Western Australians generate more waste than people in most other states and territories, sending large quantities to landfill and only recycling and recovering a relatively low percentage of resources (Source: Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Strategy 2030). However, there is a lot we can do to avoid waste, recover resources and protect our environment. WMRC workshops, tours and webinars are held regularly for western suburbs residents, designed to assist community members to live a low-waste, sustainable life. For information on upcoming events and to stay up to date, visit the website or subscribe to the WMRC Word on Waste newsletter.
We are actively taking steps to ensure our precious environment ‘between the river and the sea’ is protected.
Sustainability means that the environmental, social and economic resources we have today are used in such a way that they are not depleted for future generations. (United Nations Environment Programme, 1992).
The Town has developed its first Sustainability Strategy to guide our actions on a range of sustainability issues in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Climate change is arguably the most important global issue in our current time with very significant social, economic and environmental impacts.
The projected impacts of climate change will affect almost every aspect of local government including provision of infrastructure, recreational facilities, health services, land use planning, and park and bushland management. As highlighted in our Strategic Community Plan, sustainability is a key focus for residents of Mosman Park.
National Context
Australia is one of the world’s top twenty polluters. We release more carbon per person than any other country in the developed world. Thus we have a political and ethical obligation to act and to act urgently.
On 16 August 2011, the Climate Commission released the report Climate Change Impacts for Western Australia. The report states that the south-west of Western Australia is particularly vulnerable to climate change. The effects include decreasing rainfall, rising sea levels and threats to biodiversity.
Other sustainability initiatives:
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The Plastic Free Places program works one-on-one with local food retail and hospitality businesses to reduce waste, litter and eliminate single-use plastics from their operations. The program is funded by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) in WA and partners with local government to ensure the program is successfully delivered across the state’s unique communities.
Join WA Plastic Free for free packaging advice tailored to your business. The program is there to assist local businesses to be ready for each stage of the WA Plastics Ban.
You can find more information on WA Plastic Free here.