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October 7 - October 28, 2020

HP Sydney Riders Feed

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Reflection, encouragement, and relationship building are all important aspects of getting a new habit to stick.
Share thoughts, encourage others, and reinforce positive new habits on the Feed.

To get started, share “your why.” Why did you join the challenge and choose the actions you did?

  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Waste Research Local Waste Sites
    In what neighborhoods or areas of your region are landfills or other waste sites located? Which communities are most affected by these locations?

    Paromita Mitra's avatar
    Paromita Mitra 10/11/2020 3:37 PM
    There are 3 major landfills in Sydney, Australia. Sydney is home to more than 200,000 residents and 437,000 employment opportunities. In the next decade, these numbers are about to increase by 60,000 and 120,000, respectively reaching about 5.8 million people in 2030. Rubbish generation in Sydney is growing at a rate that is 6x faster than its population growth. 

    The city generates more than 5,500 tonnes of rubbish each day and on the daily average, Sydney is estimated to have around 1.2 million residents, students, workers and visitors combined. Each person produces around 1 kg of wastes daily and 2 tonnes of rubbish yearly. These wastes contribute to approximately 8% of the city’s total greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, the city also faces the challenge of collecting around 4,000 tonnes of illegally dumped wastes every year. 

    Sydney  Rubbish Numbers 

    Sydney is home to more than 200,000 residents and 437,000 employment opportunities. In the next decade, these numbers are about to increase by 60,000 and 120,000, respectively reaching about 5.8 million people in 2030. Rubbish generation in Sydney is growing at a rate that is 6x faster than its population growth. 

    The city generates more than 5,500 tonnes of rubbish each day and on the daily average, Sydney is estimated to have around 1.2 million residents, students, workers and visitors combined. Each person produces around 1 kg of wastes daily and 2 tonnes of rubbish yearly. These wastes contribute to approximately 8% of the city’s total greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, the city also faces the challenge of collecting around 4,000 tonnes of illegally dumped wastes every year. 


    Landfills

    • Sydney has three major landfill sites: two are used for organic or putrescible waste while the last one is for non-organic junk. 
    • Of the 5,500 tonnes of rubbish produced daily in Sydney, more than 2,000 tonnes still end up in landfills.
    • In 2015, the Environment Protection Authority estimates Sydney’s spare landfill space to be 2.1 million tonnes per year.
    • More than half of the rubbish ending up in landfills comes from the city’s accommodation and entertainment industry. Other major landfill wastes generator is the commercial offices which account for 21% and the retail sector which accounts for 13% of wastes in landfills. 
    • The city’s community, medical and healthcare facilities, and the industrial division, together with other subsectors each dispose of 3% of the residual wastes in landfill sites while the remaining 1% comes from the educational sector.
    • The city of Sydney aims to convert 26% of its waste into energy in the year 2030. Together with the rubbishes processed in recycling and organic recovery facilities, the city intends to cut down its landfill wastes to only 3% by that year.

    Recycling Centres

    • Sydney launched its Zero Waste campaign in 2010 with the goal to improve and expand on its recycling services. Since then, 69% of the daily rubbish generation in the city is recycled. Similarly, 63% of the total waste generated in NSW is recycled. 
    • In 2016, approximately 28% of the overall residential wastes are processed in the recycling centres of the City. This means that around 18,000 tonnes of Sydney’s MSW is segregated at source and diverted from landfills. 
    • Sydney targets to achieve 70% waste diversion from landfills and 35% recycling at source in 2021 up to 2030.
    • In contrast to source-separated recycling, Sydney also processes mixed recycling which amounts to 23% of the city’s total waste. In 2021, they aim to increase mixed recycled wastes by 2000 tonnes.
     It takes roughly 10 years to go from conception to a landfill site being ready to get it's first tonne of waste. The waste situation in Sydney is unlikely to get better before 2030 (provided the current plans can be actioned). The overall recycling rate has increased in the past decade & currently sits at 63%
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Waste Use a Reusable Water Bottle
    While water bottles are needed for health and safety in certain places, we can do more to reduce the unnecessary use of them. What are the barriers to you using reusable bottles and tap water instead of bottled water? How could you make this a permanent habit?

    David White's avatar
    David White 10/06/2020 9:16 PM
    no barriers - I love using my reusable bottles!

  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Waste Use Reusable Bags
    What do you do if you find yourself in the situation of needing a bag for items but don't have a reusable one with you or aren't allowed to use the one you brought? Carry things out in your hands? In a cart? Accept a disposable one? If you find yourself in this position often, what system could you put in place to try to create a successful habit of not using plastic bags?

    David White's avatar
    David White 10/06/2020 8:51 PM
    carry by hand - or I usually have a backpack with me that I can put it in.