More Innovative Waste Management Practice
More Innovative Waste Management Practice
Submitted by Chris Lewis on 18th November 2014
Nappies
With 800 million to one billion disposable nappies per year ending up in Australian landfills and given that one baby’s average ‘nappy lifetime’ contributes around 5,000 nappies, the City of Banyule (Melbourne) pioneered the use of biodegradable nappies in the three childcare centres that are managed by Council. Since the program commenced in 2009 with a trial of 65 children aged three months to three years, the City has since successfully turned 1,000 cubic metres of landfill into 495 cubic metres of organic compost. This has then been used to fertilise both private and public garden beds. The compostable nappies were developed and manufactured by Tasmania-based company Eenee Designs and are endorsed by Compost Australia as the only disposable acceptable for commercial composting. Read more »
Lismore City Council (NSW) also began selling the Eenee nappies at their new Save n Waste Recycle Store. They are accepted for disposal via the City’s organic waste collection service with participants needing to register. In partnership with KESAB environmental solutions, Port Adelaide-Enfield Council informed its residents about the effects of disposable nappies on the environment while offering its ratepayers the opportunity to try cloth nappies before making the switch.1 Read more »
Litter and dumping
A Greater Dandenong Council-funded initiative involved an appointed Council’s Litter Prevention Officer conducting a test operation in a marked Council car at known dumping sites, successfully identifying a number of rubbish dumpers and out-of-hours donors, and resulting in infringements being issued. The Council then made the continuing ‘sit-off’ operation public, in an attempt to deter further offenders. Read more »
Banyule City Council, working closely with Salvos Stores and Victoria Police, experienced a significant degree of success following its trial of a high tech motion detection camera outside the Salvos store in Watsonia. Hundreds of people were caught on camera dumping rubbish and stealing donated goods, so helping to reduce the volume of rubbish being dumped in the area by 75 per cent. The strategy included posting clips of rubbish dumpers on YouTube and coverage of the story on television’s A Current Affair and Today Tonight, ABC radio, and in the local newspaper. Read more »
Recycling incentives
Randwick City Council (NSW) achieved an Australian first with the launch of its 'GreenMoney' program that invites local residents to participate and be rewarded for recycling. With over 900 residents having already participated at time of writing (March 2013), registered participants receive rewards and discounts from local businesses for recycling as much as possible with recycling bins are automatically weighed at each pickup. With points accumulated, residents get their points redeemable online for discounts at local shops, an aspect which also promoted and supports local businesses. Read more »
For more examples of innovative waste management relating to sustainable infrastructure, polystyrene recycling and organic waste, click here.
1 'Time for nappy change', The Advertiser, 8 March 2012, 26.
Chris Lewis is Visiting Fellow at ANZSOG Institute for Governance.
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Submitted by Chris Lewis on 18th November 2014
Nappies
With 800 million to one billion disposable nappies per year ending up in Australian landfills and given that one baby’s average ‘nappy lifetime’ contributes around 5,000 nappies, the City of Banyule (Melbourne) pioneered the use of biodegradable nappies in the three childcare centres that are managed by Council. Since the program commenced in 2009 with a trial of 65 children aged three months to three years, the City has since successfully turned 1,000 cubic metres of landfill into 495 cubic metres of organic compost. This has then been used to fertilise both private and public garden beds. The compostable nappies were developed and manufactured by Tasmania-based company Eenee Designs and are endorsed by Compost Australia as the only disposable acceptable for commercial composting. Read more »
Lismore City Council (NSW) also began selling the Eenee nappies at their new Save n Waste Recycle Store. They are accepted for disposal via the City’s organic waste collection service with participants needing to register. In partnership with KESAB environmental solutions, Port Adelaide-Enfield Council informed its residents about the effects of disposable nappies on the environment while offering its ratepayers the opportunity to try cloth nappies before making the switch.1 Read more »
Litter and dumping
A Greater Dandenong Council-funded initiative involved an appointed Council’s Litter Prevention Officer conducting a test operation in a marked Council car at known dumping sites, successfully identifying a number of rubbish dumpers and out-of-hours donors, and resulting in infringements being issued. The Council then made the continuing ‘sit-off’ operation public, in an attempt to deter further offenders. Read more »
Banyule City Council, working closely with Salvos Stores and Victoria Police, experienced a significant degree of success following its trial of a high tech motion detection camera outside the Salvos store in Watsonia. Hundreds of people were caught on camera dumping rubbish and stealing donated goods, so helping to reduce the volume of rubbish being dumped in the area by 75 per cent. The strategy included posting clips of rubbish dumpers on YouTube and coverage of the story on television’s A Current Affair and Today Tonight, ABC radio, and in the local newspaper. Read more »
Recycling incentives
Randwick City Council (NSW) achieved an Australian first with the launch of its 'GreenMoney' program that invites local residents to participate and be rewarded for recycling. With over 900 residents having already participated at time of writing (March 2013), registered participants receive rewards and discounts from local businesses for recycling as much as possible with recycling bins are automatically weighed at each pickup. With points accumulated, residents get their points redeemable online for discounts at local shops, an aspect which also promoted and supports local businesses. Read more »
For more examples of innovative waste management relating to sustainable infrastructure, polystyrene recycling and organic waste, click here.
1 'Time for nappy change', The Advertiser, 8 March 2012, 26.
| Chris Lewis is Visiting Fellow at ANZSOG Institute for Governance. |
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