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Metro Waste News
November 2019
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Dates
  • 3 December – LG Waste Education Network organics processing tour
  • 5 December – World Soil Day
  • 12 December – MLGW Forum 2019 review and celebration event

Metro news

Engagement and enforcement the keys to preventing illegal dumping
MLGW Forum - November 2019

The prevention of illegal dumping requires an approach that encompasses engagement, enforcement and partnerships, the Local Government Waste Management Forum heard last week. An expert panel discussed successful interventions from a regulatory perspective and the experience of council litter prevention officers.

Join the refreshed Back to Earth Initiative
Person taking out green bin

The Back to Earth Initiative is a social marketing campaign encouraging better green waste and food waste recycling by Victorians. We have refreshed the existing campaign materials to include food waste recycling and invite all councils—including those who have used Back to Earth in the past—to sign up to receive a full suite of resources and support.

MWRRG 2018-19 Annual Report published
MWRRG Annual Report 2018-19

MWRRG’s annual report was tabled in the Parliament of Victoria on 31 October. It provides details of all the activities we have undertaken and audited financial statements. It also includes a two page snapshot of our performance and achievements for 2018-19.

Business cases developed for waste and resource recovery hubs
Melbourne CBD from Port Melbourne

Business cases for an Inner Metropolitan Sustainability Hub and a Western Waste and Recycling Centre of Excellence—developed by MWRRG in collaboration with key stakeholders—have identified opportunities for the establishment of centres that will support Victoria’s transition to a more circular economy.

Council spotlight

Frankston Regional Recycling and Recovery Centre recognised for excellence
Frankston Regional Recycling and Recovery Centre

Frankston City Council’s Regional Recycling and Recovery Centre (FRRRC) was recognised at the 2019 Keep Victoria Beautiful Sustainable Cities Awards in September, winning the Resource Recovery and Waste Management Award.

Policy

Plastic bag ban implemented 1 November 2019

The Victorian Government’s ban on lightweight plastic bags began on 1 November. The ban applies to all retailers and includes all lightweight plastic shopping bags which have a thickness below 36 microns, including degradable, biodegradable and compostable bags.

For information about the ban and resources to support traders, please visit https://vicbagban.com.au/

Be informed

  • Sustainability Victoria is hosting a free webinar for local government on how to calculate emissions from landfills. The webinar—on Thursday 28 November—will cover how to calculate emissions from open and closed landfills and how to calculate and account for gas capture and flaring at landfill sites. Find out more and register here
  • The October edition of Sustainability Victoria’s ‘Recovered resources market bulletin’ is now available. Read the bulletin here

For action

Submissions sought on Australia’s Waste Management and Recycling Industries

The Commonwealth House of Representatives Standing Committee on Industry, Innovation, Science and Resources has commenced an inquiry into Australia’s Waste Management and Recycling Industries. The inquiry will focus on opportunities presented by waste materials, including energy production, innovative recycling approaches and export opportunities, and will also consider current impediments to innovation.

The Committee invites submissions, which can be lodged online or emailed directly to iisr.reps@aph.gov.au. Submissions should be lodged by 31 January 2020.

Weird and wonderful waste news

Brewery battles food waste with Halloween pumpkin beer

A social enterprise that hit the headlines for making beer out of leftover bread has turned its attention to Halloween pumpkins. The pumpkin dubbel will be released in the UK to draw attention to the estimated 8,000,000 pumpkins discarded by Britons over Halloween.

If you have a weird or wonderful waste news story to share, please email web.editor@mwrrg.vic.gov.au

Resource of the month

Recycling Incubator website showcases products made from recycled material
Recycling Incubator website

RMIT’s Recycling Incubator website was developed for designers to build demand for recovered waste through the creation of new products and services. The Recycling Incubator project was established with the support of our pilot commercial and industrial waste partnership program.

The Metropolitan Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plan sets out four strategic objectives which underpin all of MWRRG’s activities:

Reduce waste sent to landfill

Increase organic waste recovered

Deliver community environmental & economic benefits

Plan for Melbourne’s growing population

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