The kids at The Lakes Christian College are diverting the Castlereagh community’s oral care waste from landfill for their chance to win one of five recycled community garden sets, as part a national recycling competition run by Colgate, Chemist Warehouse and global recycling pioneers TerraCycle.  

Between 23 March and 31 October 2018, the Colgate Community Garden Challenge invites pre-, primary and secondary schools nationwide to collect all brands of oral care waste and send it to TerraCycle, who will give the waste a second life by creating new products.  

Five recycled community garden sets will be awarded to five schools, with each set including three garden beds, two custom-made benches, one rubbish bin and one sign, plus a $500 gardening voucher to buy seeds and plants. Besides showing how recycled materials can be used as a sustainable alternative to virgin plastic, the sets are designed to promote gardening and healthy eating among schools.  

Elise Cox from The Lakes Christian College said the recycled community garden set would be a great way to engage students in sustainability.   

“When we heard about the opportunity to recycle oral care waste, rather than sending it to landfill, we were really keen to join the Colgate Community Garden Challenge” Elise said. “With a recycled community garden set we would teach our students how to grow plants, care for the environment and experience something made from oral care waste”. 

The local community is encouraged to drop their used oral care products at The Lakes Christian College to be recycled, and vote for them every day online at www.terracycle.com.au/colgategardenvoting.   

“Colgate is thrilled to partner with Chemist Warehouse and TerraCycle to give kids the opportunity to win a recycled community garden set while reducing landfill” Colgate Vice President and General Manager of South Pacific, Julie Dillon said. “Well done, The Lakes Christian College – keep up the great recycling work!” 

“At TerraCycle, we want to ‘Eliminate the Idea of Waste’ and a perfect place to start is with schools” Jean Bailliard, General Manager of TerraCycle Australia, said. “We want to thank the kids at The Lakes Christian College for their amazing recycling work and wish them all the best in the competition!” 

Schools can visit www.terracycle.com.au/colgategarden to join the competition, access posters and resources to get started, and to watch their competition ranking on a digital leader board.