I haven’t used a paper cup since I saw the tram full of used
coffee cups representing a day’s worth in Melbourne, on the War on Waste last
year. It’s much nicer to sit down and
have a break anyway and to drink from a real cup instead. I know that isn’t an
option for everyone, but the Hobart City Council has now joined with Markets for Change to promote reusable cups with its Cup Conscious Café campaign. Businesses which sign on, agree to refill
reusable cups Click on the link to find one near you. This has worked so well
here that the idea is catching on in other cities.
Even better, yesterday while I was in an unrelated business and
they asked if I would like a coffee, a perfect cup of coffee in a china
cup was delivered by the café next door – hot, strong and with a little jug of
milk on side, just the way I like it. Now that’s service!
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| Power tools are among several surprising finds at the Tipshop |
A green tick too for the council's decision to open an inner
city depot for hard to recycle items such as light globes, batteries, toner
cartridges, small electronics, mail satchels, cosmetics and pens as part of
its Zero Waste by 2030 strategy. I was also
surprised to see how busy and clean its Tipshop was. My son had gone there to
find a section of pipe and I took the opportunity to have a look around. It's amazing what you can find there - from cupboard door knobs to building materials, camping gear, rare computer leads,
power tools and even collectables. I even got a few bargains such as a packet florist's wire and an unopened science kit. I can't believe what some people throw out. Last year the Tipshop won the Tasmanian Community
Achievement Sustainability Award and it’s great to see local councils taking up
the slack where other levels of government have failed to act.
Two other things worth mentioning in this context are the council's endeavours to help Bilbao in East Timor to manage its waste and council's recent decision to cease investing in fossil fuels in the interests of mitigating climate change.
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