Waste-free lifestyle course starting soon

PEOPLE who want a waste-free lifestyle, but may be unsure of where to start, are encouraged to take part in a new course run by Ballarat East Neighbourhood House.

The seven-week hands-on program starts this Friday at Barkly Square and aims to help householders make changes and address waste and recycling problems at home.

Topics covered will include waste prevention, avoiding bringing waste into the home, minimising rubbish, repairing and reusing instead of re-buying, how to properly recycle, and how to dispose of items, as a last resort.

“People want to make a difference, but often they don’t know how,” said program facilitator Julie White.

“The recycling industry is in crisis, so people need to be empowered to make a difference in their own home.

“In seven weeks, there won’t be zero waste in participants’ homes, but they will become conscious and aware of what they’re doing, and happily make changes.

“People will bring in their bins, we’ll talk about the waste, and work out how you can find alternatives.”

Ms White has worked in the environmental sector and was an author of the City of Ballarat’s waste management strategy.

She said “truck after truck after truck” dumps waste into the City’s landfill each day, and she doesn’t want to contribute to that.

“I can’t, in all good conscience, know that and still produce waste in my home. I have three teenagers and knowing what I know, I don’t want to produce the average family household waste anymore,” she said.

“When we wheel our waste to the end of the driveway, we still have to deal with it through climate change. Let’s not be cogs in the wheel that keeps perpetuating this issue.”

Sessions will run on Friday mornings, and participants’ interests will shape the course along the way. It will run again later in 2023.

Contact 0422 612 052 or [email protected] for more info.