RUBBISH was on the minds of academics, council and business representatives, traders and  community leaders at breakfast this week.
The Calder Regional Waste Management Group held a morning Resource Smart forum, aimed at getting to the bottom of the region’s waste use.
The state government has urged a waste reduction of 70 per cent going to landfill by 2013. At the moment, Bendigo sits more than 10 per cent below where it should be to meet that target.
With more then 35 per cent of local householder’s rubbish bins being taken up by products that could be recycled, CRWMG executive officer Peter Chudek said an education campaign was needed if the city was going to get anywhere near the target.
“We are trying to generate ideas about how to mobilise and engage the community to reduce waste generated going from the household to landfill,” he said.
“If that 36 per cent was put in the recycling bin, that would take us up to at least parallel with the overall target.
“We are trying to ask how we can engage and educate the community to more sustainable living and reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.”