A team of primary school scientists from Forbes has been recognised as finalists in a national Science Technology Engineering and Maths competition after taking up an environmental challenge over the last term.

Under the guidance of Mrs Jess Eijkmann, Year 4 students Leo Sheather, Frances Pereira, Molly Betland, Fayline Nichols and Lenny Stitt (aka the “Trash Cans”) took on STEMHub’s ScrapHeat Challenge, investigating the art - and science - of composting.

Their mission? To get their hands dirty, watch food rot, and then tell the tale.

And tell it they did, with a video featuring a comic, humour and a healthy dose of scientific curiosity.

The team set up three compost conditions: one dry and shady, one damp and shady, and one damp and sunny.

Week after week, they checked in, and documented what was happening to their scraps.

The verdict? Damp compost in the shade was the clear winner.

“It kept its texture, it was pretty moist and fluffy,” Frances explained, noting that a plant even started growing inside.

From humble beginnings - canteen containers, veggie patch soil, and leftover lunches - the “Trash Cans” grew their project into a national finalist.

They’ve landed in the top three teams in Australia, with the top prize going to the Waste Warriors from St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School.

But the Trash Cans aren’t stopping there.

They’re now on a mission to share their new-found passion for composting for the environment, encouraging classmates to toss scraps in the right bin and campaigning for big compost bins at school to support their veggie patches.