Hot news:

Important Dates

7th March- Litter Prevention and Public Recycling Grant Applications Close. For funding guidelines and application forms click here
20th March- Barwon Community Materials Efficiency Grant Applications Close. For grant application form
click here
31st March- Shell Community grants applications close- see below

A thought to ponder-

“Unfortunately, time is not on our side… climate change is a problem we must as a global community tackle effectively in the next few years if we are to avoid unacceptable levels of risk..”
Ross Garnaut, the Federal Governments adviser on climate change

Shell Community Grants

Shell Employee Community Grants Programme allocates funding to local not-for-profit organisations.

The committee will allocate grants for projects in the areas of health and wellbeing, education and care for the environment, and are focusing on initiatives in the northern suburbs of Geelong.

To access application forms and further details regarding the grants programme
Click Here

Waste Wise Health Care Update

A composting trial is in early stages of development at Hesse Rural Health - Winchelsea Hospital.

Stage 1 is focusing on food scraps from staff and preparation scraps from kitchen and stage 2 will see food waste from residents (post consumer) added.

An Aerobin has been delivered and positioned in a suitable location. Staff have been consulted as to the type of bins required and investigations are underway to find ones that meet their criteria.

Next steps are signage and education of staff.

Edcentre Update

Bookings for Term 1 and 2 are amounting to approximately 650 students. This is an excellent result given that Term 1 is only an 8 week term.

About a third of our total bookings are secondary schools, this is an increase on the same time last year.

New air conditioners have been installed in the centre, and program props have been upgraded.

Waste Wise Schools Update

Simone ran a workshop for teachers down at the Barwon River on Tuesday 19th February as a part of a free forum for Teachers in the Geelong Area run jointly by Parks Victoria and Clean Up Australia.

Parks Victoria, as part of their Barwon River Parklands initiative, sponsored Clean Up Australia to help clean up the Barwon River’s environment during February with a range of activities planned for schools and the community

The workshop provided teachers with ideas to engage students in waste minimization and litter activities. The feedback both verbally and via email was very positive.

Waste WIse Events Update

It has been a busy Waste Wise Summer for events in the Barwon Region.

Since December 19 events have Reduced, Reused and Recycled through the Waste Wise Program

CONTACTS

ENZO BRUSCELLA EXECUTIVE OFFICER

SIMONE BUDD REGIONAL EDUCATION OFFICER

AMY OBRIEN REGIONAL EDUCATION OFFICER

LIZ RAIMONDO
PROJECT MANAGER
WASTE WISE GEELONG NETWORK

A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR
The Barwon Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Recycling Project was launched by Mick Bourke from the EPA last week at the Waste WIse Geelong Network business breakfast.

This innovative project, a partnership project between BRWMG and GDP Industries funded by the National Packaging Covenant, diverts EPS from landfill through a Trader Stewardship approach to recycling. The response from local businesses to the project has been extremely positive.

As part of the project EPS processing facilities have been set up at GDP Industries. The project is also assisting to develop a local market where waste EPS is blended with cement to make light weighted concrete products.

NEWS FROM THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER
The Group is acting as the agent for the City of Greater Geelong, SurfCoast Shire, Colac Otway Shire Borough of Queenscliffe and Golden Plains Shire to develop a regional contract for the processing of the regions waste stream following the closure of the Corio landfill site in 2010.

The Group invited expressions of interest from waste treatment proponents and nineteen organisations were assessed as being acceptable and invited to selective tender. The tender period commenced in December 2007 and will close on the 30th April 2008. A four month evaluation period has been provided extending to August 2008, to enable consideration by member Councils and finalisation of agreements prior to the November Council Elections.

Don't Be A Tosser- Bin Your Butts O-Week Campaign
The “Don’t be a Tosser” cigarette butt litter program targeting new and returning tertiary students across the region was implemented during orientation week last week.

The Barwon Regional Waste Management Group, Deakin University Student Association and Gordon Institute of TAFE teamed up to run a campaign encouraging students to Bin Their Butts.

Melbourne band Symbiosis and local band Hey King played for the students at the two institutions as part of the o-week celebrations, promoting the campaign key message “Don’t be a Tosser- Bin your Butts”.

Local Laws Officers from the City of Greater Geelong supported the campaign, educating students on litter, parking and community health issues.

Find out more...

Students give away personal ashtrays at Deakin University O-Week

Moriac Primary School Educating For Sustainability
Moriac Primary School, has received Waste Wise Certification through the Waste Wise Schools Program.

Principal Steve Durkin said that, “Waste Wise practices are an integrated part of school operations. Environmental education has been part of our curriculum for several years, and this is strongly supported by day-to-day Waste Wise activities.”

Find out more...

L-R Vice School Captains Meg and Aiden, School Captains Allanah and Briel, Cr. Jim Tutt, Surf Coast Shire and Director Barwon Regional Waste Management Group

Mattress Recycling Takes Off In The Barwon Region
This summer has seen a mass influx of mattresses being recycled in the Barwon Region. Since the Mattress recycling project began just over 12 months ago, over ten thousand mattresses have been collected for recycling by the Dreamsafe mattress recycling facility.

Ten thousand mattresses take up a massive volume of space, approximately 48 thousand cubic metres; these mattresses if placed end to end would run 20km, the equivalent distance as from Geelong to Torquay.

Find out more...

Mattresses stockpiled ready for recycling at the Moolap Dreamsafe facility.

Waste Wise at Pako Festa
This year was Pako Festa's 6th year as a Waste Wise event. Event managers put particular focus on litter reduction. Supported by a grant from the Packaging Stewardship Forum multilingual signs were developed to promote the "Do The Right Thing" message

Waste Wise Geelong Network
Waste Wise Geelong Network continues to grow and provide support and guidance to businesses wishing to become Waste Wise. The past year has seen the Networks membership grow by 61% and the number of certified members grow by 42%.

WWGN sponsored a site down at Barwon Common on Clean Up Australia Business Day, staff from Harwood Andrews, Third Ecology, Telstra Countrywide and BRWMG collected over 3m3 of litter.

For more information or to become a network member contact the WWGN Project Officer- Liz Raimondo





February 2008
Hot news: Important Dates 7th March- Litter Prevention and Public Recycling Grant Applications Close. For funding guidelines and application forms click here 20th March- Barwon Community Materials Efficiency Grant Applications Close. For grant application form click here 31st March- Shell Community grants applications close- see below A thought to ponder- “Unfortunately, time is not on our side… climate change is a problem we must as a global community tackle effectively in the next few years if we are to avoid unacceptable levels of risk..” Ross Garnaut, the Federal Governments adviser on climate change Shell Community Grants Shell Employee Community Grants Programme allocates funding to local not-for-profit organisations. The committee will allocate grants for projects in the areas of health and wellbeing, education and care for the environment, and are focusing on initiatives in the northern suburbs of Geelong. To access application forms and further details regarding the grants programme Click Here Waste Wise Health Care Update A composting trial is in early stages of development at Hesse Rural Health - Winchelsea Hospital. Stage 1 is focusing on food scraps from staff and preparation scraps from kitchen and stage 2 will see food waste from residents (post consumer) added. An Aerobin has been delivered and positioned in a suitable location. Staff have been consulted as to the type of bins required and investigations are underway to find ones that meet their criteria. Next steps are signage and education of staff. Edcentre Update Bookings for Term 1 and 2 are amounting to approximately 650 students. This is an excellent result given that Term 1 is only an 8 week term. About a third of our total bookings are secondary schools, this is an increase on the same time last year. New air conditioners have been installed in the centre, and program props have been upgraded. Waste Wise Schools Update Simone ran a workshop for teachers down at the Barwon River on Tuesday 19th February as a part of a free forum for Teachers in the Geelong Area run jointly by Parks Victoria and Clean Up Australia. Parks Victoria, as part of their Barwon River Parklands initiative, sponsored Clean Up Australia to help clean up the Barwon River’s environment during February with a range of activities planned for schools and the community The workshop provided teachers with ideas to engage students in waste minimization and litter activities. The feedback both verbally and via email was very positive. Waste WIse Events Update It has been a busy Waste Wise Summer for events in the Barwon Region. Since December 19 events have Reduced, Reused and Recycled through the Waste Wise Program CONTACTS ENZO BRUSCELLA EXECUTIVE OFFICER SIMONE BUDD REGIONAL EDUCATION OFFICER AMY OBRIEN REGIONAL EDUCATION OFFICER LIZ RAIMONDO PROJECT MANAGER WASTE WISE GEELONG NETWORK A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR The Barwon Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Recycling Project was launched by Mick Bourke from the EPA last week at the Waste WIse Geelong Network business breakfast. This innovative project, a partnership project between BRWMG and GDP Industries funded by the National Packaging Covenant, diverts EPS from landfill through a Trader Stewardship approach to recycling. The response from local businesses to the project has been extremely positive. As part of the project EPS processing facilities have been set up at GDP Industries. The project is also assisting to develop a local market where waste EPS is blended with cement to make light weighted concrete products. NEWS FROM THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER The Group is acting as the agent for the City of Greater Geelong, SurfCoast Shire, Colac Otway Shire Borough of Queenscliffe and Golden Plains Shire to develop a regional contract for the processing of the regions waste stream following the closure of the Corio landfill site in 2010. The Group invited expressions of interest from waste treatment proponents and nineteen organisations were assessed as being acceptable and invited to selective tender. The tender period commenced in December 2007 and will close on the 30th April 2008. A four month evaluation period has been provided extending to August 2008, to enable consideration by member Councils and finalisation of agreements prior to the November Council Elections. Don't Be A Tosser- Bin Your Butts O-Week Campaign The “Don’t be a Tosser” cigarette butt litter program targeting new and returning tertiary students across the region was implemented during orientation week last week. The Barwon Regional Waste Management Group, Deakin University Student Association and Gordon Institute of TAFE teamed up to run a campaign encouraging students to Bin Their Butts. Melbourne band Symbiosis and local band Hey King played for the students at the two institutions as part of the o-week celebrations, promoting the campaign key message “Don’t be a Tosser- Bin your Butts”. Local Laws Officers from the City of Greater Geelong supported the campaign, educating students on litter, parking and community health issues. Find out more... Students give away personal ashtrays at Deakin University O-Week Moriac Primary School Educating For Sustainability Moriac Primary School, has received Waste Wise Certification through the Waste Wise Schools Program. Principal Steve Durkin said that, “Waste Wise practices are an integrated part of school operations. Environmental education has been part of our curriculum for several years, and this is strongly supported by day-to-day Waste Wise activities.” Find out more... L-R Vice School Captains Meg and Aiden, School Captains Allanah and Briel, Cr. Jim Tutt, Surf Coast Shire and Director Barwon Regional Waste Management Group Mattress Recycling Takes Off In The Barwon Region This summer has seen a mass influx of mattresses being recycled in the Barwon Region. Since the Mattress recycling project began just over 12 months ago, over ten thousand mattresses have been collected for recycling by the Dreamsafe mattress recycling facility. Ten thousand mattresses take up a massive volume of space, approximately 48 thousand cubic metres; these mattresses if placed end to end would run 20km, the equivalent distance as from Geelong to Torquay. Find out more... Mattresses stockpiled ready for recycling at the Moolap Dreamsafe facility. Waste Wise at Pako Festa This year was Pako Festa's 6th year as a Waste Wise event. Event managers put particular focus on litter reduction. Supported by a grant from the Packaging Stewardship Forum multilingual signs were developed to promote the "Do The Right Thing" message Waste Wise Geelong Network Waste Wise Geelong Network continues to grow and provide support and guidance to businesses wishing to become Waste Wise. The past year has seen the Networks membership grow by 61% and the number of certified members grow by 42%. WWGN sponsored a site down at Barwon Common on Clean Up Australia Business Day, staff from Harwood Andrews, Third Ecology, Telstra Countrywide and BRWMG collected over 3m3 of litter. For more information or to become a network member contact the WWGN Project Officer- Liz Raimondo


Barwon Regional Waste Management Group \| 103 Roseneath St, North Geelong, 3215 ph: (03) 5277 9656 \| fax: (03) 5277 9979 \| email: amy.obrien@brwmg.vic.gov.au www.brwmg.vic.gov.au to unsubscribe click here