Smarter, Cleaner, Greener - September 2019

Green Hub Returns To The 2019 Granny Smith Festival

Save the date! The famous Granny Smith Festival will take place in Eastwood on Saturday, 19 October, and one of the highlights of this year's event will be the return of the City of Ryde Green Hub.

The Green Hub will be hosting all things environment, waste, sustainability and resilience that will appeal to all ages. You will be able to learn about helping your environment through waste avoidance initiatives and programs, check what natural hazards your home is exposed to, book a free in-home sustainability or home solar assessment. There will also be tips on how to lower your water usage and improve biodiversity.

Kids can get their faces painted, have their photo taken behind the wheel of a replica waste truck and get involved in the interactive waste scavenger hunt.

There will be native plants for sale and demonstrations on sustainable living tips and tricks.

"The City of Ryde Green Hub is just one of the many engaging attractions that will feature at this year's Granny Smith Festival," City of Ryde Mayor, Clr Laxale, said.

"Education is a key part to the City of Ryde’s commitment to the creating a sustainable environment, and the Green Hub provides a fun way to teach people to be waste wise."

Know Your Weeds

The NSW Biosecurity Act 2015 has replaced the Noxious Weed Act 1993. Under the new Act, weeds are no longer termed "noxious" nor do they have "classes". All weeds are assessed for their biosecurity risk - but what exactly does that mean?

Biosecurity is the protection of our economy, environment and community from the negative impacts of pests, diseases and weeds. Certain weeds have an adverse effect on these areas. The City of Ryde has identified a number of High Priority Weeds that it aims to prevent, eradicate or contain.

Here is a photo of a High Priority Weed in the City of Ryde - can you guess what it is?

SWAP Awards Night & Exhibition

The City of Ryde proudly presents the 2019 Sustainable Waste 2 Art Prize (SWAP) exhibition. Featuring 78 shortlisted artists, the exhibition features works made from repurposed waste material which explores the theme of sustainable living. See waste transformed into insects and animals, landscapes and portraits, fabulous fashion and much more.

Join us for the announcement of prizes at the exhibition opening night on Wednesday 18 September, 6-8pm. This is a free event but RSVP is essential.

Can't make the opening? The 2019 SWAP exhibition will be open to the public from 19 September - 3 October. Gallery hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 11am-4pm.

Too Good To Waste

Do you have household items that are no longer wanted but are too good to go to landfill? Check out our suggestions below with alternatives to rehome, reuse or recycle.

• Use our Smith Family clothing bins to donate good quality clothing, accessories and bedding to people in need
• Use our Collection and Rehoming Service provided by The Bower to get rid of unwanted household items that are too good to throw out
• Hold a Second Hand Garage Sale to sell unwanted household items
• Use our free TV and Computer Recycling Collection Service
• Use our Problem Waste Drop-Off Stations to dispose of household batteries, ink cartridges, mobile phones and globes*
• Take problem waste such as paint, gas bottles, motor oils and car batteries to our Community Recycling Centre (CRC)
• Give them to family or friends
• Donate to local charity stores or organisations such as The Generous and Grateful
• Sell them online e.g. Gumtree, Freecycle or Facebook Marketplace (charges may apply)

*Note: Globe recycling not available at the Ryde Aquatic Leisure Centre Drop-Off Station

Our Common Ground

The recent launch of our apartment based sustainable food program has been received with overwhelming positivity with 40 applications to participate in the 2019 program.

We are pleased to announce the location of the four successful apartment blocks:

• Isabel Street, Ryde
• Meriton Street, Gladesville
• Morrison Road, Ryde
• Station Street, West Ryde

The successful applicants received a shared food garden bed, materials and plants, workshops with garden expert Toni ‘The Veggie Lady’ Salter, compost bins and free energy, water and waste audits of their apartment block.

Congratulations to these strata communities for working together to build neighbourly ties, live more sustainably and share the harvest from Our Common Ground.

How Liveable Is Your Home or Apartment?

Let us show you how to create a more comfortable, healthy and efficient home or apartment with our free in-home assessment and you could win your share of $4,500 to spend on home improvements.

We'll show you practical ways to reduce your running costs and your environmental impact while enjoying a healthy and comfortable lifestyle. This free service offers tailored efficiency advice and solutions that will increase comfort while saving you money on your water and energy bills.

Ryde Resilience Plan 2030

The City of Ryde is developing a local Resilience Plan with actions to strengthen the community in becoming more resilient to the challenges that are presented from chronic stresses such as housing affordibility, mental health, social isolation and acute shocks such as heatwaves, storms and bushfires.

Resilience is the capacity to withstand and recover quickly from difficulties. It means strengthening the ability to survive, adapt and thrive. Within the context of Ryde, it involves the capacity of individuals, communities, businesses, ecosystems and infrastructure to bounce back from hard times.

In the not too distant future, Council staff will be consulting the local community to better understand awareness about resilience, levels of preparedness and priorities of people living, working and studying in the local government area, and to listen to their ideas.

Upcoming Events

• Wed 18 September: SWAP Awards Night [Book Now]
• Sat 21 September: Clean Up The World [Book Now]
• Sat 19 October: Granny Smith Festival [Learn More]
• Sat 02 November: Composting & Worm Farming Workshop [Book Now]
• Tue 12 November: Waste Adventure Tour [Book Now]
• Sat 16 November: Furniture Restoration Workshop [Book Now]
• Sat 07 December: Meal Planning Workshop [Book Now]