Council helps childcare centres get eco-friendly


Kids in childcare centres across Hornsby Shire are learning how to take care of the environment with Council’s sustainability program.

Hornsby Shire Council runs an Early Childhood Sustainability Program, which involves staff from the Waste team working alongside childcare centres to improve sustainability practices.

Currently there are 37 early childhood centres, or about 50% of all centres within Hornsby Shire, that participate in the program.

Council offers three days of training per year for childcare centre staff and parents covering topics including composting, worm-farming, gardening, low-chemical cleaning, waste and recycling.

The program also includes a water and energy audit of childcare centres, access to the online dirtgirlworld educational program and ongoing support by phone and email.

One of the childcare centres that have benefited from the program is Castle Hill Beehive, which has introduced multiple eco-friendly features including a vegetable garden, worm farm, composting, backyard chickens and educational activities for the children.

“The Hornsby Shire Council’s Early Childhood Program has been a huge support for the Centre,” centre director Cara Miceli said.

“It was a starting point for the staff to get the information they needed to introduce sustainable practices to their colleagues and the children.”

The program is open to all early childhood centres within Hornsby Shire. For more information or to register for the program, please call Belinda on 9847 4817 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For more information visit Hornsby Shire Council