Issue 1 | March 2009

Green new year resolutions

Hopefully you welcomed the new year by making some resolutions that are good for the planet as well as yourself. If not, it’s never too

late to start. Why not save money and reduce the waste and pollution by eating two vegetarian meals a week or purchasing organic foods? You could help your garden grow beautifully by starting a compost heap or worm farm to use up vegetable waste. Another way to reduce unnecessary waste and save money is to put greater consideration into the purchases you make, including clothes and appliances – ask yourself if you can rent the item, buy it second hand, or whether you really need it at all. Why not make 2009 your year of the environment – the small lifestyle changes you make will help conserve our precious natural resources and, what’s more, bring great personal satisfaction.

International Composting Awareness Week

D id you know that more than 50 per cent of an average household’s weekly waste is food? Compost Australia will encourage people from all walks of life to divert their

vegetable scraps from landfill through composting and worm farming during International Composting Awareness Week (3-9 May 2009). If you have a garden, your biodegradable

waste is far better utilised there as compost than in the bin. For those living in units, a worm farm is a fascinating and environmentally sound approach to disposing of

organic material and reducing greenhouse emissions.

Mayor’s Message

Welcome to the inaugural edition of Hurstville City Council’s Greening Hurstville newsletter. With environmental

sustainability emerging as the greatest challenge of this Century, Council is encouraging you to take some small, easy measures at home and work that will have significant, lasting effects on the environment. We hope that Greening Hurstville will provide some valuable tips and hints to help you safeguard the future of our planet. Every little bit helps. Enjoy this issue and be sure to subscribe to receive future editions by email, so that you can help Council reduce paper usage.

Hands-on learning opportunities Hurstville, Kogarah and Rockdale councils regularly host free, hands-on workshops to help you reduce your environmental impact. You are invited to attend the following workshops:

Why not make 2009 your year of the

environment?

Start a native garden

For more information contact Margaux Park on 9330 6155 or visit www.hurstville.nsw.gov.au

Start a native garden Hurstville City Council’s annual tree giveaway will

be held at Mortdale Memorial Park, on Boundary Road on Sunday, 19 April 2009 between 9.00am and 3.00pm. Residents and ratepayers simply need to show a rate notice to receive two native seedlings to plant in their own gardens. The St George Central Rotary Club will cook a free barbeque provided by Council on the day, so come along and take the first step to encouraging local birds back to our region.

Greening Hurstville going virtualHurstville City Council will only produce two print editions of Greening Hurstville before it moves

to an online publication later this year. To receive these regular newsletter updates on Council’s environmental projects, initiatives and events, and to pick up handy tips to help you lighten your impact on the planet, why not register to receive Greening Hurstville via email? Simply send your name and email address to Council’s Waste Project Co-ordinator Margaux Park at mpark@hurstville.nsw.gov.au to be added to the growing list of community members who want to be informed about environmental issues. PLEASE NOTE: Your details will not be provided to third parties and you are able to unsubscribe at any time.

Want to know more?

Council hopes you have enjoyed the first edition of Greening Hurstville. For more information on any of the initiatives, workshops and hints in the newsletter, please email Council’s Waste Project Co-ordinator Margaux Park on mpark@hurstville.nsw.gov.au or telephone 9330 6155.

Home Greywater Re-useWed. 18 March 2009 - 6.30pm - 8.30pm

Natural Cleaning - Detox Your HomeWed. 22 April 2009 - 6.30pm - 8.30pm

Worm Farming and CompostingSat. 16 May 2009 - 10.00am - 12.00pm

BASIX & Green Home Renovations Wed. 17 June 2009 - 6.30pm - 8.30pm

Places are limited, so make sure you reserve your spot with Hurstville City Council as soon as possible.

Home Greywater Reuse Wed 18 March 6:30-8:30pm

Cr Vince Badalati - Mayor of Hurstville

S tudents in the St George and Sutherland Shire region are saying “Don’t be a tosser” to the community using their multimedia skills.Eight high schools in the area recently participated in a competition to

devise an anti-littering message and developed strategies to reduce littering in their schools. As part of a Department of Environment and Climate Change initiative supported by St George and Sutherland Shire councils, the students also conducted litter audits and created action plans to improve their school environments.All schools in the region were invited to submit a two minute commercial containing an anti-litter message.

CONGRATULATIONS TO:

• Gymea High School – 1st place• Sylvania High School – 2nd place• Blakehurst High School – 3rd place• Menai High School – highly commended• Sydney Technical High School – highly commended

The commercials will be screened at local Youth Week events (28 March – 5 April) and as part of State Government promotions. Congratulations to all students and teachers for showing great commitment to environmental education.

I t’s almost time to start sorting through the unwanted chemicals in your garage, shed or house for the annual Chemical Clean

Out, from 16-17 May 2009.Chemical Clean Out, a Department of Environment and Climate Change initiative, enables residents to dispose of unwanted chemicals in a safe manner and avoid the temptation to pour them down a drain, which can cause untold environmental damage. You can deliver your old paints, motor oils, fluorescent tubes, gas bottles, batteries, household cleaners and other chemicals to Hurstville City Council’s Works Depot (entry off Depot Road, Mortdale) on the Saturday or Sunday, between 9.00am and 3.30pm. For more information, visit www.cleanout.com.au or telephone 131 555.

Get a sustainable caffeine buzz

Every year, Australians throw away millions of paper and polystyrene coffee cups. When you pop into your favourite café for that morning caffeine fix,

why not take along your own thermos, travel mug or ceramic mug for the barista to fill instead? Incredibly, if you remember to do this once each day for a month, you will save more than 15 litres of water, half a kilo of wood pulp and enough energy to run a 20 watt fluorescent light bulb for 152 hours straight. To encourage others, why not ask your coffee shop to provide a discount for those people who bring their own mug?

Local schools warn “Don’t be a tosser”

Make money on your old fridge

I f you have an old second fridge that you could do without, why not call the Fridge Buyback program to have it removed – and make some

money in the process. The old fridges people typically keep in the garage are extremely inefficient and contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. They also add a great cost to your electricity bill. Since Fridge Buyback began, Hurstville City residents have handed in 180 fridges, for a combined greenhouse saving of 1,500 tonnes of carbon dioxide and electricity bill savings of more than $200,000. Hurstville City residents are to be congratulated for their efforts. Well done Hurstville residents! For more information, telephone 1800 708 401.

Call the Fridge Buyback program

to have your old and inefficient

fridge removed.

Why not take your own thermos, travel mug or ceramic mug for the barista to fill?

For more information contact Margaux Park on 9330 6155 or visit www.hurstville.nsw.gov.au For more information contact Margaux Park on 9330 6155 or visit www.hurstville.nsw.gov.au

Junk Mail

Australians receive on average 7

billion unaddressed flyers, leaflets and

catalogues in their letterboxes every year.

If your household said no to advertising

material, you could save almost 1000 pieces

of unwanted material each year. Request free

‘No Advertising Material’ stickers for yourself

and friends by calling Council’s Customer

Service Officers on 9330 6222.

In 2006, Australians used 3.9 billion plastic

bags, with only 5 per cent recycled through supermarket take-back

collection bins and 2 per cent ending up as litter in our bushland and waterways. Hurstville City Council encourages you to say ‘no’ to plastic bags by always taking along your own reusable bags when you go shopping. Also, remember never to put your plastic bags in household recycling bins, as they get tangled around machinery during the recycling process.

Eco-tip