Sustainable Living

Our planet's resources are running out so we need to think about ways we can be more sustainable in our daily lives to ensure this does not happen.

Learn how to be more sustainable by making small changes to the way we live, including reducing household food waste by composting and worm farming, or using reusable coffee cups to lessen the impact of disposable cups in landfill. A small change can make a huge difference in our environment. 

Overview

Reuse it or Lose it

Our planet's resources are running out so we need to think about ways we can be more sustainable in our daily lives to ensure this does not happen.

Learn how to be more sustainable by making small changes to the way we live, including reducing household food waste by composting and worm farming, or using reusable coffee cups to lessen the impact of disposable cups in landfill. A small change can make a huge difference in our environment. 

Here are some simple things we can all do:

Rethink

Be mindful of your actions and ask yourself if you could be doing something more sustainable.

  • Walk, cycle or use public transport instead of using a car
  • Grow your own herbs, fruit and vegetables
  • Purchase your food locally
  • Put on warm clothes or use a blanket instead of using a heater
  • Open windows to allow a breeze in instead of turning on an air conditioner
  • Hang your clothes out on the washing line instead of using a dryer
  • Install solar panels instead of relying on electricity from fossil fuels
  • Install a rainwater tank to save water

Refuse

Don't buy or accept things you don't need.

  • Say no to plastic bags
  • Say no to straws and disposable cutlery
  • Say no to freebies such as promotional items
  • Don't buy items with excessive packaging
  • Don't buy cheaply made items that won't last long
  • Try to buy products with natural ingredients instead of products containing chemicals
  • Put a 'No Junk Mail' sign on your mailbox
  • Opt to receive your correspondence and bills via email instead of via post

Reduce

Use less energy and consume less materials to conserve resources.

  • Make a shopping list and buy only what you need instead of what you want on impulse
  • Create meal plans for the week to avoid wasting food
  • Be aware of portion sizes and only cook enough for your needs
  • Install energy-efficient appliances
  • Turn electrical appliances off at the wall when not in use
  • Turn lights off when you leave the room
  • Turn the taps off when you have finished
  • Fix leaking taps

Reuse

Instead of buying single-use disposable products, buy products that can be reused over and over again.

  • Use reusable shopping bags instead of plastic bags
  • Use refillable coffee cups instead of take away coffee cups
  • Use refillable water bottles instead of plastic bottles
  • Use reusable lunchboxes instead of buying your lunch each day
  • Use tea towels and cloths instead of paper towels
  • Use rechargeable batteries instead of single-use batteries
  • Use cloth nappies instead of disposable nappies
  • Use handkerchiefs instead of tissues

Repurpose

Find a new use for something you already have.

  • Upcycle your old items into new items
  • Donate clean clothing and homewares to charity
  • Give items to family or friends
  • Sell unwanted items at a garage sale or online
  • Use leftover food to create new meals such as salads and soups
  • Use jars to store food items in your pantry
  • Use old sheets to protect your furniture and floors when painting
  • Use old clothes and towels as cleaning rags

Repair

Fix items instead of throwing them away

  • Learn to sew so you can mend your own clothes
  • Take your damaged or ill fitting clothes to a tailor
  • Take your damaged shoes to a boot maker
  • Take your broken jewellery to a jeweller
  • Take your broken watch to a watchmaker
  • Bring your damaged furniture or appliances to workshops run by the Bower Reuse and Repair Centre
  • Visit your local Men's Shed to learn how to repair a whole range of items
  • Regularly service your car to avoid costly repairs

Recycle

Avoid sending as much as possible to landfill by recycling.

  • Put paper, cardboard, plastic bottles and containers, glass bottles, aluminium and steel cans in your recycling bin
  • Take plastic and glass bottles to your nearest Return and Earn collection point
  • Put your fruit and vegetable scraps in a compost bin or worm farm
  • Take your old car batteries, electronics, gas bottles, motor oil and garden waste to Council's Recycling Drop Off Centre
  • Take your used household batteries to Council's Admin Centre, Libraries or Leisure Centres
  • Take your old paint and light globes to the Liverpool Community Recycling Centre
  • Take your used ink cartridges to your nearest Officeworks, Australia Post, Harvey Norman, JB Hi-Fi or Good Guys store
  • Take plastic bags and plastic packaging to Coles and Woolworths

  

For more information, please contact Council's Waste and Sustainability team on 9725 0222.

Green Caffeen - saving the environment one cup at a time

Green Caffeen has arrived in Fairfield City! 
The initiative is a FREE reusable coffee cup system for coffee lovers and environmental-focused cafes across Australia.

Coffee drinkers like it and the planet loves us for it with almost 200,000 disposable cups diverted from landfill already.

Download the Green Caffeen app on your phone or tablet, get your reuseable cup and drink your coffee with a clear conscience.
Drop the cup back to any participating café within 30 days and help save the planet, one cup at a time.

Local cafes can also get on board!

Composting and Worm Farming

Composting and worm farming are great ways to reduce food waste and free up space in your garbage bin.

You can buy a compost bin or worm farm at Council’s Administration Building at 86 Avoca Road, Wakeley or you can join the Compost Revolution!, where Council will pay for delivery and up to 50% of the price for your home kit.

 

 

Call us on 9725 0222 for more information.

Special Offers:

  • Buy a compost bin for $55 and get a FREE compost aerator
  • Buy a worm farm for $70 and get a FREE worm blanket 
  • Buckets of worms can also be purchased for $31.40

Or you can join the Compost Revolution!, where Council will pay for delivery and up to 50% of the price for your home kit. Call us on 9725 0222 for more information.

Waste and Sustainability Workshops

FREE Workshops for Early Learning Centres

  • Waste and Recycling
    Children will learn what goes in each colour bin, what happens to waste, and why it is important to recycle. They might even be able to teach their family and friends a thing or two!
  • Worm Farming
    Children will learn how to set up a worm farm, what to feed the worms, and the benefits of worm farming. Please ensure you have a shaded location and food scraps for your worm farm.

FREE Workshops for Primary Schools

  • EnviroMentors School Program
    Primary schools are invited to take part in incursion-based environmental education workshops run by EnviroMentors each year. Workshops are linked to the NSW Curriculum and include topics such as recycling, sustainability, and litter.
  • Enviro Bootcamp
    Council presents a series of environmental workshops for children aged 5-12 years each September school holidays at Nalawala Sustainability Hub. The activities are hands-on and fun!

FREE Workshops for Adults

  • Community Groups and English Schools
    Find out what services Council provides for residents to dispose of garbage, recycling, garden waste, and bulky household items.
  • Weekend Workshops
    A variety of environmental workshops are available for Fairfield City Council residents on Saturdays at Nalawala Sustainability Hub. Visit Council’s Events page for more details.

For more information about workshops, please contact the Waste and Sustainability team on 9725 0222.