South Australia has a proud history of waste management, an essential part of maintaining and improving our precious natural environment.
Since 1966, KESAB environmental solutions has played an important role in helping to reduce litter and maintain South Australia’s positive reputation with regard to our environment and clean community. By working with schools and the community, as well as its relationship with government, KESAB also continues to be a great advocate for environmental sustainability.
As with previous years, in 2018-19 KESAB engaged tens of thousands of students from preschool to high school and delivered its well-known practical programs such as Litter Less, Sustainable Communities (Tidy Towns) and Wipe Out Waste.
KESAB also continues to involve hundreds of teachers in professional development and school site programs, building on similar achievements in previous years.
In part funded by Green Industries SA, these programs have delivered outstanding results in 2018-19.
These include a reduction in litter compared with the same time last year, global education partnerships with Mongolia, Kiribati and India, and a range of excursions and tours for schools and volunteers.
2018-19 also saw the continuation of the significant contribution from community volunteers.
The work continuing to be done for ongoing activities such as Road Watch, Clean Site, Clean Marine clean up events, KESAB education centres, and Statewide Recycling, amongst others, provides a contribution valued into the tens of millions.
The management of waste is done best when there is strong alignment between government, industry and the community, and in South Australia we are fortunate that as a state we are working together to reduce waste, move toward a circular economy and increase community education and action.
KESAB is a major contributor to this overall success and I commend it for the crucial role it has played in South Australia.