ALGWA complaint for unfair reporting upheld

The Australian journalist’s union, the Media Entertainment Arts Alliance (MEAA) has found a Melbourne journalist breached the union’s code of ethics in his reporting of events relating to the sexual harassment claims against former Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle. Read more >

City ditches recycling as prices surge

Ipswich City Council has announced that from now, all contents from yellow lid recycle bins will be sent to landfill.

Ipswich Mayor, Andrew Antoniolli, said Ipswich was the latest domino to be affected by a nationwide issue – one which required a three-tier government solution.

Eventually, all councils would be impacted by the viability of recycling household waste, Mayor Antoniolli said.

Recycling contractors notified council that the cost to council would skyrocket if recycling was to continue.

The increase in the order of $2 million per annum could potentially equate to a 1.5%-2% rate rise.

In addition, the current contamination levels in the city’s recycling is unacceptably high. About half of everything collected from yellow lid bins is not able to be recycled.

For recycling to continue, the City needs to reduce the amount of pizza boxes, food waste, plastic bags, disposable nappies, grass clippings and garden waste, broken plates, coat hangers, light bulbs, dirty tissues and serviettes, and foam packaging put in the recycle bin.

“As a city, we need to move forward,” Cr Antoniolli said.

“We want to become a leader in the waste-to-energy space, which will in the medium to long-term provide us with an environmentally-friendly energy source, jobs and a better economic outcome for Ipswich.

“We’ve actually been looking at waste as an energy source for some time, and this gives us the ideal opportunity to be ahead of the game in that space.

The City is set to embark on a revolutionary program which takes waste management into the next decade and beyond.

By mid-year, council will call tenders to bid on waste-to-energy projects which will enable a portion of the city’s energy to be environmentally-friendly.

“While it is fair to say the national recycling system broke sooner than we expected, Ipswich has been looking to the future. We’re making sure we tackle this issue head on.

“I have spoken personally to the minister on this issue, and made it clear that we’ve been backed into a corner on recycling.”

In the meantime, council has not given up on looking for recycling solutions.

The Games are over but the benefits continue to flow

Redland City Council’s advocacy for opportunities with the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games has paid off, with a swathe of short and long term benefits already flowing to the region. Read more >

What a mess

Councils around the country are struggling to keep their heads above the growing mountains of recyclable rubbish accumulating in the wake of China’s National Sword policy. Read more >

The ashes of democracy

Blacktown City Council held a ceremonial cremation last month of the last development application to be voted on by its councillors. Read more >

Antelco launches ReuZitTM*

Antelco a world leading Australian manufacturer of micro irrigation products has launched the ReuZitTM range of products specifically for the domestic and small commercial waste water and non-potable rain water market.

Antelco identified that there were specific requirements relating to these waste water systems that were not being met by using standard irrigation products.

The main requirements with these waste water products were that:

• they operate at low pressures, 50 kPa is common
• spray systems must have low or flat trajectories
• aerosol droplet size shall be as large as possible to avoid misting
• visual operation of systems is preferable
• waste water emitting device orifice sizes shall be large to resist clogging
• waste water emitting device colour shall be purple (lilac) making them easily identifiable as do not drink
• waste water emitting devices shall be easy to install.

To answer these issues Antelco developed the ReuZitTM micro range of recycled water products which includes:

• ReuZitTM Bubbler – a localised bubbler which throws a diameter of 0.8m at 97 L/h, ideal for localised tree and shrub watering
• ReuZitTM Spray – a spray which throws a diameter of 1.7m at 195 L/h, ideal for ground covers and
• ReuZitTM Sprinkler – a mini sprinkler which throws a diameter of 3.4m at 380 L/h, ideal for generalised watering of native garden beds.

The ReuZitTM range is available at your local Antelco distributor, or contact us on Ph – (08) 8532 3388 or email – murraybridge[@]antelco.com.au for your enquiries.
Further information can be found on our website
antelco.com

*Copy supplied by Antelco