Business Waste >> About the Business Waste Reduction Project

About the Business Waste Reduction Project 

 

The Business Waste Reduction Project began in April 2005 and aims to reduce the amount of waste disposed to landfill from select businesses in the NEWF region. The project actively transfers the experiences of its participating businesses to other businesses and industry groups across five local government areas.

The targeted businesses are diverse and have included tourism operators, retirement homes, shopping centres and educational facilities. They were selected primarily because of their waste generating capacity and the potential for outcomes to be transferred to other similar businesses operating in the region. 

 

 The project has the following objectives:

• To assist businesses across the NEWF region to implement waste reduction activities;
  
  
• To reduce the amount of commercial and industrial waste to landfill across the region;
  
  
• To make use of knowledge collected from previous similar projects;
  
  
• To share information about business waste reduction across the NEWF region and if applicable further afield;
  
  
• To focus on actions for reducing waste.

 The project has been implemented through a number of simple steps.

1. Selecting and approaching businesses;
   
   
2. Assessing current waste practices: site analysis; waste audits; staff surveys and past waste records;
   
   
3. Preparing and implementing Waste Reduction Action Plans (WRAP);
   
   
4. Reviewing and monitoring their progress;
   
   
5. Promoting business successes. 

The project also promotes further waste reduction across the region through a series of case studies based on the businesses that have already participated in the project, and a Business Waste Reduction Toolkit. 

The toolkit can be downloaded and comprises of six straightforward steps. It is supplemented with ten appendices, consisting mostly of templates for tables and tools for activities such as reviewing records, surveying staff, assessing waste and preparing a WRAP.

An advisory service is also available for those who wish to use the toolkit and undertake waste reduction themselves. This allows for more businesses to be involved in the project.

You can also find out more about the project by perusing our annual reports and newsletters.

For further information about the Business Waste Reduction Project, please contact the Project Co-ordinator: Jeanie McKillop, PO Box 340 LENNOX HEAD NSW 2478.