Peel-Harvey Catchment Council is partnering with The Makers to help deliver the first six months of The Makers’ Youth on Leadership Program. The Youth on Leadership Program will take on the theme of “Reducing Plastics in our Waterways”, empowering participants to design a campaign on ‘Reducing the use of single use plastics.’’

The annual program began this July with a six day leadership camp at Bickley Outdoor Recreation Camp. During the camp the leadership group was involved in interactive presentations and activities about the impacts of plastics in waterways and ways the group can empower themselves to take action.

There are 34 participants in The Makers’ Youth on Leadership program as well as 6 youth mentors.

During the camp the leadership group was set the challenge to create a Waste-Reduction Community Dinner.

The idea for a Waste-Reduction Community Dinner came about through the partnership with Peel-Harvey Catchment Council and The Makers.  It was identified as a way to raise awareness of the negative impacts of plastics and also as a great way to allow the Youth on Leadership group to put into action the new skills and knowledge gained at the Bickley camp. The group was issued the challenge to minimise plastic use for the camp dinner.

Sam Culbertson and Cara Williams from the Waste Authority provided activities for the group at the Bickley Camp that demonstrated different ways plastics can be eliminated from daily life.

The Waste-Reduction Community Dinner was held on the 7th July at the Billy Dower Centre in Mandurah.    92 people were invited to the dinner and were served an inspirational three course meal of bruschetta, vegetarian curry and apple strudel. Afterwards PHCC were responsible for composting the food scraps.

Some simple tips that help in reducing waste and plastics at home are:

  • Plan your meal so you purchase as close to exact amounts that you need
  • Create bins for compost and recyclables
  • Visit your local butcher and grocers and buy produce that isn’t wrapped in plastic
  • Avoid plastic bags; bring your own container and reusable bags when shopping
  • Always look for alternatives to buying items wrapped in plastic; buy items in re-useable packaging
  • Audit the plastic and waste that you create at the end of the meal and challenge yourself to do better next time

Andy Gulliver from PHCC said “We are thrilled to partner with The Makers for the Youth on Leadership program for the next six months. We believe in the importance of providing opportunities for youth to make their voice heard and take action on community issues they are passionate about. The Waste Reduction community dinner is just the start of the journey and we look forward to seeing and hearing about what this inspiring group creates over the course of the program.”

Supplies for the dinner were kindly donated by The Spudshed, The Glass Jar and Woolworths.

This project is supported by the Peel-Harvey Catchment Council through funding from the Western Australian Government’s State NRM Program.

 

ENDS

Media Contact:  Jane O’Malley, Chief Executive Officer, Peel-Harvey Catchment Council, Jane.Omalley@peel-harvey.org.au, (08) 6369 8800

We acknowledge the Noongar people as Traditional Custodians of this land and pay our respects to all Elders past and present