"Your mind is like a parachute. It only works when it is open "
A D'Angelo

Important Dates

9th October: Launch of the Statewide "Get It Sorted" resource recovery centre education campaign.

14th October- Barwon Litter Prevention and PPR Task Force Meeting

20th November- submissions to the Future Directions Paper close

9th-15th November- National Recycling Week

For more information about any of these events please email Amy O'Brien

Website of the Month

This year Planet Ark's National Recycling Week will help you find ways to re-use useful items, clear out your filing cabinet and learn important kerbside recycling information.

Check out their website to find out more about the Big Aussie Swap, the Friday File Fling, and the Recycle Right Quiz.
http://recyclingweek.planetark.org/

Geelong Business Excellence Awards 2009

Congratulations to the following waste wise certified businesses and organisations on their awards

Skilled Stadium- Sustainable Business Award

Business Technology Specialists- Commercial Services Award (micro to small)

Anglesea YMCA Camp- Judges Choice Award

Sweeney Todd Waste Disposal- Family Business Award

Waste Wise Events Update

The events bin cap infrastructure is now managed by GDP Industries, and events can book infrastructure directly with them.

Click here to download the new caps booking form.

Small Community Events can still access caps from the Surf Coast Shire and the Colac Otway Shire.

Alcoa turns waste into Gold

Alcoa has taken its waste management to a new level, achieving Gold status on its re-certification with the Sustainability Victoria Waste Wise program.  Alcoa’s waste reduction achievements span four sites: Anglesea Power Station; Alcoa Australia Rolled Products Point Henry; Point Henry Smelter and Portland Aluminium.
Click here to find out more.

Message from the Chair- Dir. John Burgess

I have been privileged to have participated in the state consultative steering committee to overview the review of Regional Waste Management Groups in Victoria.

Sustainability Victoria commenced reviewing Victoria's twelve regional waste management groups in February 2009, extending an earlier review of RWMGs started by the Department of Sustainability and Environment in 2007.

As part of the Review, Sustainability Victoria has prepared a draft Future Directions Paper on the possible future operating structures of RWMGs.
Click here to access the draft Future Directions Paper

The Barwon RWMG is currently developing its position on the preferred future model and will be engaging with our member councils to submit recommendations to the Minister.

News from the Executive Officer-
Enzo Bruscella

The Region has been working with DICOM and Winchester Australia to secure the location for the regions $50 Million bio-energy facility planned for Point Henry. This facility will process all of the non packaging kerbside material and deliver an 80% resource recovery rate for the Barwon Region.

The regional contract is conditional on the performance outcomes of a pilot plant located in Perth, and the initial results from this pilot plant are positive. The Region is expecting a report on the Perth facility from DICOM in November 2009.

The Region is working closely with the City of Greater Geelong to extend the life of the Corio Landfill site in order to coordinate a seamless transition from the landfill site closure to the alternative waste treatment facility.

Anglesea Camp Closes Organic Waste Loop

The Anglesea YMCA camp has been awarded Silver Waste Wise certification for their efforts in waste minimisation and recycling. Their stand out achievements are in their management of organic waste produced on site, and they now boast a productive vegetable garden, friendly chickens, and a worm farm. Click here to find out more

Regional Waste Survey 2007/2008

The Barwon RWMG has just released its 6th annual survey of materials being deposited into landfills and materials being collected for recycling in the Barwon region.

The survey reports that for the year 2007-2008, 285,812 tonnes of waste was deposited into landfills in the region, and 186,235 tonnes of recyclables were collected.

Recyclables collected in the region represent 66,681 tonnes of recovered CO2, equating to 106,173 trees being planted or 11,113 cars being taken off the road for a year.

The Barwon Region now has 6 years of data showing clear trends for the different materials being deposited into landfill. This historical data indicates a continual decrease in quantities of clean fill, municipal waste (kerbside) and mixed rubble being disposed to landfill.

To view the full report- click here

ResourceSmart Healthcare

The ResourceSmart Healthcare program has been developed to support Government requirements for the expansion of environmental management systems to public healthcare agencies.

ResourceSmart Healthcare is targeted to the specific needs of healthcare agencies, recognising relevant Australian Council of Healthcare Standards Accreditation requirements.

The program also recognises specific healthcare facility types, governance arrangements, budget sensitivities and unique environmental impacts.

To find out more about the ResourceSmart Healthcare program click here

Sustaininators Lead the Charge

A group of well-informed students from Geelong East primary school turned the tables on tradition and educated the teachers at the inaugural meeting of the Barwon ResourceSmart Schools Network.

The fledgling network members had responded to an invitation from Southwest SEN (Sustainability Education Network) to attend the launch and create a new group of sustainability-focused schools.
Click here to find out more .

Waste Wise Geelong Network Update

WWGN are continuing to work with Sustainability Victoria to provide further support for businesses to explore and implement Sustainability initiatives. We look forward to communicating more later this year for implementation in 2010.

Many businesses are in the process of finalising Waste Wise Action plans and some have also progressed further to explore and implement energy and water conservation initiatives. Feedback from businesses indicate that it is important for them to be able to review all areas of sustainability.

We congratulate everyone on their efforts and thank you for your feedback. The next event for the Network will be in November (Date & Venue to be confirmed) Ralph Plarre Director of Ferguson Plarre Bakehouses won the Small and Medium Enterprises Sustainability Award and also went on to claim the Origin Gold Banksia Award at The Banksia Environmental Foundation awards earlier this year. Ralph will share with us how the organisation started and progressed through the ever evolving world of developing a Sustainable business.

If you are interested in attending this event or receiving more information about the Waste Wise Geelong Network please contact Liz Raimondo.