Summer Sustainability Tips

As summer rolls on in Victoria, it’s the perfect time to enjoy the warm weather while keeping our environmental impact low. Here is a quick guide to reducing waste at barbecues and on holidays, keeping energy bills down, and making the most of your garden this season.

1. Waste Reduction Tips for Summer Barbecues

The longer balmy summer evenings are a great excuse to catch up with friends for a barbecue. While these events are fantastic, they often mean an increase in household waste.

Here are some quick waste reduction tips for your summertime barbecues:

1. Crush cans and squash bottles before you put them into your recycling bin. This will significantly increase the amount of space available in your recycling bin.
2. Have a few smaller tubs or receptacles around your BBQ area where your guests can dispose of their bottles and cans. If you make it easy then people will happily do this. It will also save you the clean-up operation the next day!
3. If you find you have an overflowing recycling bin check out your local transfer station as they will usually take these items off you for free.
4. Before you go shopping for food work out how many people you need to cater for and write a list to avoid over catering and wasting food.
5. Meat sold in the supermarket uses a far bit of packaging (trays and wrap on the top), while many of the trays may now be recyclable it’s still better to avoid the packaging if you can. Why not buy meat from the local butcher? They can put it altogether in bulk hence saving on the packaging.
6. Avoid using disposable plates and cutlery. Instead invest in some nice plastic ones that can be reused. This not only stops the unnecessary contribution to landfill but will also save you money in the long run.
7. Store any left over food in reusable containers and enjoy for lunch the next day.
8. Compost food scraps or use a worm farm

2. Summer Energy Saving Tips

As the weather ramps up in Victoria, so too does our energy usage as we try to stay cool on those long hot days.

Here are 10 energy saving tips that are kind on the environment and can save you cash this summer:

1. Pull down your outside blinds/awnings in anticipation of very hot weather before you leave the house for the day. Keeping the house as cool as possible will mean that your air conditioner does not have to work as hard when you turn it on.
2. Make the most of the longer summer nights and cook on the BBQ. Avoiding using the oven is not only more energy efficient but it also means you are not unnecessarily heating up your house.
3. Replace your outdated air conditioning unit – if your home has a very old air conditioning unit it’s unlikely it would have an energy rating (these were made compulsory in 1987 for air conditioners) and is probably not as effective as the newer models. Remember that the more stars on the rating the more energy efficient the model is. Other things to consider when purchasing a new unit is the size relative to the area you are wishing to cool (if the unit is too large you may be using more energy than required).
4. In the Victorian summer sometimes only air conditioning will cut it but where practical use pedestal or ceiling fans to cool down your house. These can be very effective and will save a lot more energy than using the air conditioning. Or even better turn off the appliances altogether and take advantage of the cooler south-west and southerly winds that can occur in summer by opening windows and doors and letting the breeze cool your house naturally.
5. Get the washing out! We all know Melbourne weather can be unpredictable so to avoid possibly having to use the dryer the very next day, make the most of any sunny day and get the washing on and line dry it.
6. Decide what you need out of the fridge before opening it – opening and closing the door unnecessarily uses more energy as the fridge is working more to keep the temperature constant.
7. Check the thermostat on your fridge and freezer – if your fridge is set too cold this can waste energy, while too hot may spoil food prematurely. The CSIRO states that the best energy saving temperature for your fridge is between 3 and 5 degrees Celsius and between minus 15 and 18 degrees Celsius for your freezer.
8. Fill your reusable drink bottles with water and freeze them (be careful not to fill them all the way up as water expands when frozen). If you are heading out on a day trip or to the beach remember to grab them as you leave. Keep yourself hydrated and avoid having to purchase numerous bottles of water which will only be thrown away and can be costly. If you do purchase beverages make sure you recycle them correctly!
9. Out for a day at the beach? Remember to put a sunshade on your car to eliminate as much heat as possible in the car so the air conditioning doesn’t have to be over worked. And so the steering wheel doesn’t burn your hands when you hop back in!
10. f you are heading away on a summer holiday remember to turn things off at the wall as appliances can drain power even in standby mode. It may also be worth looking into switching off your hot water if you are going away for an extended period of time. When packing fill reusable containers with toiletries rather than buying the travel sized options that will be disposed of.

3. Sustainable & Waste Reduction Tips for the Garden

Summer is a great time to get out in the garden and see everything thrive, especially if your hard work ends up on the dinner table!

Here are 6 simple ways to think sustainably, reduce waste, and make the most of your garden:

1. Why not ask around the neighbours and set up a sharing program for garden and lawn equipment (i.e. lawn mower, chain saw etc) – this will not only reduce waste but will also save you all money.
2. Compost your food scraps and use this to produce a rich fertiliser for the garden.
3. When the season turns to autumn, utilise your leaves as a compost too.
4. Grow what is in season and look up recipes to utilise the fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs. Click here for a list of seasonal fruit and vegetables.
5. Set up a swap and share system with colleagues at work for garden produce.
6. Consider installing a rainwater tank or grey water system to water the garden.

4. Holiday & Outing Waste Reduction Tips

Whether you’re heading out on a road trip or enjoying day outings over the break, staying mindful of your environmental footprint makes a big difference.

Here are 8 waste reduction tips for the holiday period and summer outings:

If you are heading away on a summer holiday remember to turn things off at the wall as appliances can drain power even in standby mode. It may also be worth looking into switching off your hot water if you are going away for an extended period of time.

1. When packing fill reusable containers with toiletries rather than buying the travel sized options that will be disposed of.
2. Pack and use rechargeable batteries for electrical items you need when you go camping or on holiday. Much better for the environment and will also work out cheaper for you in the long run.
3. Fill your reusable drink bottles with water and freeze them (be careful not to fill them all the way up as water expands when frozen). Keep yourself hydrated and avoid having to purchase numerous bottles of water which will only be thrown away and can be costly. If you do purchase beverages make sure you recycle them correctly!
4. Picnicking on the beach? Use reusable containers to pack and store your food in rather than disposable types that will only be sent to landfill.
5. If you are spending the day at the beach remember to put a sunshade on your car to eliminate as much heat as possible in the car so the air conditioning doesn’t have to be over worked. And so the steering wheel doesn’t burn your hands when you hop back in!
6. Purchase good quality camping and beach equipment. It may seem like a bigger outlay initially but in the long run it will save you money as you’ll be able to hold onto your gear for longer. Buying cheap alternatives that need to be thrown away before the season is over will ultimately mean more rubbish in the tips and less money in your pocket when you have to purchase the item again.
7. If you are going away on a road trip, make sure you take your reusable coffee cup with you.

For further advice on recycling and waste reduction or to find out more about commercial recycling programs please contact us.