War on Waste

Hi Girls,

Today I wanted to talk to you all about a large problem we are facing in our world. Waste. Waste is one of the most pressing issues in the world, affecting all Australians. The ABC Documentary War on Waste is currently airing their second season and is a real eye opener. Although depressing, it is also really inspirational. War on Waste has so far covered waste issues such as; the cosmetic standards super markets place on food, food wastage, single use plastics, the waste in our waterways and the affect that has on our environment and the recycling issues that are currently at large. Waste mightn't be something you think about every day, but after just 10 minutes of watching the show you will be inspired to take action. As we are the younger generation, it is vital we understand the pressing issues in our world and understand it isn't an issue for someone else to deal with because everything we do dramatically effects the world. Below is a list of some ways you can reduce your impact on the world and help Australia win the war on waste!

Plastics Recycling

Plastics make up a large part of the weekly rubbish collected by families. Almost all food are wrapped in plastics (another issue in itself) and these plastics take a very long time to break down. Plastics is arguably the largest issue in waste management as because of its long life and throw out manor, plastic end up in water ways. It is no secret plastic is dramatically negatively effecting the natural world, with it killing numerous amounts of animals. If you want to help reduce the plastics ending up in landfill, you can recycle your soft plastics in most Coles and Woolworths and at other recycling depots. These plastics are then transformed into other items such as park benches. For me, whenever I have plastic waste in my lunch box I take it back home with me to then be recycled with the other plastics. You can also change your habits by having a 'nude' lunchbox by taking in a Tupperware container instead of pre-packaged food.

Cardboard Recycling

I believe recycling is an issue Australia is pretty good at. Recycling at home is integrated into everyday life, yet these practices are not moved into school. Brigidine has started recycling through the paper recycling stations in classrooms. This is a really great initiative and if you can follow it, than you can dramatically reduce your waste you produce. Especially at the end of the school term when lockers are cleaned out, lots of paper and books are not recycled and chucked straight into the bin. By taking old books and paper home and then recycling, you will help our world.

Plastic Bottles

Plastic bottles are almost always single use. This is a real issue as when buying a bottle of water, you are just buying the bottle! On top of this, bottled water has been proven to be exactly the same as tap waters. A fact I found really interesting (not from War on Waste) is that the Voss water, probably the most well-known brand of expensive bottled water, is just tap water. Although it is sometimes hard to always remember to bring your water bottle, instead of buying water at tuckshop, keep your water bottle or a plastic water bottle in your locker.

Thanks girls for reading. A great example of the positive effect small changes can make is from War on Waste at Kiama High School where the school changed their waste sent to landfill dramatically.  Although it seems like a lot of work to change our habits and it may seem a bit extreme, it is so important to save our world. I know for me, waste is the issue I am most passionate about and I always stress the importance of recycling, I hope some of you can be inspired to take action and help your family reduce your impact on the world. If you want to watch the eye-opening War on Waste, it is on ABC iView.

Tips and Tricks for Staying Organised

During high school, it is not unusual to feel as if you have mountains of homework and assessment to do, but don't worry! This article will provide you with a few tips on how to make the best of your time so that these tasks get completed on time, as well as a few tricks on general organisation, to help make schoolwork a bit more manageable.

1: Set a specific time to do homework/assessments
One of the major problems when trying to get homework or assessments finished is procrastination - I am one of the many people guilty of putting off schoolwork! This is why I find it useful to set a specific time to do my homework. The time that you start your homework will be unique to you, depending on your outside-of-school activities, but I always aim to start my homework in the afternoon if possible (usually 4/5pm). Also, if you start your homework earlier, you will be able to get to sleep earlier and avoid being too tired the next day!

2: Break down large tasks into smaller ones
Sometimes, the reason for putting off a large homework task or assignment is not knowing where to start, but you will find that by breaking down a task into smaller parts, it will become more manageable. Try splitting a writing assignment into sections or paragraphs (introduction, body paragraphs, conclusion), and aim to write each section by a certain time or date. For smaller homework tasks, like maths questions, aim to complete a certain number of questions by a specific time, and finish the rest by another time or date before they are due.

3: Set your own rules and deadlines for completing tasks
Never leave finishing a large task until the night before it is due! Instead, set yourself basic deadlines as to when you want to have different pieces of assessment/homework done - for example, you could try to have your assignments completed two days before they are due. Your school planner is a great way to enforce this! It is an easy, obvious way to record (and highlight/colour!) when different tasks need to be done by. Alternatively, you could make yourself or buy a small calendar for the same purpose. By completing homework and assessment with time to spare, your stress will be reduced and you will have extra time for other tasks and activities.

4: Do schoolwork somewhere that's not cluttered or distracting
The key to getting schoolwork done quickly is doing it without distractions! You are likely to take way less time doing homework at a desk in a decluttered place than on the couch in front of the TV - trust me, I would know! Having said this, listening to music or other background noise can also be helpful in staying focussed and relaxed when doing homework. If you're still getting distracted though, try using apps which are specifically designed to keep you focussed while doing schoolwork, such as 'KeepMeOut', among others!

5: Leave yourself time to relax
In order to make the most out of the time you're doing your homework, you should always take breaks in between tasks. I tend to do homework for one to three subjects at a time (depending on how long they take), then I will take a short break (anywhere between ten and thirty minutes) before finishing any other schoolwork I have to do. This way, I am more focussed and clear-minded when doing my schoolwork, making it easier and quicker to do!



Written by Ashleigh Gordon