Awarded for invisible footprint

Pet Porpoise Pool marketing manager Angela Van Den Bosch accepts the Pool’s carbon neutral award from the regional general manager for Handybin Waste Services, Lee Beckett, as Cindy the sea lion looks on.

Bruce Thomas

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ZERO is not a low mark when it applies to the Christian Community Junior School and the Pet Porpoise Pool.

The pool and the school have both achieved a zero carbon footprint for waste to landfill for the 2010-2011 year and received trophies and certificates for their work from Handybin Waste Services, which operates the Coffs Coast's recycling and waste processing centres.

The regional manager of Handybin, Lee Beckett, congratulated the recipients on their efforts.

"We applaud them both on their innovation and on the practical steps they have taken to contribute to a cleaner environment," he said.

The environmental manager for Handybin, Darryn Westman, said the Pet Porpoise Pool and Christian Community Junior School were the first organisations in the region, if not the state, to be recognised for such an achievement.

He said implementing a best-practice waste system was one simple way to reduce harmful CO2 emissions.

"By using the three-bin waste system, businesses are better able to reduce the amount of waste they send to landfill and maximise recycling.

The head of Christian Community's Junior School, Margaret Pratley, said from kindergarten, students were encouraged to care for the environment and separate their waste.

Pet Porpoise Pool marketing manager Angela Van Den Bosch said waste education had been incorporated into their shows, with sea lions showing guests and visitors how to recycle their plastic bottles and even which bin to put them in.