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A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR- Director John Burgess
The Barwon Regional Waste Management Board welcomes two new skills based directors Mr Ian Coles and Mr Peter Bollen.

The group would also like to announce that Mr Kingsley Love has retired from the Board. Kingsley has been a director of the Group since its formation in 1998, he was chair and vice chair of the group for 8 years. Kingsley has contributed enormously to the success of the Barwon RWMG and we wish him well on his future endeavors.

I am also pleased to announce my appointment as a board director of the Waste Management Association of Australia.

NEWS FROM THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER- Enzo Bruscella
The region is pleased to announce that our member councils- City of Greater Geelong, Colac Otway Shire, Borough of Queenscliffe, and Surf Coast Shire have joined with neighbouring Golden Plains Shire to work together in improving waste management, and have awarded a 10 year contract to SKM Recycling for processing of recycling materials. SKM will build a $5million materials recovery plant in the region.

Using optical sorting technology to identify and separate colored glass, the new facility will use many smart recycling techniques to handle all residential kerbside packaging, which means all the materials from the ‘yellow lid bins’ find out more...

Blinky Bulb Program
On world environment day, June 2009, the Blinky Bulb program was launched. This cross regional project has seen five RWMG's partner with Rotary International to set up a series of collection points for used fluorescent globes and tubes. For more information and to find where your nearest collection point is visit www.blinkybulb.com.au

From left- Mr Kester Baines (Rotary International) Tamara Dickins (Faggs Mitre10) and CR John Doull (BRWMG) launch the Blinky Bulb program in Geelong

Colac Otway Shire E-Waste Collection
An EWaste, TV & Small Electronics collection was run on the 5th & 6th June in Apollo Bay and Colac for people to drop off their used goods for recycling and reuse.  These goods were transferred to GDP Industries in Geelong for processing. 

There was a greater than anticipated response with approx 4-5 cubic metres of goods being dropped off in Apollo Bay on Friday and approx 40-42 cubic metres dropped off in Colac on Saturday.  In response to this staff ordered an additional 2 skips from Western Waste who were supplying skips and transporting goods from Colac to Geelong. A total amount of 15 tonnes was collected

Items comprised mainly of computer screens, hard drives, and analogue TVs- however people dropped off a variety of electrical goods including small heaters, drills, scanners & even a set of electric hair rollers.

Where Can I Be Recycled?
There are a number of common household items that cannot be placed in your kerbside recycling bin but that can be recycled through the following take back programs-
Mobile Phones- can be recycled at most phone retailers, to find out more visit the Mobile Muster website
Printer Cartridges- can be refilled at Cartridge World or recycled through Planet Ark collection bins at participating Australian Post Office shops- to find out more visit Planet Ark website
Mattresses- can be recycled by taking them back to participating mattress retailers or dropping them off at any of the Transfer Stations in the Region. There is also a home pick up service- contact Dreamsafe on 1300 551 245
Medicines- unwanted or out of date medicines can be recycled by taking them back to your nearest pharmacy. For more information visit the Return Unwanted Medicines website
Expanded Polystyrene- can be recycled by taking to the Douro Street or Anglesea Transfer Station.
Fluorescent Light Globes- can be recycled by taking them to your nearest Blinky Bulb collection point, for more information visit www.blinkybulb.com.au

Report Litterers- Roadside Litter Trial
During the month of April, the Princes Highway between Waurn Ponds and Winchelsea was the first of only two roads in Victoria to trial a new roadside litter prevention campaign.

During the month long campaign over 50 reports were made to the EPA and a 70% reduction in roadside litter was recorded via the pre and post litter audits. Find out more...

Waste Wise Geelong Network
A Waste Wise Geelong Network breakfast was held on the 27th May- sponsored by the Geelong Conference Centre and Artistic Catering.

As has become tradition for WWGN events the breakfast was a sell out- Cathie Stahl from the Geelong Conference Centre and Anna Kemp co-owner of LaMadre Bakery both presented their personal journeys with Waste Wise to over 50 business people who attended. Their presentations were inspirational and highlighted how small steps can achieve big things.

Waste Wise certifications were awarded to Geelong Conference Centre, La Madre Bakery, Multitek, Anglesea Beachfront Family Caravan Park, Great Ocean Road Coast Committee, and VicRoads Geelong.

Waste Wise re-certifications were awarded to Third Ecology and Godfrey Hirst, who both achieved Silver certification, and Shell Geelong Refinery who achieved Gold certification.

To find out more information or to join the Waste Wise Geelong Network contact Liz Raimondo