SRWRA strengthens community connection through education and outreach initiatives
Connection and collaboration have taken centre stage at SRWRA as more than 20 school leaders and educators from across southern Adelaide toured the site to learn about the new initiatives SRWRA is rolling out to improve waste management education in the community.
SRWRA Operations Manager, Paul Newcombe leading the onsite tour of school leaders and educators
Hosted as part of SRWRA’s growing education and community outreach program, the group toured key parts of the integrated waste management precinct, including the Southern Materials Recovery Facility, the Southern Recycling Centre and the Renewable Energy Hub, gaining insight into how household waste is handled, processed and given new life.
The tour also introduced participants to the work SRWRA is doing to achieve better waste management outcomes through education, including site visits, the development of student-focused learning materials and the newly relaunched Les Perry Grant.
For SRWRA Chief Executive Officer Martin Borgas, the tour was a valuable opportunity to strengthen SRWRA’s connection with schools across the cities of Marion, Onkaparinga and Holdfast Bay and collaborate with educators to make southern Adelaide a better, greener place to live, work and learn.
“The work we do at SRWRA can only be as effective as the waste management choices people make, as incorrect items in household bins can reduce the effectiveness of our recycling systems and ultimately see recoverable materials sent to landfill,” Martin said.
“By helping people understand what belongs in which bin and what happens to those materials after they’re collected, we can improve recycling outcomes and recover more valuable resources, creating benefits that flow back into the community.”
Supporting practical environmental action in schools is another key component of the program, with the Les Perry Grant making $50,000 available for grants of up to $5,000 each to help local schools bring their sustainability and environmental projects to life.
With applications open until 30 October 2026, the grant is designed to assist schools with their sustainability goals and encourage students to get hands-on in looking after the world around them.
Site visits also form an important part of the program, giving community members a behind-the-scenes look at SRWRA’s daily operations, to better understand the people, systems and technologies that play a role in processing the rubbish from their kerbside bins.
SRWRA has developed additional resources to complement these site visits, providing students, teachers and other visitors with engaging materials designed to keep the learning experience going back at home, including instructive videos and activity booklets.
Through these initiatives, SRWRA hopes to improve waste management knowledge across southern Adelaide and empower more people to adopt sustainable environmental practices, both in waste management and in their everyday lives.
To learn more about the education and outreach initiatives outlined here, including the Les Perry Grant, schools and community groups are encouraged to get in touch with SRWRA at admin@srwra.com.au.