By Fabian Veron
School Communities Recycling All Paper (SCRAP) is a reputable non-profit company based at Holsworthy in south-western Sydney.
SCRAP was founded by a few committed Sydney teachers, passionate about practical sustainable outcomes.
The venture was set up in 1991 at Holsworthy High School, and in 2001 moved to its current educational centre within the grounds of the high school.
SCRAP co-founder and current secretary Peter Carroll has steered the organisation into many areas of sustainable education and projects throughout Australia.
“Our mission has been to advance environmental education through a grass-roots approach; starting with paper recycling in 1991,” said Carroll.
SCRAP’s vision gave life to the Holdsworthy Community Garden in 2018, through a collaboration with Holdsworthy High School and the wider community.
Students in Years 8-10 had the opportunity to design and build the garden from scratch; featuring a chicken coop, vegie beds, bush tucker garden, worm farms and compost bays.
Teaching students how to close the waste loop by converting organic waste into compost soil and worm castings was a key component for organic food production.
In mid 2018, Tomra’s Return & Earn program was established to complement the garden, as well as the Terracycle facility that accepts discarded cleaning and beauty packaging.
The garden was officially launched in December 2018 by Costa Georgiadis, renowned for anchoring the ABC’s Gardening Australia show.
In 2021, SCRAP’s efforts were rewarded by winning NSW’s Keep Australia Beautiful Council Sustainable Cities Award for its “Towards Zero Waste” initiative at its Return & Earn set-up.
Featured image: ABC personality Costa Georgiadis launches the Holsworthy Community Garden. Photo: SCRAP
