The recycling crisis engulfing a number of central Victorian shires presents a unique opportunity for sustainably-focused community groups.
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That’s the view of Bendigo Sustainability Group president Chris Weir, who believed the impact of China’s decision to stop accepting certain Australian plastic and paper waste earlier this year could be a positive one for domestic waste management.
Contractor Visy sent shockwaves through Victoria’s recycling in February, announcing it will stop receiving recyclable materials from some contractors in response to China’s import ban.
The decision passed costs down the supply chain, affecting Macedon Ranges and Mount Alexander shires.
Macedon Ranges shire revealed it will pay close to $250,000 in waste disposal charges over five months to June 30, however after that, costs are expected to be passed onto ratepayers.
Mr Weir said China’s decision, albeit abrupt, should be viewed as an opportunity.
“We need to start to think and be clever about our waste and everyone needs to take that responsibility,” he said.
BSG’s job was to provide more understanding to the community on how it can best reduce its waste footprint, he said.
Victorian waste management association chief executive officer Peter Anderson recently called for the state government to create a taskforce to address long-term industry issues.
“Around 40 per cent (of Victoria’s recyclable material) goes overseas. If it doesn't go overseas then where does it go? It just stockpiles,” he said.
Bendigo council avoided spiraling recycling costs as it uses a different contractor to the other mentioned shires.
Despite this, broadly speaking, there was still a lack of community understanding of effective recycling methods.
Results of a City of Greater Bendigo bin audit last week revealed residents continued to discard plastic bags in recycling and organic bins.
The survey, which collated data from about 100 bin audits per week, found that some households were incorrectly placing plastic meat containers, dog food tins and garden waste in general bins.
The main contaminants in recycling bins include polystyrene, soft plastics and recyclable items placed inside plastic bags. Soft plastics include food packaging that can be scrunched into a ball.
Bendigo council’s resource recovery and education manager Brooke Pearce suggested putting incorrect materials in bins was a “cultural issue” that required education.
Punters brave the elements for sustainable living festival
“There’s a shift, for sure.”
Deputy mayor Jennifer Alden, huddled under a sodden gazebo outside the Bendigo Town Hall for the Bendigo Sustainable Living Festival on Saturday, was speaking of the apparent peak in interest for eco-living.
The change, she believed, was driven by “the demonstrable impacts of climate change”.
A number of groups, including Bendigo Zero Waste, the Tree Project and Passive Builders, set up shop on the lawn outside the town hall, keen to impart knowledge onto those who braved the elements.
Cr Alden, a member of the Sustainability and Environment Advisory Committee and also Chair of the Bendigo Regional Food Alliance, said the council’s targets of zero waste and zero carbon were aspirational, but indicative of longer-term thinking.
The festival included a display from Jess Milroy, owner of the Ironbark Mill.
Ms Milroy makes recycled paper from local industry offcuts that would otherwise have been discarded.