The World Environment Day (WED) theme for 2013 is Think.Eat.Save, an anti-food waste and food loss campaign to encourage you to reduce your ‘foodprint’. This campaign encourages you to think before you eat and help save our environment.
According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, it is estimated that a third of global food production is either wasted or lost. When food is wasted, all the resources and inputs used in its production are also lost. For example, it can take about 1,000 litres of water to produce 1 litre of milk and up to 16,000 litres to produce a cow’s food to make a hamburger. The resulting greenhouse gas emissions from the cows themselves, combined with emission released throughout the food supply chain, all end up being in vain when we waste food. Read more food waste facts here.
Check out MWMG’s hidden story of waste for an idea of where our waste comes from and where it goes.
MWMG is a proud sponsor of Communities for Nature, a joint initiative of the Moreland Energy Foundation, Adopt-a-Tree and local residents. The project is funded through the Victorian Government’s Communities for Nature program and delivered with the support of MWMG, SITA Organics, Moreland City Council, Vasili’s Garden and Little Red Trucks.
The project has involved improving the soil with recycled composted material and planting native ground cover and shrubs between Merri and Moonee Ponds creeks on 150 Moreland nature strips. Residents are now ready to welcome back the birds, bees, worms, frogs, bugs and all manner of wildlife. A full map of the primary planting zone is available here.
Read more: Supporting Communities for Nature and Adopt-a-Tree
I am pleased to advise that on 23 April 2013 the Governor in Council appointed Councillors Les Willmott (Maroondah), Heinz Kreutz (Boroondara), Tom Melican (Banyule) and Bob Fairclough (Wyndham) as Directors on the MWMG Board. Their tenure will run until 28 October 2016.
I would also like to thank Councillor Heinz Kreutz for his leadership as MWMG Board Chair over recent years and congratulate Councillor Les Willmott on his appointment as MWMG Board Chair by the Minister of Environment and Climate Change. Les has been a member of the MWMG Board since its establishment in 2006.
The four elected representatives of the Metropolitan Local Governments' Waste Forum now join the skills based Directors Francesca Lee, Nick Harford, Lea Corbett and James Tetlow on the MWMG Board of Directors. Meet the MWMG Board.
The four Councillors were elected by Metropolitan Local Governments' Waste Forum delegates to represent the 30 metropolitan councils on the MWMG Board. The representatives’ appointment to the Board by the Governor in Council was on the recommendation of the Minister for Environment and Climate Change.
I look forward to working with the newly appointed Directors, alongside our existing Directors, to guide the activities of MWMG in the coming years.
Clean waterways are everyone's business, the latest project of the Lower Yarra Litter Strategy (LYLS), was launched today at the Camberwell Market. The project is a partnership between between state and local government, Melbourne Water, the Metropolitan Waste Management Group and businesses.
Traders in the five participating councils of Boroondara, Melbourne, Port Phillip, Stonnington and Yarra will be engaged to help reduce litter and improve water quality in the Yarra River.
Read the Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Ryan Smith's media release here.
For more information on LYLS, click here.
On Thursday 17 January the Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Ryan Smith, launched the Victorian Litter Strategy and new anti litter campaign 'A cleaner Victoria is in your hands'. Read more about the litter campaign here.
The Victorian Litter Strategy 2012-14 outlines the Government's response to reduce the problem of littering. The strategy reflects recent and relevant changes, challenges and opportunities and provides new programs to prevent litter, increase public place recycling and address illegal dumping.
Following the success of Coles’ plastic bags and flexible plastic packaging trial in Victoria in late 2011 and 2012, Coles has launched the REDcycle program in stores across Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide.
Read more: Coles launches plastic bag and flexible packaging recycling
It is that time of year where new TVs and computers make their way into our homes thanks to Boxing Day sales, new fancy models being released and gifts under the tree.
But don’t forget about your old ones! With the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme ramping up, there are convenient locations around Melbourne and Victoria where you can drop off your used electronics for free.
Read more: Recycle your old TVs and computers this holiday season
Applications for the first round of funding for the Smart Resources, Smarter Business program are now open. Read the Minister for Environment and Climate Change’s media release.
The program is designed to help medium-sized businesses identify and implement resource efficiency measures. Technical advice, networking opportunities, relevant information and tips will also be provided to businesses.
The Victorian Government is helping to build new commercial markets for recycled organics through compost trials to demonstrate the benefits in farming. Read the media release.
Veolia Environmental Services is receiving funding to undertake a three-year compost demonstration trial in the Mallee region. With the new organics facility being built in Bulla as part of the North West Organics Processing Contract, valuable compost will be created using the food and garden waste from the participating councils. Read more about the Northern and Western Organics Processing Contract here.
The Draft Victorian Waste and Resource Recovery Policy was released by the Minister for Environment and Climate Change Ryan Smith on Sunday 28 October.
This draft draws upon previous consultation with industry, government and community earlier this year.
The deadline for submitting comments on the draft policy has been extended. Submissions and amendments to previous submissions are now due by Friday 7 December 2012, using the template provided by DSE.
A copy of the draft policy as well as more information on the broader consultation process and on how to make a submission is available from the DSE website.
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