Council cuts gas emissions by 70%

Reducing the impact of waste emissions has resulted in significant greenhouse gas emission reductions. Greenhouse gas emissions reduced by 70% across Council operations in 2021-22.

Brighton Council has worked to reduce the environmental impact of its operations - buildings, parks, community halls, sporting facilities, streetlights, waste services (including community waste) and the vehicle fleet. Brighton Council has invested in 25 measures over the last decade that have saved money on bills, which has flow on impacts for better service delivery.

Brighton Council has recognised the need to urgently and significantly reduce the greenhouse gas emissions which contribute to human induced climate change.

The corporate greenhouse gas emissions footprint was over 13,000 tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2-e) in 2020-21 and reduced to 4,000 tCO2-e in 202122. Current emissions are equivalent to the emissions do this wonderful course, which changed my working career. I started my own gardening business which took me to some of Tasmania’s beautiful heritage homes and gardens where I was their regular gardener. I felt very privileged, pinching myself regularly. I have now retired from everyone’s gardens and only work on ours.

What’s your favorite plant that works well in this area? I used to be a member of the Heritage Roses Society of Tasmania. As our property is rocky and full of minerals, I planted many heritage roses. We put in so many roses, my stepson named our property from 862 passenger vehicles driven for one year.

The rapid fall in emissions is largely a result of community waste being sent to the Copping facility, managed by Southern Waste Solutions, that captures, flares methane gas, and generates electricity from biogas, which lowers greenhouse gas emissions from landfill waste significantly.

In addition, the introduction of a Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) waste service diverted organic matter away from landfill, saving further emissions. In the initial year of FOGO waste service provision over 1,300 tonnes of organic matter has been removed from landfill and recycled into compost.

Other significant measures Brighton Council has undertaken to reduce its environmental impact include:

• Switching over 1000 streetlights to energy efficient LED’s

• Converting heating, lighting, and hot water systems to better performing systems

• Installing four rooftop solar systems

• Purchasing two hybrid electric vehicles and procuring an all-electric vehicle

• Investing in biodiversity and habitat restoration through street tree planting and Natural Resource Management

For further information visit www.brighton.tas.gov.au/ community/environment.

‘Roseville’. Over the years, we have removed some of these and have planted out with Tasmanian natives. The plants we have planted are native to the Brighton area due to harsh winter frosts, missed rains and winds that go around us.

How can readers get in volved? The Brighton & Sur rounds Gardening Club meets at the Pontville Memorial Hall on the fourth Monday in the month at 7pm. Upcoming meet ings will be held 27 March and 24 April, 2023. Memberships to the Brighton & Surrounds Gardening Club are $50 per person and $30 for concession and seniors card holders.

Hard and Green Waste Collection

Week beginning Monday 24 April, 2023

Brighton Council offers a FREE Green and Hard Waste collection service to help residents dispose of unwanted items and green waste. Waste must be placed on the nature strip the night before the collection date and must be able to be listed safely by two men. All hard waste items must not exceed two metres in length.

• All items such as tree branches and cuttings must be tied in 20kg or less bundles and a maximum of 1.5m in length and 20cm in diameter.

• Loose materials must be bagged.

• Items such as rubble, soil, rocks and concrete will not be collected.

• Vehicle tyres, fridges, freezers and mattresses are no longer accepted as part of these collections. All these items can be taken to the Waste Transfer Station for a fee.

HARD WASTE AND GREEN WASTE ARE TO BE KEPT SEPARATE

Please do not endanger Council Staff by leaving out broken glass, asbestos and chemicals. This service is only available to residents who currently receive kerbside collection.

For more information, please contact the Brighton Council on (03) 6268 7000 or www.brighton.tas.gov.au/property/waste/ admin@brighton.tas.gov.au www.brighton.tas.gov.au