Not bitter on litter

By Emma Sun
THE Cardinia Shire Council has received a $46,985 grant as part of the Victorian Government’s $1.4 million Roadside Litter and Public Place Recycling Program.
Gembrook MP Brad Battin said the grant would assist the Cardinia Shire in keeping public places litter-free.
“The council will use the money to install cigarette butt bins around town centres and put recycling bins at sporting grounds.”
The grant comes after a litter audit was completed of public litter bins, which demonstrated that about 70 per cent of the contents of those bins could have been recycled if public place recycling was available.
Central Ward Councillor Brett Owen said this project would increase public place recycling at a number of recreational reserves.
“It involves the installation of infrastructure including permanent public place recycling bins and signage, and a public awareness campaign of “Do the Right Thing, Use the Right Bin”,” Cr Owen said.
The locations of the new public place recycling bins are at Officer Recreational Reserve, Pakenham Regional Tennis Centre, Emerald Lake Park, Upper Beaconsfield Tennis Club and Upper Beaconsfield Recreational Reserve.
“Currently most of the waste from these reserves goes into landfill,” Cr Owen said.
“These new bins will improve resource recovery and increase community knowledge and awareness on correct recycling.”
Minister for Environment and Climate Change Ryan Smith said the grants would help reduce pollution in public places.
“Litter costs the Victorian community an estimated $74 million a year. It also makes our public places less attractive to visit and can make people feel unsafe and more at risk of anti-social behaviour,” Mr Smith said.
“This grant helps Cardinia Shire achieve many key outcomes in council’s litter strategy and waste strategy,” Cr Owen said.
For more information, contact Sustainability Victoria on 8626 8700.