Here are the details for the workshop sent out by our co-ordinator, Margy:
Following the amazing ABC TV
series "War on Waste" (http://www.abc.net.au/ourfocus/waronwaste/)
where presenter, Craig Reucassel, set out to uncover how much waste we as a
nation produce and what we can do to reduce this amount our next Simple Living
workshop will be on this timely topic. Australia is ranked 5th highest for
generating the most municipal waste in the world and our waste is growing at
double the rate of our population. Personally after watching the series my
husband and I were so convicted that we have made quite a few changes to our
home and how we shop. The focus for this workshop is to give you lots of ideas
to help you reduce your household waste.
A big thank you to Ann from the
Toowoomba Regional Council for coming to talk to us about composting, worm
farming and yellow bin recycling!
War on Waste Workshop
Date: 19 August
Time: 10.00-12
noon.
Cost: $5
Where: Range Christian Fellowship, 15
Blake St, Wilsonton
 |
| Plastic, plastic, plastic! |
What: This workshop will be full of ideas on how
to reduce your waste. In the first half of the workshop we will have heaps of
tips, tricks and products to help you reduce your plastic and disposable product
use. Racheal will be demonstrating how easy it is to make beeswax wraps which
can be used instead of Clingwrap. This part of the workshop is really a forum
where we are hoping that lots of people bring their hints on how to reduce
waste. With plastic free July wrapping up you may have lots of ideas on
what 'disposable' products can be
replaced with reusable/washable ones.
 |
| One of the CEO's huge compost piles |
The second half of the workshop will be presented by
Ann from the Toowoomba Regional Council. She will be talking about composting,
worm farming and yellow bin recycling. There will also be time to ask any
questions that you may have.
 |
| Obviously the recycling bin is waiting for a wash. |
Bookings
Required: 16
August. Just fill out the booking form or email simplelivingtoowoomba@gmail.com.
We
will also have a home grown and hand made swap where you can bring up to five
items that you have grown or made and then swap them for other items that are
brought along. The swap will begin at 9.50am so you will need to have your items
on the table by 9.45am.
We had a discussion about the workshop at our last one and were talking about disposable coffee cups and Margy mentioned Keep Cups which I hadn't heard of before. You might be interested in reading about them on their website ~ Keep Cup.
So come along if you live in our region and you will be most welcome. Don't forget we meet at a new venue on the northern side of town. If you like, bring along some items to swap if you have anything homegrown or handmade. Hope to see you there.
What a great idea to have everyone share what they do to minimise waste at their place during the workshop. I always find other people have great ideas that I can "pinch" to try here at home. Meg:)
ReplyDeleteMeg, there are always some great ideas floating around at our workshops.
ReplyDeleteWe have made so many changes here since watching War on Waste. Another great site is https://www.responsiblecafes.org. If you enter your location it lists places which give discounts to people who bring their own coffee cups for refilling.
ReplyDeletePlease let me know when you go on tour ��.
Kylie
Thanks for that link, Kylie. i will check it out.
DeleteI've been reading your blog awhile, but I think this is my first post. :)
ReplyDeleteI wish you guys were a little closer to Kansas as I think your group is right up my alley. I've been a confirmed tree hugger since the 1980's. I was the one that toted canvas bags into the market and everyone would sigh in irritation lol!! I remember buying the first standard fluorescent bulbs....at a mere $20 apiece!! It took me two years to switch my home over. I like to think I was ahead of my time. :::beams proudly::: I don't live in a tree fort or anything, lol, but I like to think that my efforts add up. I've always said that tightwaddery, simple living, & environmental stewardship all have an undeniable link, whether one wants it to or not!
It's amazing how much trash we produce, isn't it? We have 2 families on our block that use 2 large cans per week. Both are families of 5 so it's not like there are a lot of them. We put ours out every other week and it's rarely half full. I hope that you'll share any ideas on your blog as they may be new to me!!
Another workshop to consider is on electronics waste. I used to work in a business that produced electronics and the amount of waste generated to make things is pretty eye opening. It led me to only purchase TV's at garage sales and using them until they just poop out. People only think of the end recycling with things like phones & such, but needing the latest and greatest is doing no favors for the future generations.
Alright, off my soapbox lol. I always enjoy your posts and one of these days, I hope to brave myself into soap making! Yours are always so beautiful.
Welcome Debby. Yes you would fit right in I am sure. Do make a batch of soap. I started off with Rhonda's simple soap tutorial on her blog 'Down to Earth'. I printed out the instructions and followed them to the letter for my first few batches until I knew what I was doing.
DeleteDear Chel, I wish I lived closer. I must look into Community Workshops in my area. I suspect there are similar workshops locally, but I don't have time in my life right this minute. Once my daughter finishes high school at the end of the year, I'll be more footloose and fancy free to chase these things up. Thanks for your continuing inspiration! Mimi xxx
ReplyDeleteIt is very busy when you have children in high school, Mimi. I would never have had time for workshops at that stage either. You could start your own workshops next year :-)
DeleteYou have wonderful workshops in your area. I hope you will do a post about what you learn at War on Waste workshop.
ReplyDeleteI tried to watch War on Waste but it's not available for US viewers.
That is a shame, Nil. It is certainly well worth watching. Perhaps one of my readers will know a way around being able to watch it in the US.
DeleteI'm feeling incredibly pleased that Redcycle, who take soft plastics to recycle, have set up a collection at our local Coles.....doesn't take much to make me happy :) Now with dog and cat food bags able to be recycled, as well as other bits that seem impossible to avoid, even with buying bulk, I have hardly any waste in my red bin, such a good feeling. I'd love to live close enough to come to your workshops. We've tried a number of times to set up something similar here, but they just don't take off....we get the same few "converted" people who could run their own workshops! And electronics waste....I have to have a new phone system as 2G is shut down now, and have been trying, with no success, to get both major telcos to let me keep my hardware and just give me new sims....they just look at me and shrug and say 'why' when I explain about the waste. We have a long way to go.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great workshop Chel. I didn't see the War on Waste documentary but my husband did, it made quite an impression on him.
ReplyDeleteSherri you should still be able to watch it online. I actually missed the first episode so must watch that one soon myself.
DeleteThe War on Waste on ABC TV, sure did have a huge impact... thankfully! As a spin off, our local Farmer's Market now has a bin where we can take our soft plastics. I know Coles have a bin too, but we're a good half hour from a Coles.
ReplyDeleteSally for some reason we have three Coles stores which are under a five minute drive from here. Unbelievable. I do like those seats they have made from recycled plastics which are in their stores.
DeleteIt's my first time commenting here, your group sounds great Nanna Chel. It is energising and motivating when a group of like minded people come together. I might have to make the trip up to Toowoomba one day. I have always loved Toowoomba, it is such a pretty city.
ReplyDeleteWelcome Belinda. Yes, Toowoomba is a very pretty place and will look spectacular soon with the Carnival of Flowers on next month.
DeleteWaste reduction - being honest here...it is SO difficult! So much plastic! (recently read about the affect drinking straws have on nature too)
ReplyDeleteGetting rid of plastic is a hard job, MrHM. I guess we just have to take little steps.
DeleteWow, lots of comments. I watched this series as well and at the time i was full of righteous indignation. Truly, the solutions seem so simple and just plain common sense. However i read an article this morning about how in NSW and VIC there is such a glut of recycled material they are being stock piled which breaches Govt regs meaning they go into landfill. Really needs Govt and CSIRO to come up with commercial products that it can be turned into. Something that creates job locally rather than oversees. Bah Humbug, the manufacturing industry in Oz is dead. This is all rather serious of me isn't it Chel.
ReplyDeleteYes you are rather serious today, Lynda ;-) I saw the 4Corners program last night on the recycling industry and it was quite depressing. Imagine all those trucks bringing all that rubbish to Qld from NSW every night and it is dumped about an hour's drive from here. How can that be allowed?
Delete