Clean up Australia Day CH event postponed for 2022

With the community’s safety front of mind, Central Highlands Regional Council has postponed Emerald’s annual Clean Up Australia Day (CUAD) event due to be held on Sunday 6 March until later in the year.

‘While it’s disappointing this particular event has been postponed, keeping our community healthy in the midst of COVID-19 is our top priority,’ Mayor Kerry Hayes said.

‘CUAD’s sister event, the Great Northern Clean Up, is held later in the year for those communities north of the Tropic of Capricorn when the weather is much more forgiving. We will look to get involved then and make it our biggest and best yet.’

Mayor Hayes said there are still plenty of ways you can help clean up the community and reduce waste, not just this weekend but all year round.

‘Pop a rubbish bag in your pocket before your morning walk and pick up any litter you see along the way, put a ‘no junk mail’ sticker on your mailbox, or opt for a reusable coffee cup. Simple things like this can make a huge impact.’

Mayor Hayes said good environmental decisions, both at a small and large scale, were vital to protect our way of life.

‘As a council we are constantly looking for ways to make a positive impact on the environment and our waterways through conscience planning,’ he said.

Council is a proud member of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s Reef Guardian Council program, working with them and other councils to support a healthy and resilient reef.

‘Whilst we may be over 300 km from the ocean, our creeks and river systems all eventually lead back to the sea, and in turn our reef system,’ Mayor Hayes said.

‘Through water management, waste reduction, land management and planning, energy and resource efficiency, policy, community education and partnerships we can and will improve environmental sustainability.’

Here are ten stress-free suggestions on how you can reduce waste at your home this weekend:

Switch to paperless billing Spend one evening switching all of your billing to electronic. Mark your calendar each month and deal with all of them at once! Join local buy-and-sell groups You might be surprised that someone could be interested in that old thing you never use anymore! When you sell something you don’t use anymore, you keep the item out of the landfill, you stop someone from having to buy new and you pocket some cash. Avoid buying oversize packages As appealing as the lower price may be, it’s only worth it if you use it up in its entirety before it expires. Only purchase in high volume if the ingredient has a long shelf life. Put a ‘no junk’ mail sticker on your mailbox Clean our your email inbox Don’t be tempted to overconsume. Unsubscribe from any retailer marketing emails that aren’t benefitting you! The freezer is your friend If you notice that some ingredients are starting to bruise or wilt, freeze them. Most fruits and vegetables can be frozen, then used in smoothies, soups and stews at a later date. Use reusable bags Carry a takeout kit No time to pack your lunch? We get it. Keep a simple kit on hand for grabbing food on the go with less waste. Put cutlery and a cloth napkin in it to avoid using the disposable versions at grab-and-go restaurants. Extend the life of your clothing Between grocery runs and playdates, drop torn or outgrown clothing off at a tailor for mending; even in the era of fast fashion, it’s still cheaper than buying new. Or try to do the sewing at home and save yourself the trip. Change up your coffee game Coffee cups are a pretty big offender of the one-use-disposal eco-crime. And they are NOT recyclable because of the coating on the inside of the cups. Invest in a travel mug if you are going to purchase single coffees.

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