Metro Waste News - the latest from MWRRG No images? Click here Metro Waste News Dates for the diary
Metro NewsHelping the sector manage the challenges of business as usualMWRRG has been helping councils, industry and state government manage the challenges of waste and resource recovery during a time of uncertainty. We continue to support councils—through online platforms—with collaborative procurement, contract management, education, training, and behavioural change and communications expertise. We are also working with the six other Victorian waste and resource recovery groups through the establishment of the WRRG COVID-19 Working Group. Recycling Victoria still a priority for state governmentRecycling Victoria remains a priority for the Victorian government – this was a key message at the Metropolitan Local Government Waste Forum held on 16 April. Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) Director Waste and Resource Recovery, Angela Hoefnagels, provided an overview of Recycling Victoria and participated in a lively question and answer session that covered issues such as implementation timelines, funding, container deposit scheme legislation, recyclable packaging and product stewardship schemes, and how the policy would reduce waste generation. Photo courtesy of the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning. Advanced waste processing procurement updateThe search has begun to find businesses with a track record in establishing large scale advanced waste processing (AWP) solutions to seek alternatives to landfill. The AWP expression of interest (EOI) was released through eProcure on Tuesday 10 March and closed Wednesday 22 April. MWRRG and the participating councils decided to split the EOI responses into two stages. Stage one required a response to evaluation criteria 1, 4 and 5 by Wednesday 8 April. Tenderers who completed stage one were required to submit their response to evaluation criteria 2, 3 and 6 by Wednesday 22 April. Stay up to date with this important project through the AWP monthly newsletter – subscribe here. Victorian garden competition postponedTo allow kindergartens, schools and community groups to focus on other priorities, we are postponing the Back to Earth Initiative Victorian Garden Competition. We've already had almost 30 nominations from kindergartens, schools and community groups to win up to $5,000 for an environmental or garden project. These nominations will remain valid when we reopen the competition. We have contacted councils and nominees directly, but if you have any further questions please contact Senior Communications Adviser Joshua Rule at Joshua.Rule@mwrrg.vic.gov.au New user groups assisting councils manage kerbside recyclingWe have formed three new recycling user groups for councils, one for each of Melbourne’s kerbside recycling processors. Groups meet to discuss general issues with each processor and to hear updates about policy, legislation and our recycling procurement project. We now meet via video conference and will continue to provide this option in future whenever members cannot attend in person. Illegal dumping responses discussed in network meetingTwenty-eight waste education, litter prevention and cleansing officers joined representatives from Environment Protection Authority Victoria and Keep Victoria Beautiful at the online meeting of the Councils Litter Environment Action Network (CLEAN) on 29 April. Attendees discussed how they are responding to the spikes in illegal dumping across the region. Officers reported that increasing education and communication with their community has been a successful response to litter issues. If you work on litter and illegal dumping projects for a council, state government agency or a not for profit organisation, you are welcome to join our CLEAN network. Training for councils on food waste recycling, circular economy initiativesOver 30 council officers joined us online last month to understand how to use behaviour change principles for implementing a food and green waste recycling collection service. The training will help councils develop a behaviour change program to support their service delivery. The session was delivered by Les Robinson, a specialist in community change and an expert facilitation trainer. A follow up session will be held next month. We also held the second of three online training workshops on monitoring and evaluation of circular economy initiatives on 22 April. Staff from sixteen councils learnt how to integrate monitoring and evaluation theory and practice into their circular economy and resource recovery program planning. Topics included using a program logic model, identifying evidence and indicators and analysing and reporting on programs using quantitative and qualitative data. Image: Council officers enjoying the monitoring and evaluation of circular economy initiatives workshop on 22 April. Final environmental approval awarded to Melbourne composting facilitySacyr Environment Australia’s state of the art composting facility, which opened last year in Dandenong South, has received its final environmental approval from the Environment Protection Authority Victoria. The $65 million facility was made possible under a contract negotiated by MWRRG on behalf of eight councils to process kerbside food and green waste. MWRRG helping councils in WA plan the roll out of their food and green waste collection servicesEarlier this month, Senior Programs Co-ordinator Gayle Seddon presented our Introducing a kerbside food and garden organics collection service – A guide for local government to help councils design, implement and maintain a high-performing and cost-effective food and green waste collection service to over 100 attendees at WA’s Department of Water and Environmental Regulation’s online forum. Attendees from local government, state government and industry were particularly interested in how MWRRG is building capacity in councils by delivering training through a community of practice and social marketing support through the Back to Earth Initiative. The WA Government also identified MWRRG’s guide as a useful resource for service implementation in its 2019 Food Organics Garden Organics (FOGO) positioning statement. Council spotlightCity of Port Phillip’s top tips for successful collaborationEach summer hundreds of thousands of people flock to the City of Port Phillip’s beaches. The council’s Visitor Summer Management Program and the Summer in the City communications campaign unites key stakeholders to support visitors and ensure the municipality is safe, clean and inviting for all. Be informed
Weird and wonderful waste newsWhen taking out the bins becomes the highlight of the weekAussies are taking out the bin and sharing a laugh, while staying safe at home. If you have a weird or wonderful waste news story to share, please email web.editor@mwrrg.vic.gov.au. Resource of the monthCase studies: Community collection hubs, recovering e-waste, polystyrene recycling and more!Now is an excellent time to plan projects for next year. Gather inspiration on projects that divert more waste from landfill from case studies of past council projects on our website. 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 Deliver community environmental & economic benefits Increase organic waste recovered Plan for Melbourne’s growing population Copyright © 2020 Metropolitan Waste and Resource Recovery Group. All rights reserved. If you want to join our mailing lists, you can subscribe to any or all of our bulletins. If you are already on our mailing lists, you can also update your subscription preferences. This email was sent to [email address suppressed] |