A green group has put plans for a new trailer on the drawing board and wants the community’s help shading in the details.
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The Mount Alexander Sustainability Group planned to build a new Wash Against Waste trailer or vehicle and was planning a community consultation session on Thursday to brainstorm ideas.
The current trailer was a fixture at local events educating people about how to save and recycle food waste.
The trailer came complete with solar powered hot water as well as reusable cutlery and crockery for up to 250 people.
It could completely compost food scraps and treat gray water.
So successful had the first-of-a-kind trailer proven that MASG recently began planning for a second one to lighten the load.
WAW project officer Jay Smith said a second trailer would help more people learn about sustainable practices.
“Basically we want to expand our reach in terms of what we are trying to achieve,” he said.
“We want to get people thinking about how they can reduce their waste wherever they are, not just in their homes.
“They could be at a community event, a school or another public place.”
Mr Smith envisaged the trailer servicing a large area of Victoria. The original trailer had recently traveled to events in the Macedon Ranges and Warrnambool. The MASG had even received inquiries for events in Melbourne.
Mr Smith called for budding bright sparks to share their ideas both for the trailer and for education kits.
The education kits would be a first for the MASG and help schools and community groups learn more about sustainability while using the trailer.
Mr Smith was not sure what ideas the community would come up with but said there were a few logistical issues engineers would definitely have to consider during the development and design phase.
The most significant challenge would be weight.
Mr Smith said the current trailer was too heavy.
“That has been a challenge because you need a heavy outfit. No standard-sized car can pull it. That has had an impact on its usability,” he said.
“We rely very heavily on volunteers and at the moment we need one person with the right licence to pull it and one person who has the appropriate training to operate it.”
Wash Against Waste: The Next Generation community consultation session takes place Thursday 2 March from 7.00pm to 8.30 pm at the Ray Bradfield Room in Forest Street, Castlemaine.
RSVP to waw@masg.org.au or call 5470 6978.