Eco Clubs Project Ideas

• Plant Nurseries - can donate seeds
• Real Estates Agencies - can promote sustainable practices, eg Green Power, on invoices sent to their tenants
• Hardware Stores - can donate compost bins to local schools and seedlings of vegetables and plants which are no longer saleable

• As a starting point, calculate your firm's ecological footprint.
  
  This is your overall impact on the environment and includes:
  consumables eg paper, energy & water use, waste production & disposal etc.

• Be more energy aware and efficient - you will also save $$$
• Install green energy (solar)
• Turn off lights when not in use
• Subscribe Nows for fresh air as often as possible rather than use
  air conditioning

• Switch to 100% recycled paper
• Print and photocopy double-sided
• Dedicate a tray for one-sided paper that can be reused
• Print emails only when necessary
• Think before you print - will an electronic copy suffice?

• Office paper (only 10% of office paper is recycled in Australia)
• Printer cartridges
• Mobile phones - through Planet Ark or mobile phone shops
• Computer equipment - refer Planet Ark's website to find your local recycler

• Use the stairs rather than the elevator
• Employees use their own mugs - polystyrene is no good
• Organise groups to walk to work or car-pool
• Appoint an employee to address environmental concerns and constantly look for ways to improve environmental efficiency
• Organise eco activities for employees to work with the community

• Sponsor community groups to be involved in eco activities
• Contribute to Carbon Credit schemes (contact Greenhouse Friendly, an initiative by Australian Government, or Australian Greenhouse Office)
• Protect or buy back wildlife corridors

• Appliances that save energy
• Green mesh shopping bags to provide for customers
• Avoid buying products with excessive packaging
• Enviro-friendly substitutes for cleaning
• Enviro-friendly substitutes for toners instead of harmful chemicals
• Regulators for taps and toilets to save water
• Hybrid / electric vehicles

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• Individuals can grow trees for farmers
• Groups can get together to plant native trees
• Organisations that supply seed & materials for planting tree seeds into punnets OR tree seedings ready to plant in the ground include: Trees for Life (Men of the Trees in some states) and
  Greening Australia
• For farmers, businesses & government - some tree organisations can also supply a planting supervisor, labour, equipment & supplies at a price.

• Australia's environment is challenged by introduced species.
• Groups can get together to weed and get rid of the introduced plant species that are destroying our native environment.

• Compost making. Many weeds can be destroyed when composted
  (the heap must get hot)
• Organise exhibitions, community meetings
• Habitat rehabilitation
• Dune rehabilitation / management
• Protection of wildlife corridors
• Fundraising for eco-activities
• Awareness raising about environmental issues, such as
  species at risk of extinction
• Campaigning, rallying and lobbying

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• Each class room has a separate bin for food stuffs (not meat or dairy). At the end of the day two or three children can take it to the worm farm and empty. Possibly have a weighing station to weigh how much food is composted.
• *For older children: the weightings could be graphed so they can see over a specific period of time (say 1 month) how much waste they are stopping going to landfill

• Do any of your class mates live near you? If they do, then why not drive to school together? Ask your parents if they would mind picking up some of your friends on the way to school one day of the week. On the other days of the week, it is the other parents turn to pick you up on the way to school. That way, the number of cars driving to school is less and that means less carbon dioxide is put into the air. Your carpool group could then register as an Eco Club and become recognized for helping the environment.

• A pledge is a letter written to community businesses asking them to help the environment by changing the way the business is run. You could arrange with a local newspaper to publish the names of businesses who take part in making an eco-commitment because of your pledge. Any businesses that take part would also be able to become an Eco Club. Contact Business SA for a listing of local businesses: www.business-sa.com

• Find out about endangered or threatened species in your local area and choose one that you think needs your help. Think of an idea to raise money to help your species (school fete, car wash, walk-for-species sponsorship). Use money raised to rebuild habitats or assist in breeding programs. There are many habitat rebuilding and breeding programs already happening but they are in urgent need of more money to keep going. For more information on species in need, visit www.wwf.org.au.
• You can also help endangered species just by raising awareness. For example, Richmond Primary SA is helping the Orange Bellied Parrot by suggesting a mail stamp through Australia Post which shows pictures of the Orange Bellied Parrot.
  Information on endangered species always needs to be updated. You could carry out your own bird or frog survey in your area

• Help Water Watch monitor rivers and creeks. Go with a Water Watch Educational Officer on one of their field trips and learn about water health. Your group or class room can become an Eco Club by doing Snapshot monitoring for Water Watch, they just need to get their activity published either through the school newsletter or local newspaper. Visit www.sa.waterwatch.org.au for more information on Snapshot Monitoring.

• Rather than your parents driving you to school, you can ride your bike to school.

• Start a waste recycling program at your school. Ask your teachers to help you find out how to get special recycling bins to put around your school and make posters to encourage people to use them. Contact your local council for information on how to get recycling bins and visit www.sawastemanagement.com.au for more information on recycling.

• Non native weeds are a big problem in Australia. Non-native plants spread quickly through reserves and national parks, choking streams and competing with native plants for nutrients and space to grow. Weed management is a great way to ensure we are giving our native species the best chance of surviving. Make your classroom or group of friends a weed-busters group. Learn to recognize weeds and pick a local reserve which has weed problems. Local council will be able to provide information on areas which need weeding. More information about weeding can be found at www.weeds.org.au

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• For information on local assistance, FREE courses and programs -
  contact your local Landcare / Natural Resource Management
  Catchment Management Centre
• Investigate 'biological farming' approaches - to minimise water loss and improve soil fertility for optimal production
• Use recommended water plants in dams to reduce water lost from evaporation
• Use reclaimed water to irrigate
• Consider using drip irrigation, where possible.      

• Plant native trees as windbreaks and shade for animals, and
  around homes, lessening the need to use air conditioning
• Distribute produce locally as much as possible, to minimise transport
• Sell through Farmers Markets
• Switch to biofuel
• Address environmental concerns and look for ways to improve environmental efficiency
• Periodically review the farm in relation to 'Reduce, Reuse and Recycle"

• Plan for gradual reduction in the use of harmful chemicals -
  consider seeing a consultant to identify cost-effective priorities
• Seek advice on protecting waterways from run-off & overspray
• Minimise use of artificial herbicides, pesticides, fertilisers
• Consider going organic - a form of value-adding.
  In some cases it can make small holdings viable
• Note: we acknowledge that organic production may not be for every farmer, or every farm - what is important is any step toward protecting waterways, animal and human health
• Investigate what it would take to become organic (see the website

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• Use environmentally friendly products eg recycled timber
• Use energy efficient products when building eg double-glazed windows
• When building homes consider seasonal climates and face living areas north for winter warmth and planting deciduous trees for summer shade
• Use floor to ceiling windows to catch all the winter sun and wide eaves to provide sun protection in summer
• Use natural products ie timber for work surfaces
• Use natural plants oils for timber surfaces rather than varnishes

• Be in touch with environmental media and lobby groups
• Do not litter community used areas - put rubbish in bins provided, keep a bag in the car or nearby at any outdoor activity eg barbeque
• Form community groups to discuss environmental issues and come up with solutions

• Practice 3Rs (reduce, reuse and recycle)
• Restrain from over consumption
• Eat fresh food rather than bottled or processed food, which saves water used to produce these items
• Shop locally from the bakery, greengrocer and butcher for food not packaged in trays and plastic wrapping
• Use a tap purifier rather than buy bottled water, saving 10 litres of water needed to make 1 litre of bottled water
• Keep food packaging to a minimum and use recycled material bags
• Keep food scraps to feed your chickens
• Use natural cleaning products in the home instead of harmful chemicals ie vinegar and lemon juice instead of bleach or disinfectants
• Use biodegradable and phosphate-free detergents sparingly
• Reuse paper printed on one side for shopping lists, phone messages or notes

• Have a veggie garden, go organic
• Preserve excess produce or share with neighbours
• Join a community garden planting a greater variety of fruit and vegetables which can be shared around
• Plant kerbsides with shrubs indigenous to local area
• Plant a small patch of wildlife garden with native trees and shrubs in a corner of the garden to provide a food source for birds and small animals
• Water gardens in the cooler evenings during summer to prevent excess evaporation
• Mulch well in summer with organic matter that breaks downs to keep soil water receptive and nutritious for plants
• Use gravel or bark for pathways rather than paving or cement allowing rain to seep through to gardens

• Heat less in winter by wearing warm clothes rather than switching on the heater
• Use 6 energy saving light bulbs saving around $100 a year and turn lights off when not in room
• Turn off the TV and play a board game or an outdoor activity in the backyard
• Use energy saving appliances
• Switch off electric appliances when not in use for more than 45 minutes, rather than leave on standby

• Have garage sales for unwanted household items rather than dumping
• Consider buying recycled furniture or donate used furniture to charities
• Recycle mobile phones through Planet Ark or mobile phone shops

• Drive less using public transport as much as possible
• Share cars in the neighbourhood
• Plan to walk rather than drive short distances to local shops
• Ride your bike to work or school
• Use hybrid/electric vehicles
• Maintain your car making sure it isn't blowing smoke
• Fix oil and radiator leaks on your car to prevent engine fluids from washing into our stormwater system and local waterways
• Use carwash facilities with waste water control rather than washing at home and putting water down drains

• Install a solar power hot water system
• Use water tanks to collect all possible rainwater
• Use grey water recycling practices ie to flush toilets and water gardens
• Cold wash instead of hot wash and save around $60 a year
• Save up your laundry to make a full washing load rather than washing single items at a time
• Turn off taps while brushing your teeth
• Use water saving devices ie shower heads and dual/low flush toilets
• Fill the dishwasher with a complete load rather than just a few items
• Have shorter showers and use water saving shower heads

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