Year 5 St Kieran Catholic Primary School student Rebecca Hardegen’s commitment to preserving the environment was the catalyst for an innovative approach to avoiding waste that could be used by everyone. 

She was inspired to develop ways to avoid using single-use plastics after environmental youth organisation Millennium Kids visited the School earlier this year. 

The group was so impressed by Rebecca’s initiative, they asked her to write an article for their website. 

“That day, I learned one kid can make a difference by not using single-use plastics like straws and bags and I got inspired,” Rebecca wrote. 

“This is where my project started – I decided to decline individually wrapped packaged foods and not to wrap my school lunches in plastic wrap.” 

Rebecca researched how to make beeswax wraps, pieces of fabric coated in beeswax and used in place of plastic wrap. 

She said her class was also inspired by Millenium Kids who had encouraged the whole School to have Waste–Free Wednesday. 

That concept sparked more creative genius from the 10-year-old. 

“One morning when I was making my lunch, I had a brain-spark moment – I could make a beeswax wrap for everyone in my class,” Rebecca said. 

“It would take some time. 

“But that was okay since I enjoyed doing it and the holidays were coming up and hopefully, it would encourage my class to go waste-free. 

“So that’s exactly what I did. 

“I made 36 wraps, which was enough for all my classmates, teachers and Deputy Principals. 

“My friend told me that they changed her lunchbox and lifestyle, which made me feel great.” 

Rebecca thanked the City of Stirling for supporting her school through the Living Green Program.

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