What to recycle and where -Ballarat |
The Ballarat City Council have a draft waste minimisation strategy. They aim to reach a 65% reduction in waste by 2040 (Draft Ballarat Strategy, April 2015). Check out these links:
A - Z Waste Guide Draft Ballarat Strategy (refer to page 249 - 251) Ballarat City Council's website for information on waste and recycling All 'firm' plastics like, the tray of a biscuit packet, and a plastic milk bottle go into your kerbside recycle bin. All 'soft' plastics like, the outside wrap of a biscuit packet and cling wrap can be recycled through REDcycle. Drop off locations at the two major supermarkets. IMPORTANT: "Do not wrap recyclables in plastic bags before placing in kerbside recycling bin, as 'the bags become caught up in the automated sorting machine so the bag and it's contents are sent to landfill'. (Ballarat City Council, What to recycle & where) |
Ocean gyres; the big garbage patches |
Have you heard of ocean gyres? There are five major ocean gyres in the world and all are a thick soup of fine chopped up plastics, swirlling around in vortex currents. The gyre in the Pacific Ocean is said to contain 11 million tonnes of plastic, and is still growing!
I highly recommend you Google the 'Great Pacfic Garbage Patch', look at the pictures, watch the videos, read the stories. You'll wonder what the hell we're doing to this planet. The finger can not be pointed at one single person. The finger is pointed at all of us. Collectively we must change our ways. |
Rethinking Plastics by Richard Branti..... |
Should plastics be classified as hazardous materials? Well, there are scientist out there who think they should. Australian Professor Richard Branti uncovers many uncomfortable truths about plastics in his 2014 Ted X Sydney presention. Definitely worth watching, especially because he talks about our own shores.
Read more and watch the presentation here |
We can recycle plastics by Mike Biddle |
Dr Mike Biddle explains in his Ted presentation a new method of recycling plastics which returns plastic back to basic properties so common plastic products can be made, instead of the limited products we're restricted to now. It's unlikely the plastics sent for recycling in Ballarat will reach such a recycling plant any time soon. What is interesting about this new method is the amount of effort needed to recycle plastic. We can't take it for granted that recycling is easy. It's best to avoid using plastic products where we can, but it is good to know there's a process being developed to recycle those unavoidable plastics which make up such things as cars and vacuum cleaners, etc.
Read more and watch the presentation here |
Steve Shorten takes us on a drive of shame |
Watch this You Tube clip. I don't think I need to say any more.......
A short drive through the Australian bush |
Meet the Bag Monster |
I am a Bag Monster: Andy Kellar at TED X Chico
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Documentary on plastics |
Not sure how long this doco will be on SBS On Demand for.......but hopefully you get a chance to watch it. This one hour program highlights that the plastics we throw out don't just disappear, they can't disappear, as plastic is a permanent material. The doco also talks about the health issues associated with plastics as well as introducing many more disturbing insights.
Plastic Paradise |
Oceans of Plastic |
Aboriginal Project Coordinator Nadi Simpson gives a beautiful introduction to this podcast by telling us about the law of connectedness......'we have everything we need' and then there's the 'cheeky fella'. Whether we like it or not, we are now in the age of plastic. Every year there is estimated to be 8 million tonnes of new plastic added to the oceans.
This podcast was recorded during Science week at Taronga Zoo in New South Wales. A range of speakers tell us some really interesting facts about the impacts of plastics on our oceanic life. Impacts which we are now discovering are impacting on us too. Podcast here Additonal information on Dr Mark Browne's micro plastic research is here and here. |
The world's oceans in the age of Plastic |
Two short presentations:
CSIRO's scientist, Prof. Chris Wilcox shares his findings, stating that in the 60's very few birds had plastic in their gut. Now most sea birds have, and by 2050 all sea birds will have ingested plastic. It’s understandable to hear that sea birds are one of the most rapidly declining sea taxa, but are they just an indicator for the overall health of the oceans and all its critters? Backing onto Prof. Wilcox's presentation is Boyan Slat whose organisation Ocean Clean-up is developing tools to try and clean the ocean up. The link to this short 11 minute podcast is here. |
The future is rubbish |
The new life for rubbish: recycling and up-cycling. Putting a new light on stuff we throw away. It is turning into a massive industry. It's now worth $US500 billion a year.
Want to hear about these new businesses? Click here. |
Thilafushi - the island in the Maldives which is now a rubbish tip |
Thilafushi was a lagoon in the Maldives before 1992. Then the local council decided to turn it into a rubbish tip. It now receives 330 tonnes of rubbish a day.
The people of Malé aren't unusual in the amount of rubbish they throw away. They just don't have the capability to hide it. Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thilafushi Shocking photo........zip down to Bucket List Item 14 |
The National Marine Debris Project - Australia |
CSIRO, Earthwatch and Shell have worked together to map the litter on Australia's beaches. Every 100km they collected scientific data from the beaches and the water.
The information will be used to help governments, policy makers, and the public, to make the best decisions on how to reduce the rubbish going into our oceans. The link the Mercury Newpapers article on the project is here. CSIRO's weblink and results here. |
Clean up at Greta Beach, Christmas Island - the NEVER ending job |
Plastic just keeps piling up on the beach at Chistmas Island (off the coast of Western Australia). The article on Planet Experts has some really interesting videos by Roma Lehner, and his expedition team, as they discuss the plastic issues with Christmas Island locals. Go to the Planet Experts website for the article. The You Tube videos in the article are really great.
"The rubbish the rest of the world forgets about". Check out Wild Side Australia's web article here. In the podcast 'Oceans of Plastic', Dr Mark Browne said an increase rate of predation on young turtles has been observed on Greta Beach. This is due to the increased opportunities for predator crabs to hide behind rubbish, allowing then to ambush the turtles as they make their way to the water. |
A simple and easy change once you know about it - Microbeads |
Microbeads have only recently been included as an ingredients in products such as face cleaners and toothpaste, but these tiny beads of plastic have already made a big impact on our environment. A recent study in Sydney Harbour found that 33% of Mullet had injested microbeads.
Microbeads are soon to be banned in the USA, and Australia brought in a voluntary ban in 2016. Until it happens it's up to consumers to avoid buying products containing these little balls of plastic. Professor Emma Johnston, from Sydney Institute of Marine Studies, talks us through the details of why these beads need to be avoided. Listen to Professor Johnston's interview on Radio National - link to interview And here's more information about micro-plastics which I bet will shock you as much as it did me. All our polo=fleece: jumpers, bed socks, bennies, blankets etc, plus synthetic carpets, all shed fluff which is called micro-plastic. This plastic is turning into a massive problem. Read about it in this ABC news link here. My section on 'Ocean of Plastic' has links to research by Dr Mark Browne on the topic. The ABC program Catalyst, also explains the issue to us. More recently a team of Australian and Chinese researches showed that up to 12.5% of the chemical pollutants on microbeads can pass into the fish that eat them...so what happens when we eat the fish? For more information go to this RMIT article on the research. |
What else goes into our rubbish bins?
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When you start thinking beyond the action of filling up your rubbish bin and rolling it out to the street ready for collection, some interesting issues are raised. Rubbish tips have been an integral part of our functioning, healthy community but are put at the back of the our minds, and in the back-blocks of our towns. For those of us who place everything in the green wheelie bin (non-recyclables, recyclables, chemicals, green waste and food scraps), please take time to consider your actions, as its important to realise you're contributing to a whole range of issues.
Not many people know about our native marsupials such as the Phascogale (.........Phasco-what?! I hear you say), so putting Phascogales and rubbish tips together is pretty much an unheard of mix. In Western Australia the Red-tailed Phascogale is endangered. See how food scraps in rubbish tips contribute to this situation. In the Ballarat region we have the Brush=tailed Phascogale. Our little critter is Nationally listed as vulnerable. Cats and foxes threaten them too. Check out biologist, Leon Rakai's short clip: The Plight of the Phascogale (the Red-tailed Phascogale) Introducing the ancient Japanese world 'Mottainai'. You may find it a great word to use in all types of situations, such as the dinner table when children don't want to eat their food. Find out about its meaning, context and history here. Food Swap options on the home page under Fruit and Vegetables. Local businesses are able to donate left over food to charities such as the Ballarat Soup Bus. These charities hand the food out to the homeless and less fortunate in town. Y Waste is an App where food merchants can sell excess food at discount prices. |
Take a guess......... |
For 25 years volunteers have been picking up rubbish from beaches all over the world.
Take a guess, how many of the items listed below have they collected:
For up-to-date information on the Ocean Conservancy visit http://www.oceanconservancy.org/who-we-are/ |
So, just how do they make plastic? |
This 10 minute YouTube clip explains the creation of plastic from woe to go. It also explains why we should recycle.
Once you've watched it you will understand what these symbols mean: HDPE, PET, PVC. By the way, these are the plastics the Ballarat Transfer Station accepts. |
The Story of a Spoon |
Condensed into 2 minutes...its captivating.
The Story of a Spoon |
Australia and the plastic issue - as of 18th Feb 2016 |
It's a short article, with some colourful pictures, and a 1:03 minute video. Click here to get up to speed with Australia's current position on plastic pollution.
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Recycling in Ballarat |
This is overview of recycling in Ballarat is currently out of date....
Ballarat is going for a 65% reduction in waste by 2040, and the city of San Francisco (California) is going for Zero Waste by 2020. What a big difference! Why can't we do better than 65% by 2040? Surely it won't take us 24 years to work out how to reduce and recycle our waste properly. San Francisco set out, and achieved, a 50% diversion of waste to landfill in 2000. In 2010 they aimed for a 75% diversion, they achieved that too.........so the only place for them to go now is ZERO! Many complicated issues surround recycling, so it's difficult to compare ourselves to other places. What we do know is that we need to change the way we think about rubbish. Landfill shouldn't be an option for us any more. There are many alternatives available. Check out Ballarat's What to recycle and where. In this guide you will learn what goes into the yellow bin; what you need to take to the transfer station; and how to deal with green waste and food. Then there's the items we can't do anything with except send to landfill, such as un-recyclable plastics, nappies and polystyrene products. I have a few suggestions for these:
There's a moving trend around the world to recycle all waste. Most councils have a plan to reduce landfill but the councils can't do it alone, they need their residents and business to follow. Let your council know where improvements are needed so recycling is easier for everyone. Just a quick reminder, always Refuse first. Then Reduce, Reuse and Rot. Recycling should be our last option to deal with our waste. Here's a few great websites on recycling and reducing waste: ResourceSmart Schools (Victoria) and Green Cross Australia - provide waste modules in their sustainable living curriculum programs. But really, the best way for children to learn is by watching their parents. Otter's ultimate guide to recycling and reusing |
You may have seen the word Mottainai mentioned on this website a few times. What is Mottainai? |
Mottainai is an ancient Buddhist / Japanese word, which doesn't have a straight forward english translation. To make it more tricky it can be used in many different contexts. 'Mottai' refers to: the intrinsic dignity or sacredness of a material entity, and 'Nai': indicates an absence or lack. The context we're interested in is how the word sums up an attitude of disrespect for an item. To use the word in an example, we can consider a situation when someone spills a glass of milk. If that person were to consider the milk sacred, they would've been more careful not to spill it. When the milk is spilt we would say 'Mottainai' or 'what a waste'. The Mottainai spirit / attitude is strongest in a person when times are tough and everything in their possession is important and sacred. When times are bountiful, it's easy to disregard the sacredness of items. Why don't we live by the Mottainai attitude at all times? It would make life much richer and more meaningful, but instead our lifestyles are bursting at the seams with over consumerism and an excess of items.
When purchasing items we take on a responsibility. We need to respect and appreciate all items. Consider the time you spent earning the money to purchase the item. Consider the resources required to create the item; and the life/s (people, animal or plant) whose energy went into making it. Consider the processes that occurred for that item to be where it is? Consider what the impact will be when the item is no longer wanted or needed. What is the true value of the product? Everything has a price, and often is much greater than the price we paid for it. When you think in this way 'what a waste' or 'Mottainai', is an important attitude to nurture in ones self. As mentioned in the introduction Mottainai is the attitude which binds the actions of the 5R's together. This neat little package (attitude & actions) is the key to solving many of our waste problems. For more information on Mottainai go to these sites: Wikipedia; Revival of the Mottainai spirit; and ABC radio interview Mottainai: a philosophy of waste. Here's a beautiful story I think you will enjoy: "Once two Zen monks were traveling from one temple to another. As they approached the temple, they discussed the question of whether it would be an appropriate place for them to pursue their practice. Passing over a bridge near the temple, they noticed a cabbage leaf floating downstream. They paused and began to reconsider whether a temple that would allow such waste could possibly be a true hall for training in the way. Just then, the temple gate opened and a monk with a long pole came rushing toward them. Startled, they watched as the monk caught the cabbage leaf, bowed to them and returned to the temple. Nodding to one another, the two monks entered the gates of the temple, confident that they had found a place where they would indeed be able to make progress on the path" (source) |
There's a bunch of amazing Aussies who are providing information to help us create a sustainable lifestyle |
I'm limiting myself to the amount of information I include on this website, so if something inside you has been sparked I encourage you follow your curiosity and find out more. I've listed a few resources; all of them have 'sustainability' as their ethos.
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Lovers of coffee..... |
Love fresh coffee? Are you familiar with coffee pods? These little plastic pods contain a single serve of fresh coffee. Many Australians find them very convenient as they are a little pod of no fuss and no clean up. In Australia around 3 million of these pods are used each day. That's 21 million a week, a very scary number over the duration of a month, and the number over 1 year......well that's totally terrifying. There is one program, by TerraCycle in Australia, where these pods can be recycled but the majority of pods currently end up in landfill.
If you have a spare 12 minutes, listen to this discussion about the coffee pods. If more people are aware of the problem, then more people will have their thinking caps on to solve the problem. |
Your Consumer Rights |
It's good to know that in Australia we have Consumer Laws which mean, as customers, we have consumer rights. Choice has explained our rights in an easy to understand article. It's well worth knowing what they are, not only to save you money, but also for the environment. Make sure you hold companies accountable for badly designed and made products.
Know your consumer rights |
Oh no! |
When the value of raw products goes down, the profitability of recycling materials diminishes to a point where we have to pay money to put our waste products in the recycling system, When products are recycled they enter the playing field which is on par with all other raw products world wide.
This short 7 minute podcast explains the concerns low commodity prices have on recycling in Australia, in particular steel: Recycling when commodity prices are low This insight into the recycling world builds a stronger case for us to refuse, reduce and reuse before we even start to think about recycling. |
Biodegradable plastic bags...not so great |
What's the difference between standard plastic, degradable and biodegradable plastic bags? Answer: very little.
More information in The Sydney Morning Herald news release, The big green furphy: experts bust degradable plastic bag myth. On a side note, there's a great community initiative emerging called Boomerang Bags. Get involved by making bags and supplying them to shops. Customers can then grab a bag if they forgot to bring their own. www.boomerangbags.org |
Product Stewardship Act 2011 |
WHAT IS PRODUCT STEWARDSHIP?
"When people recycle packaging and products, or when companies design their product to limit the amount of materials and resources required for manufacture, or limit the amount of hazardous materials those products contain, they are being good product stewards. Good product stewardship means doing the right thing for the benefit of the environment – and ultimately ourselves. Product stewardship activities such as recycling help to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill, increase recycling rates, recover valuable resources that can be used to make new products and prevent harmful substances found in certain products from getting into the environment. This Product Stewardship Act will encourage more of us to become good product stewards and to support product stewardship activities." (source: National Waste Policy Fact Sheet) |
Container Deposit Scheme to start in NSW in 2017! |
In July 2017 New South Wales (NSW) will be introducing a 10 cent refund on drink containers between 150ml - 3l. A similar Container Deposit Scheme has been working successfully in South Australia since 1975. The Northern Territory (NT) introduced the scheme in 2011, but unfortunately the major drink companies took the NT Government to court and the deposit scheme was abolished as a result. Queensland and Canberra are now looking at following NSW down this brave, new path. Here's hoping Victoria is also inspired to follow.
There are many benefits for this scheme. SA has a higher recycling rate, and less contaminated recycling than other States and Territories. Less waste is sent to landfill. It brings in additional funds to charities and individuals. It also greatly reduces the amount of litter our landscapes. What is there not to love about this scheme? Data shows that 98% of South Australian's support the scheme. |
Australian Leyla Acaroglu takes our mind on a journey of sustainable design |
Leyla really gets the mind ticking about sustainable products. She highlights how bad design can have so many negative impacts on the environment throughout the entire life of a product... and post life. Sustainability needs to be considered at the very start of the design process to reduce the products environmental footprint. It's the smart way forward for product design.
Lelya's 2013 Ted talk is well worth the watch. |
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Website last updated 03/06/2019
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The material on this website has been brought together in the hope that it helps people establish a 'no waste' lifestyle with as much ease as possible.
No Waste Ballarat does not accept liability for reliance on any information contained on these web pages or the links provided. |