Live Sustainably at the Clarence Elf

LEARN TO LIVE SUSTAINABLY AT THE CLARENCE ELF

The Clarence Environmental Learning Facility (ELF) is a valuable educational resource for sustainable living in the Clarence Valley.

Located at the Grafton Regional Landfill and Resource Recovery Centre on Armidale Road, South Grafton, the ELF aims to improve environmental awareness through interactive displays, group workshops, tours and meeting room facilities. From observing cultural connections to water, to standing under the tree of knowledge, and taking a pledge to commit to one positive change, a tour of the ELF is an immersive experience. As Dirtgirl says,

“It’s called a facility, but it’s more like a theme park”.

“The ELF is an amazing centre of stories,” the long-time friend of the ELF said during a recent visit with her besties Scrapboy and Costa the Garden Gnome earlier this year. “When we understand that we are nature, we are bound by responsibility and care. Come to connect with why we care.” Discover different ways to reduce your carbon footprint by choosing recycled materials, buying locally grown and made products, and getting creative to repurpose scrap and unwanted objects. Learn to avoid single-use plastics like straws, cutlery and water bottles, and build simple habits like using a keep-cup for your coffee or cotton mesh bags for your vegetables. The ELF will inspire you to make sustainable choices your thing. So find out if you’re a water whizz, or whether you’ve been putting all your waste in the correct bins – including the lesser known REDcycle bin for soft plastics – book your excursion to the ELF today. Programs at the ELF are tailored to suit pre-school and school groups of all ages, Tafe and university students, and community groups, including curriculum related talks and workshops around biodiversity, climate change, catchment management, water quality, water efficiency and conservation. It is also open to the general public. Guided tours can be arranged of our Organics Recycling Facility (ORF), Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) and landfill, as well as Shannon Creek Dam.

Back row (l to r): Noel Boniface, Andrew Buchanan, Richard Roper, Costa the Garden Gnome, Mathew O’Meally , Josh McCarthy Middle row: Ben Ellis, Suzanne Lynch, Ken Wilson, Vanessa Emerton Back row: Scrapboy, Dirtgirl.

To find out more and to arrange a visit, get in touch with our Environmental Education Officer Suzanne Lynch via the customer contact centre on (02) 6643 0200 or email council@clarence.nsw.gov.au