STEM-Focused Plastic Recycling Education & Incursions

Bridge the gap between theory and action with curriculum-aligned programs that bring the power of plastic transformation to your school.

Empowering 250+ schools, universities & organisations with the tools and expertise to lead the circular economy.

Unique, hands-on workshops run by specialists in interactive material science and circular economy education.

We'll inspire and empower the next generation of changemakers whilst investigating creative solutions to reducing waste and exploring the concept of the Circular Economy!

Our programs enhance STEM learning in schools through an experiential, hands-on and practical approach. We'll demonstrate plastics recycling principles and practice using our Aussie-made Zephyr Bros. machinery, designed specifically for application within education.

Linking directly with current recycling practices and community / NGO led waste reduction programs, your students will experience and participate in the transformation of waste plastics materials into new, functional products.  

We'll provide insights into a critical area of knowledge for the future - Plastics, Recycling and Circular Economy, covering a variety of topics such as:
• The environmental impact of plastic
• The different types of plastic
• Recyclability of common plastics
• Potential applications for plastic 'waste'
• Circular Economy principles & practices
• UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Education FAQs

The Workshop Experience

We create customised incursions and excursions that spark curiosity and empower students to explore sustainability by getting hands-on with our Aussie-made Zephyr Bros. recycling machinery. From mechanical shredding to melt-and-mould manufacturing, we move students beyond theory and onto the workshop floor.

Our workshops are:
• Tailored to your program's goals: From a basic 1-hour session to term-long explorations, we design content to fit your needs. We can also bring specific moulds on request.
• Flexible for any age and subject: Engaging students from Primary to Secondary, we customise workshops to suit diverse age groups and learning styles, while aligning with relevant curriculum goals across various subjects, such as STEM and Design.
• Scheduling convenience: We design workshops to integrate seamlessly into your timetable, ensuring a smooth experience for teachers and students.

Curriculum Alignment

Are Precious Plastic Melbourne's workshops aligned with the Australian or Victorian Curriculum?

Yes! Our programs are multi-disciplinary and provide evidence for a wide range of core achievement standards. We map our learning across three primary areas: Science & STEM, Design & Technologies, and Humanities & Business.

Whether you're focusing on polymer chemistry, product design, or circular economy principles, we can pivot our workshop focus to satisfy your specific curriculum requirements. Full Victorian Curriculum v2.0 and VCE/TAFE alignments are available in our Education Information Pack.

What's Included

We provide fully-resourced experiences so you can focus on the learning. Every incursion and excursion session includes:
• A workshop led by a Circular Economy education specialist.
• Hands-on use of our Zephyr Bros. machinery and all recycling materials.
• A digital pack of printable student worksheets and activities to reinforce learning.
• A copy of our 'Setting up your Precious Plastic Workspace' booklet for your school.
• PD Recognition & Learning certificates available upon request.

Need to accommodate a larger group? We can provide additional facilitators for multiple or concurrent sessions - just let us know in your enquiry.

Pricing

For school incursions, or excursions to our Recycle Lab, drop us an enquiry and we’ll get a clear, itemised quote over to you.

Safety & Compliance

We prioritise a seamless and safe experience for school leadership:
✓ All facilitators hold current Working With Children Checks (WWCC).
✓ Comprehensive machinery Risk Assessments are provided for every session.
✓ Public Liability Insurance (PLI) Certificate of Currency available upon request.

Recycle Lab (Excursions)

Step out of the classroom and into the Recycle Lab.

For schools looking for an immersive off-site experience, we host excursions at our dedicated Recycle Lab. While our incursions bring the gear to your classroom, an excursion allows your students to step into a real-world circular economy hub.

Students work through our modular production line -from polymer identification and mechanical shredding to melt-and-mould manufacturing- using our full educational suite of Zephyr Bros. machinery. It’s a tactile, high-energy environment designed to show how a closed-loop system operates in a professional workshop setting.

Just like our incursions, every student leaves with a functional product they manufactured themselves.

Explore the Recycle Lab and book your excursion here.

Professional Development (PD) For Teachers

Our Incursions and Excursions are eligible for PD recognition. We provide Learning Certificates upon request for attending staff, acknowledging their participation in hands-on STEM and circular economy training.

Key Concepts Covered

Our workshops go beyond simple recycling to explore the real-world application of material science and circular systems. Key concepts include:
• Polymer Science: Investigating molecular structures (like HDPE, PS, and PP) and how thermal state changes allow for transformation.
• Circular Manufacturing: Moving from "Legacy Landfill" to closed-loop systems through micro-manufacturing and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).
• Material Engineering & Design: Applying force, motion, and energy through our Zephyr Bros. machinery to prototype and manufacture ethical design solutions.

Establishing Your Own Recycling Program

Establish your own on-site recycling lab with Aussie-made Zephyr Bros. machinery. Engineered right here in Melbourne, our Zephyr Bros. machine range meets Australia's robust safety standards for classroom-scale manufacturing. To ensure long-term success, we provide comprehensive post-purchase support through our Product Support Academy and one-on-one training, ensuring your teachers and students have the technical expertise to lead their own circular economy journey.

Choose your curriculum lens

We can provide tailored STEM learning for every year level. Whether you are visiting the Recycle Lab or hosting an Incursion, we can tailor our sessions through one of three primary educational lenses:

  • The Maker Lens (Design & Technologies)

    Focus: Product design, manufacturing workflows, and material engineering.
    Best for: Art, Design and Technology, and "Maker Space" programs.

  • The Scientific Lens (Science & STEM)

    Focus: Investigating polymers, molecular structures, and state changes.
    Best for: Science Departments focusing on Chemical and Physical sciences.

  • The Systems Lens (Geography, Business & Economics)

    Focus: Circular Economy principles, global waste systems, Life Cycle Assessment and local impact.
    Best for: Humanities and Tertiary/TAFE groups.

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Precious Plastic education workshops for kids & students | Melbourne, Australia

Explore our impact: See our previous Education Workshops via our live Impact Map

Our Facilitators

Bill Verhagen, Education Facilitator at Precious Plastic Melbourne and Plastics Engineer with 35 years of industry experience

Education Facilitator

Bill Verhagen

Bill is a qualified Plastics Engineer and Business Graduate. He has 35+ years experience in plastics and packaging.

Bill was a Technical Specialist for one of Australia's first post-consumer plastics recycling projects, aimed at demonstrating that packaging could be recycled into new applications. He has worked on a number of developments, focused on improving packaging sustainability through Circular Economy principles.

Passionate about inspiring the next generation, Bill began educating in 2020. He is also the current Vice President of the Society Of Plastics Engineers (SPE) ANZ and a member of the Australian Institute Of Packaging (AIP).

Hear Bill on EducationDaily podcast at EduTech 2024
Piers Mossuto, Co-Founder of Precious Plastic Melbourne and innovator of the Zephyr Bros. recycling machinery range

PPM Co-Founder

Piers Mossuto

Piers is one of the innovators behind the development of the 'Zephyr Bros' machinery range by Precious Plastic Melbourne- a series of small-scale plastics processing equipment designed for use in education, small business and community settings.

Earlier in his career, Piers has also spent time working as a Training Manager in adult education.

Now an expert in the area of community-focused ‘micro’ recycling, Piers also has an extensive background in business, co-founding his first sustainability-focused SME in 2014.

Book a Precious Plastic Incursion today!

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