The average Australian household wastes more than $1,000 every year purchasing items they never use. So use what you buy, buy less and save.
A 2005 paper by The Australia Institute (Wasteful Consumption in Australia) found that Australians waste over 10.5 billion dollars annually on goods and services that are "never or hardly ever used". The majority of this is food purchased and thrown out (over 5 billion dollars per annum). If you consider the resources (water, energy and money) we are simply tossing out, it's staggering and more than a little tragic. So we need to lift our game and become frugal, humble and respectful consumers of nature's limited resources… and we can pick up that extra thousand as we pass go, every year.
Some simple ideas to get your creative processes rolling:
For more help and inspiration in reducing waste check out these resources:
At the core of the environmental issues facing the world today are affluent consumers and their lack of understanding of the environmental and related costs of the things they consume. Being conscious of the social, environmental and financial implications of waste created through our own consumption decisions can better enable you to reduce these impacts – and make the world a healthy, more sustainable place!
This action is simply an easy way for us to consume less. This will result in less stress on the natural systems that are used to create what we currently buy and toss in the bin.
Most people could spend an additional thousand dollars per year improving their physical, psychological or spiritual health.
Upper Hunter Shire Council is a local government authority and provides an extensive array of services including health and building; town planning; aged care; sporting and recreational facilities; roads; libraries; waste collection; airport facilities; saleyards; public venues; water; children, youth and families and tourist information.
PO Box 208
Scone NSW 2337
Phone: 02 6540 1100
Fax: 02 6545 2671
council@upperhunter.nsw.gov.au
135 Liverpool Street, Scone
34-40 Vennacher Street, Merriwa
47 Mayne Street, Murrurundi
After hours emergencies for roads, bridges, animal control,
water, sewer & landfill
Phone: 02 6540 1199