forbes green guide...a household action guide to a cleaner-greener forbes shire page 1 salinity and...

A household action

guide to a

cleaner – greener

Forbes Shire

How individuals can make a

difference to their local environment

Compiled by Marita Sydes and Len Reade

for the Forbes Urban Landcare Group and the

Forbes Shire Council’s Environment Advisory Committee.

2004

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We would like to thank the

Parkes Urban Landcare Group and the

Parkes Shire Council for allowing us to

base this publication on the ‘Green

Thumb Enviro Guide; How Parkes

Residents can make a difference to

our Environment’.

Information for this booklet was

contributed by members of the

Forbes Urban Landcare Group and the

Forbes Shire Council’s Environment

Advisory Committee.

Cartoons by Patrick Driver.

The guide was printed and

distributed by the Forbes Shire

Council.

DISCLAIMER Information in this booklet is

intended as a guide only and was up to

date at the time of publication.

It is the responsibility of the

individual to ensure that any

methodology adopted or adapted from

this booklet is suitable for the

purposes intended.

The authors and publishers

cannot take responsibility for the

misuse or abuse of any of the

information in this publication.

A household action

guide to a

cleaner – greener

Forbes Shire How individuals can make a

difference to their local environment

FORBES URBAN

LANDCARE GROUP INC.

Compiled by Marita Sydes and Len Reade

for the Forbes Urban Landcare Group and the

Forbes Shire Council’s Environment Advisory Committee.

2004

A HOUSEHOLD ACTION GUIDE TO A CLEANER-GREENER FORBES SHIRE

WHY PRODUCE THIS GUIDE? The primary objective in

producing this personal action guide

was to provide all residents within the

Forbes Shire with ways that they can

help in the sustainable use and

management of resources within their

local environment.

More specifically the aims of

this guide are to allow Forbes’

residents to take direct action in

protecting their waterways,

conserving water, reducing waste

production, encouraging recycling and

enhancing the local environment.

If everyone adopts at least a

few of the suggestions in this guide

we would all be contributing to a

healthier, more sustainable lifestyle

in Forbes.

BACKGROUND The production of this guide was

possible through the cooperation

between Forbes Urban Landcare

Groups and the Forbes Shire Council’s

Environment Advisory Committee.

The aims of both groups are

discussed briefly below.

FORBES URBAN

LANDCARE GROUP INC.

FORBES URBAN LANDCARE GROUP

is a volunteer organisation dedicated

to doing what we can in our community

to protect and preserve our local

environment.

Through Landcare, the local

community including; businesses,

schools, local industry, people within

the township and farmers are working

together to effectively use and

manage our natural resources:- with

the overall goal of promoting and

enhancing a sustainable and

productive environment.

As a group, the Forbes Urban

Landcare Group works on projects


aimed at restoring and improving the

local environment.

Activities undertaken by the

group include; tree plantings on

reserves and other sites, protecting

remnant vegetation, improving

drainage and water quality and

community education.

For more information on the

activities of the Forbes Urban

Landcare Group, or to get involved

with the Landcare group and their

activities please contact the Forbes

Urban Landcare Group c/o PO Box

823, Forbes.

The FORBES SHIRE COUNCIL’S

ENVIRONMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE is

a committee that discusses and

advisors the council on local

environmental issues.

The committee has

representation from elected

councillors, Forbes Shire Council

staff, members representing local

community interests and local state

government representatives.

The purpose of the committee

is:-

To enable council and the

community to work together for

the benefit of the environment.

To provide a forum that will allow

frank and open discussion on all

issues relating to the environment.

To make recommendations to

Council on environmental issues.

PLEASE KEEP THIS GUIDE IN A SAFE AND EASY TO FIND PLACE

FOR YOUR QUICK REFERENCE.

IT MAY ALSO BE AN IDEAL REFERENCE BOOKLET FOR SCHOOL PROJECTS AND ASSIGNMENTS.


TABLE OF CONTENTS SALINITY AND RISING WATER TABLES ................................ 1

Are you aware of salinity? ......................................................................................... 1

Wurgle- who am I and what do I tell you? ............................................................ 1

What is it to be waterwise? ..................................................................................... 2

Waterwise in the garden ........................................................................................... 2

Waterwise lawn areas ................................................................................................. 4

Waterwise in and around the home ......................................................................... 4

Rainwater and re-use of greywater ........................................................................ 6

HEALTHY WATER AND WATERWAYS ..................................... 7

Where does your stormwater go? ........................................................................... 7

The Drain Is Just For Rain ....................................................................................... 7

Reducing pollution of our water from the garden ............................................... 8

Reducing pollution of our water from inside the home ...................................... 9

WASTE MANAGEMENT ..................................................... 9

Reducing waste generated ....................................................................................... 10

Re-use whatever waste you can ............................................................................. 10

Recycle where possible ............................................................................................. 11

PLASTIC BAGS…. DO WE REALLY NEED THEM?? ...................... 11

BUYING GREEN OR SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTS ........................ 13

REDUCING GREEN WASTE IN LANDFILL ............................... 13

Composting .................................................................................................................. 15

Worm farms ................................................................................................................ 16

Organic mulch ............................................................................................................. 17

GET ENERGY SMART ...................................................... 17

Things to consider in a new home or a home renovation .................................. 18

GREENER BUSINESS TIPS ............................................... 19


ENCOURAGING NATIVE ANIMALS AND PLANTS ..................... 20

Plant locally native species ..................................................................................... 20

Plant animal friendly gardens ................................................................................ 20

Nesting boxes for wildlife ...................................................................................... 21

See the benefits ........................................................................................................ 21

LOCAL SERVICE DIRECTORY ............................................. 22

Australia Post Shop .................................................................................................. 22

Batteryworld .............................................................................................................. 22

Bernardis and Sullivans IGA supermarkets ....................................................... 22

Daroobalgie Landfill Waste Depot ....................................................................... 22

Enjo .............................................................................................................................. 23

Forbes TV and Video Repairs ................................................................................ 23

Lachlan Valley Building Recyclers ......................................................................... 23

Salvation Army Red Shield Family Store ........................................................... 23

St Vincent de Paul Store ........................................................................................ 23

Sunshine Club Opportunity Shop .......................................................................... 24

Twin City Recyclers .................................................................................................. 24

Woolworths ................................................................................................................ 24


Page 1

SALINITY AND RISING WATER TABLES

Are you aware of salinity?

Did you know that, just like in

rural areas, overuse and pollution of

our precious water resources leads to

not only excess water bills but also

rising water tables and salinity

problems in urban areas.

Urban salinity is a growing

problem in many towns, including

Forbes, which can cause costly and

unsightly damage affecting the whole

community.

While salinity in rural settings

often lead to loss in productive lands,

in an urban environment salinity can

be equally as devastating. In some

cases urban salinity can lead to the

degradation of infrastructure such as

road surfaces, kerbing, water and

sewerage networks, as well as rising

damp and fretting of brickwork in

buildings or even difficulty in growing

some plants and lawn in certain areas.

In this booklet you will find

many simple steps that individuals can

take to help reduce the impacts of

salinity in Forbes through the better

use and management of our water.

With more efficient and conservative

use of our water, we as a community

should be able to reduce the amount

of water contributing to our rising

ground water and salinity problems in

the shire, particularly within the

urban areas of Forbes itself.

Wurgle- who am I and what do I tell you?

Have you seen me in the paper?

Wurgle is a water use monitor

for the town of Forbes.

The figures given on Wurgle are

the actual weekly water use and the

long-term weekly average water use

for the month we are currently in.

If we are using less water than

the long term weekly average Wurgle

will smile, if more he will be sad.

So, next time you see Wurgle in

the paper, be sure to see how we are

going as a town on water usage to the

week.


Page 2

What is it to be waterwise?

Being ‘waterwise’ means being

aware of how we use water, both in

the home and the garden. It also

means being aware of where the

water we use ends up.

Follow some of the tips below to

conserve and protect our precious

water resources.

Waterwise in the garden

Between three fifths (or 60

percent) of total household water

consumption is used on the garden.

Fortunately there is a lot that home

gardeners can do to conserve and

protect our water resources whether

they have new gardens, established

gardens, vegie patches or rosebeds.

Watch the weather. Check

the forecast for rain, showers or

hot weather approaching and water

accordingly. In the warmer

months water in the evening or

early in the morning to prevent

evaporation.

Plant waterwise species. Select species that do not require

heavy watering and that are well

adapted to the local climate and

environmental conditions,

especially with respect to hot

summers and drought tolerance.

Regularly check soil moisture before and after

watering to see how wet the soil is.

Try growing drought tolerant Australian native plants instead of water thirsty exotic

species. It is better to replace

plants that die from lack of water

with more hardy species than

continuing to use more water than

is necessary on the garden.

Where possible use evergreen trees and shrubs in

your garden, these drink water all

year ‘round and therefore help to

control the rising watertable.

When planning or planting

your garden, group plants that

have similar water, soil and light

preferences.

Add organic matter (eg

compost, blood and bone, or

manure) to the soil; it will improve

Hibbertia obtusifolia

(Hoary Guinea flower) -

A local woodland species


Page 3

the soil so that it holds more

water at the same time as adding

nutrients for use by the plants.

Water deeply - at weekly

intervals rather than every day.

This will encourage your plants to

establish deep roots and some

degree of drought tolerance.

Save water with tap timers and trigger nozzle attachments for the hose and/or install water

saving watering systems; eg

drippers or pop up sprinklers that

allow even precise watering and

deliver water efficiently. Tap

timers also help to prevent taps

from being left on.

Mulch all garden beds –

mulching can reduce evaporation

by up to 75% - use straw,

newspaper, bark chips, pebbles, or

recycled green waste etc. Mulch

will also help to reduce rainfall

run-off from your soil.

Water around the base of your plants, not on the leaves.

Control weeds as these take

water from your plants.

Waterwise display gardens

While you’re thinking about

being Waterwise why not visit the

councils Waterwise Garden displays

at Apex Park behind the playground

and at Stokes Park in Elgin Street

opposite the hospital.

Or for more ideas about what

species grow well in your local area,

see what others are growing in your

neighbourhood. There are some

wonderful waterwise gardens planted

at private homes in the shire.


Page 4

Waterwise lawn areas

Watering lawns is a major

contributor to urban salinity. In

particular, over-watering of lawns

contributes directly to high water

tables – bringing to the surface salt

that can damage house foundations

and corrode pipes.

Below are some tips to maximise

lawn watering efficiency.

Reduce grassed areas - this

will save on mowing time and save

water. Replace unused lawn areas

with groundcovers, well-mulched

garden beds or pavers.

Take the grass catcher off the mower – leave clippings on the

lawn as they make good mulch and

help retain soil moisture.

Limit watering the lawn - only water if your lawn is showing

signs of stress such as loosing

colour.

Don’t cut your grass too short. Longer grass will mean

that the soil surface is shaded,

reducing loss of water through

evaporation.

Use organic fertilisers like

‘Blood and Bone’ to improve the

water holding capacity of the soil

as well as adding nutrients.

Never water lawns in the heat of the day. Water early in

the morning or in the evening.

Waterwise in and around the home

Despite Australia being one of

the driest inhabited continents our

household consumption of water is one

of the highest in the world. Our

overuse of water has caused major

salinity problems in both urban and

rural areas.

You’d be surprised how much

water everyday activities consume.

The average household uses around

900 litres of water every day.

Washing machines use about 150


Page 5

litres, dishwashers 50 litres and long

showers can use 200 litres.

Heres some really easy ways to

reduce water use in the home.

Only operate full dishwashers and washing machines. Where possible, match

the setting on the washing machine

with the amount of laundry to be

washed.

Turn off taps when cleaning

teeth or shaving – save 5 litres

water.

Store drinking water in the fridge rather than letting the tap

run every time you want a cool

glass of water.

Repair all dripping taps – a

continuously dripping tap can mean

up to 600 litres of water is wasted

a day.

Install dual flush toilet, check the cistern for leaks, and

avoid flushing the toilet

unnecessarily. Alternatively

reduce the water used for each

flush by placing a brick, litre

bottle of water or a partly filled

wine bladder in your cistern.

Plug the sink when rinsing

vegies or plates etc.

Get water saving shower heads and taps, or take a bath – a half filled bath uses less water

than a long shower.

Look for appliances that reduce water use. Showerheads,

dishwashers, washing machines and

toilets with high water efficiency

are rated AAA and higher. Front

loading washing machines save on

water, energy and detergent.

Use a broom instead of the

hose to clean paths and driveways.

Use the water meter to

check for leaks in the plumbing and

appliances.

Use pool covers to reduce

evaporation.

Use a bucket and not the

hose to wash the car.

Direct water from air conditioners onto the garden.


Page 6

Rainwater and re-use of greywater

Two simple ways that you can

help with the conservation of our

precious water, especially in times of

drought or low water storages, is to

supplement your water supply with

rainwater or through the re-use of

grey water.

Rainwater tanks

Installing a rainwater tank is a

way you can top up your water supply.

See council for further information

on the installation of rainwater tanks

on your property.

Grey water reuse

Grey water is household

wastewater that has not come into

contact with toilet waste. It comes

from the kitchen sink, dishwasher,

bath, shower, hand washbasins, the

washing machine or the laundry

trough.

If you are wishing to reuse

greywater in the long term, reuse

should be in accordance with the grey

water reuse policy and as required by

legislation (contact your local council,

the EPA or NSW Health department

for details of the current regulations

and/or restrictions).

There are restrictions on the

use of greywater. For example,

greywater from the shower cannot be

directly diverted onto garden through

permanent changes to the plumbing of

the building without prior approval.

For up to date advice contact your

local council.

However, some general

guidelines for greywater reuse follow;

Grey water cannot be re-used

for drinking or other domestic

uses such as food preparations,

washing clothes, or topping up

swimming pools.

Some types of greywater can

be used relatively safely for

garden watering. For example,

greywater from the bath, shower,

hand basin, laundry trough and

washing machine (final rinse only).

Greywater from the kitchen

sink and dishwahser should not be

reused on the garden as these can

contain heavy loads of organic

matter, fat and caustic additives.

The tips for water conservation

around the home listed above were

primarily sourced from www.waterwise.nsw.gov.au.


Page 7

HEALTHY WATER AND WATERWAYS

Where does your stormwater go?

Did you know that everything

that goes down the drain either at

home or in the streets ends up in local

creeks and waterways like the Lachlan

River and Lake Forbes. Gutters and

drains take stormwater from our

streets straight into rivers and lakes.

Unlike, wastewater that is

treated through our sewerage plant,

urban stormwater enters our

waterways untreated. So when it

rains, stormwater can carry with it

pollution from around our homes and

streets directly into the waterways

where we swim and where animals and

plants live.

If we stop pollution entering the

gutters and drains in the first place

we can help to keep our waterways

clean and healthy. That way we will

provide a better environment for us

and for plants and animals.

The Drain Is Just For Rain

Have you seen this slogan

stencilled on the gutters and drains

around Forbes? The Drain is Just for

Rain campaign in the shopping district

of Forbes is to show that if people

put litter down the drain, it ends up

polluting the waterways where we

swim, fish and go boating.

What goes down the drain can

be toxic for wildlife, and can make

swimming or fishing unpleasant or

even unhealthy.

For more information on the

“THE DRAIN IS JUST OR RAIN”

campaign visit the Environmental

Protection Agency’s stormwater

website (www.epa.nsw.gov.au/stormwater).

The tips for healthier and

cleaner waterways listed below were

primarily sourced from the

Department of Infrastructure,

Planning and Natural Resources ( www.dipnr.nsw.gov.au ).


Page 8

Reducing pollution of our water from the garden

There are many things that can

be done around the garden to help

reduce the run-off of excess

nutrients, pesticides and herbicides

to stormwater.

Below are some suggestions for

the ways you can help keep our

waterways healthy and clean.

Use compost or manure instead of fertiliser – excess

fertiliser finds its way into

surface and ground water,

eventually ending up in stormwater

drains and creeks etc. In the case

of Forbes township – often into

Lake Forbes, and contributing

blue-green algae blooms.

Plant pest tolerant species and use natural repellents to reduce pesticide use. Pesticides

washed into our waterways can kill

fish and other freshwater life.

Use chemical free and/or natural pesticides where possible

in the garden.

Avoid bare patches of soil to reduce runoff and

contamination of drains. This also

helps to prevent evaporation and

capillary action that can bring salt

to the soil surface.

Keep paths and gutters free of dirt and rubbish. Rubbish in

gutters and on paths is often

washed directly into Lake Forbes,

the Lachlan River or other nearby

watercourses during rain events.

Wash your car on your lawn or at a commercial carwash facility - It is illegal to discharge

soapy carwash water to the gutter.

Install a rainwater tank. Run-off from many roofs go

directly into the ground water via

rubble drains or directly to the

kerbside gutters to contribute to

stormwater run off. Rainwater

tanks can catch stormwater that

can be used at a later date for

many things around the yard and

house, including watering the

garden.


Page 9

Reducing pollution of our water from inside the home

Many of the products we use

daily such as detergents and oils

contribute to pollution of our

waterways. Here are some simple

ways to help reduce pollutants from

the home entering and contaminating

our waterways.

Use biodegradable household

cleaning products where possible.

Use low phosphorus

detergents in the laundry and

kitchen.

Dispose of unwanted

household waste such as old paints,

solvents, motor oils etc to

approved disposal sites.

Use a sink strainer in the

kitchen to avoid letting vegie

scraps and other materials

entering sinks and drains.

For details of places where unwanted

household waste products (such as

sump oil) can be recycled in Forbes

see the “Local Service Directory”

section at the end of this guide.

WASTE MANAGEMENT Have you ever thought about the

role you play in creating waste? We all

create waste so we all need to be part

of helping to reduce waste. As a

community we can all learn together

about practical ways we can make

much less waste.

Follow the 3 R’s in reducing

waste! Reduce, Re-use and Recycle!!

It is better to REDUCE the amount of

waste generated in the first place and

if you can’t reduce it the next best

option is to RE-USE whatever waste

you can and finally it is important to

RECYCLE as much as you can of the

remaining waste. REDUCE

RECYCLE

RE-USE


Page 10

Reducing waste generated

This simply means to create the

as little as possible waste in the first

place. Ways of reducing waste

include;

Avoiding purchasing unnecessary products.

Choose products that have minimum packaging, and where

possible choosing products with

locally recyclable packaging.

Buy products in bulk or concentrated form.

Using and re-using durable and repairable products rather

than disposable products.

Put a “NO JUNK MAIL PLEASE” sticker on your post box.

Re-use whatever waste you can

Re-using items again and again is

a quick and easy method that does not

require reprocessing between uses.

In helping to reduce waste the key is

to consider that items that are no

longer needed by you may be able to

be used by someone else. Here are

some examples that you may want to

try;

Re-use packaging such as

food containers, glass jars etc.

Re-use plastic bags within

the house.

Organise a garage sale with

friends and/or neighbours to sell

unwanted but useful household

items.

Don’t throw away second hand clothing, furniture, building materials or car parts etc. There are many businesses

dedicated to re-using or selling

second hand materials.


Page 11

Recycle where possible

Recycling involves taking a used

product and breaking down the

materials it is made of and using

those materials to make something

new. Recycling saves natural

resources, conserves energy, curbs

the greenhouse effect and reduces

water usage and pollution.

Recyclable on a product simply

means that it is possible to recycle

the material and somewhere in the

world, a process exists to recycle the

item – but it is important to note that

it may not be practical to do so. You

need to know what local collection and

processing systems are in place .

Common household waste items

that can be easily collected for

recycling include; glass, aluminium,

paper, some plastics, food and garden

waste, steel, oil and motor vehicle

batteries just as a start.

For details of places that can

re-use items or where waste items

can be recycled in Forbes see the

“Local Service Directory” section at

the end of this guide.

Recycle where possible to reduce that amount of household waste going onto landfill.

PLASTIC BAGS…. DO WE REALLY NEED THEM?? Below are some alarming facts

from Planet Ark on plastic bags.

Australians use an estimated

7 billion plastic checkout bags each

year (that’s nearly one bag per

person per day).

Plastic bags take between 15

and 1000 years to break down in

the environment.

In the environment, plastic

bags can be lethal - killing birds,

whales, seals and turtles. On land,

plastic bags can block drains, and

contribute to litter.

At least 80 million plastic

bags end up as litter on our

beaches, streets and parks - with


Page 12

governments spending over $200

million a year picking up litter.

To help combat the problems

associated with plastic bags the

Federal Government and the Australia

Retailers Association have set up a

voluntary agreement to reduce the

consumption of single use plastic bags

by 25% by the end of December

2004, and by 50% by December 2005.

With a possible total phasing out of

single use plastic shopping bags by the

year 2009.

Until the use of single use

plastic bags is banned, there are many

things that individuals can do to help

reduce the impact of plastic bags on

our environment.

Firstly, most large supermarket

stores and plastic recycling centres

now accept empty plastic checkout

bags for recycling. So where possible

be sure to drop off your excess

plastic shopping bags for recycling.

Secondly, one of the most

effective ways to prevent plastic bags

contributing to rubbish in our towns

and waterways is to reduce our use of

them. Either by re-using your

existing plastic bags or better still by

avoiding plastic bags in the first

place. Be sure to ask yourself the

following questions before accepting

your next single-use plastic bag...

Do you really need a plastic bag for every purchase?

Could you use reusable bag instead?

Could you get the groceries packed into cardboard boxes instead of plastic bags (and reuse or recycle these cardboard boxes)?


Page 13

WITH FORBES BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WORKING TOGETHER, COULD WE BE ONE OF THE FIRST TOWNS

IN THE CENTRAL WEST TO BECOME PLASTIC BAG FREE???

BUYING GREEN OR SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTS The power of the consumer’s

dollar can be used to create a higher

demand and therefore production of

sustainable products. Here are some

things to consider when trying to buy

green or sustainable products.

Aim for less packaging – try

to avoid products that have

excessive or unnecessary

packaging.

Make sure the products you buy have recyclable packaging that can be recycled in your area. Think of the waste that will

be generated as a result of you

buying that item and choose

products accordingly.

Buy products that have a recycled content in their packaging. By buying products

with recycled content we increase

the demand for recycled materials

and support Australia’s recycling

industries.

Buy products made from recycled materials. Some

products themselves are made

from recycled materials.

Use biodegradable detergent and vegetable based cleaning products.

Refuse single-use plastic shopping bags, use reusable bags

or ask for cardboard boxes that

can be re-used or recycled.

REDUCING GREEN WASTE IN LANDFILL On average about half of the

garbage put out by households is

organic material, such as food scraps

and garden waste. Most of this

organic material can be composted at

home or fed to worms in worm farms.

Garden waste such as lawn clippings or

leaves can be composted or used

directly on the garden as mulch.

While larger garden waste such as

branches can be mulched or chipped

and used as mulch on gardens.


Page 14


Page 15

Composting

Composting greatly reduces the

volume of your garbage. Further, by

keeping organic waste out of landfills

the amount of toxic leachate is also

greatly reduced. If you are thinking

of setting up a compost system try

and re-use second hand materials such

as pallets, wood, mesh, timber and

bricks. If buying a bin, consider one

from recycled products such as

plastic.

Composting is a natural recycling

process where plant and animal tissue

is transformed into a very useful

product that can be given back to our

gardens reducing our need for

synthetic fertilisers and excess

water.

So now you might in interested

in creating your own compost heap but

what materials should you use? The

answer is simple anything organic (ie

anything that was part of a plant or

animal) but diversity of materials is

the key to top quality compost.

Air through the compost heap

encourages the non-smelly aerobic

bacteria to breed and do the

decomposing so the more air the less

smell. You need to ensure your

compost can breathe some ideas to do

this include adding layers of coarse

organic matter such as tree clippings,

or turn your compost heap once every

one to two weeks and make sure that

the structure or bin you have the

compost in has holes in the top and

sides to allow the air to flow through

it.

Your compost heap should be

moist to touch but not wet. A

sprinkling of lime onto your compost

heap is useful when pests such as

mites, vinegar flies, maggots, slugs

occur or if a sour smell develops.

Your finished compost is an

organically enriched soil product that

can be used in your garden and potted

plants as a natural alternative to

costly and potentially dangerous

fertilisers. Compost will help to


Page 16

improve your soil quality and

productivity.

Worm farms

Keeping compost worms in

containers and feeding them fruit and

vegetatble scraps (excluding onions

and citrus, and meat and dairy

products), paper and cardboard is

another cheap and simple way to cut

down on the garbage you throw away.

As a bonus, the worms produce a

wonderful garden fertiliser – worm

casting.

Suitable containers for keeping

worms include wooden boxes,

stackable worm farms and other

commercially available worm factories.

Homemade worm farms can be made

with old bathtubs, foam boxes or

whatever container you can find.

Worm casting produced by a

worm farm can be used to make a

liquid fertiliser for your garden.

Simply add two generous handfuls of

casting to a 9 litre bucket of water.

Stir and apply to the base of you

favourite plants.

Here are some easy steps to

follow to create a worm farm.

Choose a spot for your new

worm farm that is cool, shady and

out of direct rain.

Choose a container for your

worm farm that is well drained at

the base (cut more holes if

necessary).

Layer a 5 – 10 cm bed of

course gravel at the base of your

container and then layer with weed

fabric or shadecloth.

Add some bedding material

(eg, damp coir, straw and manure

such as aged horse manure).

Add your compost worms,

feed them with food scraps and

cover with damp hessian or carpet.

Keep feeding the worms until

full of castings the scoop castings

out and start again.

Some important tips to

remember about your worm farm;

Don’t overfeed your worms.

Don’t over water your worms.

Chop up the food scarps so

the worms can process them

quicker.

Dust the bedding with lime if

you see pests such as mites,

vinegar flies, maggots, slugs or if a

sour smell develops.

Think of your worms as pets,

if you go away have someone feed

them.


Page 17

Organic mulch

Larger organic garden waste is

not suitable for home composting or

use as mulch unless it has been

chipped or shredded. Once organic

mulch has been created it can be

applied to the surface of gardens or

even revegetation projects. A thick

layer of mulch (15 – 20 cm) will reduce

water loss and suppress weed growth.

Households may have or have

access to a chipper / shredder /

mulcher that can chip or shred leaves,

twigs and small branches. These are

usually somewhat noisy but are

relatively effective for processing

smaller garden waste items.

However, for larger branches

etc you will have to consider dropping

garden waste at a depot with a

suitable shredder / mulcher.

For details of where larger

green waste items can be mulched in

Forbes see the “Local Service

Directory” section at the end of this

guide.

Garden mulch is available free to

local residents from the Daroobalgie

Landfill Waste Depot.


Page 17

GET ENERGY SMART More than 40 million tonnes of

harmful greenhouse gas emissions are

attributed to the electricity

consumption of Australia's six million

homes every year - that's 25% of the

total amount of greenhouse gas

produced due to the use of electricity

and gas.

Reduced domestic energy use

will have a significant impact on

greenhouse gas emissions, thereby

reducing the impact of climate

change.

Below are some energy saving

things you can do in your existing

house by implementing even a few

small changes around your home, you

could be making big savings.

Turn off appliances, lights

and computers etc while not in use

(studies estimate that 10% of

power usage at home is by

appliances on standby).

Use compact fluorescent light bulbs in rooms where lights

are on for a long period.

Become a subscriber of Green Power – energy produced

from renewable resources (non-

depleting) such as solar, wind and

water. Contact your energy

supplier for more information.

Consider installing solar power or solar hot water.

Turn off pilot lights for gas

heaters in summer.

Fill the kettle or jug with only the water you need.

Wash clothes in cold water and where ever possible dry them

on the line.

Install adequate insulation in your home.

Wear more or less clothes instead of relying on heating and

cooling.

While cooking, use lids on the pots and simmer gently rather than boiling rapidly. Or use

a microwave (a microwave uses

70% less electricity).

The bathroom uses approximately 65% of household hot water, by restricting length

of showers, or installing water


Page 18

saving showerheads big savings on

hot water usage can be made.

Install draught seals around doors and windows.

Choose low energy rated appliances where possible (the

more stars on the energy rating

sticker the better).

Shade hot windows in

summer to reduce heat absorption.

Fit heavy drapes or blinds, or double glaze windows to

reduce heat loss in winter.

Do not overheat or overcool a room – every one degree in

temperature can increase heating

or cooling bills and emissions by

10%.

Things to consider in a new home or a home renovation

If you are renovating or building

your home, you have the perfect

opportunity to save money, and make

your home as comfortable and energy

efficient as possible.

An Energy Smart Home looks

just like any other home but uses the

best combination of building

orientation, wall and ceiling insulation,

efficient heating, cooling, hot water,

lighting and appliances to reduce

household energy consumption by up

to 40%.

Because Energy Smart Homes

use significantly less energy than

conventional homes, they can save you

hundreds of dollars on your energy

bills and help protect our environment

by reducing greenhouse pollution.

An energy smart home includes

design alternatives - such as passive

solar design and energy efficient

water heating - that dramatically

reduce the need for non-renewable

energy and artificial heating and

cooling, reduce household energy bills

and greenhouse gas emissions, and

make homes more comfortable to live

in.

Information from this section

was sourced from the Sustainable

Energy Development Authority

(SEDA) homepage. For more

information on Energy Smart homes

visit the following websites;

www.seda.nsw.gov.au

www.energysmart.com.au


Page 19

GREENER BUSINESS TIPS With many households now doing

their best to recycle or limit waste

and pollution, as well as conserve

energy it is time for businesses to use

their initiative and find out where

they too can recycle or conserve.

The tips below are just some of

the ways that environmentally

friendly work practices can be

introduced into the workplace at no or

little cost to your business.

Insist on double-sided

printing where possible.

Implement a paper recycling

system.

Re-use envelopes.

Purchase products produced

with a recycled content (eg toilet

paper, paper towel or office

paper).

In the tea-room have china

mugs and steel cutlery available

for staff and visitors or clients.

Start recycling electronic

waste such as mobile phones,

photocopier and printer

cartridges.

Limit your use of plastic

bags, encourage customers to use

reusable bags, paper bags or

better still no bags where possible.

Provide consumers with

options other than plastic bags for

their purchases (eg an option of no

bag, paper bags, reusable cloth or

go-green bags, boxes or at the

least shopping bags made from

recycled plastics).

Subscribe to ‘Green Power’ –

energy produced from renewable

resources such as solar, wind and

water.

More information can be found

at these websites;

www.wrapp.nsw.gov.au

www.livingthing.net.au

www.epa.nsw.gov.au

www.ecooffice.com.au/how


Page 20

ENCOURAGING NATIVE ANIMALS AND PLANTS Why not create a fauna haven in

your backyard? Whether it’s a small

corner or the entire space, a wild life

habitat will benefit you, your garden

and all sorts of native creatures.

Plant locally native species

Where possible include local

native species in your garden to help

encourage local native wildlife.

For information on the

propagation and identification of local

native plant trees and shrubs see

Sydes et al. (2003). A Practical Guide

to Revegetation in the Mid Lachlan

Region (available from the

Department of Infrastructure,

Planning and Natural Resources office

in Parkes).

Plant animal friendly gardens

To attract native birds, frogs,

butterflies, lizards and other animals:

Plant natives among other

plants (plan for year round

flowering).

Provide water in the garden

(freshwater is a magnet for

wildlife). You will need to seal the

base of any ponds created.

Select species for your

garden that provide nectar as a

food source for butterflies and

birds (eg daisies, bottlebrushes,

banksias, gum trees, correas,

native pea species)

Plant some spiky bushes

(animals can hide from predators).

Leave leaf litter and

branches in the garden (provides

protection and food for animals).


Page 21

Plant tussocky native plants

(provide seed and protection for

frogs and small mammals and food

for many caterpillar species).

Establish reedy plants around

water’s edge (they’ll become

important breeding sites for

frogs).

Be a responsible cat owner -

keep your cat inside as much as

possible, and always at night.

Even just a few carefully

selected wildlife – friendly plants can

boost the number and variety of wild

creatures that visit your garden.

Nesting boxes for wildlife

Consider building and erecting

nest boxes in your yard to house

wildlife. Be sure to consider;

The needs and habitat of

your target species.

Ensure nesting box opening is

protected from the harsh weather

(eg, hot sun and rain etc).

Don’t install too low – ground

predators may raid the nest.

Monitor the box regularly,

although be careful not to disturb

the inhabitants.

If the box is tied to a tree

with wire, be sure to loosen wire

when necessary.

Avoid feeding the animals or

birds, they may become dependant

on you and stop feeding for

themselves.

Your local National Parks and

Wildlife Service can help with advice

on what birds and animals you would

find in your area.

See the benefits

Besides enjoying observing what

animals and birds might establish in

your nesting boxes, the native animals

you attract will feed on pests in your

garden, you may be able to extend a

helping hand to some of our

threatened and declining species of

birds and animals.


Page 22

LOCAL SERVICE DIRECTORY Businesses, service or product

providers listed here were sourced

through an advertisement placed in

the Forbes Advocate over the period

of a month (February 2004), through

local contacts and from information

sourced from Planet Ark’s

RecyclingNearYou website;

www.recyclingnearyou.com.au.

The following is not intended to

be a complete list of suppliers and the

inclusion here of an individual,

organisation or business is not

necessarily an endorsement of their

product or service.

Australia Post Shop

118 Lachlan Street, Forbes 2871. Phone: 6850 2950

Over the Christmas – New Year period is a drop off point for recycling of

Christmas cards.

Used printer cartridge drop-off point.

Batteryworld

Lot 4 Parkes Road , Forbes 2871. Phone: 6851 5401

Mobile phone recycling.

Bernardis and Sullivans IGA supermarkets

Lachlan and Bandon St Forbes.

Has for sale reusable shopping bags.

Daroobalgie Landfill Waste Depot

Hoopers Road, Forbes 2871. Mobile: 0417 203 761

Organic garden waste (grass clippings, branches, garden prunings etc..)

Whitegoods

Scrap metal including steel food cans, car bodies and fencing wire


Page 23

Sump oil

Untreated timber

Glass bottles and jars

Aluminium cans and foil

Car batteries

Second goods shop and sales

Garden mulch free to residents

Enjo

Laurel Hull, Phone: 6852 1862

Environmentally friendly cleaning fibres.

Forbes TV and Video Repairs

132 Rankin Street, Forbes 2871. Phone: 6852 2921

Mobile phone recycling and VCRs for parts and reuse within the store.

Lachlan Valley Building Recyclers

Merino Street, Forbes. Phone: 6851 4790

Bricks, concrete, roof tiles, terracotta pipes

Building materials

Fees may apply.

Salvation Army Red Shield Family Store

Browne Street, Forbes. Phone: 6851 1125

Take donations of second hand clothing, shoes, books, toys, kitchenware,

furniture and electrical. Anything that has a resale value.

St Vincent de Paul Store

109 Rankin Street, Forbes. Phone: 6852 1865


Page 24

Take donations of second hand clothing, books, toys, shoes, crockery,

glassware and cookware, blankets, and rags. Do not accept furniture or

electrical goods.

Sunshine Club Opportunity Shop

Templar Street, Forbes. Phone: 6851 4028

Take donations of second hand clothing, shoes, books, toys, kitchenware,

furniture and electrical. Anything that has a resale value.

Will accept glass jam jars with lids for reuse within the store.

Twin City Recyclers

2 Oxford Street, Forbes 2871

Ph/Fax: 6851 5222, Mobile: 0428 512292, Email: [email protected]

Collections of cardboard / paper from business houses in both Forbes

and Parkes for a small monthly fee. Bins / bags provided.

24 hour drop off point at premises in Oxford Street for; all paper,

cardboard, newspapers, aluminium cans, plastic shopping bags, plastic milk

cartons (no. 2 - HDPE), plastic soft drink bottles (no. 1 – PET ), and all other

plastics marked with the recycle numbers 1 or 2.

Drum Muster collection agency. All drums must be thoroughly rinsed and

have lids removed before bringing them into Twin City Recyclers, where they

must be checked by one of our registered staff.

Woolworths

Rankin Street, Forbes.

Accepts plastic shopping bags for recycling

Has for sale reusable shopping bags.

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