MWMG is a proud supporter of International Compost Awareness Week Australia (ICAW). Running from 7-12 May 2012, ICAW features activities, events and publicity to raise awareness and promote compost use, knowledge and products.
For more information on ICAW please visit compostweek.com.au or visit the ICAW Facebook page.
Many Melbourne councils provide support to their communities to encourage the uptake of composting and worm farming within their homes, schools and businesses. To view a break down of these programs please download our Council Composting Info Sheet here (888Kb).
Council Resources
Below is a case study on a composting program delivered within local communities. These case studies are designed to provide easy replication within other local areas.
Quick Composting Links
Just starting out composting or worm farming? Been at if for a while and need some help trouble shooting? Require some multilingual guides for your next community composting event?
Check out some of these worm farming and composting quick reference guides available for download.
For further information and tips on composting click here.
The Victorian Government has announced a $3.8 million package to support and develop organics recycling across Melbourne.
The Metropolitan Organics Plan and funding package announced by the Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Ryan Smith, will help build a network of new organics recycling facilities for metropolitan Melbourne and help develop viable markets for the end-product, composts and fertilisers.
The first step in the process will be the development of a new facility to be built by Veolia Environmental Services at Bulla, north of Melbourne. The new facility will take tonnes of food and garden waste from 11 councils in Melbourne’s north and process it into valuable compost. This will be supported by additional facilities in the south east and east of Melbourne.
Read the minister’s media release here.
The $3.8 Million package of funding for organics across Melbourne recently announced will focus on:
Read more about organics here.
The Victorian Local Government Annual Survey 2009-10 is now available on the Sustainability Victoria website.
The survey assesses the state’s delivery of kerbside waste management and recycling services by local governments to Victoria’s households.
Now in its tenth year, the survey provides a regular measure of local government waste disposal efficiency and sustainability.
The data will play an important role in the formulation of future policy directions for waste management services throughout the state, as well as provide a measure of Victoria's progress towards the delivery of efficient and sustainable kerbside services.
Click here to read the survey and view results for kerbside collection services.
(pictured: participants at the ‘Fix it!’ workshop held during the SLF festival).
This year as part of our sponsorship of the 2012 Sustainable Living Festival, MWMG provided the opportunity for the ‘Fix it!’ community group to run one of their Fix It! Workshops at the festival. This report is provided by Fix it! Coordinator, April Seymour.
Read the report: MWMG ‘Fixes it’ at the 2012 Sustainable Living Festival
The Victorian Governments Waste Policy Review is now underway with the release of the discussion paper.
The Department of Sustainability and Environment in partnership with environment portfolio agencies the Environment Protection Authority, Sustainability Victoria and the Metropolitan and Regional Waste Management Groups, is leading a review of waste policy to recommend a new Victorian Waste Policy.
This review allows for a rethink on the ways we determine, and treat waste and resource recovery. It will set out a road-map for achieving the best possible value and outcomes from the way we manage waste.
Join the Waste Wise Business Efficiency Program in 2012 and learn how to:
Waste Wise has a 10 year record of success in engaging businesses to reduce waste and reap tangible ‘triple bottom line’ benefits. The program facilitator, Stuart McQuire of Green Makeover, is a highly qualified environmental scientist and experienced facilitator of business environmental efficiency improvement programs.
Workshops run from March – November and are held in the CBD.
Get in quick as registrations close 13 March 2012.
Click here to download the registration form and learn more abut joining the Business Efficiency Program or contact Ellen Regos on 8698 9805 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.
Following our first information paper on the implications of carbon pricing for waste management in metropolitan Melbourne, we have developed a second paper to inform MWMG stakeholders of our activities in response to the Federal Government’s Clean Energy Future Plan and the introduction of carbon pricing for metropolitan Melbourne’s waste management arrangements.
Info Paper 1: Implications of carbon pricing for waste management in metropolitan Melbourne (249Kb)
Info Paper 2: Clean Energy Future and Carbon Pricing (253Kb)
For more information on Local Government resources, guides and templates click here.
Recognising Victorians who make a real difference in their communities and help create a healthier and more liveable Victoria, the 2012 Keep Australia Beautiful Victoria (KABV) Awards are now calling for entrants.
All communities who have entered previously and those who might be considering participating for the first time are encouraged to get their entries in.
The awards have grown over the years to encompass sustainability activities as diverse as reducing waste, preserving heritage and culture, saving energy, improving biodiversity and conserving water.
With three award programs, every community across the state has the opportunity to enter their sustainable, environmental and community-based actions:
Entries for the Sustainable Cities and Clean Beaches Awards close on Wednesday 11 April 2012 and entries for the Tidy Towns – Sustainable Communities Awards close on Friday 11 May 2012.
For more information phone the KABV Awards Program Coordinator on 03 8626 8750, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/kabv
Minister for Environment and Climate Change Ryan Smith is reminding Victorians to think carefully before they dispose of unwanted, unusable household goods at charities and to instead use designated waste collection points across the state.
"A number of options exist for people to rid their homes of items not useful to them or to charities, but that may be useful as reusable raw material," Mr Smith said.
Read the minister’s full release here.
For tips on disposing your unwanted, unusable household goods, visit our Find our more page or click here to find you nearest resource recovery centre.
The New Year is a great time to renew your commitment to recycling and the environment.
Minister for Environment and Climate Change Ryan Smith is encouraging everyone across Melbourne and Victoria to recycle right this holiday season.
Mr Smith said a recent report into recycling, the Kerbside Recycling in Metropolitan Melbourne, had shown that 88 per cent of Victorians surveyed had a high level of commitment to recycling.
The minister also highlighted polystyrene packaging as another major cause of waste over the holiday season, particularly with online shopping.
To learn more about polystyrene recycling and to find your nearest polystyrene recycling drop-off location, click here.
Read Mr Smith's full media release here.
