Waste News:

Waste Wise
Geelong Network Member Listing

For an up to date list of businesses who are members of the Waste Wise Geelong Network
Click Here

Carbon Management and Accounting

Business Victoria has information about Carbon Management and Accounting. Click on the links below for more information.Melbourne Carbon Market Services Guide
Melbourne Carbon Market Services Directory

Central Geelong Study - Towards Zero Waste

The study to further reduce waste going to landfill and increase recycling and reuse of waste materials within Central Geelong offers the following facts so far based on 25 random audits of small to medium businesses:-
*most businesses had between 5-30kg of material presented at audit
* 33% did not have a recycling collection sevice
*Of those that did recycle - 88% had a combined paper & cardboard service
- 28% had bottle & can service
- 12% dedicated cardboard service
- 8% dedicated paper service
* some businesses had more than one recycling service
* Paper & cardboard were the major contributors by weight (56%) followed by food waste (18%).

For more information on the study Click Here

EPS Recycling Project Update

The Expanded Polystyrene Recycling facility at GDP Industries has been collecting more EPS than ever. In the past 4 months collection quantities have grown over 300%.

In the ten months since the project has been operating 5224m3 of EPS has been collected for recycling - that equates to over 217,000 wheelie bins of waste saved from landfill !!

Waste Wise Christmas actions Rating

Award yourself 5 stars for each of the following actions
- Sent christmas cards made from recycled paper
- Sent electronic Christmas Cards
-Purchased office Kris Kringle present or gifts with little or no packaging
-Organised a Waste Free morning tea or lunch
-Composted all food scrap leftovers
- Stored Christmas decorations safely for reuse next year

Merry Christmas!

Thanks to all for your commitment enthusiasm and efforts during the year - congratulations to those businesses who have made commitments and made changes to improve their resource efficiency.
For highlights of the year and more information
visit www.brwmg.vic.gov.au and click on the Waste Wise Geelong Network Link to view media and photos promoting network events and member achievements during 2008.

There are a number of businesses who are in the midst of achieveing Waste Wise certifcation or due to recertify. I look forward to working with you in 2009. Stay tuned for a newsletter early in New Year with a program of events for 2009.

I wish everyone a wonderful time with family and friends over the holiday break and wish you all the best for a Happy New Year. I will be back in the office on the 12th of January. Merry Christmas to all! Cheers Liz Raimondo

Site Visits and Workshops

During 2009 we will continue to offer site visits and Waste Wise workshops to assist businesses achieve Waste Wise certifcation.To express interest in either a Site Visit or attending a Waste Wise workshop please contact Liz Raimondo or phone 52 779 656.

Workshops are a great way to introduce employees to Waste Wise especially 'Green or enviro' teams. Alternatively we will be exploring options to deliver workshops to sector specific businesses e.g. retail, hospitality, tourism, office based etc.

November Event

Waste Wise Geelong Network in partnership with Committee for Geelong Leaders Group and Third Ecology Architects hosted the Geelong Chamber of Commerce After Five function on November 27th 2008, at Skilled Stadium.                   

Invited guest speaker Ross Wyatt from NetBalance Foundation Ltd shared findings with members about the results from Australian survey “What assures Consumers on Climate Change?”  Survey results showed that Australians have high per-capita greenhouse emissions, but a strong commitment to averting climate change. Consumer action could be a crucial asset in Australia’s efforts to tackle climate change.  While well informed about how to tackle climate change Consumers are giving a strong call for business, government and citizens to work together to communicate action options. Four in five say businesses must take climate change more seriously and call on government to do more to tackle it.  For more information on the survey findings go to www.netbalancefoundation.org/research/WhatAssuresInAustralia.pdf

Back From Left: Mark Sanders - Third Ecology Architects & Leaders for Geelong Project Group, Liz Raimondo - Waste Wise Geelong Network, Ross Wyatt & Terence Jeyaretnam - NetBalance Foundation Ltd, Enzo Bruscella - Barwon Regional Waste Management Group Front From Left: Trevor Dess -Parks Victoria & Leaders for Geelong Project Group, Lawrie Miller - Geelong Chamber of Commerce

Co –sponsors, Committee for Geelong - Leaders Group announced their current work on a project to provide micro to small enterprises in Geelong with information they will need to assess and adjust their operations in a future with higher energy, water and material costs.  For more information see below.

At the Chamber function Waste Wise Certification was presented to the Powercor - North Geelong Depot and The Potato Shed- Drysdale.  Geelong Otway Tourism and City of Greater Geelong accepted their certificates for renewing Waste Wise certification already having undertaken a number of actions in the last 2 years to improve resource efficiency and maximise recycling.