We would like to invite you to attend our BSFG General Meeting at 7.30pm on Thursday 26th August at the Benalla Uniting Church.

In keeping with "Plastic Free July" (previously postponed due to covid restrictions), we will be screening the documentary "Plastic Wars". Issues such as clear labelling on packaging for recycling, are raised in this documentary. There will be time for discussion after the film.

A light supper will be served at the conclusion of the evening.

Current covid protocols will be followed. For indoor public gatherings, masks and social distance are needed. Masks can be removed during supper, when we ask people to maintain social distance.

Please RSVP your attendance for Covid numbers to  bsfginc@gmail.com

Please visit News on our BSFG website for more about Plastic Free July. https://www.bsfg.org.au/news

Judy Schwarzman
Secretary BSFG

The latest instalment of the Benalla Sustainable Future Group's column in the Benalla Ensign  looks at ways to live without plastic products.

Australia and a number of other countries, are moving towards banning the majority of the plastic items that contribute substantially to our waste and pollution issues.

At a meeting of the Federal, state and territory environment ministers in April eight problematic and unnecessary plastic product types for industry were listed for phasing out nationally by 2025 (or sooner in some cases) under the National Waste Policy Action Plan.

These include lightweight plastic bags; plastic products misleadingly termed as biodegradable; plastic straws; plastic utensils and stirrers; expanded polystyrene consumer food containers (for example, cups and clam shells); expanded polystyrene consumer goods packaging (loose fill and molded); and microbeads used in personal health care products.

This ban has already been implemented in South Australia (1/3/21), and in the ACT (1/7/21).

The ban in Queensland will commence in September 2021, in West Australia from November 2021 and in Victoria from February 2023.

Our own Benalla Rural City Council has recently decided to ban a range of single-use plastics at council-organised and sponsored events, so we urge all our local sporting and community groups to follow the council's lead.

In the first of our articles related to Plastic Free July, we urged people to look at alternatives to plastic products for many lifestyle habits.

Now is the time to put these alternatives in place, as the imminent legislated bans will ensure businesses and individuals need to comply.

The reason for this ban is simple - plastic waste has contaminated our world to such a degree that there is now evidence of plastic micro-particles within our food chain.

The plastic products that have been washed into our rivers and oceans have accumulated in huge floating "islands", one of which, in the Pacific Ocean towards the coast of South America, is larger than the state of Texas.

Other plastic "dumps", often in third world countries, are disposed of by burning, sending toxic fumes into the atmosphere, contributing substantially to greenhouse gas emissions and the severe health issues of those countries.
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As these plastic products are largely an invention of countries in the developed economies of the world, we have a moral responsibility to fix the problem, and this starts with each of us as individuals, modifying our own behaviour.

Benalla Sustainable Future Group is screening the recent documentary Plastic Wars at its next general meeting on Thursday, July 22 at 7.30 pm at the Uniting Church (opposite Coles).

This documentary provides an eye-opening account of how the plastics industry has manipulated legislation in many countries over the past five or six decades, contributing to much of the confusion about the use and recycling of plastic.

There will be an opportunity to discuss the documentary, and we serve a light supper at the conclusion of the meeting.

For those interested in attending, we ask you to rsvp via email at bsfginc@gmail.com
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If you would like to send a letter to the editor of the Benalla Ensign on this, or any subject, click this link

Dear BSFG Members and Supporters,
 
We would like to invite you to attend our BSFG General Meeting at 7.30pm on Thursday 22nd July at the Benalla Uniting Church.

In keeping with "Plastic Free July" we will be screening the documentary "Plastic Wars". Issues such as clear labelling on packaging for recycling, are raised in this documentary. There will be time for discussion after the film.

A light supper will be served at the conclusion of the evening.

Current covid protocols will be followed. For indoor public gatherings, masks and social distance are needed. Masks can be removed during supper, when we ask people to maintain social distance.

Please RSVP your attendance for Covid numbers to  bsfginc@gmail.com

Please visit News on our BSFG website for more about Plastic Free July. https://www.bsfg.org.au/news


Judy Schwarzman
Secretary BSFG

● Code 3 - Polyvinyl Chloride: PVC includes pipes, toys, packing, etc and can be difficult to recycle and a major health threat - it should never be sent to landfill or placed in your recycle bin. Contact Council for advice on how to dispose of it;

● Code 4 - Low Density Polyethylene: LDPE is the material used to create things like garbage bags, sandwich bags, shopping bags, etc. These kinds of soft plastics are collected in special containers at supermarkets, so do not put them in your own recycle bin;

● Code 5 - Polypropylene: Polypropylene materials can be used to create products like clothing, tubs, ropes or bottles and can be turned into fibres when recycled properly, so they may be placed in your recycle bin;

● Code 6 - Polystyrene: Polystyrene is probably the most difficult plastic product to deal with. It must not be placed in your roadside recycling bin, and because it is manufactured from petroleum, it is a very contaminating product in landfill. It is best to avoid buying products packaged in polystyrene; and

● Code 7- All other plastics: Must not be placed in recycling bins - can include anything from acrylic to nylon

In summary, don't think that plastic is recyclable simply because it has a number inside a triangle.
Generally, codes 1,2 and 5 are okay to recycle, and code 4 needs to go to soft plastics bins at supermarkets, for example.

For all other plastics, you need to check with council to determine the best method to deal with the problem.

To help reduce the plastic recycling conundrum, why not try to avoid buying goods packaged in plastic.
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During July, think "plastic free", and you might just find it is easier than you thought, and this will go a long way to solving one of our major pollution problems."
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​Plastic Free July is a 2011 initiative developed by Rebecca Prince-Ruiz, and a small team in local government in Western Australia  It aims to raise awareness of the amount of plastic in our lives by encouraging people to eliminate the use of single-use plastic.  The initiative is a global movement that helps millions of people be a part of the solution to plastic pollution.

The challenge is to refuse single use plastic during July, and once in the habit, continue to do so.
Some of you may think it is difficult to stop using plastic, and it is.  Plastic is ubiquitous and it is made to last a very long time. It is packaged around our food.  There is evidence now to say it has started to become a part of our food. It is in our make-up and personal hygiene products. It is in our clothing.
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However, if we put in a little thought and effort, we all can reduce our usage of plastic.

Benalla Sustainable Future Group hopes that the Benalla community can rise to the challenge, and we offer the following ideas to aid people in this endeavour:

• Take your own shopping bag or pack your shopping in a box;
• Either reuse or refuse produce bags. Choose to refuse pre-packed fruit and vegetables, or bring your own reusable netting produce bags;
• Purchase products packaged in cardboard, paper or glass;
• Avoid plastic wrap – use a plate, clean shower cap or fabric covers over your leftovers;
• Store food in glass containers;
• Opt for refills and bulk purchases. Frequent local farmers markets or join the Benalla Bulk Food Co-operative where you can bring your own containers to refill;
• Ask for meat to be wrapped in paper or take your own container to the butchers. Avoid polystyrene trays;
• BYO coffee cup. Support cafes that reduce the price of a takeaway coffee if you BYO or dine-in at your local cafe;
• Refuse plastic straws. If you need a straw, take your own reusable alternative;
• Say no to purchased bottled water. It is so very expensive and totally avoidable;
• Line your rubbish bin with newspaper;
• Use alternative cleaning products such as bicarb soda, clove oil and vinegar;
• Buy ‘experiences’ rather than presents that could end up as landfill;
• Pick up plastic litter;
• Buy clothing made from natural fibres rather than synthetic, and consider op-shopping before a new purchase; and
• Replace disposable nappies with washable cloth nappies.

Continue the challenge if travelling:

• Take your own reusable coffee cup and water bottle;
• Purify suspect local tap water with tablets or a UV water purifier; and
• Take your own snacks, earphones, and reusable cutlery.

​Think - Reduce, Reuse, Refuse, Rethink, Repair.

If we are all a little wiser with our purchases and consumption habits, a cleaner and healthy environment will follow.  Think about changing your relationship with plastics and challenge your consumption patterns.

Choose to Refuse.

For more ideas and to accept the Plastic Free July challenge, visit this link.

In collaboration with North East Artisans, Benalla Sustainable Future Group and Plastic Wise Benalla presents a free screening of the film Albatross on Saturday September 1ST at 7:00PM.

On a remote atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, albatross chicks are dying, bodies filled with plastic.
ALBATROSS unflinchingly shows the horror and grief of this tragedy, but ultimately brings us to a deeply felt experience of beauty and love for life on Earth. Stepping outside of traditional documentary film style, ALBATROSS delivers a profound message of reverence and renewal.

Chris Jordan is a multi-media artist based in Seattle. His work explores contemporary mass culture from a variety of photographic and conceptual perspectives, connecting the viewer viscerally to the enormity and power of humanity’s collective unconscious. Jordan’s work edgewalks the lines between beauty and horror, abstraction and representation, and the visible and the invisible, challenging us to look both in-ward and outward at the complex landscapes of our collective choices (www.chrisjordan.com).

Jordan’s work reaches an increasingly broad international audience through his exhibitions, books, web-site, interviews on radio and television, and speaking engagements and school visits all over the world. He is currently involved in an international tour of his first feature film ALBATROSS, bringing to world the awareness and message of plastic pollution’s devastation effect on the albatrosses of Midway island (www.albatrossthefilm.com).

This film is exempt from classification and is restricted to people over 15 years.  People under 15 must be accompanied by an adult.

Running for 97 minutes there will be time for discussion afterwards.

Free screening at NEA, 122 Bridge Street East, Benalla, VIC 3672, Sat Sep 1ST, 6.30pm for 7.00pm Start.  Limited seating. Additional screenings may be possible.

RSVP By 27 August; Phone Peter 0418 135 330 or email peter_maddock@iprimus.com.au.

Tuesdays, September 26, October 10, October 24, November 7, November 21, December 5, December 19, 12.30 to 3.30 pm:  Plastic Wise Benalla, under the auspice of the Benalla Sustainable Future Group, is working towards reducing the impact of single use plastic on our community.

Upcycled bags are sewn with love by community volunteers,

Working bees are held Tuesdays, 12.30 pm to 3.30 pm, at the Benalla Drill Hall.

Anyone is welcome to come along and help create bags for our community, all help is appreciated.  No sewing necessary - the commmunity group also needs help with cutting, sourcing material, ironing and pinning - there's plenty to do for all skill levels!

Other options for support include sew-at-home kits; donations (sturdy material suitable for bags such as calico, curtains and tablecloths, and cotton for sewing up the bags).  Purchases will be available as well shortly for $5, with all proceeds going back into the community.

​The Benalla Plastic Wise community sewing events have been growing each fortnight as the community becomes more aware of the damage that single use plastic has on our environment.

Every fortnight a team of committed volunteers meet at the Drill Hall to lend their time and skill to creating reusable bags from upcycled materials. Take-home kits have also been a hit, with those who cannot make the working bees picking up a sewing kit and helping out from home.

Without our wonderful community this venture wouldn't be possible. With even the big chain supermarkets getting on board it won't be long until everyone will sporting our beautiful bags!

We hope to see you soon! If you would like to grab a sew-at-home kit, or can donate some material or cotton, please get in touch so we can continue to provide for our community, and for our environment.

​Wendy Baker

Ways to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle Your Plastic Containers

​This article was recommended to us through the contacts page on our website by some young girls in California! Amanda, their Girl Scout Leader, writing on their behalf, wrote "thank you for your page, http://www.bsfg.org.au/links.html My troop found your resources to be so helpful while they are working very hard on earning their Go Green badges! The girls would like to suggest another page, as a thank you for being such a big help: http://www.bottlestore.com/ways-to-reduce-reuse-recycle-plastic-containers They thought that other people (and possibly other Girl Scout Troops) would find it as helpful as they did!"   We'd like to thank them for their recommendation which comes from a different lens - ideas for children and families.  
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"How much of an impact can you have on the environment? Isn't recycling and saving energy something that only adults can do? You might be surprised to learn that you can play a huge role in making a real difference. There are things that you can do at home, at school, or even while spending time in the backyard that can help conserve energy, reduce waste, and ensure that we take good care of the environment. One of the easiest ways for kids to help is learning how to recycle. A lot of the items that you use every day can be turned into something useful when recycled. From the milk cartons or jugs in the fridge to papers from school, you can collect these items and turn them in to a recycling center to go green! Plastic bottles can be made into lawn furniture. Some milk jugs can get a new life by being made into things to play on at a local playground. But there is more to do than just recycling. Turning off the lights when you leave the house can reduce energy costs (which makes Mom and Dad happy, too). Some families start composting. This means they take things like grass clippings and leftover food and turn them into mulch to keep plants thriving. There are lots of resources available to help you learn more about green energy, how to recycle, and what to do with a used plastic bottle. You can make a real difference in your environment!

• Recycling Plastics Is as Easy as 1, 2, 3 (PDF): The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation explains all of the different types of plastics that can be recycled and gives examples of where they can be found in the average home.
• How Do I Recycle? Common Recyclables: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency offers information on the various items that can be recycled. It also explains how and where some of these items can be recycled.
• Saving Energy With Professor Questor: How Many Ways Can You Save Energy Around Your Home? Follow Professor Questor as she explains how a California energy problem caused many people in the state to learn more about using energy efficiently.
• Energy-Saver Guide: Tips on Saving Money and Energy at Home: Check out these tips for creating an energy-efficient home, including low-cost and no-cost options that any family can handle.
• TVA Kids: How You Can Save Energy: Learn more about what families can do to save energy and find out how TVA makes electricity.
• Energy Star Kids: This interactive site allows users to click on various energy vocabulary words, find out more about how the planet needs help, and see tips for changes that even kids can make to conserve energy.
• Kids Energy Zone: Lights Out Game: Take some time to change out the light bulbs and turn off the lights to see if you can save electricity!
• Garbology: An Experiment by Joshua and Sean (video): Check out how these kids investigated the amount of waste their school was producing and how they were able to reduce it.
• Kids Be Green: 3R's Most Extreme Challenge: Take some time to play the game and learn more about the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling.
• 17 Simple Ways to Prevent Air Pollution in Your Home: From removing your shoes at the door to minimizing air fresheners, this site explains what every family can do to reduce pollution indoors.
• Reducing Light Pollution: Did you know that light pollution is something that many homes create each and every day? Learn more about the topic along with practical tips for reducing light pollution in the home.
• Start Composting in Your Backyard: Food, much like energy, can be wasted. One of the ways to reduce the waste is to start composting. Check out this site to learn more about what composting is and how you can set it up in your yard.
• Composting for Kids! (PDF): Read an explanation of composting as well as step-by-step guides to creating a composting bin and how to use the compost as mulch.
• What Can Plastics Become? What happens to plastic bottles once they are recycled? This site offers insight into how things like milk containers can be transformed into playground equipment.
• Buy Recycled: Some items in the store are already made from recycled materials. This site explains how to recognize items like this at the store.
• Recycling Facts and Fun (PDF): Read this guide and discover lots of information on recycling, including games, word searches, and recycled craft ideas.
• Kids Harness Plastic Waste for Water Filtration in African Slum: Check out how kids took their plastic bottles that were being thrown away and turned them into something amazing.
• Make Seed Paper: Turning Paper Into Something That Grows: Learn how to turn used paper into seed paper. This takes the idea of recycling to a whole new level.
• I Want to Be Recycled: Plastic bottles and containers are the focus of this page, with an explanation of why they should be recycled and what they can become.

Article By : Jonathan @ BottleStore accessed on 18 August 2017 at 
http://www.bottlestore.com/ways-to-reduce-reuse-recycle-plastic-containers