Campaspe continues it's WickED ways

Campaspe Shire Council’s new five year Waste in Campaspe – Know, Educate, Do (WickED) program has been launched, encouraging positive behaviour change in reducing waste and improving the environment.

Mayor Cr Adrian Weston said WickED is a community based approach to waste and resource recovery education across the shire.

“WickED exists to educate, support and empower our community to take practical action in reducing waste and influencing positive behaviour change to minimise the environmental impact, “ Cr Weston said.

The initial five year program started in 2013 and a survey was conducted at the beginning of the year to assist with the development of the next five year program which has now started.

“Results to the survey proved the program’s success with residents changing their behaviour resulting in a 9.8 per cent reduction in waste to landfill over the last five years. “ Cr Weston said.

The WickED program includes school visits, waste and recycling facility tours, education projects and competitions.

Kindergartens, schools and childcare centres across Campaspe and Moama as well as individuals, community groups, businesses and industries within Campaspe Shire are invited to share their environment and waste minimisation success stories via the annual WickED Sustainability Awards competition which is now open.

The competition acknowledges and rewards those in our community who take care of the environment and seek to conserve our planet and its resources for future generations.

“This annual competition is a highlight of the program where our community is provided the opportunity to showcase their efforts in improving our environment,” Cr Weston said.

The theme for this year’s WickED Sustainability Awards competition is “Avoid, reduce, reuse – keeping food waste out of landfill” which aligns with Council’s new “Give A Scrap” campaign encouraging residents to put their food scraps in the green (food and garden waste) bin.

“Keeping food waste out of landfill is important because not only is food waste harmful to the environment when in a landfill, but it is also a valuable resource that can be turned into compost,” Cr Weston said.

Entry forms for the WickED Sustainability Awards competition can be accessed via Council’s website and further information can be obtained by contacting Environmental Projects Officer – Education, Samantha Ferrier, on 5481 2200 or [email protected]. Competition closes Monday, 28 October.