This week (5-11 August) is Keep Australia Beautiful Week, with the theme ‘when you’re out and about…leave only your footprints’, and a focus on preventing litter and preserving biodiversity.
Whether we’re enjoying a picnic at the park, a day at the beach, or a hike through Australia’s bushlands, we are being reminded to do it without leaving a trace – always take any waste home, even organic waste, and especially dog’s waste.
Together, our efforts can reduce the detrimental impact of litter on Australia’s wildlife, marine life and habitats for future generations. If we take collective action, and don’t turn a blind eye to rubbish on the ground, we can protect and restore Australia’s rich biodiversity.
Keep Australia Beautiful offers these tips to help us all stay green both at home and on the go:
– Avoid single-use plastic and choose products with minimal packaging.
– Use the Container Deposit Scheme (CDS): All States and Territories around Australia, except Tasmania, now have the CDS scheme in operation, where eligible drink containers can be exchanged for a 10c cent refund.
– Support Sustainable Brands: Look for products with sustainable certifications like Fair Trade, Rainforest alliance or a high energy rating. Keep an eye out for products and produce made locally, as they often have a lower carbon footprint due to reduced transportation needs.
– Buy in bulk: Items packaged in bulk require less packaging than individual purchases therefore create less waste.
– Prioritize Quality: Durable products last longer and have less need for frequent replacement. Even if a quality product appears more expensive at the outset, in the long run you are likely to save money as you won’t have to replace the item so often.
– Buy only what you need: Be mindful about what you’re purchasing and only buy what you truly need to avoid creating unnecessary waste.
– Second-hand items, rent or borrow: Buying second-hand items extends the lifecycle of clothing and goods, helping to reduce the demand for new products and keep items out of landfill. If you think you might only need an item once, consider renting or borrowing it to have the same effects of reducing demand and waste.
– Choose digital alternatives: Opt for digital receipts instead of printed ones. Take photos of any information you need like maps or event details instead of taking printed materials like pamphlets and flyers.
Keep Australia Beautiful and Landcare Australia both share the same awareness-raising campaign week in August in a joint mission to enhance natural environments and preserve local biodiversity. If you want to get involved with Keep Australia Beautiful Week or Landcare Week (5-11 August), register via www.kab.org.au/kabweek-2024/ and either instigate a clean-up initiative in their local area, school or workplace, or join a Landcare volunteer group to do some planting and restoration work.
We hope you have enjoyed this article. It is our pleasure being your real estate agents in Brisbane.
If you would like any assistance or advice, please feel very welcome to get in touch with our Brisbane real estate agents, Brisbane property management team, or Brisbane buyers agents.
