Halswell Community Blog

Environmental sustainability is becoming increasingly important globally and at a community level. It is therefore important that we identify what we can do at a local level to highlight and support existing initiatives as well as identifying gaps where we could develop new projects/initiatives. Whilst COVID interrupted our work on this project, we have begun by identifying what environmental sustainability means to the Halswell Community Project and what we do / can do to support environmental sustainability.

Environmental sustainability comes about when the environmental, economic and social needs of a society are met in the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. In the words of a student at the Sustainability Academy, Burlington, VT

"Sustainability means doing more good than harm with the people around us and the stuff we have" 

Making Halswell Community Project more sustainable is about looking at what we do, what we're buying, and how we’re using and disposing of things. It’s also about moving to eco-friendly, local, organic or low-emissions alternatives.

With this in mind HCP has already identified the following initiatives:

• Providing recycling at all events and at the Halswell Hub

• Reducing energy usage and wastage at the Hub

• collecting used sports gear as part of the Give Gear Get Great program

• Collecting wine bottle lids for Kidney Kids

• Sharing shack - sharing of resources from gardens

• Book shack - sharing books and resources

• School holiday craft activities that encourage recycling or upcycling

• Using UPSTREAM for services which benefit young people

• Choosing products and services that show a commitment to

• sustainability whenever we can

• Promoting and supporting environmental initiatives through facebook

• Reducing the amount of printing in the administration of HCP

• Collecting bread tags which are recycled to support wheelchairs in South Africa

What can you do?

Individually we can all make a difference.  If we all try and recycle everything we can, reduce waste and share resources we can make a community wide difference.

Some suggestions for living more sustainably might include:

• Reducing CO2 by driving less - walk, bike or take the bus if you can or if you cant share the drive with others :-)

• Run full loads through the washing machine and dry your clothes on a clothesline when you can

• Take shorter showers

• Use recyclable or reusable products whenever you can - eg keep cups, metal straws, reusable shopping bags

• Install LED lightbulbs to use less power

• Bring your old wine bottle lids and bread tags into the Hub so we can recycle them for you

• Shop local and try and support local businesses where you can

• Slow down and dine in rather than getting take away

• If you have a garden - try growing your own fruit and veg, if not try joining a community garden

• Swap / share  resources - books, clothing, excess fruit and veg,

                         

We are aware that many groups and organisations in the community also have environmental sustainability at the forefront of their planning - if thats you - please do let us know!!!

Many local schools for example have garden to plate programs, the Huritini Student council are passionate about Westlake park and there are regular planting days at Halswell Quarry. We plan to identify other initiatives we can set up or take part in as well as identifying and sharing other examples of sustainability across our community.