As the new school year kicks off, Sustainability Victoria is inviting schools in Bass Coast to be sustainable.

Schools are invited to join ResourceSmart Schools, an award-winning program that supports schools to embed sustainability across school facilities, the curriculum and community, while reducing resource use and saving money.

Since 2008, more than 1600 schools have participated in the ResourceSmart Schools program. Together, they have saved more than $68 million on bills, diverted 170,000 cubic metres of waste from landfill, planted more than five million trees, saved 1.9 million kilolitres of water, and saved more than 110,000 tonnes of CO2e greenhouse gas emissions.

Bass Valley Primary School has a long history with the ResourceSmart Schools program.

It's utilised the free resources and facilitator support available to gather ideas and enhance its sustainability initiatives and teaching.

Paul Murfitt, Director Regions and Community Action, Sustainability Victoria, says schools that join the ResourceSmart Schools program will learn, practice and share ways to integrate sustainability across school operations.

Schools will be supported by an online portal and a ResourceSmart Schools Facilitator.

"This free program recognises and rewards schools through sustainability certification.

"Stars are obtained through completion of modules and meeting benchmarks for resource use and are valid for four years. Schools can progress from one star up to five stars and move towards becoming a Leadership School," says Mr Murfitt.

Each year, participating schools can enter the ResourceSmart Schools Awards - the state's largest celebration for primary and secondary school students, teachers and school volunteers taking remarkable sustainability action.

"The ResourceSmart Schools Awards are an opportunity to acknowledge sustainability legends, amplify success and reflect on the sheer amount of work being done by Victorian schools in sustainability," says Mr Murfitt.

"I encourage all schools to showcase the environmental work they're doing, no matter how small. Together, we can build a future we need."

Not a ResourceSmart School? Simply contact the Sustainability Victoria ResourceSmart Schools team: resourcesmartawards@sustainability.vic.gov.au

For more information visit www.sustainability.vic.gov.au