Waste Wise Workshops
This week we offer 2 workshops for new businesses wanting to achieve Waste Wise Certification or members wanting to renew their certification
Limited places available
For more information Click Here
How much paper
do you use?
Project Paperless is a call to action for Australians to take up the challenge of reducing our paper usage at home and in the office.
"If businesses are serious about their bottom line and the environment, then the easiest thing for them to do is reduce their paper usage." John Dee, organiser and Founder of Planet Ark.
Not only will reducing paper usage save you money and help the environment, it will also make your business more efficient and accountable.
For more information and to view case studies visit the Project Paperless Website
For a copy of Project Paperless fact sheetClick Here
Paper Facts
Australians use 1.4million tonne of printing and fine paper per annum
Office paper consumption increase by 20% each year
On average an office worker uses 50 sheets of paper per day
Choosing Recycled Paper Guide
There are many misconceptions about using recycled paper, when in fact most recycled papers now days are guaranteed to perform equally as well as virgin paper. The Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability in Victoria have created a guide to assist choosing the most appropriate recycled paper for your needs. Remember its even better if you reduce the amount of paper you use by defaulting to double sided print and reviewing template margins and font sizes. Click here to view the guide
Walk to Work Day
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National Ride
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Leading the Way - Members in Action
Typically when working with organisations to achieve Waste Wise efforts are focused on planning to ensure that all resources no longer required by the organisation are disposed of responsibly. In recent times it has been encouraging to see organisations actively going one step further by communicating with Service contractors to learn about what happens to the waste & recycling collected and also educating and extending the offer to employees in the workplace. These are examples of positive corporate social responsibility and are actions which demonstrate continuous improvement.
Harwood Andrews Team at Clean Up Australia Day 2008
Harwood Andrews Lawyers actively extend their environmentally responsible actions beyond the workplace. Earlier this year when WWGN coordinated a Clean Up Australia Business Day, Harwood Andrews were one of the first to volunteer and participate, and work they did! At our business breakfast in February this year Harwood Andrews were one of the first organisations to commit to recycling Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) when the facility became available in Geelong. Going one step further they extended the offer to staff who are now able to bring polystyrene from home for recycling. As EPS recycling is not yet available to residents this is a simple and excellent example of encouraging positive behaviours beyond the workplace. For more information on recycling Expanded Polystyrene Phone GDP Industries
on 5278-9411
At the Geelong Resource Recovery Transfer station in Duoro St, North Geelong residents and SME's are able to drop off a number of items to be recycled or disposed of responsibly for FREE. Two examples of the programs are Byteback which accepts personal computers, laptops, computer mice, monitors, printers, scanners, keyboards, computer power supplies, printed circuit boards, motherboards, network/memory cards, disk and CD drives, a limit of 20 items per visit applies, and Detox your Home accepts paint, motor oil, all types of batteries, gas cylinders and fluorescent tubes. As not everyone is often close to the transfer station the team at Vic Roads Offices have trialled providing boxes in their tea room for staff to bring in their unwanted goods from home. Not only was the opportunity actively supported by staff some people's trash was treasure for others! The team then coordinated the safe transfer of items to the Geelong Resource Recovery Transfer station.
Congratulations Sweeney Todd!
Waste Wise certified Sweeney Todd Medical Waste was awarded the Sustainable Business Award at this year's Geelong Advertiser Business Excellence Awards. Sweeney Todd has been Waste Wise since November 2006 and are a great example of continuous improvement in all aspects of business. Director, Dr Hugh Parsons was concerned that the waste generated by his dental practice was being disposed at the local landfill site, as this was the only option at the time. These environmental concerns were the basis of the Sweeney Todd Medical Waste's inception in the industry, and are the backbone of the commitment to lead the way in environmentally friendly waste disposal.
Sweeney Todd have a mission and goal to strive towards zero waste to landfill. They are already well on the way 
by using innovative technology, but are continually searching for alternate methods to landfill. Dr Parsons states "Our reduction in waste volume already minimises our impact and by shredding, steam injection and compacting, we are leading the way. With this process no harmful dioxins are released which results in lower pollution to the earths air.This is only the start of a new era for medical waste management. The future is in everyone’s hands."
Sweeney Todd also won the Victorian Small Business of the Year Award at the 54th annual Victorian Training Awards.
Congratulations Third Ecology!
Third Ecology Architects won the National HIA Greensmart Concept Design of the Year Award for a project currently being built in Barwon Heads and were also a finalist in the Built Environment Category for the 2008 Banksia Environmental Awards.
Queens Park
The submission Queens Park Residence demonstrates that buildings can be created with very low life cycle impacts, whilst also achieving very low on-going operating impacts as they relate to energy, water, waste water and materials. Further, taking account that the project exists on a very difficult site, the resource conservation credentials of the project can be seen as even more impressive.
Third Ecology architects were first certified Waste Wise in May 2005 and they certainly practice what they preach when it comes to Waste Wise and actively encourage their clients and suppliers to follow suit. Great work!
WANTED!
Member input for website update
Our website is in the process of being updated with information specifically for businesses to focus on Resource Management Issues. Updates will include a Frequently Asked Questions page and Sustainability Glossary. To ensure we are meeting your needs please CLICK HERE to post any questions you would like answered.
Barwon Regional Waste Management Group | 103 Roseneath St, North Geelong, 3215
ph: (03) 5277 9656 | fax: (03) 5277 9979 | email: liz.raimondo@brwmg.vic.gov.au
www.brwmg.vic.gov.au
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