War on Waste

Our waste is growing at more than double the rate of our population, take a drive down to our tip and look at the mountain of rubbish we have created and are contributing to daily and you would think we are all quite mad. We seem to be at war with almost everything except our own bad behaviour, we need to start a War on Waste.

When I was a kid I was told that we were one of the best recyclers in the world, recycling programs such as those involving paper and newspaper were pioneered in Australia and every year kids all around the territory were involved in the “Keep Australia Beautiful campaign” and Darwin was part of the tidy town’s campaign.

I’m not saying it was better in the old days, I’m saying that somewhere along the way we took our eye of the ball. We are not even in the top 20 recycling nations anymore and that is sad.

The Darwin City Council already has a great arrangement with the Resource recovery centre at shoal bay recycling centre and everything from cans to bottle and white goods are on hand and transported south for recycling. But many people don’t realize simple items like the plastic lids on coffee cups etc and anything with a 1-7 on it for recycling purposes can also be placed in the yellow recycling bin.

I think we could and should produce with the help of our School aged students a recycling education award. Provided annually this award would pit schools against each other in the Darwin Municipality in order to produce and promote Resource Recovery and recycling.

If one or more of the schools produced a youtube video that went viral, we would not just increase our local footprint but provide a platform for progress internationally.

Walking the streets I am reminded why someone like Trevor “The Rubbish Warrior” Jenkins became so famous in the first place. He highlighted the amount of rubbish on our streets and although I feel he went too far with his “art” I imagine he felt he needed to step it up.

My concern is more so about rekindling the camaraderie of kids and adults together having a special experience like I did when I was a kid, here in Darwin. Maybe instead of one, maybe 2 or 3 days a year to “keep Australia Beautiful” or at least or own backyard.

Don’t forget every time you go to throw something out, think first “Can this be recycled?”

Remember if you want to help me help you, please share your voice and vote for Sam4Richardson this coming 26th August 2017.

Note :

Written and Authorized by Sam Wilks. The views included may not be those of others mentioned in the article but are those of Sam Wilks. If you have other idea’s feel free to comment below. Idea’s and differing opinion is recognition of a free and just democratic society. A Society I am happy to live in. Please however try not to be abusive or discriminative, you may be. But if I feel that your opinion may be harmful or is reported as being harmful, I will delete it.