Zero Waste Australia

This project is about positioning Wagga Wagga industry for a Zero Waste Future. Based on industrial ecology principles, ZWA seeks to foster collaborative opportunities for local industries to better manage their by-products and emissions.

Open Letter to the Wagga Wagga Community

Following the Climate Change seminar and business dinner held on the 6th of September 2007, attendees from the Wagga Region expressed strong support in proactively participating in this new Carbon Economy of the future.  We take this opportunity to express publicly our firm commitment to the Wagga Wagga community and region.  

 The current drought in Australia has lasted over six years. It is the most serious drought Australia has faced. The Nearest comparable drought was in 1914/15 however irrigation and urban development was at a significantly lower level so that water scarcity was not felt to the extent to which it is today. Wagga Wagga is situated within the Murray Darling Basin which is the most important agricultural region in Australia. There are now competing demands for water from urban use, industrial use, the environment and agriculture. 

In recognition of the dire circumstance in which we find ourselves the Australian Government introduced the National Water Initiative which represents the territories, states and federal governments’ shared commitment to water reform.

Climate change is a global challenge.  But Australia should not wait for global responses because the benefits of early action outweigh the costs. The report also outlined that there are benefits in setting emission targets and that our goal should be to lower emissions at least costs while maintaining the certainty for investment that Australian business requires.  And more recently a special task force also looked at the role that a carbon trading scheme might have in the future.

As a vibrant local community our businesses, farms and institutions can participate in efforts to address these carbon and water problems. Our recent seminar highlighted that our community is well equipped to engage in a range of activities that have economic, social and environmental benefits.

1. The VRM Project at Bomen, had a field day on Thursday 13th of September showing
   the recycling of wastewater into biologically activated fertiliser.
2. TAFE courses on energy and water audit skills for electrical and plumbing and
   gas fitting trades.
3. Emphasis in TAFE and University courses on Agriculture units to do with,
   greenhouse efficiency and value chain management in a carbon economy.
4. Undertaking case study audits of businesses, such as a supermarket and a food
   processor and a farm.
5. A follow up seminar to look at practical ways businesses can engage in the
   process and save dollars. This seminar would be hosted at Riverina Institute
   campus supported by Riverina TAFE, the Chamber of Commerce, the Riverina Food
   Group.
6. The opportunity to work with Charles Sturt University as part of their International UNESCO endorsed
   program , ‘HELP’ (Hydrology, Environment, Life and Policy). 

The enthusiastic support for these and many other initiatives will be garnered and we will take steps to ensure that the community is kept informed of what these opportunities are and how local people can participate. 

ZWA is committed to showing leadership on this issue and invite you to give it your
favourable support.