Meet the Munch Bunch and learn what goes in each bin

Five quirky characters are getting ready to visit schools and community events across the region to help children learn where different types of waste belong.

The Munch Bunch are designed to be about the height of a Reception student, with each character representing a different waste stream.

There’s a red character for landfill, a yellow character for recycling and a white character for 10-cent containers. A green, googly-eyed watermelon character loves food scraps and green waste, while a blue character teaches children that items such as batteries and e-waste need to go to special collection points.

The Munch Bunch will make their first public appearance at the Nature Play Festival at Barossa Bushgardens on 1 October, but children can meet them sooner at Nuriootpa Library throughout September.

Children can suggest a name for each character by writing their ideas on the supplied forms and placing them in the monster’s mouth. The winning names will be revealed at the Nature Play Festival, when the Munch Bunch officially begin their adventures across the Barossa.

Picture cards showing different household items will be available, so children can place them into the mouth of the correct character. The activity helps children build confidence in choosing the right bin and sharing what they learn with their families.

The resource is free for schools and community groups to borrow and includes facilitator prompts to help start conversations about reducing waste and making more sustainable choices.

The lessons can also connect directly with waste choices at home. Children who learn that eggshells belong in the green organics bin, for example, can put that knowledge into practice with their household waste.

Find out more at The Barossa Council.