Reduce plastics use
- Support the NSW ban on single-use disposable plastics
- Get a kit of reusable items to take out every day - shopping bag, drink bottle, mug, utensils.
- Choose sustainable materials when you shop.
Why act now?
- NSW generates 800,000 tonnes of plastics every year.
- Plastic production and disposal leads to high carbon dioxide emissions.
- Plastics pollution destroys wildlife and chokes our local drains and streetscapes. Plastic takes years to degrade.
Get moving on transport
- Get public transport or ride share for regular trips.
- Walk or ride a bike - plan an outing with friends or family
- Look into buying or subscribing to a low or zero emission vehicle
- Most electric vehicles have no tailpipe emissions, and lower running costs than petrol vehicles.
Why act now?
- Road transport, especially cars, is one of the biggest causes of carbon dioxide emissions that lead to climate change.
- While emissions from some sectors have reduced since 1990, transport emissions have continued to increase in NSW. See AdaptNSW.
- Australians have high car use and high polluting cars compared to many other countries.
Act on household energy use
There’s plenty we can do to reduce the impact of our household energy use. Take action today to reduce your environmental impact and save money!
- See our page on choosing clean energy such as solar.
- Switch off appliances, including home entertainment systems, at the wall.
- If you use a dryer, swap it out for a clothesline an extra day a week
- Check the Energy Rating label when you buy a new appliance.
- Follow the tips on Energy Saver website.
Why act now?
- Burning fossil fuels including coal, oil and gas, for energy is a major contributor to climate change.
- In Australia, energy production is the major single contributor to carbon emissions.
- By using less energy and supporting clean energy, we can help NSW's transformation to a cleaner, more reliable energy system.
Do more about rubbish
- Visit Planet Ark Recycling Near You for all sorts of options to recycle
- Take paints, oils, batteries, globes to Community Recycling Centres
- Check if your council recycles organic waste or process it yourself
- Also see ShareWaste - Give your waste a second chance!
- Return and Earn for bottles
- Buy less. Buy recycled goods or goods in recycled packaging (cleanup.org.au)
- Instead of buying new stuff, DIY to uplift clothes and household items.
- Donate quality stuff to charity or try selling it.
Why act now?
- Australia produces 74 million tonnes of waste per year and we only recycle 60% (Waste and recycling - DCCEEW).
- Between 2015–16 and 2019–20, total waste generated per capita rose from 2.42 tonnes to 2.65 tonnes in NSW.
- See issues with waste from clothing and more on Clean Up Australia
- Trash that is dumped in landfills releases methane gas and burning trash releases carbon dioxide (see Eathday.org)