Steplight

Here are some of the simple and creative programs I found this week that are helping business and the community to reduce waste and make informed sustainable choices.

Support grows for Container Deposit Scheme

People around the country are in support of a container deposit scheme, be it state or national. The basic idea is to reduce litter and recover recyclable resources by paying 10c per beverage container returned to an approved collection depot.

In Tasmania and NSW the call has gone out again to have one introduced, with NSW MPs beginning to support a 10c container deposit plan.

The Northern Territory introduced a container deposit scheme in January this year, similar to South Australia’s where it has been in place for over 30 years. According to the EPA South Australia, in 2010-11 approximately 47,000 tonnes or 593 million beverage containers were returned to depots for refund, a return rate of 80.4%.

Clean Up Australia are in support of a national Container Deposit Scheme and provide a toolkit for how you can help to make this happen.

Do Something! (about Food Waste)

NSW Government research and Do Something! state that Australian’s are throwing out 4 million tonnes of food per year or 178 kilos per person per year. On average 40% of a household’s kerbside garbage bin is food, throwing away over $1,000 of food per year.

Here are a few great ideas and toolkits for how to reduce food waste in your home or business.

• Jon Dee, founder of Do Something!, and Environment Minister, Robyn Parker, launched the food donation toolkit for businesses to donate leftover food.
• Our personal food decisions, organic/not, are not always so simple.
• ‘What eco labels really mean’ – a useful article explaining how to identify the difference between ‘green’ feel good words and an accredited product label.

Every small change we make a new habit adds up to bigger change. It’s up to you what that’s going to be.

- Marta Lett

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