FEBRUARY 13, 2018 \ STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
NEWS + SPORT + PROPERTY GUIDE
(Marco De Luca)
Success, in the bag The volunteers propelling Kyneton’s Boomerang Bags initiative are celebrating after hand-making 2000 bags in less than a year. And they’re inviting the entire community to join the party and the production line. Co-ordinator Sandra Dykmans said everyone – including children – is invited to join the team for coffee and cake on February 19 from 10-11am, and lend a hand if they could. She said the Kyneton branch of the international Boomerang Bags initiative, which is jointly supported by the Kyneton Community & Learning Centre and Kyneton Transition Hub, was a great success in the town. “We’re seeing a lot of the bags being used,” Ms Dykmans said. The bags are handmade from recycled and donated fabrics and are placed in local stores for the community to use as an alternative to plastic bags. Attendees to the project’s celebration can have a go at cutting fabric, screen printing and using the sewing machines. The celebration and workshop will be held at 34 Mollison Street, Kyneton. For more information visit www. kynetonclc.org.au/kyneton-boomerangbags SANDRA DYKMANS AND DAUGHTER CHLOE
Serena Seyfort
Recycle rescued for now By Serena Seyfort Macedon Ranges residents can continue to put out their recycling bins after recycling giant Visy agreed to delay halting its agreement with the area’s waste contractor. But the service’s continuation in the short term could come at a higher cost to Macedon Ranges council. This week the council will meet local waste collector Wheelie Waste to discuss cost and
current and future options for dealing with the shire’s recycling. The council is one of 11 western Victorian councils left in limbo since Visy announced it would no longer accept recyclable material from Wheelie Waste as of February 10. On Friday, it was agreed the deadline would be extended for the Macedon Ranges – just one day before the suspension was to come into effect. The council has said residents should
continue to put out their recycling bins for curbside collection. When the impending suspension was announced on January 31, the council reassured residents that their recyclable materials would not go to landfill. Mayor Jennifer Anderson said the council was working hard to find a solution with the industry and state government. “Our community works hard to minimise waste and it’s important that they continue to
be conscientious and recycle,” Cr Anderson said. Visy’s plans to suspend taking recycling from the area comes after the Chinese government recently banned the importation of recycled materials, leaving the recycling giant without a destination for waste. Mount Alexander, Greater Shepparton, Horsham and Ararat are among the other Victorian councils left scrambling for long-term recycling solutions.