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
purposes intended.
for
the
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
A HOUSEHOLD ACTION GUIDE TO A CLEANER-GREENER FORBES SHIRE
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.
is:-
The purpose of the committee

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.
A HOUSEHOLD ACTION GUIDE TO A CLEANER-GREENER FORBES SHIRE
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
A HOUSEHOLD ACTION GUIDE TO A CLEANER-GREENER FORBES SHIRE
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
A HOUSEHOLD ACTION GUIDE TO A CLEANER-GREENER FORBES SHIRE
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.
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?
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
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.
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A HOUSEHOLD ACTION GUIDE TO A CLEANER-GREENER FORBES SHIRE
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.
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.
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.
Hibbertia obtusifolia
(Hoary Guinea flower) A local woodland species

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
Page 2
A HOUSEHOLD ACTION GUIDE TO A CLEANER-GREENER FORBES SHIRE
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 3
A HOUSEHOLD ACTION GUIDE TO A CLEANER-GREENER FORBES SHIRE
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.
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.
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.
Waterwise in and around the
home

Limit watering the lawn only water if your lawn is showing
signs of stress such as loosing
colour.
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.

Don’t cut your grass too
short.
Longer grass will mean
that the soil surface is shaded,
reducing loss of water through
evaporation.
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 4
A HOUSEHOLD ACTION GUIDE TO A CLEANER-GREENER FORBES SHIRE
litres, dishwashers 50 litres and long
showers can use 200 litres.

Plug the sink when rinsing
vegies or plates etc.
Heres some really easy ways to
reduce water use in the home.

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.

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.
Page 5
A HOUSEHOLD ACTION GUIDE TO A CLEANER-GREENER FORBES SHIRE
Rainwater
greywater
and
re-use
of
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 6
A HOUSEHOLD ACTION GUIDE TO A CLEANER-GREENER FORBES SHIRE
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 7
A HOUSEHOLD ACTION GUIDE TO A CLEANER-GREENER FORBES SHIRE
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.

Avoid bare patches of
to
reduce
runoff
contamination of drains. This
helps to prevent evaporation
capillary action that can bring
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.
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.
Page 8
soil
and
also
and
salt
A HOUSEHOLD ACTION GUIDE TO A CLEANER-GREENER FORBES SHIRE
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.
REDUCE
RECYCLE
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.
RE-USE
Page 9
A HOUSEHOLD ACTION GUIDE TO A CLEANER-GREENER FORBES SHIRE
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
concentrated form.

Using and re-using durable
and repairable products rather
than disposable products.

in
bulk
or
Put a “NO JUNK MAIL
PLEASE” sticker on your post box.
Re-use whatever waste you can
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.
Re-using items again and again is
a quick and easy method that does not
Page 10
A HOUSEHOLD ACTION GUIDE TO A CLEANER-GREENER FORBES SHIRE
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 11
A HOUSEHOLD ACTION GUIDE TO A CLEANER-GREENER FORBES SHIRE
governments spending over $200
million a year picking up litter.
be sure to drop off your excess
plastic shopping bags for recycling.
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.
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...
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
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 12
A HOUSEHOLD ACTION GUIDE TO A CLEANER-GREENER FORBES SHIRE
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.
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A HOUSEHOLD ACTION GUIDE TO A CLEANER-GREENER FORBES SHIRE
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A HOUSEHOLD ACTION GUIDE TO A CLEANER-GREENER FORBES SHIRE
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
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A HOUSEHOLD ACTION GUIDE TO A CLEANER-GREENER FORBES SHIRE
improve your
productivity.
soil
quality
and

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.
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.
Some
important
tips
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.
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.
to
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A HOUSEHOLD ACTION GUIDE TO A CLEANER-GREENER FORBES SHIRE
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.
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A HOUSEHOLD ACTION GUIDE TO A CLEANER-GREENER FORBES SHIRE
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.

Consider
installing
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
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 (nondepleting) such as solar, wind and
water.
Contact your energy
supplier for more information.
Page 17
solar
A HOUSEHOLD ACTION GUIDE TO A CLEANER-GREENER FORBES SHIRE


saving showerheads big savings on
hot water usage can be made.
your home as comfortable and energy
efficient as possible.
Install draught seals around
doors and windows.
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%.
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
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
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A HOUSEHOLD ACTION GUIDE TO A CLEANER-GREENER FORBES SHIRE
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
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A HOUSEHOLD ACTION GUIDE TO A CLEANER-GREENER FORBES SHIRE
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).
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A HOUSEHOLD ACTION GUIDE TO A CLEANER-GREENER FORBES SHIRE



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.

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
Nesting boxes for wildlife
Consider building and erecting
nest boxes in your yard to house
wildlife. Be sure to consider;
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.
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A HOUSEHOLD ACTION GUIDE TO A CLEANER-GREENER FORBES SHIRE
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;
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.
www.recyclingnearyou.com.au.
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
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A HOUSEHOLD ACTION GUIDE TO A CLEANER-GREENER FORBES SHIRE

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
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A HOUSEHOLD ACTION GUIDE TO A CLEANER-GREENER FORBES SHIRE

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: gordonjoybrown@ozemail.com.au

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.
Page 24