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Getting fit, saving money and giving up that vice are the usual culprits for New Year’s resolutions, but how about being greener?
Wollongong City Council is partnering with local social enterprise Green Connect Illawarra to ensure this year’s New Year’s Eve is a waste wise event. Green Connect Illawarra was developed by refugee association Strategic Community Assistance for Refugee Families (SCARF) and provides both employment pathways and also reduces waste through ensuring the community use the correct recycling, compost and waste bins at events.
Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery said Council is happy to be able to work with Green Connect Illawarra to ensure New Year’s Eve is a waste wise event. “The Green Connect project is a good one, in that it supports recycling, reduces waste to landfill and helps educate our community on waste wise behaviour,” Cr Bradbery said. “It’s also a chance to support recently arrived members of our community and provide them with work experience opportunities that will provide a pathway to employment. Participants in the program build transferable skills and gain basic qualifications such as First Aid and Health and Safety.”
Green Connect Illawarra Manager Robynne Murphy said the group were looking forward to working with Council on the New Year’s Eve event. “We’re really looking forward to partnering with Council to make sure this New Year’s Eve is a waste wise event by diverting as much waste as possible from land fill,” Ms Murphy said.
Green Connect Illawarra started after the 2010 Illawarra Folk Festival where 24 members of the refugee community assisted with recycling. “The goal is to reduce the amount of waste that goes into landfill and encourage people to use the recycling facilities available. We were able to ensure that just eight per cent of waste from the 2011 Illawarra Folk Festival went to landfill, it’s about educating the community.”
For more information you can visit Council’s website at www.wollongong.nsw.gov.au
or call Council’s Customer Service on (02) 4227 7111.
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