Living Green Program

The City has six (6) FREE recycled fridge worm farms to give away to interested schools and early learning centres within the City of Stirling.

Worm Farms are a simple and low maintenance way to divert organic waste, such as kitchen scraps and garden waste, away from landfill – turning it into a valuable resource to be used in the garden.

The package includes the supply of a recycled fridge worm farm from The Worm Shed, with worms and accessories, delivered and installed at your school or ELC located within the City of Stirling.

To apply, register here. 

Entries must be received by 5pm, Friday 28 June.

Autumn and winter is planting season! As part of the City’s annual program, you may soon see trees being planted on streets, verges and reserves in your neighbourhood.

Trees are considered one of our most important assets. They bring us many natural benefits. In fact, national and international research has found trees:

• Cool our homes, streets and neighbourhoods
• Reduce cooling and energy costs
• Help to define a neighbourhood’s character 
• Improve property values (tree lined streets are worth an average of $16,000 more than streets without trees)
• Encourage biodiversity and wildlife
• Shade footpaths for you, your family and pets
• Clean the air and help improve our mental and physical health.

Every year we lose around 200,000 square metres of tree canopy (equal to 3,800 medium sized trees) due to clearing for developments, pest, disease and vandalism, and natural decline of the ageing tree population within the City.

To view this year's street tree planting schedule, click here. 

The City has partnered with Switch Your Thinking to unlock a variety of discounts for residents and buisnesses on energy efficient, waterwise and sustainable products. Think solar panels, batteries, pool blankets, worm farms and more!

To learn  how you can access the rewards and discounts available, visit the Rewards for Residents or Rewards for Business pages on the Switch Your Thinking website.

Another perk for businesses is the Switched on Business Awards which celebrate environmentally conscious businesses who have made great efforts to make their operations more sustainable. Twice a year, businesses in the City of Stirling can apply to the Switched on Business Awards to be celebrated for their efforts to reduce environmental impacts. Winners will receive a framed certificate which is presented by a Councillor from the local government at an official event. If you are the winner, your business will be acknowledged on the Switch Your Thinking website, Facebook and LinkedIn pages and the e-newsletters. For more information, head to the Switched on Business page. 

 

Keep informed

To keep up to date on sustainability news, read about success stories from local government and learn about exciting opportunities and events coming up, subscribe to the Switch Your Thinking monthly e-newsletters.

You can also opt in for a monthly Energy Smart SMS service where Switch Your Thinking delivers a monthly SMS tip with simple ways you can reduce your electricity use at home.

Due to popular demand, the Free Tree and Plant Program is now fully subscribed and unfortunately there are no leftovers available. 

Tree and plant species

• To learn more about the plant packs please click here. Please note, not all plants are suitable for verge planting
• To learn more about tree species, please click here. Please note, native trees will be supplied as tubestock, visit the registration for more info. 

Thank you for your interest in the Sustainable Verge Program, this program is now fully subscribed.

The wildly popular Sustainable Verge Program is open for residents transforming their verges over autumn/winter 2024. Each recipient will receive support to create a native, waterwise verge garden and 175 places will be available on a first come, first served basis:

Support includes:

• Mulch voucher (Soils Aint Soils, Balcatta) or Grass Skip Bin Voucher  
• 20 WA-native waterwise plants
• Sustainable Verge Makeover Guide.

Eligibility

• City of Stirling residential property owner, or tenant with approval from owner
• Strata properties can apply (as one verge) with pre-agreement from body corporate.

Conditions

• Participants can not apply for free plants in the City’s Plant Giveaway (April/May 2024)
• Participants agree to use the mulch and plants only on their City of Stirling residential verge
• Participants with large verges can apply again in following years to receive additional support
• Residents can not register for more than one City of Stirling address
• Participants agree to complete a program survey in June 2024.

Due to popular demand, Home sustainability and in-home support is fully subscribed for the 2023/24 program. If you are Synergy customer who is facing financial hardship you are eligible for the Energy Ahead program. To find out more follow this link.

Find out how you can save money on your bills and do your bit for the environment with free advice from a sustainability expert.

Residents are eligible for up to $50 of biodiversity enhancing & energy and water saving products through the Home Sustainability Support program. Free products include LED lights, pedestal fans, soil improver, soil wetter, bee and insect attracting houses, nesting boxes and more. Get tips to reduce your bills and create a wildlife friendly garden in a more comfortable home. 

After registration, the sustainability expert will contact you within a month to arrange a suitable time to visit your home. Remote sessions are available if you are unable to meet face to face. See the eligibility and conditions to decide if you can participate in the program:

Eligibility 

• Households must be located within the City of Stirling to be eligible
• Homeowners and tenants are both eligible to participate
• Households that have previously received a Home Sustainability Support Session at the same address are not eligible
• Households that have low energy and water use may not be eligible for a support session. The City will contact you to discuss your needs and advise you if you are eligible.

Conditions

• If you need to reschedule or cancel your support session you must provide at least 24 hours notice to the sustainability expert. Late notice may make you ineligible to reschedule
• Participants are required to provide 12 months billing history (electricity, gas, water) to the sustainability expert prior to the session
• Free sustainability products will be provided during the session and chosen by your sustainability expert based on the household needs.

The city also offers loans of Home Energy Assessment Toolkits from its libraries. To find out more about the toolkits visit Energy and Emissions.

Energy Toolkit – Home energy toolkits, designed to help you reduce your electricity use and save money on your bills are available to hire from all City of Stirling libraries – read more here.

Battery collection - Drop off your old battery's at participating primary schools and shopping centre. 

For a full list of drop off centres, visit the Recycling Near You website.

Containers for Change – Return your containers to earn or donate 10 cents per item.  View the complete list of drop off and recycling centres here.

Be Waterwise - for top tips and resources to reduce your water use, visit our water management page.

Reduce energy use - top tips and resources to reduce your energy use, visit our energy and emissions page.