Benefits of waste minimisation systems

What does the community think about waste?
Change from waste disposal to waste minimisation
What are the benefits of minimising waste?

Australia has a population of around 20 million people, most of whom live in capital or major cities close to the eastern and southern seaboards. Each year, about 1 tonne of waste per person is generated – that’s 20 million tonnes of waste from commercial, industrial and domestic sources. And much of it is disposed of in landfills.

Cooperation between all levels of government, business, industry and the community is necessary to achieve, effectively and cooperatively, systems to minimise and recycle waste, and reach national waste minimisation goals.

What does the community think about waste?

Community concern for environmental issues, and in particular waste reduction, shows no signs of abating. The community is now much more aware and has a deeper understanding of the complexities of waste reduction (Working with the community, October 2005, www.zerowaste.sa.gov.au/market_research.php). With the community requesting a reduction in excess packaging and more recycling, many local government organisations have introduced kerbside recycling schemes and industry has introduced methods to reduce packaging and address other environmental issues.

Change from waste disposal to waste minimisation

This guide identifies methods to follow as shopping centres see the need to move from the present system of operation, primarily emphasising disposal, to a new approach embracing resource conservation, waste reduction and minimisation. The development of waste minimisation approaches allows a shopping centre to review current practices, comply with statutory regulations and its own internal requirements, and review manufacturer’s packaging methods. The shopping centre thus identifies opportunities to improve environmental performance by reducing resource consumption and the amount of waste produced – for environmental, economic and social benefit.

What are the benefits of minimising waste?

Producing waste within a retail environment negatively impacts on everyone who operates within a centre’s ‘bottom line’. Good waste management is good business management. The benefits go beyond reducing waste to landfill. Preventing waste not only saves resources and reduces pollution, it also saves money.

Overall benefits
An effective waste reduction program develops a competitive advantage by improving overall management performance, improves employee morale, reduces operating costs and is in line with principles of best practice operating methods. Centres with an effective waste minimisation and management program are seen as responsible, caring corporate citizens, sensitive to environmental issues – and can attract customers who favour a ‘green’ image.

Other benefits include:

• improved compliance with environmental regulations
• better use of resources
• savings from waste minimisation and reduced disposal costs
• enhanced public image
• increased profits

Economic benefits

An effective waste minimisation and management program can reduce the amount of waste being sent to landfill by over 60% (Centro Colonnades Shopping Centre, 1995). Savings on collection and disposal costs can then be offset against the cost of initiating waste minimisation and management programs. Disposal costs can only rise as landfill sites become harder to find and further from city centres. Much higher operating standards, and thus increased costs, as well as restrictions on the types of waste that can be sent to landfill, are now expected. A cooperative approach is the key to reducing costs. As suppliers and producers respond to ‘green’ pressure and streamline their systems to minimise  packaging and waste, their costs should also decrease. The many potential benefits to be gained from minimising waste can only be realised by identification of all costs associated with existing disposal systems, including hidden costs.

Social benefits

Minimising waste is an ideal way to reinforce existing community attitudes and current environmental awareness and education programs, particularly in local government and the education system. Market research consistently shows that concern for the environment rates highly within the community. Waste minimisation and management programs are seen by many as an ideal opportunity to do something for the environment. Waste minimisation and management programs can therefore create goodwill within the community, and thus opportunities for centres and retailers to promote their ‘green image’.

The community’s awareness of the natural and built environment can be raised by involving them in a program they perceive as helping the environment. It could be as simple as this: a campaign to involve customers in a shopping centre’s recycling program could mean less littering in and around the centre - and a lower cleaning budget for the centre. Materials recovery and treatment can be labour intensive, so the introduction of a waste minimisation and management program has the potential to create employment at the local level. As the retail industry develops programs to comply with legislation, such as EPA’s Water Quality Policy for stormwater pollution prevention, it can take advantage of the ideal opportunities to further relationships with the local council and State Government agencies.

Environmental benefits

Minimising waste conserves resources. Conserving resources not only reduces waste; it can reduce pollution. As industry consumes fewer raw materials, it uses less fossil fuel and less pollution is the result. At present most solid waste ends up in landfill. Specific risks associated with landfill sites are now better understood. An effective waste minimisation and management program can take a proactive approach to lessening shopping centres’ impact on the environment.

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