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Metro Waste News
June 2018
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Metro news

New Director of Corporate Strategy, Projects and Communications
Josephine Regel

We are very pleased to welcome Josephine Regel to the role of Director of Corporate Strategy, Projects and Communications. Josephine has extensive experience in the environment sector, most recently with the Environment Protection Authority Victoria.  We wish Josephine a very warm welcome and look forward to working with her.

MWRRG supports young designers to create products from recycled material
Cardboard surfboard

Cardboard surfboards (pictured), reading glasses, puffer jackets and bike seats are a just a few of the innovative products RMIT University students created as part of a pilot Commercial and Industrial waste partnership program with MWRRG.

Response to recycling challenges

MWRRG is pleased to see the collection and processing of kerbside recyclable material continue over recent months despite the increased pressures faced by the recycling industry. In the coming weeks, advice will be provided to councils to assist them to comply with the requirements of the Temporary Relief Funding Arrangements as part of the Victorian Government’s support package for local government.

Council spotlight

Brimbank to investigate kerbside soft plastic recycling and food organic collection

Brimbank City Council has recently released a new Waste, Recycling and Litter Strategy, which includes a goal of achieving a 50% diversion rate of waste from landfill within the next five years.

Policy update

Lightweight plastic bags to be banned from late 2019

The Victorian Government will ban single-use, lightweight plastic shopping bags from 2019 to help protect our environment from plastic pollution.

Recycling boost for regional and rural Victoria

The Victorian Government has announced $4.2 million in funding for 13 recycling projects as part of the second round of the Resource Recovery Infrastructure Fund.

New fund to develop markets for recyclables

The Victorian Government has announced a new $2.5 million fund to help develop markets for Victoria’s recyclable waste, and boost research and development into recycling. Applications for the Resource Recovery Market Development Fund will open in July.

Victorian families challenged to reduce food waste

As part of its Love Food Hate Waste campaign, Sustainability Victoria has launched the 'Love a List' challenge, encouraging Victorians to plan and shop better to reduce food waste.

Farmers share their views on using recycled organics

While recent research found that very few farmers were aware of the availability of recycled compost, more than half indicated they would be open to using it on their farms once they learned more about it. The results of the research will be used to inform the development of Sustainability Victoria’s programs and market development strategies.

For action

Connect with MWRRG on LinkedIn

Stay up to date with the latest news, find out about events, and share your views when you connect with MWRRG on LinkedIn.

Apply for an e-waste infrastructure grant

E-waste infrastructure grants are currently available to support councils in preparing for the e-waste to landfill ban. Applications close 3.00pm Friday 14 September. Please call Stephanie Grey (8626 8753) or James Walters (8626 8719) at Sustainability Victoria with any questions you have. A workshop for local government will also be held on Tuesday 17 July. See below for more information.

Grant funding available for community improvement

Applications for grant funding under Pick My Project have been extended until 8 July. $30 million is available and every Victorian over the age of 16 has the opportunity to come up with a project idea that will make their community a better place. A range of funding options are available from $20,000 to $200,000.

Weird and wonderful waste news

Now for something a bit different. Each month we will showcase a story about waste and resource recovery from around the world.

We’re asking for readers to contribute stories they read that provide a fresh or unusual perspective on the waste industry.

This month’s story comes from MWRRG Senior Communications Advisor Louise Bajada. 

In 2016, scientists in Japan discovered a bacterium that had evolved to eat plastic. They are now investigating how they can harness the enzyme produced by the bacteria to help recycle large amounts of plastic waste.

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

Events and professional development

Local government e-waste campaign and infrastructure workshop
For Local Government
E-waste

MWRRG and Sustainability Victoria are hosting a workshop for local government on the infrastructure requirements and the education campaign to support the upcoming ban on e-waste to landfill. The workshop will be held at the Collingwood Town Hall on Tuesday 17 July.

If you haven't yet received an invitation please contact Zandy Powell on 8698 9809. 

For noting

To celebrate National Volunteer Week we highlighted one of the many volunteers who play a critical role in  MWRRG’s waste and resource recovery programs. Read about Marilyn Olliff and the Wader Beach for Birds not Litter project here.

Resource of the month

Engaging with Culturally Diverse Communities on Waste, Resource Recovery and Litter toolkit

Did you know that one in four Victorians was born overseas, coming from more than 200 countries and speaking over 260 languages and dialects?

Our ‘Engaging with Culturally Diverse Communities on Waste, Resource Recovery and Litter toolkit’ is designed to help council waste educators overcome language and cultural barriers. It provides guides and resources that were developed using the practical experience and knowledge gained from previous waste education projects with culturally diverse communities.

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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