an on-site donation point for families, but donations can also be done by taking bottles directly to the depot and using the BEPS code. Read more about Bottles4BEPS.
These daily practices are integral to helping our students develop habits that will support a more sustainable world in the future.
Page last updated: May 30, 2026
