Welcome to Litterally #28, the Enews for Anti Litter Campaigners

litterALLY Edition 28 Welcome to LitterALLY #28, the eNews for anti litter campaigners. This month we feature the roll out of the EPA's litter prevention officer program, the clean future Metro Trains is looking forward to, KABV's recent round of awards, and news about litter action in Victoria and nationally. The EPA has also established a new pollution hotline number replacing other numbers such as the Litter report Line. We need your help to map out what signage needs updating.

Here at VLAA we have also been working on an improved web site and litter prevention kits. We hope to begin introducing new web content by the end of the year, and complete the revamp in 2012.

We always welcome news, stories and photographs to illustrate or celebrate litter prevention initiatives.

For instance, the litter grants recipients announced earlier this year will be busy installing bins and bin signage to educate Victorians how to recycle when they are out and about this summer.

We recommend you keep good records, take lots of photographs and conduct insightful evaluations along the way - and then tell VLAA about it! We would love to feature your project in litterALLY, and in due course, on VLAA's website. LITTER PREVENTION OFFICER UPDATE As we know, litter is a problem that often comes down to the local council's waste management services to deal with, so it is great news that the ability of local councils to come to grips with littering and illegal dumping has gained an enormous boost from the EPA's Litter Prevention Officer (LPO) program.

Earlier this year, the Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Ryan Smith announced more than $1 million in funding for establishment of Litter Prevention Officers in local government. To date, nine such positions have been created, each for two years. Here we highlight three of them.

On the Riverina

Level 28 Urban Workshop 50 Lonsdale Street Melbourne Vic 3000 P (03) 8626 8761 F (03) 9663 1007 [email protected] www.litter.vic.gov.au Mildura Rural City Council's newly appointed Litter Prevention Officer, Terry Kite, hails from NSW after a 12 year stint with the NSW Road Traffic Authority as a Registry Manager, dealing with a range of legislative compliance matters, from licencing and road safety to identity fraud investigations.

Needless to say, illegal dumping and littering will not be tolerated at Mildura.

One of Terry's first tasks is to set the scene for long term litter prevention in the municipality by developing a formal litter strategy for the council.

Terry said, "This is a new position in the council organisation, so I am excited to help guide the directions council takes in combating litter and Illegal dumping in the area, and to help the Mildura community itself achieve a zero waste future." As readers will know, the fundamentals of litter strategies involve the three key elements of enforcement, education and infrastructure.

To these ends, Terry will be reviewing and assessing the council's litter prevention infrastructure, and carrying out some specific enforcement activities to gauge the community's understanding of the litter problem and the consequences of not doing the right thing.

Terry will be liaising closely with other government agencies and local organisations and community groups for input to the strategy, and in his own words, "The aim is to put best practice litter prevention measures in place that address Mildura's specific circumstances."

Contact: Terry Kite 03 5018 8100, [email protected] PHOTO: Terry Kite cleaning up Mildura.

Litter diversity

Level 28 Urban Workshop 50 Lonsdale Street Melbourne Vic 3000 P (03) 8626 8761 F (03) 9663 1007 [email protected] www.litter.vic.gov.au Rebecca Laurito checking on the hotspots

Before becoming the City of Greater Dandenong's inaugural EPA funded Litter Prevention Officer, Rebecca Laurito already knew quite a bit about the litter problem in the municipality. Rebecca was in a Local Law Officer role at the Council before getting the job. A recent article in the local newspaper gave Laura an opportunity to introduce herself to the community by making an example of the worst of the worse - six 44 gallon drums of engine oil dumped in Keysborough.

Thanks to the media coverage, it didn't take Laura long to establish herself as the go-to person, fielding over 100 litter and illegal dumping complaints from the public in the first two weeks of the job. The council's 'dob a dumper' hotline helped of course. Illegal dumping is a major issue for Greater Dandenong, making up over one third of all litter enforcement incidents, with electrical goods, mattresses and commercial waste the most prevalent.

A focus for Laura during the early part of her role will include researching and investigating rubbish dumping on nature strips and in remote areas, and looking for innovative ways to reduce their incidence.

Greater Dandenong has all kinds of environments, from residential areas with high population turnover (mattresses being a good indicator of the churn), to the industrial and semi rural areas in the south of the municipality. For an urban growth centre, Greater Dandenong is also blessed with substantial natural areas and wetlands - these environments are particularly vulnerable from illegal dumping.

Greater Dandenong is doing a lot to prevent litter already, and with the litter prevention officer position now in place, the council has a much greater capacity to deal with the range of litter issues facing it.

Contact: Rebbecca Laurito 03 9239 5100, [email protected] taskforce on its way Melton Shire's litter prevention officer is Dylan Weeks, and he started in October.

No time to dally though. Dylan is already in the process of creating a page on the council's web site which will be devoted specifically to litter prevention information, and a means for the community to get in on prevention.

Level 28 Urban Workshop 50 Lonsdale Street Melbourne Vic 3000 P (03) 8626 8761 F (03) 9663 1007 [email protected] www.litter.vic.gov.au The web page will include a confidential litter report form consistent with the EPA's, which members of the community can use for alerting the council of illegal dumping.

As for all newly appointed litter prevention officers, the first strategic task is to bed down the council's litter strategy. To date, Melton's litter actions have formed part of its broader waste strategy. With Dylan on board, the longer term plan for litter prevention can gain the focus and detail it warrants.

A key aspect of Melton's litter strategy will be to establish a litter task force. The task force model has been used to good effect in a number of Victorian councils, by bringing a range of council departments, contractors and community stakeholders together around the one table. Being such a pervasive issue, litter cuts across many council services and operations, and is always best tackled as a collaborative program.

Dylan will also coordinate patrolling litter hot spots around the Melton district, educating developers on correct 'clean site' waste management practices, and intends reaching out to schools and residents regarding their role in litter prevention. Melton's main litter concerns are illegal dumping and the inappropriate disposal of residential and commercial construction site materials.

Contact: Dylan Weeks 03 9747 5363, [email protected]

CLEAN COMMUTING

Some years ago, 109 railway stations in Melbourne had 120L twin bin systems installed to provide a recycling option to patrons.

Now, thanks to a Victorian Government public place recycling (PPR) grant of almost $300,000 Metro Trains Melbourne is poised to double the number of railway stations with litter and recycling bins, with the Packaging Stewardship Forum providing signage for the bins.

To help convey the anti littering message, Metro Trains has also developed a communications plan to educate commuters about "doing the right thing" and using the bins correctly. The communications plan includes station posters, information via Metro Trains' web site, and messaging in the free daily mX magazine.

Paul Clarey, Metro Trains' Environmental Sustainability Manager, said that the litter prevention funding should see measurably cleaner stations over the next two years.

"The priority at stations is to see recycling rates rise to 30% waste diversion by June 2012" Paul said. "And with better and more regular information supporting the recycling campaign over time, we can hopefully achieve a 50% target by June 2013."

Level 28 Urban Workshop 50 Lonsdale Street Melbourne Vic 3000 P (03) 8626 8761 F (03) 9663 1007 [email protected] www.litter.vic.gov.au As we know, litter surveys are an essential means to evaluate the success of any litter prevention program, so a series of waste audits and litter surveys will be conducted prior to rolling out the new bins.

These will be conducted at a sample of railway stations, some with existing bin systems and others earmarked for the new ones. Regular waste segregation monitoring will evaluate the effectiveness of the initiative.

Dumping on the rise Metro Trains is also working with EPA and local governments to address illegal dumping in station car parks, around charity bins and along the 400 km of rail reserve in the metropolitan area.

Paul points out that the dumping problem seems to be getting worse.

"With rising costs to send waste to landfill and special disposal requirements for tyres and mattresses, increasing amounts of these types of waste are being dumped, sometimes in commercial quantities."

Contact: Paul Clarey, Metro Trains 03 9610 2430, [email protected] THE SUSTAINABLE SOUTH EAST Readers will be aware of Keep Australia Beautiful Victoria's awards, presented each year to acknowledge efforts to minimize litter and pollution and imbed sustainable practices within communities.

By the looks of it, Melbourne's southeastern region is going great guns in this respect, with Mornington Peninsula Shire winning the Tidy Towns award in October, and Frankston City Council taking out multiple awards. More than tidy

The tidy town label is not just about clean streets and tiptop infrastructure.

The Tidy Towns - Sustainable Communities Award recognises the many ways that regional Victorian communities take action to protect and enhance their environment, and have grown from a purely anti-litter campaign to encompass initiatives as diverse as preserving heritage, saving water and energy, and the role of community leadership.

Level 28 Urban Workshop 50 Lonsdale Street Melbourne Vic 3000 P (03) 8626 8761 F (03) 9663 1007 [email protected] www.litter.vic.gov.au Mornington covered each of these bases thanks to the longevity of grass roots action and the council's support and encouragement. For instance, the Mornington Peninsula Schools Environment Week started way back in 1983, providing local schools, residents and the shire council an educational event that now is a voice heard loud and clear across the community.

The Mornington Community Garden has provided well attended educational opportunities in sustainability and adaptation to climate change, including workshops on organic food production, local area open-pollinated seed saving and waste minimisation.

On another front, St Macartan's Primary School in Mornington was built with sustainability in mind - the school is energy efficient, aims for zero waste and water saving, and teaching students about the environment, waste minimisation and water saving is a part of every day's schooling.

Mornington's win demonstrates how sustainability is not a one off exercise, nor is it a single organisation's responsibility. The path to becoming the 2011 Tidy Town winner started at least a generation ago.

Contact: Samantha Ackland 03 5950 1335, [email protected] Multiple wins at Frankston Frankston made quite a mark in KABV's awards program, being finalist in 11 categories and winner of five.

Frankston won the 2011 Clean Beaches - Friendly Beach Award for its accessible boardwalks and pier, Visitor Information Centre, playground facilities, public artworks and major events complimenting the foreshore's attributes.

The Frankston Foreshore Advisory Committee won the Clean Beaches - Community Leadership Award for their work on the Seaford Lifesaving Club development, and Frankston High School won the Sustainable Cities - Young Leader Award for their Regional Environment and Sustainability Conference. Well known local Kath Hassell also won the Clean Beaches Dame Phyllis Frost Award for her passionate environmental leadership and field work on Frankston beaches.

Again, a rich mix of grass roots action and institutional initiatives have combined to put Frankston at the top (at least for 2011's awards) with regard to the environmental sustainability of coastal and beach localities.

Frankston Council has played a key role in all of this of course, with an anti-litter campaign dedicated to Frankston's foreshore, and rangers educating the community in a fun and friendly way through the year.

Contact: Debbie Coffey 03 9784 1768, [email protected] LOWER YARRA RIVER STRATEGY EXTENDED The Lower Yarra River Strategy aims to prevent litter and pollution in the inner metropolitan parts of the Yarra River.

A great example of collaboration between local governments and the Metropolitan Waste Management Group (MWMG), funding for the strategy was due to cease at the end of the last financial year, which would have created a gap in measures to protect the river's environment and water quality.

Level 28 Urban Workshop 50 Lonsdale Street Melbourne Vic 3000 P (03) 8626 8761 F (03) 9663 1007 [email protected] www.litter.vic.gov.au However, keen to continue this effective program, partner councils Port Phillip, Melbourne, Yarra City, Stonnington and Boroondarra have contributed funds sufficient for ongoing management of the strategy for one day per week during the current financial year.

The 2010-2011 funding came from Melbourne Water, Sustainability Victoria and EPA Victoria, along with partner councils.

Contact: Matthew Nelson, Education and Engagement Officer 03 8698 9800, [email protected] BUTT FREE AUSTRALIA UPDATE As trustee of the Butt Littering Trust, Butt Free Australia will cease operating at the end of November 2011. This followed advice from its major funder, British American Tobacco Australia, that the company was not in a position to continue support beyond the end of the year.

Expressions of interest have been called for like minded organisations to inherit Butt Free Australia's extensive body of knowledge, expertise and assets. The decision will be announced by end of the year.

For further information, contact Wendy Jones, Chief Executive Officer of Butt Free Australia on 03 9898 0087 or [email protected]. Don't be a Tosser materials available

Don't be a Tosser

Don't be a tosser materials are still available for waste management groups and councils to use in their litter campaigns.

A4 posters, information sheets, t-shirts, bumper stickers and butt bins are just some of the tems available on request from Sustainability Victoria.

Check the list below and place your order. Cite the product code (shown in in capitals) and how many, and send your order to Sustainabilty Victoria via email [email protected], call 1300 363 744, or online www.sustainability .vic.gov.au/www/htmlw1603-contact-us.asp Level 28 Urban Workshop 50 Lonsdale Street Melbourne Vic 3000 P (03) 8626 8761 F (03) 9663 1007 [email protected] www.litter.vic.gov.au DONTBEATOSSERA4 (Don't be a Tosser A4 poster new, 2889 available) TOSSASHTRAYS (Don't be a Tosser portable ashtrays, 2768 available) TOSSTSHIRTL (Don't be a Tosser t-shirt large, 108 available) TOSSTSHIRTM (Don't be a Tosser t-shirt large medium, 100 available) TOSSTSHIRTS (Don't be a Tosser t-shirt large small, 11 available) TOSSTSHIRTXL (Don't be a Tosser t-shirt XL, 90 available) A6TOSSSTICK (Don't be a Tosser A6 bumber stickers, 4011 available) BBSTK (Butt It and Bin It stickers, 2006 available) BUMPSTICKER (Don't be a Tosser stickers, 4933 available)

LITTLE LITTER CHAMPIONS

Tackling litter is child's play for a new national committee of under 15s named the LITTLE Committee.

The committee is made of ten children under the age of fifteen who will be the new face of anti litter campaigning in national advertising, workshops and meetings with key stakeholders.

Research has found that children under the age of fifteen make up only 1.5% of the nation's litterers, and may be just the role models older Australians need.

The group's mentor is former Senator Natasha Stott Despoja, who said it had been exciting to meet so many committed young Australians during the recruitment process.

Ms Stott Despoja said, "While the Committee might be little, their job isn't. Adults do most of the littering in Australia, so we're putting kids in charge of fixing the problem."

Every state and territory is represented on the LITTLE Committee, which will be chaired by our own (i.e. Victorian) Mia Vissenjoux, supported by 10 year old Charlie Roach from Geelong as the Victorian representative.

Mia said, "The good thing is that all of us are learning about the environment at school and are taking the message home. Once the message has spread to everyone I think more people will feel the same way I do about litter. I desperately wanted to be part of the LITTLE Committee because I saw it as a real Level 28 Urban Workshop 50 Lonsdale Street Melbourne Vic 3000 P (03) 8626 8761 F (03) 9663 1007 [email protected] www.litter.vic.gov.au opportunity to tackle this big issue of litter."

The members of The LITTLE Committee's first job will be to start on a new national advertising campaign, including shooting two commercials while they are in Canberra. The LITTLE Committee's website www.little.org.au provides more information about their work and a profile of each of the children.

PHOTO: Mentor Natasha Stott Despoja with the LITTLE Committee

24 HOUR POLLUTION LINE REPLACES LITTER REPORT LINE EPA Victoria has a new 24-hour Pollution Hotline - 1300 EPA VIC (1300 372 842) - which allows the community to speak with someone 24 hours a day about pollution concerns.

The new EPA 24-hour Pollution Hotline replaces all other EPA phone numbers including the Litter Report Line and the Pollution Watch Line. Current standard call costs will apply within Victoria.

This has implications for litter prevention initiatives. Any new signage or informational material must now bear the new number and not the old EPA Litter Report Line number.

The aim is to phase out the old EPA Litter Report Line number by June 2012. EPA and VLAA are working together to list the locations of litter prevention roadside signs bearing the old number, to plan for updates and replacements.

If you are aware of signage and other infrastructure bearing the old number in your area, please provide details of location/s via the online electronic form below or visit www.epa.vic.gov.au.

The due date for this is 30 November 2011, so please do get onto this as soon as possible.

Level 28 Urban Workshop 50 Lonsdale Street Melbourne Vic 3000 P (03) 8626 8761 F (03) 9663 1007 [email protected] www.litter.vic.gov.au