Smarter, Cleaner, Greener - February 2019

Celebrate World Water Day

Join us for a paddle on the beautiful Parramatta River around Kissing Point Park. Our professional guides will take us to Putney Park where Jo Taranto, our Riverkeeper will talk us through plans to activate this site for swimming as part of the Parramatta River Masterplan.

When: Friday 22 March
Time: Meet at 9.45am for a 10.00am departure
Where: Kissing Point Park, Putney

Please bring your own lunch or snacks, refillable water bottle, hat and sunscreen.

Clean Up Australia Day

Participating in these events is the perfect opportunity to join with family, friends, neighbours and colleagues to help remove the rubbish in your local park, bushland and waterways.

Business Clean Up Day - Tuesday 26 February
Schools Clean Up Day - Friday 1 March
Community Clean Up Day - Sunday 3 March

Individuals and groups can either organise their own Clean Up site or volunteer to join an existing site. Bags and gloves will be provided. Bring your smile and can-do attitude!
Last year the local community participated in 42 clean up sites across the City of Ryde and collected nearly 3 tonnes of litter!

Free Guided Walk: Banjo Paterson Park & Looking Glass Bay

In celebration of Seniors Week, this Active In Ryde event explores Banjo Paterson Park and Looking Glass Bay. Set on the banks of the Parramatta River, these tucked away parks are surprisingly rich in local history.

Join us to learn about Banjo Paterson’s strong local connections to the City of Ryde area, Gladesville Hospital and the former industrial history of the Meggitt Linseed Oil Factory.

Beat The Bottle

Join us to help Good for the Hood, 5 for Ryde and Sydney Water clean-up Kissing Point Park and fight the war on waste. This is a free event, with food, stalls and music.

Don't forget to bring your reusable water bottle. All other gear is provided and there are freebies for anyone who gets involved.

Volunteer With The Bushcare Program

Each month our volunteers help out at 23 different Bushcare sites around Ryde. But they're not just regenerating bushland; they have fun, get fit and contribute to a better environment – why not give it a try?

There's no experience necessary and no obligation. Plus, all tools, gloves and training are provided.

Make Compost While The Sun Shines

Summer is a great time for composting! As the temperature warms up, so does the rate of composting in both your compost bin and worm farm. 

Remember the ADAM principles while composting:

A - Aliveness – keep your worms and microorganisms alive by putting your worm farm in the shade

D - Diversity – add a variety of ingredients e.g. leaves, grass clippings, newspaper and veggie scraps

A - Aeration – aerate your compost regularly by stirring or turning it with a shovel or aerator

M - Moisture – keep your compost moist at all times

If you become familiar with ADAM you will have beautiful compost in no time!

Spark Joy In Your Life By Decluttering

The hit Netflix program Tidying Up with Marie Kondo has been encouraging people worldwide to declutter their homes and keep items that “spark  joy” or have a place in your future (i.e. are useful).  If you’ve been inspired to get rid of the things you no longer need, Council’s A-Z Guide of Waste and Recycling can help you dispose of them the right way.

But the most import message and movement we need to start is Avoidance. The question we should be asking ourselves before we make a new purchase is: "Will this item last or give me joy in the future?" If the answer is no, don’t buy it! 

Finally there is a fantastic Japanese word “Mottainai” that conveys a sense of regret over waste. It’s a term that encourages people to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, so let’s start saying "mottainai” or "what a waste"!

Have Your Say | What's Your Ideal Neighbourhood?

Complete the online survey and tell us your TOP 3 attributes that are most important to you in making a neighbourhood an enjoyable space to visit. The best five responses will WIN a $100 gift voucher. By sharing what is important to you, we can use this information to inform how we improve neighbourhoods in Ryde.

The survey is conducted by Place Score on behalf of the City of Ryde. Survey closes 24 February 2019.

Upcoming Events

• Tue 19 March: Waste Adventure Tour [Book Now]
• Sat 30 March: Chemical CleanOut [Read More]
• Sun 31 March: Chemical CleanOut [Read More]
• Sat 4 May: Composting and Worm Farming Master Class [Book Now]

Have Your Say

• ELS Hall Park, Greenwood Park & booth Reserve Draft Masterplan (closes 3 March)
• Blenheim Park Draft Masterplan (opens 20 February)