Shepparton acts to tidy up its waste act

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early everything we buy becomes waste within six weeks, according to Environment Victoria.

“Every wheelie bin of waste we produce from our home, equates to 70 wheelie bins of waste from the mining, manufacture, production and sale of the materials in that bin,” it says.

Our reckless waste of food is among that and amounts to 20 per cent of the food we buy. Edible food is simply thrown away.

Our efforts to combat and control climate change would be more effective if we simply stopped wasting so much of what we buy, including foodstuffs.

The City of Greater Shepparton is acutely conscious of the problems associated with waste, and the sorts of waste and now is introducing a food waste collection for all households in urban areas.

The city’s Waste Education officer, Jean Young, has said every household must have a green lid bin, meaning people will now be able to place food waste as well as garden waste into the bin. 

Ms Young said: “I am seeking motivated volunteers who would be interested in attending festivals, markets and other community events where they would inform residents of the new service, how it works and most importantly why we are doing it! Volunteers will get to wear an awesome Back to Earth shirt!! You can do one event (for a couple of hours) or multiple - any involvement would be fantastic!

“If individuals have any other engagement ideas or groups they are involved that may be interested in hearing about the rollout – please let me know,” she said.

The first event for which volunteers will be needed is at Shepparton's St Georges Road Festival that is taking place Sunday 27 November.   

More information on the new service you can be found on the council website or by phoning Ms Young at 5832 5207 or via emailing Jean Young.

More about rubbish and the complications it has for climate change and the distressing waste it is to life in a broader sense can be found at Environment Victoria and the Lunchalot website.