Environment Matters Autumn/Winter 2024

Big changes for large items

Your household can send less to landfill with council’s new on-demand kerbside collection for large items.

From early 2024, Ipswich residents will have greater access and more flexibility to dispose of unwanted household items with the introduction of an annual on-demand service. Each household will be eligible for one free collection per year Households can order a 2 cubic metre bag when it’s convenient. Under the new on-demand model, a minimum 50 per cent of materials collected will be recovered from landfill and with the new bagged system there will be less chance of litter and debris being left on the kerbside. For more information visit Ipswich.qld.gov.au/kerbside

Tall shrub – Weeping bottlebrush (Melaleuca viminalis ‘wilderness white’)

Groundcover – Creeping boobialla (Myoporum parvifolium)

Groundcover – Giant buttons (Leiocarpa brevicompt)

Planting for resilience Keep your garden looking lovely in dry times! There are many Australian native plants, such as those grown at council’s nursery, that can flourish when dry and harsh conditions return.

Shrub – Emu bush (Eremophila maculata)

Groundcover – Saltbush (Rhagodia spinescens)

Tall shrub – Grevillea flora mason

LOOK FOR PLANTS WITH: ¼ Small or narrow leaves ... as they lose less moisture ¼ Light coloured leaves ... as they reflect light and keep the plant cooler ¼ Deep root systems ... as they are more resilient to drought ¼ Hairy or tough leaf surfaces ... as they reduce moisture loss.

HOW TO HELP YOUR PLANTS:

Bring your rates notice to collect your six free plants each year from council’s Queens Park Nursery, or the Mobile Nursery. The selection is always changing, with different species available to discover all the time. Plants are propagated by the nursery, so are suited to Ipswich conditions. Visit Ipswich.qld.gov.au/freeplants

¼ Water between 5.00 am and 10.00 am to reduce evaporation loss ¼ Improve your soil’s ability to retain moisture by adding organic matter and mulch ¼ Create areas of shade to provide some protection and cooling ¼ Provide wind breaks as strong winds increase evaporation.

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