Councils in NSW and Victoria continue to offer free green waste services in a bid to provide extra assistance to residents as fires continue to ravage parts of Australia.
Read more
UNSW tools enable organisations to efficiently assess sustainability of activities
Researchers at UNSW have created tools that enable businesses and governments to assess how sustainable their activities are, which they can then compare with other jurisdictions locally and globally.
Read more
NSW government develops cigarette butt litter reduction program
NSW is developing its first targeted cigarette butt litter reduction program after a trial showed targeted interventions could prevent more than 790 million cigarette butts polluting the environment each year.
MWOO to MSUE – challenging government decisions
The ongoing saga regarding the banning on reuse of mixed waste organic outputs (MWOO) for agricultural purposes in NSW is a reminder that – shock horror – the state government is not perfect, can sometimes make mistakes, and can make decisions that bring serious negative impacts.
Read more
App rolled out in NSW to help residents identify recyclable products
An app that helps users identify what they can recycle, and how, has been released in NSW.
Coalition of councils set target of recycling 45 million glass bottles annually
The Southern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (SSROC) is setting itself a goal to recycle 45 million glass bottles each year to leverage purchasing power to drive a circular economy.
Bin Trim program helps divert over 50 tonnes of leather off-cuts from landfill
A significant volume of leather off-cuts from shoes is being sent to landfill, when it could be recycled.
In a bid to divert this material from landfill, the MRA Bin Trim team and Modern Shoes worked together, as part of the third round of the NSW government’s Bin Trim program, to find a new home for these valuable off-cuts.
MRA’s experience with the Bin Trim program enabled the company to identify a suitable recycler, provide samples to test the recyclability of the product and ultimately provide a cheap, sustainable recycling solution for the business.
Prior to the assessment, Modern Shoes sent about 54 tonnes of various material to landfill, per annum. Leather off-cuts was the largest component by weight (55 per cent), followed by plastic (26 per cent).
With assistance from the Bin Trim program, Modern Shoes has managed to:
– Divert 100 per cent of their leather waste from landfill;
– Increase their overall recycling rate from 32 per cent to 88 per cent and;
– Reduce their waste disposal costs by a minimum of $1,800 per month, saving $21,600 per year.
Bin Trim is designed to provide businesses with long-term waste management solutions. The program funds Bin Trim assessors to provide NSW businesses with a free waste assessment and tailored action plan through a simple 5-step program:
1. An assessor will visit your business site and register the business for the Bin Trim program.
2. The assessor will review your business waste and determine how much more your business can recycle.
3. A tailored waste reduction action plan will be provided to you along with an assessment for equipment rebate eligibility.
4. The assessor will provide practical support and advice to help you put your plan into action. This could include employee education or new recycling services.
5. The assessor will conduct a second waste assessment to measure progress.
Free assessments and rebates:
Businesses with fewer than 400 employees are eligible to participate in Bin Trim. In addition, a maximum of five sites from one company can be assessed. Businesses may also be eligible for a rebate of between $1,000 and $50,000 to cover up to 50 per cent of the cost of recycling equipment.
Bin Trim, funded through the waste levy, is part of the NSW government’s Waste Less, Recycle More initiative. An $802 million funding program for business recycling, organics collections, market development, managing problem wastes, new waste infrastructure, local councils and programs to tackle illegal dumping and litter.
This story was contributed by James Smith from MRA Consulting Group.
NSW EPA’s decision on MWOO gains backlash from industry
The NSW EPA has announced it does not intend to allow Mixed Waste Organic Outputs (MWOO) to be used as a soil amendment on agricultural, mining rehabilitation or forestry land.
Read more
High landfill diversion rates achieved with community engagement in regional NSW
The Australian National Waste Report 2018, mentions community engagement numerous times, with state governments prioritising community education and public awareness of recycling and waste management. Engagement programs are widely prioritised by local and state governments, organisations and businesses in a bid to increase resource recovery.
Read more
EPA guides help construction industry avoid rogue waste operations
The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has published new guidelines to help the construction and demolition (C&D) industry properly dispose of waste.
Read more