Education is the key to environmental solutions

SITA Environmental Solutions (SITA) opened its Elizabeth Drive Education Centre on 22 February.

The Education Centre, located at Kemps Creek, was opened by the Mayor of Penrith, Councillor Kevin Crameri OAM, and SITA's Managing Director, Eric Gernath.

The centre has been purpose-built as an education tool for the delivery of sound environmental practices, learnings and messages to local communities and a broader audience, including national and international visitors.

Located at Kemps Creek, on the same site as the Sita Advanced Waste Treatment (SAWT) facility, the centre will give visitors a unique experience through the combination of an SAWT facility tour and the interactive environmental education activities that the centre offers - each visitor will leave with a positive take-home message of sustainability.

SITA's Managing Director, Eric Gernath, said: "The centre will use hands-on recycling educational activities to engage and educate the community that we must all do everything we can, with the resources we have, to ensure the principles of sustainability are factored into to all our day-to-day activities."

"Our goal is to have the centre become the first point of reference for children and adults alike, looking to understand more about how they can make a difference, and a contribution, to the sustainability of their homes, their schools, their local parks and gardens, and their place of business," he said.

Members from the Penrith Sustainability Street Community Group and the local Rotary chapter, along with students and teachers from St Mary's North Public School, toured the SAWT facility prior to the opening of the centre.

The education centre and SAWT facility are open to visitors by appointment. Please contact 02 9826 3113 for more information on visiting opportunities.

This is SITA's second education centre. The first centre is located at SITA's Hallam Road Landfill and Resource Recovery Facility in Melbourne, Victoria.