NEWS DESK
Forum on making good use of waste
Good thinking: Victorian Farmers Federation branch vice-president Geoff Coghill uses the new silage wrap recycling program at Moorooduc.
Silage bags recycled for free A SILAGE wrap recycling program being trialed on the Mornington Peninsula aims to reduce the number of used silage bags going to landfill. Farmers are being encouraged by Mornington Peninsula Shire, the Victorian Farmers Federation and Solo Resource Recovery to bring used silage wrap to the Mornington Resource Recovery Centre where it can be exchanged for a full bag of wrap for free. Farmers use the bags because hay wrapped in airtight layers of plastic retains feed value than unwrapped hay. VFF branch vice-president Geoff Coghill approached the shire seeking a better recycling scheme. He met with waste services operations officer Peter Barton and Solo Resource Recovery’s Jim Selby and
they agreed it was a best practice sustainable activity meeting the objectives of both the shire and the VFF. “The silage wrap will be recycled into a range of products, such as matting, fencing materials, road barriers, black builders’ plastic and heavy-vehicle tracks. I encourage all peninsula farmers to join the program and help fight our war on waste,” the mayor Cr Bev Colomb said. Farmers may exchange full Bulka bags of clean used silage wrap for an empty bag at the depot in Watt Rd, Mornington. The large, lightweight bags capable of holding a cubic metre, or one tonne, are sold at the depot for $10. No other hay net, twine or plastic will be accepted.
A WAR on Waste forum and expo will be held at Dromana Hall, 11am-3pm, Sunday 29 October. The inaugural event “reflects Mornington Peninsula Shire’s commitment to best practice waste management and moving towards a zero-waste peninsula”, acting chief operating officer Niall McDonagh said. Presentations, demonstrations and stalls will showcase initiatives in waste reduction, plastics avoidance and litter prevention. Nepean Ward’s Cr Hugh Fraser and Mr McDonagh will speak about their recent visit to Shanghai, Nanjing and Xuzhou where alternative waste and waste-toenergy technology is operating successfully. Discussion will focus on how these types of initiatives might be implemented on the peninsula. Stalls will demonstrate hands-on activities, including composting and worm farming, recycling (almost) everything, eco living, decluttering, beach patrol, film screening of A Plastic Ocean, Dame Phyllis Frost winner, Josie Jones, Boomerang Bags Mornington Peninsula, Best Bite Food Businesses and Responsible Cafes. Those attending will be invited to contribute to the wonder wall of waste ideas. Prizes and giveaways will be available as well as handy hints for a war on waste at home. Details: mornpen.vic.gov.au or visit wasteforum@mornpen.vic.gov.au or call 5950 1000. Dromana Hall is at 2 Verdon St, Dromana. Free entry and parking.
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Waste goes round RECYCLABLE household waste on the Mornington Peninsula goes to the SKM Recycling plant in Mornington and is then bulk hauled to the company’s Coolaroo plant for sorting and processing. Acting chief operating officer Niall McDonagh said the shire had a contract with the company to process recyclable material. “SKM has evolved to become an industry leader in sorting recyclables collected from households and businesses,” he said. “The wholly Australian-owned company services 12 councils and regional waste management groups in Victoria.” Paper and cardboard, such as boxes, pizza trays, toilet rolls, egg cartons, envelopes and paper is used to make new paper and cardboard at local mills, with the excess exported. Hard plastic bottles and containers are used to make plastic bottles and containers, with the excess sold on local and international markets. Milk and juice containers are used to make new containers with the excess sold in the same way. Aluminium cans and foil are used to make new aluminium cans and aluminium products. Steel from cans and aerosol cans is sold back to the industries that make them to make similar products and glass bottles and jars are sorted into separate colours and used as a raw material for other products.
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