Tasmania, a place where nothing is 'wasted'

April is a time to celebrate and care for the environment we share. With Earth Day and local eco-events, this month encourages practical actions that support circular design, natural cycles, and responsible buying, showing love for the planet through everyday choices.

 

This Month’s Focus

• Circular design and responsible consumption
• Working with natural cycles
• Reducing waste during celebrations

 

Celebrate Earth Day in Burnie

Earth Day is a global reminder that small local actions can make a big impact. In Burnie, it’s an opportunity to get involved in activities that protect our environment and strengthen our community.

 

Ways to take part:

• Join local tree-planting initiatives
• Participate in clean-ups across parks, streets and waterways
• Attend environmental events and workshops

 

Local Eco-Events & Community Celebrations

April features a range of local events, including commUNIty FEST and the North West EcoFest. These bring people together to learn, share ideas, and take action.

Supporting these events helps:

• Build community connections
• Share practical sustainability skills
• Highlight local solutions to environmental challenges

 

Reduce Waste During Easter Celebrations

Celebrations don’t need to create extra waste. With a few simple changes, Easter can be more sustainable.

• DIY or homemade alternatives to packaged goods
• Reusable baskets, containers or fabric wraps
• Choosing treats with minimal packaging or buying in bulk
• Reusing decorations and gift wrap

 

Compost Food Scraps at Home

Food scraps don’t belong in landfill. Composting turns organic waste into valuable nutrients for gardens and helps reduce emissions.

• Compost fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds and garden waste
• Use finished compost to improve soil health
• Combine home composting with Burnie’s FOGO service where available

Composting supports natural cycles by returning nutrients to the soil.

 

Small Steps

Loving your environment starts with everyday actions — celebrating, composting, reusing, and caring for the places that make Burnie home.

 

February marks the return to school and work routines, a perfect opportunity to build simple, sustainable habits that last all year. This month focuses on reducing everyday waste from lunchboxes, classrooms, and workplaces, while protecting our local environment.

 

Schools & Learning Communities

Rethink Waste Schools Program

Schools across Burnie can access free education resources through the Rethink Waste Schools Program, helping students learn practical ways to reduce waste and recycle correctly.

The program supports schools with:

• Curriculum-linked waste education resources
• School waste audits and action plans
• Support for setting up recycling and organics systems
• Practical learning that builds lifelong sustainable habits

 

Easy Actions for Schools, Workplaces & Families

• Using reusable lunch containers, drink bottles, wraps, and cutlery
• Choosing fresh foods and snacks with little or no packaging
• Packing fruit, homemade snacks, and leftovers
• Avoiding cling wrap and single-use plastic bags
• Reusing jars, bags, and containers for storage and lunches
• Labelling lunch items to reduce lost property and replacements
• Passing on or reusing school uniforms, bags, and stationery

 

Waste Audits: Learn What You Throw Away

A waste audit helps schools and workplaces understand what waste they produce, what can be avoided or reused, and where recycling can be improved. February is a great time to start a simple audit and set goals for the year ahead.

Reuse Ideas

• Jars and containers: storage, craft, pantry use
• Reusable bags: lunch bags, library bags, sports gear
• Uniforms: hand-me-downs, swaps, or donations
• Office supplies: reuse folders, boxes, and stationery

 

Spotlight: World Wetlands Day – 2 February

Protecting Burnie’s wetlands starts with reducing waste.Burnie’s wetlands play an important role in supporting wildlife, improving water quality, and protecting our coastline. Litter and pollution can easily travel from streets and stormwater drains into wetlands and waterways.You can help by:

• Choose reusable containers instead of disposable packaging
• Keep rubbish secured so it doesn’t escape into drains
• Dispose of waste correctly to prevent pollution from reaching wetlands
• Healthy wetlands start with everyday choices made at home, school, and work.

 

 

A new year is the perfect time to start fresh. January is all about simple, achievable changes that help reduce waste and protect our local environment. Small actions at home can make a big difference over the year.

As the seasons change, March is a great time to repair what we already have, reuse materials, and support a circular economy. Autumn Repairs focuses on extending the life of everyday items, reducing waste to landfill, and making the most of local reuse and repair opportunities in Burnie.

This Month’s Focus

• Repairing instead of replacing
• Reuse, resale and reimagining
• Supporting a circular economy

 

Repair Before You Replace

Repairing items before replacing them is one of the most effective ways to reduce waste. It extends product life, reduces demand for new materials, and supports a more circular, sustainable community. 

Many household items can be repaired with simple tools or skills. Choosing repair over replacement saves money, reduces waste, and keeps valuable materials in use for longer.

Look for opportunities to:

• Mend clothing and textiles
• Repair small household items and furniture
• Fix broken tools, toys and equipment
• Learn basic repair skills through local workshops and events

 

Easy Actions You Can Take

• Attend repair cafés or local fix-it events
• Reuse tools, clothing and household items
• Donate usable goods to the Burnie Resale Tip Shop
• Share or borrow tools where possible instead of buying new

Local opportunities may include:

• Sewing groups and repair cafés that share skills and tools
• Tool libraries or shared equipment (where available)
• Community reuse initiatives that keep items in circulation

 

Spotlight - Key Events

Clean Up Australia Day - Litter can quickly move from streets into waterways and the ocean. Taking part in clean-ups helps protect wildlife and keep Burnie clean and liveable.

• Joining organised clean-up events
• Picking up litter during walks or beach visits
• Securing household waste and recycling

 

International Day of Zero Waste 30 March

 

Small Steps

Every repaired or reused item reduces landfill and keeps resources in active use. Small actions like fixing, sharing, or donating help build a more resilient and circular Burnie.

Small habits make a big difference. Simple changes at school, work, and home help reduce waste, protect our wetlands, and keep Burnie clean and liveable.