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.
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:
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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.
What might your students create during their session?
Explore our impact: See our previous Education Workshops via our live Impact Map
Our Facilitators
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).
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.
Taylors Lakes Secondary College
"Our Year 7 LEAP class recently took part in an inspiring hands-on incursion with Precious Plastic Melbourne as part of our interdisciplinary unit, "Solution to Pollution" at Taylors Lakes Secondary College. This interactive session introduced students to plastic recycling and the concept of a circular economy, bridging classroom knowledge with practical sustainability practices. Bill from Precious Plastic Melbourne was both engaging and informative, guiding students through recycling techniques while emphasizing the importance of sustainability and responsible plastic use. Students were excited to create their own recycled items, choosing between a pen, a carabiner, or a Jenga block to take home as a reminder of their learning. This experience not only enhanced students' understanding of pollution solutions but also motivated them to think creatively about how they can make a positive impact in their own communities." Maria Lelekakis, LEAP Leader, Taylors Lakes Secondary College
Ivanhoe Grammar School
"Precious Plastic Melbourne played an integral role in the successful development and implementation of our small-scale circular economy plastic recycling program. Piers, Kayla and the team demonstrated an unwavering commitment to our cause from the very beginning. Their support and training of our lead staff was nothing short of exceptional. They patiently guided us through the intricacies of plastic recycling, ensuring that we felt confident and well-equipped to oversee the program effectively. PPM not only shared their knowledge with our staff but also engaged our students in a meaningful way. This approach to student involvement has not only contributed to the success of the program but also empowered the next generation with essential insights into sustainability and responsible plastic management." Rachelle Maynard, Head Of Learning Area ‑ STEM, Ivanhoe Grammar School
Burwood East Primary School
"From the moment Bill arrived, it was evident that he was passionate about his work and committed to educating young minds about the importance of recycling and sustainability. His enthusiasm was infectious, immediately capturing the attention and curiosity of our students. Bill began the session by sharing his extensive knowledge about plastic pollution and its detrimental effects on the environment. He explained the significance of reducing plastic waste and finding innovative ways to repurpose it. The information was presented in a manner that was engaging, age-appropriate, and easy to understand, ensuring that every student was actively involved. The highlight of the day was the hands-on workshop, where students had the opportunity to witness the transformation of plastic waste into useful items, which left our students in awe. The visit from Precious Plastic Melbourne was an invaluable addition to our curriculum." Angela Fattore, Grade 6 Teacher, Burwood East Primary School
Eastwood Primary School
"Piers' presentations were amazing. All the kids were so engaged and fascinated, and all the teachers loved it too! While they were all waiting to make their carabiners, they drew some wonderful pictures of the process. An amazing business creating useful products from recycled bottle tops! Everyone needs to see the wonderful creations and be a part of the process to reduce landfill and give plastic a new lease on life instead of being used as landfill and polluting our oceans and environment! Thank you Piers from Eastwood Primary School." Marina Stahl, Environmental Educator, Eastwood Primary School
Carey Grammar Baptist School
"The Precious Plastics presentation was a brilliant experience for students and for staff who are very new to this area of technology. Students loved the opportunity to learn more about where plastics come from, how plastics are classified and why they are all different. It was clear that many of them took the information at a very deep level and were keen to learn more. The opportunity to participate in hands on activities using the equipment that is used in industry to produce their own recycled plastic objects was particularly helpful. Students clearly found the session quite inspirational." Julie Wetherbee, Leader of Learning - Science, Carey Grammar Baptist School
East Doncaster Secondary College
"Thank you to the Precious Plastic Melbourne team for having us and taking us through product development in industry case study for my unit 3/4 SAC. Thank you for catering to our students and challenging them, and the cool pens." Ebony Pham, Product Design & Technology Teacher, East Doncaster Secondary College
Hampton Primary School
"Hampton Primary students and the staff involved would like to thank Bill and the team at Precious Plastic for the wonderful program they presented. The information shared and the engaging hands-on experience resonated with the kids and left us all feeling inspired and armed with a deeper understanding of the plastic problem and the ways in which future generations can work towards a more circular economy. Would highly recommend!" Dean Ross, Grade 5 Teacher, Hampton Primary School
Mount Lilydale Mercy College
"I had an incredible visit from Precious Plastic Melbourne. Their dedication to recycling and reducing plastic waste is genuinely inspiring. Bill’s passion and the innovative machines that transform plastic amazed me. The incursion was educational and linked nicely with the Product Design and Technology curriculum." Michael Dale, Teacher, Mount Lilydale Mercy College
Kardinia International College
"Bill was fantastic and pitched his information at the right level. Brought the world into them and what was possible. It wasn’t all negative, he provided a positive slant. Moved around and connected with the kids within the first minute – he engaged their passion. Kids opened up to him straight away. Honest, earnest conversation from Bill and the kids really felt he was in amongst them." Glenn Evans, Director Of Upper Primary, Kardinia International College
RMIT University
"I took my university design for sustainability class to visit PPM. The team were great at explaining the ideas behind Precious Plastic as well as the considerations and challenges that arise during the process. The students really loved the experience of seeing a real world design/manufacture business, working in sustainability. They got an overview of the design, prototyping and manufacturing processes. The hands on workshop was excellent also to get a tangible sense of what PPM is working towards. Definitely recommend to other university and school groups!" Tim Denshire-Key, Lecturer, RMIT University
Book a Precious Plastic Incursion today!
Pitch it to your school: Select & download our Education Programs Info Pack / Presentation via the links below.
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