Curro Somerset West leads the way with eco-friendly innovation
06 November 2025Curro Somerset West has launched a ‘Recycling Depot’, an initiative that encourages learners to take practical steps toward environmental responsibility. Since opening in 2024, the depot has become a lively space where learners explore sustainability through hands-on participation and teamwork.
Every Wednesday morning during Term 1 and Term 4, from 07:15 to 07:40, the depot comes alive as Eco Club members assist in sorting recyclables. ‘Learners gain valuable knowledge while actively contributing to sustainability efforts, which is a true reflection of our school’s commitment to holistic education and responsible citizenship,’ said the school.
What the depot accepts
The Recycling Depot welcomes a variety of recyclable materials:
- Glass
- White paper
- Coloured paper
- Plastic bottles (1L, 2L, and 5L)
- Cans
- Cardboard boxes
- E-waste
This system helps reduce waste while empowering learners to become environmental ambassadors within their homes and communities.
The Eco Bricks Challenge
To build on this momentum, Curro Somerset West introduced the Eco Bricks Challenge, a project that repurposes non-recyclable plastic waste for a local community cause. Learners fill 2-litre bottles with clean, dry, non-recyclable plastic such as chip packets or cling wrap, compress the contents tightly, and cap them securely before submitting their eco-bricks to their register class.
All collected eco-bricks are donated to the Pearl Project Community Upliftment Project in the Helderberg area, where they support sustainable building initiatives. Classes earn points for each eco-brick contributed, with the highest-scoring class receiving a reward.
Turning learning into leadership
‘At Curro Somerset West, we believe in nurturing young minds to become thoughtful, innovative leaders. Our environmental initiatives are just one example of how we integrate values-driven learning into everyday school life,’ concluded the school.