Hot news:

A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR- Director John Burgess
The November municipal elections will see current Councilor appointed Directors leave the Board. It has been a pleasure to lead this enthusiastic and positive team of Directors that have overseen the development of regional processing contracts and behavioral change programs that place the Barwon Region as a State leader in resource recovery.

As the Vice President of the Association of Regional Waste Management Groups I have been participating in the DSE led State Review of Regional Waste Management Groups. DSE have advised the review report will be released early next year and we look forward to providing input into any future proposed models at that time.

NEWS FROM THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER- Enzo Bruscella
The Barwon Regional Waste Management Group Councils (Borough of Queenscliffe, Colac Otway Shire, SurfCoast Shire and City of Greater Geelong), along with the Shire of Golden Plains have all accepted regional tenders that will determine how the region’s household waste will be processed over the next 10-20 years.

Visy Paper Pty Ltd will continue to receive and process recyclables at its facility in Barwon Terrace, South Geelong and a new $50Million facility will be built at Point Henry by DiCOM AWT Operations Pty Ltd for the processing of mixed and green waste into green power and compost.

These two contractors were selected from a tender process that identified nineteen different organisations from across Australia capable of providing these services.

To find out more- visit our website

New Central Geelong Study
'towards zero waste"
The Barwon Regional Waste Management Group in partnership with Central Geelong Marketing, City of Greater Geelong and Sustainability Victoria has launched a $50,000 study to further reduce waste going to landfill and increase recycling and reuse of waste materials within Central Geelong. A framework will be provided to maximise resource recovery in the Central Geelong precinct.

Primary aims of the framework are to improve competitiveness and increase the sustainability of Central Geelong businesses, and to assist in meeting statewide ‘Towards Zero Waste’ and National Packaging Covenant resource recovery targets.
Find out more...


Dir. Barbara Abley visits a bin conjested lane in Central Geelong

Onsite Clean Site Workshop Held
Geelong and the Surfcoast is a growing region, with new housing estates popping up all over the place. This influx of building activity has highlighted the need for building sites to be well managed to ensure minimal environmental degradation and optimal resource efficiency. To encourage precisely this a Keep Australia Beautiful Victoria Clean Site workshop was held at a Metricon building site in Leopold.

Well attended by both builders and council officers the workshop showcased current technologies and practices that minimise environmental impacts from building sites. The workshop was conducted by Keep Australia Beautiful Victoria and supported by the Barwon Regional Waste Management Group, City of Greater Geelong and Metricon. Find out more...

Art of Sustainability Festival
As global warming and sustainable living comes to the environmental forefront, a festival with a difference was held in Geelong during Children’s Week and National Water Week, Oct 18-26. 

The focus of the “The Art of Sustainability” festival is to promote a culture of living sustainably and understanding and valuing our environment. Themes throughout the festival included rethinking the four  R’s of refuse, reduce, reuse and recycle, and building up change such as making the most out of waste materials and defective products that are often seen as worthless object.

The festival is also aimed to draw attention to children’s understanding of sustainability and the world in which they live. We have a responsibility to inform and empower the next generation to become active agents and caretakers of our environment. Find out more...

One of the Student Workshops in action

Waste Wise Geelong Network
The two waste workshop held in September were attended by 10 local businesses, who are in the process of working towards Waste Wise certification or recertification.

The next Waste Wise Geelong Network event will be held on the 27th November with project partner Geelong Chamber of Commerce at their after 5 function held at Skilled Stadium. Invites will be out next week. The network has invite the Net Balance Foundation to present a summary of results from their 2008 research report- "What Assures Consumers In Australia on Climate Change".

Any businesses who are wanting to be presented with their Waste Wise certification at this event, please contact Liz Raimondo.