Welcome to the April edition of the HOW newsletter
In this edition, find out about the Victorian Government’s upcoming single-use plastics ban, as well as upcoming events such as Detox your Home and our online composting and worm farming sessions. Learn how to give your rusty or blunt tools a second life, get recycling tips and more.
Victorian Government’s upcoming single-use plastics ban
The Victorian Government recently announced it will be banning the supply and sale of a number of single-use plastics across Victoria from February 2023. This includes single-use straws, cutlery, plates, drink stirrers, expanded polystyrene food and drink containers and cotton ear bud sticks.
Single-use plastics typically make up a third of our litter. As litter, they break into microplastics which harm wildlife and can contaminate our food and water. They are costly to clean up and can be difficult to recycle.
The Victorian Government is working with industry and local governments to support a transition to reusable products and will undergo public consultation to finalise the regulations.
In preparation for the ban, Victorians are being urged to avoid disposable single-use plastics and choose reusable products, wherever possible.
This is particularly important because we are seeing a rise in the use of disposable items with the COVID-19 pandemic, despite current health advice supporting the use of reusable cutlery, ceramic crockery, and ceramic/glass beverage containers with appropriate cleaning.
The ban will not affect people who require specific single-use plastic products due to disability or for health and safety.
Choosing to reuse (and reduce waste)
Reusable items offer us a great option for reducing everyday waste (assuming they are repeatedly reused). Some examples include:
- Water bottle – Why buy water when you can easily fill up your reusable bottle from the tap? (it's also a lot cheaper!).
- Bottles and containers – Can be used to store leftovers or transport your lunch to work (no need for cling wrap!).
- Produce bags for fruit and vegetables – A great alternative to the single-use plastic ones you get in supermarkets.
- Coffee cup – Consider a sit-down coffee in your local café or ask them for a fresh brew in your own clean reusable cup for takeaway (contact-free pour options available).
- Cutlery - Next time you order takeaway, consider requesting no cutlery and instead use your own.
- Second hand clothing and other items – A great way to keep clothing out of landfill.
- Nappies and menstrual products – A lot easier, less time consuming and more environmentally friendly than the products of the past.
DIY tool repairs that anyone can do
Repairing our goods helps them to last longer so we can reuse them more.
Repairing tools may sound daunting, but it turns out that some tools can be repaired or revitalised quite easily with little effort or equipment.
What’s more, with some quick and easy preventative maintenance, you can help keep your tools in tip top condition so they last longer before needing to be repaired.
From waste to art: 30 kid-friendly upcycling ideas
Upcycling is transforming unwanted items into something more valuable.
There are many ways waste can be transformed into art or useful items such as bug hotels, quilts, collages and hanging planters.
Recycling at Easter time
Choose your Easter treats with minimal, recyclable packaging this year.
Foil wrappers bunched up into a ball, plus cardboard and plastic containers can all go in your recycling bin.
Recycling – If in doubt, keep it out
While most of us are pretty good at sorting our recycling from our garbage, recycling can be confusing and there are still some common mistakes that get made.
Make sure you only place the correct items in your recycling bin. This means keeping the following things out:
For more information about what can and can’t go in your home recycling bin (and other bins), view our online bin information or download our recently updated Waste and Recycling Service Guide.
REDcycle – a recycling program for soft, scrunchable plastics
Soft plastics that you can scrunch up into a ball can be dropped off at a REDcycle soft plastics collection bin for recycling. This includes plastic bags, bread bags, pasta and rice bags and cereal box liners.
Simply collect your soft plastics up over the course of a week, a month or a longer period and then drop-them off at a REDcycle soft plastics bin. Most are located at Coles or Woolworths stores. You don’t have to be a customer to use this service.
The soft plastics collected through this program are recycled into new products such as benches, decking, signage, high grade asphalt additive, wheel stops, garden edging and cable covers.
Soft plastics that aren’t dropped off at a REDcycle soft plastics bin need to be disposed of in the garbage (landfill) bin.
Detox your Home – Free Drop-off day for household chemicals
Detox your Home is a free service which allows you to dispose of common household chemicals safely. The collected items are recovered and diverted from landfill.
For those that missed the event in Skye last month, there are several Detox your Home events in other nearby locations coming up:
- Knox – Sunday 11 April 2021 from 8am
- Cardinia – Saturday 17 April 2021 from 9am
- Yarra Ranges – Saturday 24 April 2021 from 9am
- Casey – Saturday 15 May 2021 from 8am
Registration is required to manage traffic flow and avoid queues on the day, which means you can get in and out quickly.
Detox Your Home events are made possible through local councils and the Victorian Government.
Composting and worm farming for beginners – webinars
Composting: Wednesday 19 May, 7.30pm
Worm farming: Thursday 20 May, 7.30pm
If you don’t eat it, your garden will. Join Michelle from All Environmental Concepts to learn how easy it is to create nourishing compost or 'worm juice' and improve your soil in either the garden or pots.
Composting and worm farming are good for you, your garden and the environment. These skills can help you grow healthy plants, while reducing the amount of food waste going to landfill.
With two separate webinars, you can choose the one you’re most keen on (or attend both).
Free meal planning and shopping list apps
Planning your meals and shopping with a list can reduce the amount of food waste you accumulate significantly. By doing this, you are less likely to purchase more food than you need, which will save you money.
There are now a number of free mobile phone apps to assist with meal planning and creating a shopping list, including:
- Notes app
- AnyList
- Listonic
- Mealime
Clean Up Australia Day – 75 bags of litter collected!
Individuals, community groups, schools and youth groups across the Frankston municipality volunteered their time in Clean Up Australia events earlier this year.
There were 19 volunteer Clean Up Australia events in Frankston City this March and 75 bags of litter collected from sites including the foreshore, local parks, natural reserves, and sporting reserves. This is an amazing achievement.
It was heart-warming to see so many groups and individuals volunteering their time to participate in a Clean Up Australia event.
Council assisted volunteer groups by helping to identify suitable sites, organising the collection of bags of litter from eligible sites and by assisting with promotions.
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