April Networking Breakfast

The Waste Wise Geelong Network Function was held on April 24th. The breakfast was sponsored by Barwon Water, who spoke about the importance of relationships when working toward Waste Wise certification for their city offices.

To find out more click here

Mobile Phone Recycling

MobileMuster is the official national recycling program of the mobile phone industry in Australia. Initiated voluntarily by the telecommunications industry in 1999 its overall aim is to prevent mobile phones ending up in landfill.  The program collects and recycles mobile phone handsets, batteries and accessories from a network of over 1700 mobile phone retailers, local council, government agencies and businesses drop off points across Australia.  For more information
Click Here

Sustainability Grants

Business Victoria is offering Grants to businesses for new investments that enhance sustainability. Projects should involve the installation of commercially viable technologies or processes that will do one or more of the following:
* improve energy efficiency
* reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
* save water
* reduce waste
Click Here for more information

 

Did you Know?

FACT: It takes 24 trees to create 1 tonne of virgin office paper (not to mention the energy and water costs)

TIP: Reduce your default font size by one point. The difference will be barely noticeable and over time it will save paper and printer toner.

FACT: Every 100 reams of recycled office paper that is printed double sided will save more that one tonne of green-house gas been released into the atmosphere.

TIP: Set printer and photocopiers to use the double sided function.
Source:
Sustainability Victoria Website.
For more information about the Waste Wise Office KitClick Here

Waste Wise Office Signage

Signage is available on the Sustainability Victoria Website, you can even customise your ownclick here.We also have some standard signs available as A4 stickers, to request stickers for your business click here

WWGN Member Update

Congratulations to WWGN member Evologic who received a Waste Wise eco footprint badge and their Waste Wise certification at our last network breakfast.

• Evologic Industries - provide professional Information Technology Services to small and medium sized businesses, from all business sectors through out Melbourne and Geelong

The network is proud to now have 29 Waste Wise certified businesses.

Congratulations to the following businesses who received their Waste Wise eco footprint badge as a symbol of their commitment to work toward Waste Wise certification:

Salesforce - provides organisations with resources and solutions that deliver more efficient and more effective selling and superior after sale customer service.

Coulter Roache - provides the full range of legal services to corporate, small business and private clients.

Welcome to new WWGN members.
Elite Event Solutions
Olin Australia - Winchester
Vallis IGA
Townsend Cleaning Services
VECCI - Geelong Office

The application form to become Waste Wise can be downloaded here.
For asistance with this application please contact Liz Raimondo - WWGN Project Manager

JUNE NETWORK BREAKFAST

The next Waste Wise Geelong Network Breakfast will be held on Wednesday the 13th June from 7.30am - 9.00am at the Geelong Conference Centre.
The Breakfast will be sponsored by Adcell Print Group, publisher of Geelong Business News.

Invitations coming soon.....please make a diary note.

Monitoring Progress- keep it simple

Having set waste minimisation goals it is important to track progress and keep everyone involved, up to date with the achievements made so far. A visual goal is a great reminder and motivation to keep everyone thinking about the impact of their actions.

Earthtech, network member since May 2006, agreed to reduce their paper use by 30% when they were certified in October 2006.So the Landscape team (aka Chris Angel) designed and installed a 'high tech paper ream Thermometer' located above the main photo copier. See picture below!

This chart was also e-mailed to all staff with some witty comments by the creator and some general Waste WIse facts. It provides a reminder of the goal as well as a bit of fun in the Waste Wise Challenge for Earth Tech - Great work Chris!

'Don't be a Tosser - Bin Your Butts'

Sustainability Victoria is launching a 'Bin Your Butts' blitz campaign. When working toward Waste WIse certification we encourage businesses to review litter - which includes cigarette butts in and around the workplace.

FACT: Around 350,000 butts are washed into Port Phillip Bay every year.

FACT: Unlike paper, cigarette butts undergo chemical changes as they decompose.  Within one hour of being in contact with water a cigarette butt will start to leach toxic chemicals into the environment.

For more information about the impact of cigarette butts on our environment click here.

Is cigarette butt litter a problem around your workplace? What are you doing to address this problem?      

Waste Wise Questions or initiatives?

If you have any Waste Wise questions or initiatives please don't hesitate to contact Liz Raimondo - Project Manager WWGN

 

If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter
click here and note 'unsubscribe' in the subject line.