The Ashfield Greens are beginning to roll out a no junk mail campaign, letterboxing many residents of Ashfield, Summer Hill and Haberfield a No Junk Mail sticker for application to letterboxes.
We are hoping that residents take up this small gift from the Greens and play their part in helping to reduce excessive amounts of litter in our local streets and the amount of rubbish going into landfill (most junk mail goes straight into the rubbish).
We recognise, also, there is a difference between non addressed commercial mail/leaflets/brochures and community service notices (e.g., local council newsletter). Our junk mail sticker clearly identifies this difference by stating NO COMMERCIAL ADVERTISING MATERIAL, Community Notices Excepted.
The Distribution Standards Board can be contacted on 1800 676 136 to report distributors who deliver commercial material irresponsibly.
There is another form of junk mail, the ADDRESSED junk mail. The Australian Direct Marketing Association provides an ‘opt out’ service at which you can register. Go to : http://www.adma.com.au/asp/index.asp?qgid=1999
Businesses that are covered by the Federal Privacy Act must stop sending you unsolicited mail if you ask them to, unless they originally collected your information for the purpose of sending you direct marketing material. Further information can be obtained from the website of the Office of the Privacy Commissioner : http://www.privacy.gov.au/faqs/ypr/q7.html.
If you did not receive a sticker and would like one please do not hesitate to email your details to treasurer@ashfield.nsw.greens.org.au and we would be happy to drop one into your letterbox.
As published in the Inner-West Weekly. By Fiona Brady,27 Feb 08
PLASTIC water bottles have been banned from the workplace at Ashfield Council.
And while the council is continuing to prove its green credentials by voting to end its use of bottled water, one councillor claims it is merely a stunt.
The move comes on the eve of Clean Up Australia Day on Sunday. Clean Up founder Ian Kiernan has proclaimed plastic bottles are among the most common rubbish items recovered.
Last week Ashfield councillors voted to ban bottled water, except at community events where tap water is limited.
The ban extends to outdoor council workers who are provided with water fountains. Water fountains are also in council buildings.
Greens councillor Mary Hawkins, who put forward the motion, said bottled water was unnecessary given the high quality of tap water.
“Bottled water is disastrous on every count,” she said.
“It’s not fluoridated. It is hugely expensive compared to tap water.
“About 200ml of oil is needed to produce each litre bottle of water.
“There’s also all the transportation involved and the subsequent CO2 emissions. Plus, you need to find landfill space for the empty plastic bottles.”
Only Liberal councillor Nick Adams voted against the motion.
He told the Inner-West Weekly he thought the move was unnecessary and part of an “alarmist” campaign to frighten the community about the environment.
“I don’t think our council stopping its use of bottled water will make any substantial impact in assisting the environment,” he said. “It is a token symbolic gesture what we have come to expect from the Greens and the general Left.”
Mr Adams said it would be better to investigate options to recycle plastic bottles.
Mayor Ted Cassidy said the media had originally rubbished the idea the public would ever pay for water, but it had now become “acceptable and popular”.
“The water quality from our tap is equally as good as anything you buy,” he said.