Western Australians Are Doing It
For Themselves
|
|
Western Australia is leading the way as the first Australian jurisdiction to ban thick plastic bags, unlidded containers and disposable cups for cold drinks.
In response to community feedback, the State Government announced Western Australia’s Plan for Plastics on 13 June 2021. The Plan includes introducing regulations to ban a range of single-use plastic items in a two-stage approach.
Stage 1 regulations came into effect on 1 January 2022 and include plates, bowls, cutlery, drink stirrers, drinking straws, thick plastic bags, expanded polystyrene food containers, helium balloon releases and unlidded containers.
Enforcement of Stage 1 regulations started on 1 July 2022 for all items except plastic cups for cold drinks, which will be banned from 1 October 2022. The supply of Stage 1 materials is now strictly prohibited.
Local Governments can support their communities, particularly businesses, with transitioning and compliance by sharing resources – Plastic Free Places delivered by the Boomerang Alliance, and a supplier and retailer education and engagement program delivered by the National Retail Association – that have been put in place by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation.
Read the full media statement here or visit WA Government website for further details.
Image Credit: National Retail Association.
|
|
|
Congratulations to the Town of Cottesloe for commencing its transition to a 3-Bin Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) kerbside collection service.
|
|
All single residences, duplexes and triplexes in the Town of Cottesloe changed to a FOGO service on 6 June. Prior to the rollout, the Town worked with Western Metropolitan Regional Council to deliver a resident education campaign which seems to be paying off in spades, with less than 1% of contamination reported in the first month of collections.
The Town received $45,302 of funding to commence its transition to FOGO from the Waste Authority’s Better Bins Plus: Go FOGO Program.
Read the full media statement here.
Image Credit: Waste Authority.
|
|
Plastic Free Morning Tea at WALGA
|
|
|
Since its humble beginnings at the Western Metropolitan Regional Council in 2011, Plastic Free July has grown into a global movement that WALGA is proud to support.
|
|
This year WALGA hosted an epic Plastic Free Morning Tea that was catered by its very own Greenworks Team who pulled together a feast of delectable sweet and savoury treats. Amongst the bevy of homemade goodies, the most creative had to be the jelly orange wedges!
As staff from across the organisation converged, Rebecca Brown was on hand to share a presentation that highlighted why some single-use plastics are problematic and how both State and Federal Governments are working to make it easier for everyone to avoid unnecessary single-use plastics when out shopping, eating or drinking.
Changing small daily habits to reduce the use of single-use plastics can go beyond July so there’s no better time than now to get started!
Check out the Plastic Free July website for more information on how you can get your communities involved and consider a more tailored approach through a membership campaign designed specifically for your Local Government.
Image Credit: WALGA.
|
|
|
Are you new to Waste Management or need a refresher?
|
|
Waste management is an essential service provided by, or on behalf of, Local Government for households. This introductory course is suitable for Local Government Officers, and those in the private sector, directly or indirectly involved in waste management.
Make sure to register now as there are only two course dates remaining for 2022.
- 9:00am to 4:30pm on Friday, 7 October
- 9:00am to 4:30pm on Friday, 2 December
Brush up on your expertise and find out more by visiting the WALGA website.
Image Credit: WALGA.
|
|
|
From Jerramungup to Geraldton, WALGA worked with Local Government to deliver e-waste recycling options.
|
|
The E-waste Recycling Program was funded by the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation through the New Industries Fund and resulted in nearly 40 tonnes of e-waste being diverted from landfill to be recycled.
Big thanks to the Shire’s of Augusta Margaret River, Murray, Waroona, Denmark, Jerramungup and Plantagenet and the Cities of Busselton, Albany, Geraldton and Mandurah who supported the collection events through promotion and staffing. Some 1,500 members of their communities (and their dogs) attended the series of events, dropping off nearly 5,000 items from electric lounge chairs to lava lamps.
WALGA partnered with Preferred Suppliers Workpower to deliver the events and Total Green Recycling to undertake recycling of the materials collected. Total Green Recycling has presented WALGA with an appreciation award, for the support and advocacy given to Local Governments for pursuing e-waste recycling.
For more information on WALGA’s continuing advocacy work to increase the scope of materials covered by the Federal Product Stewardship Scheme, email Rebecca Brown, Manager Waste and Environment or call on (08) 9213 2063.
Pictured (clockwise from left to right): WALGA Manager Waste and Environment Rebecca Brown, Total Green Recycling General Manager Evan Cocks, and Total Green Recycling Communications Manager Louise Coghill. Image Credit: WALGA.
|
|
|
After a number of delays due to COVID-19, the WALGA Waste Team are pleased to report that the sharps units are en route to their Local Government homes.
|
|
The Department of Health commissioned WALGA to implement a Community Sharps Program to upgrade existing or install new sharps collection containers with the aims of improving the disposal network for sharps in public places, making it easier to dispose of these items, and reducing the risk of inappropriate disposal and potential for needle stick injuries.
WALGA utilised Good Sammy Logistics Services to assist in the distribution of sharps units to Local Governments.
Do your sharps units need new signage? If so, get in touch now as WALGA have a supply of stickers available for your sharps disposal needs. Email the WALGA Waste Team and let us know how many stickers you’d like.
Image Credit: WALGA.
|
|
Better Practice FOGO Contracting Guide Joint Workshop
|
|
MRA Consulting Group is conducting a review of better practice guidelines for FOGO contracting for the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) and the Waste and Recycling Industry of Western Australia (WRIWA).
Local Government, industry and State Government are invited to attend this moderated discussion on shared aims for Better Practice FOGO Contracting in Western Australia, incorporating previous feedback on the usability of the draft guide, issues covered and content, including KPIs.
When: 1:30pm to 3:00pm on Wednesday, 27 July.
Where: Online. Register here.
|
|
Ditch the Disposables: Best Practice Reusables for Businesses
|
|
Did you know coffee cups are the number one single-use plastic item used in Australia with over 1.74 billion disposable takeaway coffee cups used every year?
Stage 1 of the WA Plastics Ban commenced on 1 July and with coffee cups earmarked for Stage 2, now is the time to discover how businesses can ditch the disposable cup and switch to alternatives.
Hosted by Recycle Right, this free webinar featuring a panel of guest speakers including Rebecca Prince-Ruiz (Plastic Free July), Bree Jennings (WA Plastic Free) and Laurence Hellmuth (Renome) is open to all cafes and food retailers in Western Australia.
When: 6:00pm to 7:00pm on Tuesday, 26 July.
Where: Online. Register here.
|
|
HHW Program
The Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Program was established to provide Western Australians with a safe, and free, disposal option for unwanted household products that contain chemicals or substances that can be harmful to people or the environment. Find out more here.
Image Credit: WALGA.
|
|
|
Bin Tagging Program
The Bin Tagging Program focuses on reducing contamination and increasing resource recovery from kerbside bin systems by using a combination of information provision, incentives and enforcement. Click here to find out how your Local Government can get involved.
|
|
|
WALGA COVID-19 Updates
Read the latest sector-relevant information as it relates to COVID-19. These ad-hoc communications are released as State Government announcements are made. Click here to access the archive. To register to receive these updates via email, click here.
Image Credit: WA Government.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Waste is the Word
Want to share your waste management successes, promote a new project, have a key question answered or collaborate with other Local Governments? We want to include your waste management issues in our next newsletter.
|
|
|
Resources
WALGA operates prequalified supply contracts to access goods and services at market preferential rates. We have Preferred Supplier arrangements in place for a range of Waste Management, Parks and Gardens, and Environmental services to support service delivery and sustainability within the sector.
|
|
|
|
|
|
