No time to waste

CARDS, gift wrap, plastic cutlery and utensils, foodscraps – that is the mess that is Christmas.
But the City of Greater Dandenong council is challenging residents to rethink their Christmas celebrations to avoid, or at least reduce, the amount of waste produced.
Greater Dandenong mayor Youhorn Chea this week unwrapped a surprise challenge for the city’s residents – how waste-free can you make your Christmas?
“This Christmas the challenge is to reduce how many items we put into our three bins,” he said.
Cr Chea said residents should remember the four Rs – Remove, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle – when thinking of waste reduction.
He provided the following tips:
COMPOST your vegetable food scraps or give your worms a Christmas lunch.
TRY to avoid disposable plates and cups.
IF you have to use disposable plates and cups, use paper-based ones that can be recycled.
WINE, beer and spirits bottles, soft drink cans and bottles, juice bottles and steel cans are all welcome in the recycling bin.
BE aware of what can go in your green waste bin: remember, no food scraps.
NO plastic or polystyrene cups.
NO Christmas decorations, Christmas foil wrapping paper, plastic toys or fake Christmas trees.