News Archives - Page 4 of 7

National Recycling Week an Opportunity to Close the Loop

Tasmanians are getting better at recycling with more than 242,000 tonnes of materials collected for re-use in the last year and a steadily declining rate of contamination.

According to Northern Tasmanian Waste Management Group member, Michael Attard the positive trend has been helped by the arrival of new recycling services and a change in attitude.

“Tasmanians are more interested in and aware of what happens to their waste than ever before.”

“Combine this with the arrival of specialised recycling services such as soft plastics collection bins in major supermarkets and the growing number of food and organics collections being introduced across Tasmania and you see less recyclable materials ending up in landfill,” Mr Attard said.

For this trend to be sustainable, the state’s three regional Waste Management Groups are encouraging people to seek out packaging and products made from recycled material or with high recycled content so that the good materials keep going around.

“Recycling as a system only works if we all make an effort to close the loop,” Mr Attard said. “Putting recyclable materials in a recycling bin is only half the story.”

“That means supporting companies that actually use recycled ingredients to make their packaging and products. If we all do our bit to generate demand for recycled goods, then waste will continue to be reduced and recycling can continue to thrive.”

“Demand for recycled products will also increase the viability of more Australian-based recycling processors. We should be aiming for a circular economy for recycling where materials are reprocessed and reused within Australia.”

Cardboard, newspaper and aluminium cans typically have high levels of recyclable content in Australia. Packaging increasingly shows the presence and level of recycled materials used and people can search online for directories of products made from recyclables, including on the Planet Ark recyclingnearyou website.

“You and I may be motivated to recycle for environmental reasons, but businesses also need to see that there’s adequate demand and lasting financial benefits in changing their production methods and materials.”
“It’s another example where individual decisions and actions can add up to make a big difference,” Mr Attard said.

National Recycling Week is being celebrated across Australia from 12 – 18 November.

Northern Tasmanian Waste Management Group Grant Recipients for 2018/19

Congratulations to the eleven recipients of the Northern Tasmanian Waste Management Group’s resource recovery and waste minimisation grants for 2018/19.

This year the annual program has allocated $70,000 to eligible organisations to help fund infrastructure purchases or educational materials to improve waste management practices in Northern Tasmania.

2018/19 grant recipients:

Launceston City Mission – have been granted funds to purchase a tyre de-rimming machine to enable them to send their de-rimmed tyres off for recycling via the national Tyre Product Stewardship Scheme and the leftover rims with either be sold through the resale shop or sent to a local scrap metal recycler.
TP Jones – TP Jones have been granted funding to help manufacturer cages to increase the collection of DrumMUSTER qualifying empty containers from their clients. The cages will be dropped off to farming properties in Northern Tasmania and collected by TP Jones when full. TP Jones will then drop off the empty containers to the nearest DrumMUSTER collection site for recycling.
Dorset Council – have been granted funds to purchase a multipurpose bailer for the Scottsdale waste transfer station. The bailer will enable the council to produce bales of recyclable products including soft plastics to increase their recycling output and to ensure the product being bailed is contamination free ready for reprocessing.
City of Launceston – have been granted funds to develop and install a public recycling bank to offer the public an avenue to upcycle and recycle more difficult waste streams such as batteries, CDs/DVDs, Printer cartridges, x-rays and eyeglasses. The bank will be installed in the City of Launceston customer service area and will also act as a public information tool to inform users how these materials are recycled.
JustWaste Consulting – have been granted funds to install an anaerobic digester at the Westbury waste disposal site. Cooking fats and food and garden organics will be mixed in a pit which is pumped into a digesting tank where anaerobic condition generates gas which will power a generator which will be used to provide power to the currently unpowered waste disposal facility. The processed material (digestate) will rest in a tank until it is sold and/or used as fertiliser.
Perth Primary School – have been granted funds to minimise waste to landfill by purchasing recycling infrastructure for the school which will create awareness about waste amongst the students, staff and families by delivering educational activities, presentations and games related to waste issues. The students will also be assisted in the transition to low waste lunches by a school wide beeswax wrap making activity.
1st Tamar Sea Scouts – The 1st Tamar Sea Scouts have been granted funds to install multiple bin systems at their hall which will involve implementing recycling 8 different waste streams. The project also involves installing bin signage and sending out flyers to families and the dedicated project manager will deliver education sessions to the joeys, cubs and scouts on the importance of waste minimisation and recycling.
Campbell Town District High School – have been allocated funds to purchase recycling bin infrastructure including co-mingle and paper to all areas of the school. The project will also involve purchasing a wood chipper so all the organic waste from the school grounds can be chipped before being composted and reused in the school gardens.
Kings Meadows High – have been granted funds to develop a STEAM education program focused on recycling. Several projects make up this successful application, one is to develop an application which can scan an item to tell the user how to dispose of the item appropriately, another is the development and construction of two robotic bins which would move about a space collecting rubbish from people.
TasTafe (Drysdale) – have been allocated funds to purchase a commercial composting machine that will enable the campus to turn 92% of their waste into re-usable garden compost which would feed their on-site herb and vegetable gardens, Hundreds of students a year will benefit from this project. In the long term Drysdale will produce enough compost which can be used by the horticulture students at Alanvale campus and in local community gardens.
Punchbowl Primary School – have been granted funding to install multi system bin recycling infrastructure around the school including organics, plastic and paper. This project follows on after students worked on units highlighting the problem of waste and the impacts on the environment, following that several students wrote to principal to ask could the school manage their waste sustainably including having nude food days.

Congratulations 2018 Waste NoT Award winners

The winners of the fifth annual Waste NoT Awards were announced at the end of August, with eleven projects selected across several categories for their innovative waste management initiatives in northern Tasmania.

Congratulations to:

George Town Neighbourhood House, Interweave Arts and Self Help Workshop Inc – winners in the Not for Profit category.
Plastic Free Launceston – winner in the Community Group category.
Trevallyn Primary School Student Leaders, Youngtown Primary and Riverside Primary Waste Warriors – winners in the Primary School category.
St Helens District High School and Scottsddale High School – winners in the Secondary School category.
Justwaste Consulting and TP Jones & Co – winners in the Small/medium Organisations category.

The Waste NoT Awards (NoT = Northern Tasmania) is an initiative of the Northern Tasmanian Waste Management Group, which seeks to celebrate the efforts of schools, individuals and organisations in northern Tasmania who are improving their waste management practices.

Read about the winners here:

2018 Waste NoT Award Winners

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Tasmania’s Biggest Garage Sale Weekend

Tasmanian households are being encouraged to take part in big weekend of garage sales on 20 and 21 October as part of a national event that highlights the benefits of re-using quality, unwanted items.

For the first time, the Garage Sale Trail will be promoted in Tasmania’s three regions, coordinated by the regional Waste Management Groups and representing 26 of the state’s municipal areas. A total of 148 councils are participating in the event nationwide.

The Cradle Coast and Northern Tasmanian Waste Management Groups along with Waste Strategy South have supported their member councils to take part.

Northern Tasmanian Waste Management Group Chairman, Shane Eberhardt believes that state-wide promotion of the event will boost awareness of the environmental, social and financial benefits of buying and selling second-hand.

“Too many good quality household items and materials unnecessarily end up in landfill. It’s a waste of resources and adds to landfill management costs,” Shane said.
“Garage sales are an ideal way to clear out unwanted goods while making some money and connecting with your local community.”

The latest findings from the Gumtree Second Hand Economy Report 2018 reveal the average Australian household has $4200 in unwanted items and a staggering 50% admit to throwing unwanted items away rather than reusing, re-selling or recycling.

In addition, 88% of Australians have at least one cluttered room according to data released by the Australian Institute.

To help prepare for the event, de-cluttering workshops are being held in some areas, sharing tips for sorting items and how to decide whether to keep, sell or recycle.

“There are more than 150 Tasmanian garage sales already registered in the event and it’s great to see the number is steadily growing. People can host a sale and promote it on the Garage Sale Trail website or use the website to find sales to shop in their local area,” Shane said.

“Contact your local council to find out how to get involved and what support is available to promote your garage sale. It’s a simple way to act more sustainably by passing on items you no longer want to someone who does.”

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If you’d like to host a sale or shop the trail you can find maps and register at http://garagesaletrail.com.au

Dangerous goods in kerbside recycling bins

Dangerous goods in kerbside recycling bins pose a real risk to staff at Tasmania’s Materials Recovery Facilities who are sorting bin contents by hand.

Examples of dangerous goods include needles and other sharps, ammunition and pieces of wire.

Help keep recycling sorting staff safe by keeping needles and other sharps out of kerbside recycling. If a needle is found in a load of recycling, sorting stops and it’s all diverted to landfill so workers remain safe.

The best way to dispose of syringes, needles and other sharps including those use in tattooing, is to place them in a specially designed sharps disposal container.

These approved biohazard containers have rigid walls, are resistant to puncture and can be sealed in such a way that the contents are not capable of causing injury.

Containers are available from the Tasmanian Government’s Needle and Syringe Program outlets. The outlets distribute sharps disposal containers and provide services for the appropriate disposal of used injecting equipment and full containers. Containers may also be available from your local council.

Find your nearest location from the Tasmanian Department of Health and Human Services’ Needle and Syringe Program website or contact your local council for advice.

Beauty and the Bees – how this Tasmanian is turning waste avoidance into a business advantage

From humble beginnings selling handmade natural skincare products on a card table at Salamanca market 25 years ago, Jill Saunders’ persistence is really paying off.

Jill is the founder of Beauty and the Bees, a Tasmanian business that prides itself on using Earth friendly packaging and edible ingredients, which are continuing to grow in popularity. It is thanks to this ethos that Jill estimates that Beauty and the Bees has helped save about 1 million plus pieces of plastic from being discarded in landfill.

Jill has taken a back-to-basics approach to making skincare products from high quality food ingredients, with the business commencing from her home kitchen. After outgrowing a number of locations and factories, the retail outlet for Beauty and the Bees product is now based in Salamanca – a return to the place that got everything started.

Seeing the damage plastic was making in places like South East Asia, Jill set out from the start to use as little plastic as possible.

And while admitting that “it’s been very, very hard” to find alternatives, Beauty and the Bees products are typically housed in glass, tin, paper and cardboard containers. The business shreds second-hand cardboard with its own shredder for use when packing orders. It also uses biodegradable corn-starch spoons instead of plastic with its creams. And while there are some plastic lids used on some products, Jill is confident there will be more alternatives coming onto the market in the next five years.

By rethinking the way her business views waste, this persistence is delivering benefits not only to Beauty and the Bees customers, but to all Tasmanians.

Download the Beauty and the Bees case study here:

Business Case Study in Waste Reduction - Beauty and the Bees

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Community Based Recycling Initiatives – Cradle Coast Grants Program 2018/19

Funding of up to $3,000 per organisation is available to community and not-for-profit groups in North West Tasmania to assist with recycling and waste disposal. The total value of grants to be awarded in this 2018/19 program is $15,000.

The Cradle Coast Waste Management Group in North West Tasmania includes the municipal areas of Burnie City, Central Coast, Circular Head, Devonport City, Kentish, Latrobe and Waratah-Wynyard.

The funding will provide organisations with an opportunity to improve their ability to recycle and manage waste, divert recyclable materials from landfill, and implement environmentally friendly practices.

To apply, complete an application form and return by 31st October 2018 by email to [email protected] or by post to PO Box 46, Devonport, TAS, 7310.

Cradle Coast Community Based Recycling 2018/19 - Grant Program Application Form

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If you would prefer to discuss your idea before beginning the application form, you are welcome to contact Dulverton Waste Management’s Environmental Officer, Alison Holmstrom, on 6424 7344 or email a query to [email protected]

Resource Recovery and Waste Minimisation Grants: Northern Tasmania 2018/19

Applications are open between 27 August and 3.00pm on 25 September 2018 for The Northern Tasmania Waste Management Group Resource Recovery and Waste Minimisation Grants program.

Financial support up to $70,000 will be provided for eligible project costs associated with procuring infrastructure or educational materials necessary to improve waste management practices in the northern Tasmania area.

Eligible organisations:

Schools (primary schools, high schools and senior colleges)
Not-for-profit community organisations registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission.
Sole traders, small, medium and large businesses, local governments and local government organisations, and state government organisations (including hospitals and tertiary education institutions).

Eligible organisations must:

Be based and operate in the northern Tasmania area as defined by the council boundaries of Break O’Day, Dorset, George Town, Launceston, Meander Valley, Northern Midlands and West Tamar councils.
Be seeking to minimise waste to landfill from either their operations or activities in the northern Tasmanian community.

Application Process:

Read the guidelines

Northern Tasmania Waste Minimisation Grant Guidelines 2018/19

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Check your organisation & project eligibility
Complete the application form, including any supporting documents such as cost estimates

Northern Tasmania Waste Minimisation Grant Application Form 2018/19

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Email your completed application to [email protected] before 3.00pm on the 25th of September 2018.

Applications will be assessed by a panel of experienced practitioners from the Northern Tasmanian Waste Management Group and other relevant expert organisations against the following criteria:

Community benefit – how the project benefits the northern Tasmanian community;
Project duration – how long the project will provide a benefit to the Tasmanian community;
Commitment – the applicant’s commitment to improving waste management and recycling;
Landfill diversion – how the project leads to an improvement in resource recovery or waste minimisation;
Value for money – the financial value of the project compared to the expected benefits;
Cash contributions to the project, and;
Where bin infrastructure is to be installed, assessment that the bins meet the Australian Standards for bin colours (AS 4123-2006 part 7).

Northern Tasmania: Waste NoT Awards 2018

2018 Awards are now closed for entries….. stay tuned for announcements of the winners and for 2019 Award details!

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Have you, your school, or your business made an effort to change the way you manage your waste?

The Waste NoT Awards 2018 is now open to schools, individuals and organisations who have improved their waste management practices during the 2017/2018 financial year.

From recycling to re-invention, upcycyling, and education initiatives, the Waste NoT Awards recognise and reward your efforts.

Review the Award Guidelines for full details:

Waste NoT Awards 2018 Application Guidelines

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Complete and return the Application Form:

Waste NoT Awards 2018 Application Form

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Encourage others by displaying a Waste NoT Awards 2018 poster at your workplace,, school or other public noticeboard:

Waste NoT Awards 2018 Poster

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Entries open 2nd July and close at 5.00pm on 10th August 2018.

Plastic Free July: take the challenge or make a change

Plastics are a major cause of litter and pollution, especially in our waterways and oceans. The Plastic Free July initiative started in Western Australia and is now catching on worldwide, with more than 1 million people making a positive change last year.

Take the challenge or make a change in whatever way you can to avoid or reduce single use plastic, for this month or forever!

Say ‘no thanks’ to plastic shopping bags, single use water bottles, plastic straws, plastic food wrap and take away coffee cups and lids.

Bring your own reusable shopping bags or choose a box. Refill your drink bottle. Buy and store food in reusable or compostable containers. Choose to refuse plastic straws or use metal or paper alternatives.

And remember… you can often recycle what can’t be avoided. Plastic recycling in Tasmania includes via your kerbside recycling bin and your Waste Transfer Station for some plastics such as milk and soft drink bottles and margarine containers. There are also soft plastic collection bins in major supermarkets and even printer cartridge recycling via Planet Ark.

Take the Plastic Free July challenge at www.plasticfreejuly.org or simply make a change at home, at work or at school in whatever way possible.

If we each do a little, together we can achieve a lot!

Follow Rethink Waste Tasmania on Facebook for inspirational ideas throughout July and let’s all have a go at reducing or avoiding single use plastic as often as we can!