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Environmental protection
| - Use environmentally friendly washing detergent such as phosphate free detergents and toilet cleaners. Only use as much as you need.
- Try to use natural cleaners - e.g. bicarbonate of soda, lemon and vinegar.
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- Floating plastic and other solids are ugly as well as harmful – they may suffocate birds, animals and fish, and reduce the amount of light and oxygen available to aquatic life. Plastic is not biodegradable and persists for a long time in the environment.
- Use a sink strainer to prevent rubbish going down the sink.
- Collect fats and oils and put them in the rubbish, not down the sink. They can block the system, as well as polluting waterways and oceans.
- Do not pour poisons down sinks or drains.
- Find out where to dispose of paint solvents, car oil and poisonous products – your Council can tell you about hazardous waste collection centres.
- A single litre of motor oil down the drain can pollute 9,500 litres of water, as well as contaminate waste treatment plant sludge. Some service stations collect used motor oil.
- Never pour leftover paints or solvents down the sink or drain, or on the ground (where they can contaminate groundwater).
- Return unwanted medicines to the pharmacy.
- Your toilet is not a rubbish bin. Don’t dispose of tissues, cotton buds, tampons, sanitary products or condoms in the toilet.
- Septic systems can pollute streams, lakes and groundwater if not properly maintained. See the Australian Wastewater Association's We All Use Water Brochure Number 27 "On site systems " for information about maintaining on-site waste disposal systems.
- Use less fertilisers and pesticides on lawns and gardens. These can seep into groundwater or get washed into local waterways. Nutrients from fertilisers are a major cause of blue green algae. High levels of pesticides in waterways can result in the death of fish and other aquatic life.
- Clean up after your pets. Pet waste contains nutrients and pathogens that can contaminate surface water.
- Drive only when necessary. Cars deposit toxic metals and petroleum products into the environment, especially through contamination of stormwater / runoff.
- Use less fertilisers and pesticides on lawns and gardens. These can seep into groundwater or get washed into local waterways. Nutrients from fertilisers are a major cause of blue green algae. High levels of pesticides in waterways can result in the death of fish and other aquatic life.
- Drive only when necessary. Cars deposit toxic metals and petroleum products into the environment, especially through contamination of stormwater / runoff.
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Environmental home page
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General and property tips
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Bathroom and Kitchen tips
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Laundry tips
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Very useful links
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