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Archives for February 2010

Lack of Get Up and Go

February 24, 2010 @ 22:21 By Gavin Webber 11 Comments

I have been a bit lack lustre for the past week, as I have been suffering from a dying lower right molar.  Been on antibiotics to reduce the inflammation, swelling and pain.  Oh what agony it has been.  Lack of sleep makes for a grumpy greenie, and so does the cost of getting it fixed.

I began Root Canal Therapy today at a specialist in Moonee Ponds.  He was good, but he had a bill to match it.  I walked out, still in pain, and $700 poorer! 

The pain is beginning to reduce as the night wears on, and hopefully gone by the morning.  I still have 2 more visits to finish off the treatment, and the good doctor quoted me $2500 for treatment and a crown.  There goes my water tank savings!

Hopefully my blogging mojo will return in the next few days, but please excuse me if I seem to missing in action. 

Gav

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Filed Under: Gavin, Health

Mobile Mustering

February 22, 2010 @ 12:24 By Gavin Webber 9 Comments

One of the few thing I picked up yesterday were some Mobile Muster satchels used to recycle mobile phones.  In Australia we have a scheme run by the Australian Mobile Phone Industry which is free of charge to consumers.   I did a bit of research and found this info from the Mobile Muster site to share with you;

Mobilemuster is the only whole of industry led electronic product recycling program in the world.  It is funded voluntarily by handset manufacturers Nokia, Motorola, Samsung Electronics Australia, Sony Ericsson, LG Electornics, Sharp, NEC, Panasonic, i-Mate, battery distributors Force Technology and mobile phone network service providers Telstra, Optus, Vodafone, 3 Mobile, Virgin Mobile and AAPT.  Each pay an advance recycling levy raising 42 cents for every handset they import into Australia.


What can be recycled
Over 90% of the materials in mobile phones can be recovered and used as raw materials for new products.

  • Batteries include nickel to make stainless steel and cobalt and cadmium to make new batteries.
  • Circuit boards include small amounts of gold and silver that is used in jewellery and other applications.
  • Handset housings and casings include plastics that are shredded and used to make fence posts and pallets.
  • Accessories include plastics and metals that are shredded, sorted and then used to make new plastic or metal products.

Mining versus recycling
One tonne of mobile phone circuit boards can yield the same amount of precious metals as 110 tonnes of gold ore. 123 tonnes of silver bearing ore and 11 tonnes of copper sulphide ore.  See what the materials from old mobiles can be turned into.


Why recycle?

  • prevent pollution and protect our environment
  • minimise solid and hazardous waste going to landfill
  • recover resources to manufacture new products
  • reduce the need to use raw materials and save our natural resources

Number of collection/drop off points
Over 3,500 collection points Australia wide including

  • Nokia Care and Motorola One Service Centres
  • Mobile Phone Retailers – Telstra, Optus, Vodafone, 3 Mobile, Virgin Mobile, Crazy Johns, Fone Zone, Allphones, Dick Smiths and Harvey Normans
  • Cartridge World stores
  • Battery World stores
  • Almost 300 local councils
  • participating ANZ and Sydney Credit Union branches

Click here to find your nearest collection point.

Recycle by post
Free recycling satchels are now available from participating Australia Post outlets nationwide. Alternatively you can download a reply paid mailing labelling.

Convinced?  I certainly was, and was guilty of having more than one old handset laying around in drawers.  At least I had the common sense not to throw them into landfill.

So here are the phones and the recycling satchel that I picked up.  You can only put one phone and related accessories into one satchel.

 After about 2 minutes work, here they all are ready to post tomorrow.

I was gob-smacked when I found out that there are 21.2 million subscribers in Australia (June 2009).  So that is roughly one phone for every man, woman and child in this country!  There were approximately 7.86 million handset imported into the country last year, with only 806,000 were recycled last year, and to make matters worse, the average user upgrades handsets every 18-24 months.  There must be so many handsets either thrown into landfill or squirreled away in drawers, forgotten and collecting dust. 

So round up your old handsets, take them to a collection point, or get a satchel from your participating Australia Post office.  Not only will you be avoiding potentially hazardous landfill, but you will be saving resources and preventing habit loss from the mining of the minerals required for the phone components.

Win win all around, and it is FREE.  It doesn’t get much better than that.

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Filed Under: recycle

Sustainable Living Festival – 2010

February 21, 2010 @ 08:58 By Gavin Webber 2 Comments

Sustainable fun in the sun.  What a great day, as it is every year.  Unfortunately it was so hot that is was quite uncomfortable in the tents where the talks and workshops were held, but we battled on.  If it was a bit cooler, we probably would have stayed longer and checked out a few more presentations.  Not to worry, it was all good clean and free fun for all the family.  Here are some snippets of our day.  Enjoy!

If you are in Melbourne it is also on again today.  If you have the time, I highly recommend a visit to the Sustainable Living Festival, even if it is just for the food!

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Filed Under: Family, Friends, SLF, Sustainable Living

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About Gavin Webber

An Ordinary Australian Man Who Has A Green Epiphany Whilst Watching A Documentary, Gets a Hybrid Car, Plants A Large Organic Vegetable Garden, Goes Totally Solar, Lowers Consumption, Feeds Composts Bins and Worms, Harvests Rainwater, Raises Chickens, Makes Cheese and Soap, and Eats Locally. All In The Effort To Reduce Our Family's Carbon Footprint So We Can Start Making A Difference For Our Children & Future Generations To Come.

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Podcast Reviews

  • Always inspiring and entertaining!
    August 4, 2016 by floriographer from Australia

    I've crowed about Gavin's podcast before but I just have to recommend it once again - I love that he shares his learning as well as his successes - it helps the rest of us try try try again! Thanks Gavin!

  • ms
    July 22, 2016 by Ketaea12 from New Zealand

    I really enjoy listening to Gavin, he has a kind lovely voice. He covers some great relevant topics for the everyday greenie. With lots of tips or how to or what not to do. Thanks Gavin, love it!!

  • Well worth your time to tune in
    October 23, 2015 by A Vision Splendid from Australia

    I can highly recommend Gavin’s podcast ! I have followed Gavin’s blog since the very beginning and have loved to see his journey unfold. Gavin has a lovely speaking voice so this podcast is always very easy to listen to. Gavin has a very authentic approach to his green living lifestyle. He shares the ups and downs but always provides motivation and practical steps that we can all implement.

  • very good
    June 28, 2015 by Scared pax from United Kingdom

    This is a great podcast if you want to improve your life in so many aspects and become a more sustainable person. I love the soothing voice, the good pace, and it contains lots of useful information. Recommended!

  • opened my eyes
    May 25, 2015 by Gorn4lyfe from Australia

    A wonderful show!

  • Inspiring
    April 30, 2015 by Alan Whelan from Ireland

    This is a great podcast if you're looking for practical info on saving money by living more sustainably from someone who's made that journey over the last few years. Told in a nice, easy conversational style

  • Green Living, inspiring and practical
    January 8, 2015 by EliseMac from Australia

    Thanks Gav for sharing what has (and hasn't) worked along your journey for living a greener lifestyle. Inspiring and achievable for anyone, I look forward to this podcast weekly.

  • Local food equals less waste
    December 27, 2014 by allotmentadventureswithjean from Australia

    Another brilliant podcast from Gavin Webber encouraging us, and showing us how, to cut down on food miles, growing our own food, and cutting down on food waste. Gavin is a really interesting speaker, showing us how to eat better, growing our own food and how to live more sustainably.

  • Honestly australian
    December 15, 2014 by HodgepodgeOz from Australia

    Fantastic podcast, with a wide variety of well thought and researched topics. Gavin is a honest, forthright pod aster with a genuine interest in helping others get green. Like a day alongside is a day wasted, so too is a week without listening to Gavin. Highly recommended for people starting out, or those in the midst of their new lifestyle. Keep it up Gavin, wish there were more great reviews! Kimberley

  • Morning motivation
    December 8, 2014 by Bunnyworm from Australia

    Gavin has a great passion for living this greener lifestyle that motivates others to do the same. The podcasts are always interesting and informative. :)

  • Passionate Advocate
    October 18, 2014 by BoomOpGirl from Australia

    Gavin's enthusiasm and passion for creating a more sustainable world is nothing short of contagious. Thanks Gav, you are my weekly source of motivation for living a sustainable life! :)

  • Gavin speaks from the heart
    October 13, 2014 by Green gavin from Australia

    Gavin's podcasts are required listening for anyone planning to live a more sustainable life. He doesn't preach, but tells you his story from the heart. You'll laugh, smile, share in his concerns and along the way you'll pick up some great tips on living a simple life.

  • Green thoughts, so well iterated
    October 9, 2014 by Kwasikwami from Australia

    This is a wonderful podcast. Not only does Gavin talk knowledgeably on a range of sustainability topics from gardening tips all the way to the issues facing humanity as a whole, but he does so in such a wonderful voice, it's like listening to my Dad, love it!!

  • Easy listening inspiration on being green
    September 24, 2014 by Broomedy from Australia

    Gav knows how to share his journey to a more sustainable life in a manner that shows just how easy it really is. Not to mention healthier, economically beneficial and generally rewarding. The podcasts are an easy way to absorb Gav's great lifestyle. I recommend to anyone.

  • Thanks Gavin!
    August 31, 2014 by Honeywoodmilk from Australia

    Great practical advice for a greener lifestyle. This podcast is for anybody interested in growing their own food in suburbia, saving electricity, brewing beer, making cheese, all that wonderful business and most of all, saving money! Thanks Gavin, love the podcast mate!

  • Enjoyed those ideas for staying warm
    August 15, 2014 by enduringdragon from United States

    Like you we are having winter here in Chile—brrr! Every bit we can save on heating we will.

  • Green Podcasts
    July 26, 2014 by Carneu from Australia

    Excellent podcasts, which are full of information to help get started on a sustainable lifestyle.

  • Practical ideas and inspiration
    July 19, 2014 by HeathrowHeath from Australia

    I highly recommend Gavin's podcast and blog. Down to earth, entertaining and inspirational. Thank you.

  • Interesting & easy to listen to
    April 27, 2014 by Velocity3 from New Zealand

    Gavin & his guests make this green journey lots of fun.

  • Great green listen
    April 18, 2014 by Obscurenickname from Australia

    Gavin is a great down to earth, tell it like it is aussie with a passion for sustainability and growing food and making cheese

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