From the CEO

Dear subscriber,

As we put the finishing touches to our 2016-17 Annual Report it is useful to reflect on the achievements of the past 12 months. I am delighted to be leading an organisation charged with the critical task of planning for the waste and resource recovery needs of our growing metropolitan region.

The 2016-17 financial year saw MWRRG reach many important milestones, including the release of the Metropolitan Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plan 2016, the signing of contracts for the South Eastern Organics Processing Procurement and the selection of two preferred tenderers for the Eastern Organics Procurement.

Priorities for the 2017-18 financial year include providing support for metropolitan councils to begin preparing their communities for making the switch towards a full food and garden organics (FOGO) service, working to establish municipal residual waste processing solutions, and continuing to provide input and advice on waste and recovery infrastructure to meet the needs of future communities - in the new Fishermans Bend precinct and more broadly for multi-unit developments across the metropolitan area. 

We know we have a big job ahead of us but I look forward to working productively with all of our partners and stakeholders from government, industry and the community.

Rob Millard

Engaging with culturally diverse communities

The Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Lily D'Ambrosio, launched the Engaging with Culturally Diverse Communities on Waste, Resource Recovery and Litter - a Kit for Educators on Monday 7 August 2017 at the North Eastern Greek Citizens Club.

The education kit aims to assist council educators to communicate effectively and appropriately with diverse communities on topics including recycling and using the kerbside system correctly.

MWRRG has co-ordinated four training sessions on the use of the kit, covering:

• the kit’s use and key principles
• cultural self-awareness literacy and cultural adaptation and bridging
• developing cultural intelligence, and unconscious bias
• strategies and tools for engaging with diverse communities in delivering waste and resource recovery projects.

To find out more download a copy of the kit on our website.

Celebrating the success of the Litter Hotspot Program

On Tuesday 15 August, MWRRG hosted a celebration to recognise the achievements of the Litter Hotspots Program grant recipients. Since it began in 2013, the Litter Hotspots Program has funded 35 litter prevention projects across the Port Phillip Bay catchment.

These projects targeted a total of 436 priority sites and achieved litter reductions of up to 96.8%.

Over 179 tonnes of litter was collected – including over 1.29 million cigarette butts.

The program established more than 267 partnerships, building collaboration and momentum for effective litter prevention.

A highlight of the event was the launch of MWRRG’s video ‘Catchment Connections’ showcasing the success of the program. In addition to ‘Catchment Connections’ three other short videos have been made, highlighting specific projects across the Yarra catchment.

To find out more and watch the videos go to our Litter Hotspots Program page.

We’d also like to congratulate the Bellarine Catchment Network, whose program ‘Caring for our Bays’ was recently selected as a finalist for the following awards: 

• 2017 Victorian Landcare Awards - SureGro Coastcare Award (finalist) 
• Victorian Regional Achievement and Community Awards (finalist, winner TBA).

The Caring for Our Bays program focused on reducing litter and improving water quality in Corio Bay and the Bellarine shoreline of Port Phillip Bay. It received funding through Round Two of the Litter Hotspots Program.