Resources & Waste
Resource or waste? Depends how you see it!
Our waste is a resource, and unless we see it as such, it will continue to be one of the most challenging environmental issues we face. ACT residents have high consuming lifestyles. Until we successfully manage the waste we generate, it will continue to have significant impacts on wildlife, the environment and human health. Viewing our waste as a resource means we should adopt practices which promote a circular economy, and expand infrastructure that supports responsible waste and resource management.
Say goodbye to single-use plastic!
While plastic is a uniquely malleable, cheap, adaptive and variable product, use of plastic contributes to pollution in waterways and landscapes, and poses threats to wildlife, especially through micro-plastic particles that are readily absorbed by plants and animals, and passed down through the food chain. In addition, the manufacture of plastic requires petroleum products and releases significant greenhouse emissions. No matter how well plastic can be recycled, the focus must be on avoiding its use in the first place.
Food is never wasted!
Food and organic waste sent to landfill contributes to the 4% of greenhouse gas emissions from the waste sector and squanders a valuable resource. The most beneficial use of food waste, after recovery and distribution of still-edible food, is as compost to regenerate soil and nurture new plant life, helping soils and plants to sequester carbon, hold moisture and be more resilient to climate change. Improving collection from residential and commercial premises will reduce compost waste going to landfill, and enable us to reuse this valuable resource on both public and private lands.
Latest news
Why would we convert plastic to fuel?
The draft terms of reference for the proposed plastics to fuels plant at Hume do not address the issue of whether the industry should be located in the ACT at all. While the panel will go some way to looking at health impacts of pollution on local residents and the potential impact of disasters the panel is […]
Australian Environment Ministers – phase out plastic bags!
The Conservation Council ACT Region joined with other members of the Boomerang Alliance to call on all the Australian Environment Ministers to phase out plastic bags at their next meeting in November 2016. BOOMERANG ALLIANCE AFROCAB; Australian Conservation Foundation; Australian Marine Conservation Society; Arid Lands Environment Centre; Beach Patrol; Cairns and Far North Coast Environment […]
Assembly wastes opportunity
The ACT’s municipal waste mountain at Mugga Lane is growing by nearly quarter of a million tonnes per year yet the Legislative Assembly in the last sitting days before the election focussed on waste management not waste reduction. Minister Fitzharris obtained support of the Assembly on 4 August 2016 to repeal the Waste Minimisation Act 2001 and […]
Media release: ‘Smart bins’ dumb idea if they only do waste to landfill
The ACT Government through the LDA and TAMS has missed an opportunity by introducing ‘Smart bins’ that only deal with waste to landfill says the Conservation Council. The Government has announced a 12 month trial of three solar-powered self-compacting rubbish bins at Campbell 5 in Campbell, Kingston Foreshore and Link Park at Wright. The bins […]
