Waste and Resource Recovery Team Updates
Resource Recovery in Practice
The Waste and Resource Recovery Team have successfully coordinated a redistribution exercise for 24 old bird nets from Twisted Gum Wines. Bird nets are periodically replaced by wineries and at present there is no real recycling option for these nets, so they end up in landfill. Tim Coelli from Twisted Gum Wines contacted Philippa Hambleton and Rick Humphries earlier in the year to help rehome these nets to people in the community. The nets were mostly in good condition and had been repaired a little but were still perfectly usable, so we were happy to help him by putting the word out to GBSAN members and Border Landcare Organic Group members by email. In fact, there was so much demand that the nets were all accounted for only 2 hours after the email was sent! People who grabbed a roll or two of net were going to use it for covering vege patches, chook pens, for temporary fences and for covering orchards. Thanks to Tim and Michelle Coelli from Twisted Gum Wines for donating the nets.
Global Plastic Treaty Talks Fail
Talks focussed on reaching a landmark global treaty on plastic pollution have fallen apart without agreement. The talks fundamentally failed because no common ground could be found between nations who urged strong action to curb plastic production and a handful of oil-producing states who pushed for the focus to remain on waste management. The talks are the 6th round of discussions in 3 years and involved negotiations between 185 countries.
“We have missed a historic opportunity, but we need to keep going and act urgently. The planet and present and future generations need this treaty,” said a spokesperson from Cuba. A Colombian spokesperson added that “the negotiations were consistently blocked by a small number of states who simply don’t want an agreement”. These states include Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Russia, Iran and Malaysia.
Australia was part of the High Ambition Coalition pushing for plastic production to be drastically reduced and toxic chemicals used in making plastic to be removed. Despite these ambitions, Australia continues to be one of the world’s biggest consumers of single-use plastics per capita.
Of the more than 400 million tonnes of plastic produced globally per annum half is for single-use items. Around 15% is collected for recycling but only 9% is actually recycled. Almost 46% is destined for landfill and about 17% is incinerated. The remaining 22% is “lost” into the environment.
In some welcome news, South Australia has just banned the soy sauce fish-shaped dispensers ubiquitous in takeaway shops. The ban is effective from September 1st.
Border Landcare Day to Focus on Feathers, September 20th 10am
What a little gem this is! Focus on Feathers is a 5-acre bird watching site located in the Tenterfield Shire and dedicated to providing a rich source of nectar for myriad bird species. Started by Peter Sommerlad, Wayne Wilcox and a couple of other locals some years previous, the site had been a little neglected until a group of like-minded landowners took it upon themselves to bring it back to its full potential. Over the past few years, many of the bird attracting native plants have been repruned, replanted, and cared for. A storage shed has been added, a water tank and a table. The site is proving popular with birdwatchers, who come to watch and photograph the many species of birds attracted to the beautifully landscaped grounds. The members of the Feathers and Photos group would love to have more people come and enjoy the site and appreciate its beauty, as well as help to tend the garden. The BLOG group have organised for Saturday September 20th to spend a couple of hours helping out with a spot of fireweed removal (need gloves for this), a little bit of pruning and planting a few Callistemons. For those who prefer to sit with a cuppa, you are equally welcome to enjoy the birds on site or take a stroll through the luscious garden.
To get to the Focus on Feathers site travel South on the New England Highway through Wallangarra and continue down the highway for 8.5 kilometres, then turn right into Sunnyside Platform Road. Follow for 2 km then turn left onto the Bruxner Way. Go past the Sunnyside Hall for only another 200 metres then turn right into Sunnyside Loop Road. The site is 600 metres on the right, marked by a sign that reads Apiary Site #5. BLOG signs will be placed along the way to help you. To Bring: A Chair, a cup, gloves, hat and eye protection, $2 and some food to share. We start at 10am and finish around 2pm.