Let’s make our Australia Day celebrations sustainable because every small bit scores big points for a cleaner, greener Australia.
Here are our top tips to get you started:
Waving the Aussie flag
Flags will be flying on Australia Day but where will yours end up after the 26 January celebrations?
Remember to store your flags in a convenient place for future celebrations. If you have any tattered or discoloured flags, give them a dignified send off by posting them to companies such as Flagworld who offer free flag and banner recycling services.
Hand flags are a different story altogether. You can make the call to only buy ones that are made with 100% recyclable fabric such as cotton or canvas and avoid buying hand flags that are manufactured with unrecyclable materials or materials you’re not familiar with.
Throwing a party
If you’re going to cook up a storm, plan your recipes around ingredients you can get at your local market.
Produce found at local markets generally use less packaging and are cheaper than store bought items. Another upside to buying from the market is you can get your hands on locally grown produce, which have a much smaller carbon footprint than produce transported from out of state.
On the day of the big do, make it easy for your guests to dispose of their waste by having dedicated waste sorting station. For example, have a bin for 10c recyclable bottles and cans and another one for food waste which can be disposed of through your organics bin or compost heap. Who knows – by being an environmentally conscious host you could inspire your guests to make their own changes at home!
Need more ideas on what you can recycle at home? Check out our Recycling Hub for plenty of ideas.
Making a case for food waste
Chances are that you’ll be left with heaps of leftover food from your party. If you don’t have access to an organic waste service, try composting at home to reduce the weight and volume of your general waste bin.
The best part about composting is that there are a few easy ways to do it. If you have a yard or even a small outdoor patch, you can make a compost heap.
However, if space is an issue – as it is with many homes these days – you can do worm composting indoors with a bin which you can easily buy from a nursery or hardware store.
Spending time outdoors
Whether it’s camping or kayaking, the golden rule is to leave only footprints.
Enjoy nature responsibly by following guidelines set by parks, reserves and protected areas. These are put in place to maintain the delicate balance of ecosystems and protect our precious native animals and plants.
If you’re planning on grabbing a bite outdoors, avoid disposable cutlery such as paper cups (which have plastic lining and therefore are not recyclable) and plastic forks and spoons. Instead, go for reusable cutlery and bring your own rubbish bags with you to ensure it’s only your footprints left behind.
This way you can keep the environment pristine and avoid having to deal with a hefty littering fine too.
Going a step further for a greener future
Cleanaway in partnership with Clean Up Australia, has encouraged millions of volunteers to take to their streets, beaches, parks, bushland and waterways to remove litter and illegally dumped rubbish.
If you’d like to do more for your community you can participate in Clean Up Australia Day which takes place on Sunday 5 March 2023.
You can also join an existing Clean Up or register a Clean Up on Clean Up Australia Day or any day of the year.
Contact us to learn more about how we’re making a sustainable future possible for communities and businesses across Australia.