Ben’s story: Improved access to a university’s facilities and cinema

I have a physical disability and use a powered wheelchair for mobility. While studying at university, I experienced several issues with regard to wheelchair access to the various facilities on campus. I worked with the university’s disability officers to successfully and speedily resolve many of these issues before they became problematic. However, one major building refurbishment on campus which presented ideal opportunities to correct long standing impediments to access for people with disabilities was particularly challenging.

The university’s on-campus cinema had an appalling and unsafe standard of wheelchair access into and within the cinema. This included a very narrow access way with a steep drop-off to be negotiated to the ‘wheelchair access’ seating. On hearing of the proposed refurbishment, I was excited and eager to ensure that the cinema would finally obtain first rate wheelchair access. I wrote to the project team requesting details on wheelchair access provisions, with the response assuring me that “Access for people with disabilities is very important and will be properly considered in the design…” At that stage, warning bells and flashing red lights filled my mind having previously experienced how such vague statements usually fail to deliver. So I shot back a letter requesting a meeting with the architects and project team. After some deliberations, a disability access expert and I trundled in to meet them.

Read the full story…

The Nine Network pulled Greenpeace’s recycling ad from its Friday night football coverage. The ad has people drinking soft drinks on a beach as birds start falling from the sky and washing up dead, the reason – plastic waste.

The half-minute ad slot cost Greenpeace $22,000 and was due to be shown during Friday night’s NRL match featuring the West Tigers and Cronulla Sharks. According to Channel Nine, the ad was dropped as its content was ‘offensive’.

To view the ad and read the Sydney Morning Herald article click here…

Manly Council was the first council in Australia to provide filtered water refill stations to the general public for drinking and refilling bottles. Their aim was to combat climate change and decrease their impact on the environment by reducing the consumption of bottled water and its associated plastic water bottle waste in their community.

To achieve this, Manly Council set out to encourage its residents and visitors to reuse and refill their water bottles instead of discarding them and purchasing new ones.

The Filtered Water Refill Stations were a practical and deliverable solution that the council could easily implement. With an existing network of water supply pipes and drinking fountains, incorporating the Filtered Water Refill Stations was a simple way the Council could demonstrate their commitment to helping the environment.

Former Mayor of Manly – Dr Peter Macdonald stated: “From the point of production to their ultimate disposal, water bottles have a significantly negative impact on our environment. The production, transportation, refrigeration and disposal of water bottles is a massive waste of our natural resources and leads to excessive greenhouse gas emissions; not to mention the obvious pollution they create in our local environment.”

Research done by Manly Council found that 75% of containers in the waste stream were water bottles. Not only is their waste an issue, according to the Department of Environment and Climate Change, each litre bottle of water takes 200mL of oil to produce, package, transport and refrigerate. As a result, at least 50 million litres of oil is used in the manufacture and distribution of bottled water in Australia every year.

Since the implementation of 6 Filtered Water Refill Stations, Manly Council have estimated that they have prevented 150,000 litres of water from being purchased. This equates to approximately 250,000 plastic water bottles they have stopped entering the waste stream. Due to the success of this initiative, the Council has implemented an ongoing program to provide more Filtered Water Refill Stations in their local area.

Manly Council are currently in the process of installing 10 aquafil Filtered Water Refill Stations along the Manly beachfront. Manly Council have been proactive in creating a better environment today, for a more sustainable tomorrow…

It also encourages other Councils, Governments and communities to implement the same initiative for a better future.

April 17, 2013
Linda Mathieson

Bottled or Tap? This is a question we should all be asking ourselves and with so much available information on the subject there should be only one answer – TAP.

Why you ask?  Well there are three very good reasons:

• your health
• the environment
• and, your pockets with over half a billion dollars spent each year on bottled water.

In NSW and QLD a batch of Cool Ridge water bottles was recalled by Schweppes in 2011 after consumers complained there was a strong chlorine smell coming from their bottled water. Equipment at the bottling plant is cleaned out using chlorine and then fresh water is run through the equipment, it is likely this may not have been done in this case.

Reusing plastic bottles is also detrimental to our health as they contain Bisphenol A (BPA) which has been proven to interfere with the body’s natural hormonal messaging system.

Each year only 36% of plastic water bottles are recycled resulting in millions of plastic bottles ending up in landfill or floating around our oceans ultimately killing bird and marine life when they mistake the plastic for food.

Come on people, if we really care about our health, the environment and our wallets, lets get serious about our choices and choose Tap every time!

For more information click on the links below.

The Cool Ridge recall

Bisphenol A (BPA)

The real cost of bottled water

What is the Great Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch?

aquafil Water Refill Stations and Drinking Fountains

Water is essential for healthy living and is crucial for sporting, mental and academic performances. Tap water represents value for money as it’s cheaper for the community than buying plastic water bottles or other soft drinks.

The aquafil range of Water Bottle Refill Stations and Drinking Fountains serve as a dynamic educational tool in the fight to reduce plastic waste and conserve precious resources. Full colour graphics are available on most of the aquafil range and are a valuable educational tool in helping promote a sustainable way of living and encouraging a healthy lifestyle.

March 4, 2013
The Sydney Morning Herald, Environment
David Sygall

It’s a battle over billions, but both sides agree plastic bottle sales are falling

Bottled water producers are facing increasing pressure as the product falls from favour among the industry’s most loyal buyers.

Figures provided to Fairfax by Roy Morgan Research show that in the 12 months to September last year 30 per cent of 25- to 34-year-olds said they drank bottled water, compared with 36 per cent in 2007. In the 14 to 25 age group, 33 per cent drank bottled water compared with 35 per cent in 2007.

The industry’s opponents believe the numbers show a tipping point has been reached, and bottled water sales will fall as people learn more about a product that is, according to Clean Up Australia chief Ian Kiernan, ”a bloody disgrace”.

The Australasian Bottled Water Institute claims volume growth is expected to be between 7 and 8 per cent this year, but concedes there has been a marked drop in the number of young people buying the product.

”We think it’s due to a number of reasons,” says the institute’s chief executive, Geoff Parker. ”Maturity of the category is part of it, the anti-bottled water detractors are good in their messaging, and other categories within health and wellness, such as iced teas, are doing very well.”

aquafil Water Refill Stations and Drinking Fountains

Water is essential for healthy living and is crucial for sporting, mental and academic performances. Tap water represents value for money as it’s cheaper for the community than buying plastic water bottles or other soft drinks.

The aquafil range of Water Bottle Refill Stations and Drinking Fountains serve as a dynamic educational tool in the fight to reduce plastic waste and conserve precious resources. Full colour graphics are available on most of the aquafil range and are a valuable educational tool in helping promote a sustainable way of living and encouraging a healthy lifestyle.