Category Archives: Media

Guildford Clean Up Day 2013 Success

A great team effort

A great team effort

Over 50 people took part in the Guildford Clean Up Australia Day hosted by Transition Town Guildford and the Guildford Association Inc.

Guildford Primary School students and local residents picked up litter and recyclable material around the school, Kings Meadows, the Helena and Swan River floodplains and local streets. The participants enjoyed a well-deserved morning tea at the conclusion of the event.

Guildford Primary School students celebrate the result

Guildford Primary School students celebrate the result

It was an even bigger result than last year, with over 28 chaff bags of rubbish and 20 bags of recycling collected, as well as odd items like an ironing board, fire extinguisher, TV, four tyres and five paint cans.

The final haul

The final haul

It was promising to see that there were less bulk items compared to previous years, so we’re having an impact. But there was still way too much recyclable material, like cans and bottles. Ralph even found some steel cans and coke bottles that must be over 30 years old! So there’s still a legacy of material to collect.

The organisers thank the Guildford Primary School and participating students for taking part, and invite people to join our community groups to find out about future clean ups and events (TTG email list and www.guildford.asn.au).

Thanks also to the City of Swan Waste and recycling team for collecting the material.

Rod, Barb and Ralph survey the result

Rod, Barb and Ralph survey the result

Clean Up article in the Echo

Clean Up article in the Echo

Bike workshop featured in The West

Article in The West Australian 16 November 2012

Bag Making Success

On Sunday we screened ‘Bag It – Is your life too plastic?‘ in the Guildford town hall. The movie outlines the overwhelming amount of plastic that we are consuming every day, particularly ‘single use disposable plastic’. Why would you make something that is used for a few minutes (a drink container) out of something that will take hundreds of years to break down!?

Bag It also highlighted the impact plastic has on the marine environment and human health. See this recent Catalyst episode for how that’s impacting on Australian wildlife and beaches.

We invited people to try going a day or a week without buying any plastic. Why not try it and see what you find? Let us know how you go.

Here’s some tips to reduce your plastic use:

  • Don’t use plastic bags – use reusable carry and fruit bags
  • Get a metal water bottle and avoid plastic drink containers
  • Bring your own coffee cup
  • Go to the farmers market and buy your fruit and veg plastic free

Murray from the City of Swan Waste Management team outlined some of the councils initiatives, including the upcoming Recyclable goods day (Sat 10th November), where residents can drop off e-waste and other items, and pick up free mulch! See Upcoming events for details.

Elizabeth, Debra and Kim also accompanied the movie with sewing demonstrations and hands on training on how to sew your own bag from left-over materials. Check out the photos below.

A hive of activity after the ‘Bag It’ screening

Rod learning to sew

Happy bag makers!

Murray (City of Swan Waste Management), Peter and Elizabeth

Article in the Echo newspaper with Elizabeth promoting the event