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Circular Economy Northern Tasmania ….. it makes sense

Circular Economy Northern Tasmania…. it makes sense

Northern Tasmanian businesses that want to explore circular economy initiatives are being encouraged to apply to a new grants program.

The circular economy is about moving away from a “take it, make it, break it and bin it” lifecycle to one that reuses, repairs, repurposes and recycles and creates new value and business opportunities from waste and underutilised resources. Grants of up to $30,000 will be available for businesses with circular economy initiatives that can show a benefit to the region.

Businesses wishing to apply for a circular economy grant are encouraged to express an interest via City of Launceston council’s website before October 2.
EOIs that show potential will be encouraged to complete a full application.

Download a copy of the Grants Program Guidelines, including eligibility and assessment details here:

Circular Economy Grants Program Northern Tasmania

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The grants are a COVID19 care and recovery initiative from local government in the North, building off the existing work of the Northern Tasmania Waste Management Group and delivered in partnership with Northern Tasmania Development Corporation.

“It’s very exciting to be working with NTDC and other Councils on an initiative which is aimed at prompting some new ways of thinking about re-use and waste in Northern Tasmania,” Mayor van Zetten said.

“As a direct result of the City of Launceston’s Community Care and Recovery Package we’ve been able to start this important conversation with other Northern Tasmanian Councils, and I’m really looking forward to seeing the grants application process kicking off.”

West Tamar Council Mayor and Local Government Association of Tasmania president Christina Holmdahl said the grants were an example of councils continuing to provide innovative economic recovery pathways.

“Local government has been working extremely hard on recovery opportunities and we see these grants as a way for businesses to innovate, diversify and update their processes with a circular economy viewpoint,” Councillor Holmdahl said. “I’d encourage any business with an idea to investigate the grants program as the opportunity in this space is tremendous.”

NTWMG chairman and George Town Council general manager Shane Power said the grants were another example of Councils and the NTWMG driving innovation to deliver positive environmental outcomes and facilitate new economic activity.

“We are confident the grants will attract entrepreneurs seeking funds to make value from materials that may have otherwise ended up in landfill or stockpiles, therefore, maximising their lifespan,” Mr Power said. “We also envisage businesses from various sectors will be able to use the funding to invest in areas such as product design, plant and equipment and process improvements in the manufacturing of products.”

Mr Power added any business could improve its bottom line by avoiding costs associated with waste disposal, improving their production processes, increasing the lifespan of materials, realising value by re-purposing or even monetising materials that may be by-products or surplus to existing product developments.

The grants will be delivered by NTWMG in partnership with Northern Tasmania Development Corporation. NTDC chief executive Mark Baker said the benefits of a circular economy approach were three-fold.

“Moving from a linear economy to a circular economy is a win-win-win,” Mr Baker said. “It’s a win for the environment as it reduces the amount of waste going into landfill, carbon going into the atmosphere and water going down the drain.

“It’s a win for business as they either reuse more of their resource or get access to cheaper resource from other businesses’ waste, which saves money. And it’s a win for jobs with circular economy innovations offering new opportunities in industry.”

The grants are open to businesses in George Town, Launceston, West Tamar, Northern Midlands, Flinders Island, Dorset, Break O’Day and Meander Valley council regions.

Ways to Reduce Waste & Make Positive Purchase Decisions in the Home

Ways to Reduce Waste and Make Positive Purchase Decisions around Home

From buying in bulk and using your own storage containers to choosing electric razors over disposable ones – this quick reference guide is packed full of ideas to avoid waste both in and around your home!

Download your own copy here:

40 Ways to Reduce Waste & Make Positive Purchase Decisions in the Home

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Planning a renovation? Before you start, check out these handy tips for reducing waste when extending, updating or renovating your home:

16 Ways to Reduce Waste in Home Renovations

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How about a garden make-over? More ideas here to give your garden some love in a low-waste way:

18 Ways to Reduce Waste in Garden Makeovers

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Time for Kerbside Recycling Bin Assessments in the Cradle Coast

Making a Good Sort even better

Kerbside recycling bin checks are on again in North West Tasmania!

As part of an annual program managed by Cradle Coast Waste Services, more than 10,000 random household recycling bins will be examined to identify trends in recycling – what’s being recycled right and what items are mistakenly being put into recycling bins.

The lessons learnt will guide regional education and awareness activities with the ultimate aim of improving the quality of resources recovered and reducing the amount of recyclable materials that end up in landfill.

Recycling Audit and Data Officers will be looking at a selection of bins in Burnie City, Circular Head, Central Coast, Devonport City, Kentish, Latrobe and Waratah Wynyard municipal areas over two periods from 21 September – 31 October and 16 November – 27 November 2020.

The checks involve viewing the contents of each recycling bin placed at the kerbside and determining a performance result:

Fail: When contaminants comprise more than 10% of the bin’s total content.
Improvement Required: When contaminants comprise between 5% and 10% of the bin’s total content.
Pass: Where there is only minor contamination less than 5% of the bin’s total content.

Upon completion of the assessment the Officers place a corresponding tag on the bin to notify residents of the outcome, and an information brochure and individualised written feedback may be left in the resident’s letterbox.

The Officers are hoping to see continued improvement in the pass rate which has generally been increasing over the past seven years of the program.

How to be a Good Sort?

The biggest problem items found in kerbside recycling in the Cradle Coast region are:

Plastic bags (the correct way to recycle these is in the RedCycle bins found in all Coles and Woolworths supermarkets)
Plastic food packaging, chip packets, bubble wrap, cling wrap and other ‘soft plastics’ that can be scrunched (the correct way to recycle these is in the RedCycle bins found in all Coles and Woolworths supermarkets)
Recycling packed inside boxes or bags (the correct way to recycle these is to keep items loose and jumbled up within the bin)
Polystyrene (there is no recycling option for these in North West Tasmania so best to avoid this material if possible, or place in the garbage bin)

Besides kerbside recycling, there are many other recycling services available in Tasmania, including light globes, batteries and scrap metal. Check out this list of FREE recycling available across the state:

Clothing and Textiles – too valuable to waste

Clothing and Textiles – too valuable to waste!

Did you know?

So what can you do?

1. Buy second hand, quality items which will last
2. Only buy what you love and know you will wear again and again and again
3. Borrow or rent instead of buying if only needed for a single occasion or short period of time
4. Host clothes-swap parties with friends
5. Repair or mend items that are worn or torn
6. Give unwanted, quality items to charity stores for resale
7. Send unwearable items to Manrags for recycling
8. Upcycle old items into rag rugs, pet bedding, dish cloths, cleaning rags, craft projects and pillow stuffing

Grants fund improvements at Cradle Coast waste facilities

More than $109 000 in grant money has been used by Cradle Coast councils over the past 12 months to improve facilities at Waste Transfer Stations and Resource Recovery Centres across the region.

Cradle Coast Waste Services facilitated the grant program with funds from the region’s voluntary waste levy. Levy funds are used by Cradle Coast Waste Management Group member-councils to re-invest in services, infrastructure, and education campaigns to increase the recovery of re-usable resources and reduce the amount of waste that goes to landfill.

Mel Pearce administered the grants program and was pleased the funds were used to improve the accessibility and safety of waste transfer stations in seven Local Government areas.
“From litter reduction fencing and signage, to e-waste collection shelters and concrete pads to prevent pollution run-off, the improvements all contribute to better waste management services for local communities,” said Mrs Pearce.

“That is the purpose of the waste levy, to ensure that funding goes back to communities for facility upgrades and to keep pace with growing recycling services such as electronic waste and hazardous waste including tyres, batteries and unused paint.”

A total of $109,228 was issued via the 2019/20 grant program with $14 000 allocated to Burnie City; $20 455 to Central Coast; $7 350 to Circular Head; $16 223 to Devonport City; $22 800 to Kentish (across both Sheffield and Wilmot Waste Transfer Stations); $12 400 to Latrobe; and $16 000 to Waratah-Wynyard Councils.
Improvements included:
• Concrete pads for e-waste, battery and paint collection bays in Burnie.
• Toilet and washing facilities at Preston.
• Boundary fence installation in Circular Head.
• Shelter construction for the e-waste collection bay in Devonport.
• Safety barrier installation at waste drop-off areas, new signage and upgrading damaged bin waste flaps at Sheffield.
• Safety barrier installation at waste drop-off areas and new signage at Wilmot.
• Safety barrier installation at waste drop-off areas, new signage and upgrading damaged bin waste flaps in Latrobe; and
• Constructing a concrete hardstand for tyre storage in Waratah-Wynyard.

The next round of the grants program will be available to the seven councils in the Cradle Coast Waste Management Group, with funding applications due to close on the 7th of October 2020.

: Kentish

: Waratah-Wynyard

: Latrobe

: Burnie

: Circular Head

Which type of polystyrene can be recycled in Northern Tasmania?

Look at the size of the foam ‘bubbles’ in the polystyrene. If they are big and soft, that is likely to be expanded polystyrene and that CAN be recycled in Northern Tasmania.

If no ‘bubbles’ can be seen in the polystyrene or they are very small and the surface is very smooth, they cannot be recycled and need to go in the garbage bin (best to avoid buying these packages if possible when shopping).

Expanded form polystyrene CAN be recycled in the Northern Tasmanian recycling program. This includes protective packaging found around electrical goods and other fragile items:

YES to these:

Compact form polystyrene can NOT be recycled in the Northern Tasmanian recycling program. This includes meat trays, coffee cups, egg cartons, take-away food clamshells, beads used in bean bags, and plastic packing ‘peanuts’:

NO to these:

Polystyrene can be dropped off for recycling at any of these locations:
The City of Launceston Waste Centre (Cavalry Road, Mowbray. Monday – Sunday: 8.00 am to 4.45 pm)
George Town Waste Transfer Station
Exeter Waste Transfer Station
St Helens Waste Transfer Station
Longford Waste Transfer Station and
Deloraine Waste Transfer Station.

The polystyrene recycling program is an initiative of the Northern Tasmanian Waste Management Group and its member councils.

Home composting in Hobart and across Tasmania

Want to turn your food and garden waste into nutrient rich compost to improve your soil?

This fabulous guide from City of Hobart and Good Life Permaculture was written for Tasmanians living in cool temperate climates and covers:

small compost bins
tumblers
different types of worm farms
bokashi bins
big compost bays, and
good old backyard chooks.

A guide to home composting

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Enjoy!

Understanding best-before and use-by dates to reduce food waste

Food use by dates, best before dates, sell by, and manufacturing dates on labels can be confusing and lead to good food being binned before it is necessary.

The use-by date is the most important date to look for and pay attention to. This date appears on the most perishable of food types such as meat and fish. If food is past its use-by date, that is when it can be dangerous to eat. Food past its use-by date can not be legally sold in Australia.

The best-before and sell-by dates are simply a guide to when the food is at its freshest or highest quality. If these dates have passed, the food can still be okay to eat.

Foods that have a shelf life of two years or longer, e.g. some canned foods, do not need to be labelled with a best before date because they may keep at a good quality for many years and are likely to be eaten well before they spoil.

Here are some tips for food that is often thrown away when it still could have been safely used:

Eggs – if you’re unsure how fresh your eggs are, pop them into a container of cold water while still in their shells. If they float, it’s a sign that they are no longer good to eat. Fresh eggs will lie flat on the bottom or will tilt slightly up towards the surface.

Fruit and vegetables – mouldy produce should be composted or discarded, but otherwise, super ripe fruit or floppy, limp or wrinkly vegetables can still be used in many ways, either raw, pickled or preserved, or in cooking. You can also freeze vegetables and fruit that are past their prime to make stocks and smoothies later. Try turning limp carrots and celery crisp again by soaking them in cold water in the fridge.

Milk and other dairy products – your nose is your best guide here, if it smells okay, it’s likely to be okay to eat or drink. Take a small taste first and remember that you can also choose to use it in smoothies or baking.

For more advice on storing foods so that they last longer, check out Love Food Hate Waste Victoria.

To learn more about food labelling in Australia, check out the Food Standards Australia New Zealand website.

Free Bin Posters – put the right things in the right bins

Separating waste at the source by putting the right things in the right bins is one of the easiest ways to stop re-usable and recyclable materials from ending up in landfill.

If you have mixed recycling, separate paper and cardboard recycling, food and garden organics collection, a compost bin or general waste collection then help yourself to these colourful posters. At a glance they help people decide which bin is the right bin for their waste. And remember, soft plastics including plastic bags and chip & biscuit packets can be recycled at REDCycle bins at Coles and Woolworths supermarkets.