Yes, it’s that time of year again where the sun shines a little brighter, the plant life starts its blooming process, and the parking lots at the beaches start filling up as people are eager to enjoy the benefits of summer.  While this is all fun and really gets the mind on the more enjoyable parts of life, let’s not be so hasty to forget the some of the responsibilities of this enjoyment.  What am I referring to you may ask?  It’s the abundance of extra rubbish that is being left on the beaches!

Now we all know that you are suppose to put rubbish in a bin.  Correct?  So if we all know this then why is it occuring?  Do people just don’t care?  Is it too much trouble to get up, find a bin, and put the rubbish in it?  Is there the thought that someone else will pick it up?  Or any other ill-thought excuses for such a simple task?  Who knows, but it sure does seem to be a problem.  In fact, just last week, more than 100kg of rubbish was found and collected from two of the most visited beaches in Wollongong.  This simply isn’t acceptable!

So the next time you are at the beautiful beaches and enjoying your day, please take the time to clean up after yourselves so that others can experience an enjoyable days outing.  And if you happen to see someone littering or even leaving rubbish behind, don’t hesitate to offer a friendly reminder.  We can all do our part in keeping the beaches beautiful.

E-waste is a major environmental problem - tons of resources, along with hazardous metals, are sent to landfill every year.  Here are nine reasons why eWaste recycling matters:

1. Each year 750,000 computers are sold in Victoria (3 million Australia-wide).
2. 560,000 computers in Victoria are redundant each year.  Three out of four used computers in Australia are dumped in landfill or stockpiled.
3. 182,875 are dumped in landfill each year in Victoria (731,500 in Australia).
4. In 10 years 1.77 million computers will be redundant each year.
5. The ACT is the only place that bans computer waste to landfill.
6. In five years, 30 countries will have take-back laws for electronics (Australia has no law).
7. Making one desktop computer and monitor uses the same amount of chemicals (22kg), water (1500kg) and fossil fuels (240kg) as a mid-size car.
8. The biggest computer users are small and medium businesses (28%); followed by large corporates (23%); government (18%); households (17%) and education (14%).
9. In just over a decade, the number of personal computers worldwide increased fivefold—from 105 million in 1988 to more than half a billion in 2002.

What to do with your used computer?  Computers contain a variety of toxic materials that make disposal hazardous to the environment. Until manufacturers take financial and logistical responsibility for the end-of-life of their products, consumers should be aware of current disposal options.

A typical computer monitor contains lead, barium and hexavalent chromium. Other toxic ingredients include cadmium in chip resistors and semiconductors, beryllium on motherboards and connectors, and brominated flame retardants in plastic casings. 70% of lead, cadmium and mercury in landfill comes from electronic waste.

RECYCLE OR REFURBISH IT!

1. Support Byteback: the first computer take back service of its kind in Australia. Byteback is a free service for residents and small business owners in Victoria who want to dispose of their old computers in an environmentally responsible way. The centre is located in the City of Boroondara.
2. Make use of purchasing power. Buy or lease a new computer only if needed and choose the most environmentally sound option - for example, look for labels indicating the machine is energy efficient.
3. Don’t throw away old electronics. Contact manufacturers that take back old computers – such as Dell – Ring them for a quote on pick up. Urge manufacturers to dispose products responsibly.
4. Ultimately you can make a difference by writing to your Federal or State Environment Minister or local member urging them to take action to bring Australia into line with the new international standard of producer responsibility.

For more ideas and further information visit Environment Victoria at http://www.envict.org.au/index.php

West Australia will have a long weekend with Queens Birthday falling on 28 September.  ACT and New South Wales will get their day off on October 5th for Labor Day.

If you are looking at utilising either of these weekends for the great spring clean, please keep in mind that the cheapest skip bins on bookabin will sell out first.  To get a sharp deal on your bin, simply visit www.bookabin.com.au this week and pre book so that you are sure to get the best deal.  Just enter your post code and follow the prompts, most areas have service for General Waste, Clean fill and Green Waste.

If you have questions contact the bookabin staff using the LIVE CHAT function available on the website, they are more than happy to help with your enquiries.

Yes, it’s that time of year again.  Time to celebrate and have some good times with good ole Dad.  Don’t know what to do?  Looking to do something different?  Well why not hire a bin and help Dad get rid of some of the junk lying around the house?  It’s pretty simple really.  Visit bookabin.com.au, start by entering your post code, then follow the simple steps and you’ll receive an email with your booking details.  Won’t Pops be surprised?!  Just think of all the fun you’ll have!  This will be a day to be remembered for years to come!