September 2023
No images? Click here
September 2023
We bet everyone has a go-to technique for using up at least one of these items. If you’d like to save money, food and expand your culinary repertoire, join us in signing up for the Sustainability Victoria I love leftovers challenge. So far, we’re licking our lips over soups, pizzas and pesto recipes. There are amazing prizes to be won, along with the satisfaction of sharing your ideas, photos, recipes and stories.
Meanwhile, the War on Waste remains a hot topic in our Green Living Facebook group. If you want to learn more about local solutions and get involved in the conversation, here’s where you can find discussions on each episode. Check out this game to see how waste-aware you are. Then you might have questions about how Casey manages household rubbish. Our new waste guide tells you what goes where – even with the fiddliest materials. If you want to take it to the next level, see our local zero waste classes.
Read on for more on cloth nappy, compost and worm farm rebates; the schools recycle right challenge; and the return of the textile recycling event!
If you want your questions answered in person, come along to the Doveton Show and pick our brains.
Finally - in case you missed it, check out the September Green Living Biodiversity special here.
Join the Green Living in Casey Facebook group for even more tips, activities and ideas.
WHAT'S ON
Tuesday 5 September 9.00am – 4.00pm Follow Your Waste Tour
Wednesday 6 September 11.00am – 12.30pm Zero Waste Kitchen
Monday 18 September 10.30am – 11.30am Vegetables in Containers Workshop
Tuesday 19 September 2.00pm – 3.00pm Colley Street Wildflower and Bushwalk
Thursday 21 September 11.30am – 1.00pm Composting for Beginners
Wednesday 27 September 10.30am – 11.30am Fun Fabulous Frogs!
Thursday 28 September 1.00pm – 2.00pm Brookland Greens Wildflower and Bushwalk
Thursday 28 September 7.00pm – 9.00pm Increase Biodiversity in Your Backyards
Schools Recycle Right Challenge runs from 9 October to 17 November 2023
You asked for it and we listened
Last year’s hit National Recycling Week event – the FREE unwanted textile drop-off – is returning to Casey this November! This year we’re giving you even more opportunities to send your linens, clothes and shoes to either local charities or straight into the circular economy for recycling.
When you sign up for a slot here we’ll save you a space at our Narre Warren site. Closer to T-Day we’ll send you a list of acceptable and unacceptable items, the drive-through details and free printable labels for your boxes and bags. PLEASE NOTE: Casey residential household material only
SUSTAINABILITY + CLIMATE
Climate Resilient Gardening This climate assessment tool determines if a plant species will thrive at your home based on predicted warming temperatures. Select your nearest garden (eg Cranbourne Botanic or Wilson Botanic), enter the plant taxon name, and select the year, either 2020, 2050 or 2090. (Species pictured is Acacia leprosa 'Scarlet Blaze'.) |
Growing vegetables in containers workshop This class covers all the basics for growing vegetables in recycled containers. You don't have to forgo home-grown produce just because you're renting or have a small yard. All you need is one good container! |
|
No new gas from 2024 The Victoria Government has announced all new homes will only be connected to electricity from 2024. Learn more about the benefits of a gas-free Victoria here. |
A gas-free VictoriaBurning methane gas is responsible for 17% of Victoria's climate pollution. But the good news is we already have the solutions - and they'll save you $$$. |
WASTE & CIRCULAR ECONOMY
Winning teamwork The Bunjil Place Cafe and Reground have teamed up with our Green Living team for an exciting project: diverting coffee byproducts out of landfill and into our soil. Since 30 May, we have
|
Eco shopping this month: Perfectly imperfect You can find some great bargains when supermarkets mark down items that are close to their use-by dates. Did you know there are whole stores that specialise in bargain goods? Whether it’s because they have misprinted labels, someone ordered too much, or they have a short shelf life, buying these products keeps them out of landfills and saves you money. |
Skip the tip: Coffee cups Coffee cups are not accepted in most council kerbside recycling bins, due to the coffee cups thin plastic lining (sometimes oil or plant-based), making them difficult to recycle without specific recycling equipment to separate it from the paper for both materials to be recycled individually. The coffee cup lid is also usually not recyclable due to the material its made from: Polystyrene (PS) Plastic number 6 or if its black in colour – black items cannot been seen by the optic laser on the processing line at the recycling facility – and will be sent to landfill. |
Be in the know Hop on the bus and join our tour to learn all about what happens to your waste and how you can reduce it! This tour will visit ♻️SACYR (where the food and garden waste bin contents go) ♻️Stevenson's Road Closed Landfill (to learn about landfill aftercare management) and ♻️VEOLIA SUEZ to see where your rubbish bin contents go. |
FOOD AND GARDEN
Seeds to start now
It’s never too early to plan for end-of-year tomatoes! Get a head start by exploring the huge range of seeds out there. With some organisation, you can have tiny currant tomatoes that keep giving producing pops of flavour for months, beefsteak toms that befit any burger and the soft, sweet salad tomatoes that taste like summer. Then save your favourites' seeds for next year and you’ll never need to buy them again.
September use-it-up recipes
Fresh or preserved, there are so many ways to use up leftover tomatoes!
Check out Shannon Bennett's tomato, pickled cucumber and yesterday's bread salad for a start ...
COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS
Meet Zainab, our Circular Casey youth portrait competition “Art for Impact” winner. Her winning piece features her grandfather, who devoted his life to environmental preservation.
Born in Afghanistan and raised in Pakistan, Zainab came to Narre Warren when she was 12. She's now a proud Monash University business student as well as a Casey resident. Zainab will create images of the seven locals who have made the Circular Economy Living Lab such a success. Watch out for the exhibition launch at the Innovation Festival this October at Bunjjil Place.
Do you know someone in Casey who consistently goes above and beyond to serve others? An individual or group who demonstrates community spirit and contributes to making Casey a wonderful place to live? Then you should nominate them for a Casey Community Award. Nominations open 18 September and close 16 October 2023.
Drive safely these school holidays
Dusk and dawn are the times you're most likely to see wildlife on our roads, watch out and drive safely to protect them.
A safe drive these school holidays saves our wildlife. If you or someone encounters a wildlife injury, please contact Wildlife Victoria on 8400 7300.
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
Are you an educator in Casey? Sign up for our Green Living in Casey Education
e-newsletter. View the previous edition or subscribe now.
If you're a teacher, student or just interested, check out the resources available under the “Sustainability for Educators” section of the Casey Council website. There's a suite of great resources FREE to use for levels Foundation to Grade 6.
REBATES AND GRANTS
|
Sprout Grants (Hamer Sprout Fund) closes 30 September 2023 |
Saving Native Species - Priority Species (Victorian Government) closes 7 September 2023
This grant supports incorporated organisations to deliver projects that reduce the risk of extinction for 110 identified priority threatened species.
Wildlife Rehabilitator Grants (Victorian Government) closes 15 September 2023
This small grant is available to authorised wildlife shelter operators and foster carers for equipment, infrastructure, consumables, education and training.
CONTRIBUTIONS
Do you have any environmental news, stories or events to share?
Contact us via email or through the Green Living in Casey Facebook group.
We proudly acknowledge the traditional owners, Casey’s Aboriginal communities and their rich culture and pay respect to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge Aboriginal people as Australia’s first peoples and as the traditional owners and custodians of the land on which we work and live.
