Education Resources

Printable resources:

• Where does it all go - flyer (A4) ( PDF, 1.5 MB ) - a short description of the destinations for household waste and recycling in the Cairns region.
• Waste Management Overview Poster (A3) ( PDF, 5.09 MB ) - Cairns Regional Council's Residential Waste & Recycling Facilities in Portsmith: Your guide to local waste management.
• Cairns Materials Recovery Facility Overview Poster (A3) ( PDF, 4.36 MB ) - How the Council sorting facility processes materials for recycling.
• Know Before You Throw Poster ( PDF, 1.48 MB ) - The top six actions to minimise contamination in Yellow Lid Recycling Bins across the Cairns region.
• Recycled Glass Factsheet ( PDF, 1.44 MB ) - Further information about Council's recovered glass product.

Colouring-in and activity sheets:

• Council Recycling Truck ( PDF, 1.88 MB )
• Cairns Materials Recovery Facility ( PDF, 2.69 MB )
• Which bin does it go in Activity Sheet ( PDF, 2.16 MB )
• Reuse Crocodile Activity Sheet ( PDF, 1.23 MB )
• Reduce Waste Pledge Sheet ( PDF, 1.6 MB )

Video Resources:

• Cairns Kerbside Recycling Journey - Learn how materials disposed of in yellow lid recycling bins are sorted, separated and prepared for recycling into new materials.
• Materials Recovery Facility Timelapse Build - View Council's construction of the new Cairns Materials Recovery Facility, which has significantly enhanced the region's resource recovery capacity, featuring state-of-the-art recyclables sorting systems.
• Recycle Right - 6 Video tips on how to 'keep it simple' to minimise contamination in Yellow Lid Recycling Bins across the Cairns region.
• Keep Recycling out of waste - Watch five videos that emphasise the importance of keeping recyclable materials out of waste bins and landfills.
• Trash to Treasure Cairns -  Learn more about Cairns Regional Council's annual waste reuse festival. Or visit Council's Waste Education events page for more information.

Older Video Resources:

• Recycling your waste around the house, how and why to reduce waste in your wheelie bins.
• Reuse to reduce waste, re-using things is great way to reduce our waste. See how and why to reuse your items instead of throwing them away.

Virtual Facility Tours:

Take a virtual tour of Council’s Recycling, Waste Management, Capped Landfill, Transfer Stations, Buy Back Shop, or Rediscovery Centre Facilities from the comfort of your home or classroom. Visit Council’s Waste & Recycling Virtual Tours Page to learn how.

Cairns Regional Council offers free recycling services for Cairns Regional Schools. To register for the program please visit Council's 'Free School recycling webpage'.

To complement the service offering Council also offers quantities of free recycling and waste bin label/stickers (available in A4 and A3 sizes). These resources can also be downloaded and printed below.

To request labels for your School please send your request to the Waste Services team via the email address: wasteservices@cairns.qld.gov.au. 

Printable Bin Labels & Posters:

• 'Recycling Here' Label (A3) ( PDF, 9.03 MB ) - for school use only
• Waste Label (A3) ( PDF, 0.31 MB ) - for school use only
• Know Before You Throw Poster ( PDF, 1.48 MB ) - downloadable poster

Containers for Change Queensland School & Community Group Recycling Resources:

Containers for Change Queensland provides additional resources (bins, posters, further information) for Schools and Community Groups.

• To access these resources, please visit the partner program webpage and complete the registration process.

• Know which bin it belongs in: Managing waste and recycling at home can be confusing. Knowing which bin it belongs in, and what to do with items that do not belong in either, helps keep valuable materials out of landfill and protects our recycling system.
• Recycle Mate - Cairns Regional Council has a new tool for working out what belongs in what bin that is customised for the Cairns Region. This new tool will help identify items which can and can't be recycled to determine the proper way to dispose of them.
• Council's Pantry Card ( PDF, 0.28 MB ), a flyer with information about what can be placed in Recycling & Waste bins or taken to Transfer Stations.
• Where does it all go - flyer ( PDF, 1.5 MB ), a short description of the destination for household waste in the Cairns region.
• Know Before You Throw Poster ( PDF, 1.48 MB ), download an A4 poster to display around your school, community group or office with the six best actions we can take towards Recycling Right in the Cairns region.
• How to ensure your bin gets collected - flyer ( PDF, 1.26 MB ), information on how to present your wheelie bins for collection day.
• Council's Know Before You Throw page, information about Love Food Hate Waste, Never Bin A Battery, and tips to Know which bin it belongs in.

Created by food waste education partners and local councils, Food Smart School Resources for Parents helps families reduce food waste and make the most of what they buy. Explore simple tips, tools, and ideas to save money, reduce waste, and build better habits at home.

Visit Food Smart's Love Food Hate Waste School Resources:

• Year 1: How to save food
• Year 2: Review how you store food at home
• Year 3: Saving food challenge
• Year 4: Food Smart family challenge
• Year 5: Paddock to Plate food journey
• Year 6: Food Boss diary
• Food Lovers board game

Cairns Regional Council Reduce Food Waste Session:

Council also offers a Love Food Hate Waste Incursion Presentation Session for Senior Primary, High School and Community Groups.  Visit Council's Free Presentations Page for further information.

Other Resources:

• Learn how to Reduce Food Waste by visiting the Queensland Government's free online resources for students and their families. Visit the Queensland Government Reduce food waste home page to view the program.
• Cut Food Waste with SaveFul
  • Backed by the Queensland Government as part of its food waste reduction initiative, the free Saveful app helps households turn everyday ingredients into meals, reduce food waste, and save money. Download it to get practical recipe ideas and simple tools to make the most of what you already have at home.
• Visit 'The Great Unwaste' website, created and supported by local councils and waste education partners across Australia, The Great Unwaste is a simple, practical guide to reducing waste and reusing more in everyday life. Explore it for easy tips that help cut landfill, save money, and make a real environmental difference.
• Created by a global social impact company on a mission to fight food waste, Too Good To Go connects you with local cafes, bakeries, and stores offering surplus food at great value. Explore the app to rescue “Surprise Bags,” save money, and help reduce food waste in your community.

The Organic Waste Smart School Program provides up to $2500 to offset the purchase of equipment that supports organic waste reduction strategies within a school. View more information about the program.

• Planet Ark has multiple education resources for teachers and students available
• Visit Containers Exchange to register for additional support and information about collecting 10c refund containers for your school.
• Visit ABC Television's War on Waste website for practical solutions to help reduce waste, reuse materials, and improve recycling efforts in our daily lives.
• Cool Australia has a series of curriculum-aligned lesson plans and resources for educators on waste reduction and greater sustainability
• The Story of Stuff by Annie Leonard has original and sequel videos to get you thinking about the real cost of consumerism. Fast-paced and engaging for primary age upwards.
• The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a man-made phenomenon, largely made up of discarded plastics. We recommend viewing for ages six and up due to its stark visual impact, and that the video clip be supported by discussions with students about what they can do to make a positive environmental difference
• Further State Government Waste Education Resources.