Recycling goes public

GREATER Dandenong mayor Youhorn Chea will officially launch the Public Place Recycling Project at Dandenong Stadium tomorrow (Friday).
Thanks to a $30,000 project grant from Sustainability Victoria and the Alcoa Foundation, Greater Dandenong Council has installed more than 30 recycling and rubbish bins courtside, along walkways and eatery areas of the stadium.
Cr Chea has welcomed the project grant in light of the commitment to recycling in the city.
“Victorians are generating increasing amounts of waste in public places and at events,” Cr Chea said. “With this initiative, the Victorian Government is making it easier for people to do the right thing when they are out and about to reduce our environmental impact. Providing additional recycling bins will further enhance council’s commitment to reducing litter in our city by recycling.”
The Dandenong Stadium launch is part of a broader initiative to increase recycling and waste minimisation at Victoria’s major sporting and recreation venues. Sustainability Victoria and the Alcoa Foundation will contribute a total of $250,000 to support the project across major venues in Victoria.
Sustainability Victoria chief executive Geoff Mabbett said people should be aware of the energy and water savings involved in recycling.
“Victoria’s recycling activities in 2004-05 saved Victoria more than 78 million gigajoules of energy – enough to power every household in the state for eight months, and 52,321 megalitres of water – enough to fill more than 20,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools,” Mr Mabbett said.
“Major sporting and recreational venues have considerable potential to change the behaviour of the community, with flow-on effects to other businesses in catering, waste management and cleaning.”
Alcoa Eastern States corporate affairs manager Brendan Foran said Alcoa was delighted to support the initiative, which aligns with the company’s drive to reduce energy use through recycling.
“Alcoa is the largest recycler of aluminium in the country, recycling around half a billion cans each year,” Mr Foran said.
“Recycling aluminium only uses five per cent of the electricity needed to make metal from scratch, making it a great way to save energy and therefore carbon emissions. “
The Dandenong Stadium generates a high number of recyclables such as drink bottles and cans, and this project will encourage its 676,000 visitors to recycle away from home.