So the whole school was out in force last Friday for Schools Clean Up Australia Day.

Rubbish was picked up from both within and outside the school grounds and sorted into landfill material and recycling.

Sustainability teacher Kelly Siebring said it was the fifth year the school had taken part in the nationwide event, which began in 1992.

Other environmental projects being carried out at the Howard Street school include a Nude Food Trophy awarded weekly to the class that uses the least wrappers, on-site worm farms  and taking part in Enviro Week.

“They take it really seriously – the kids are really passionate about it,” Ms Siebring said.

Class environmental representatives Talia and Archie led the way for the grade three and four unit.

“We have to get the rubbish and count all the wrappers in our classroom,” Archie said.

“And we have to put the rubbish in the right place and carry the bags for the others,” Talia said.

Other Ballarat schools taking part included Mt Clear, Pleasant St, Little Bendigo, St James Parish and St Aloysius primary schools and Brown Hill Kindergarten.