Collaboration improves
environmental performance

Left: Minister for Environment and Conservation Gail Gago with Compost SA Chairman Paul Bowden. Right: The bin lid stickers.

Almost 10,000 Adelaide homes are participating in a trial to reduce contamination of garden organics in household recycling bins.

The trial is part of a campaign developed in close consultation with the Organics Contamination Working Group, chaired by Zero Waste SA. Representatives of this group are drawn from local government, KESAB and garden organics collectors, processors and users.

The centrepiece of the campaign comprises educational materials – a permanent educational bin sticker, a bright orange temporary warning sticker and educational flyer.

Minister for Environment and Conservation Gail Gago said the trial, in conjunction with the Campbelltown and Port Adelaide Enfield Councils and the composting industry, aims to result in more usable compost which, in turn, can help save water consumption.

“Each year, more than 880,000 bin loads of garden organics collected from South Australian homes are turned into compost,” Minister Gago said

Minister Gago said that contamination rates were up to 10% per bin and just under a million green organic bins were shifted each year.

A three-month survey of what ends up in our green garden organics bins will start next week in the Port Adelaide Enfield area, while the Campbelltown trial involving 3,600 households is already underway.

“Both councils have already started assessing the quality of garden organics waste collected from homes in their identified test areas to set baseline measures for the new campaign,” Minister Gago said.

“Preliminary results from the Campbelltown trial show an encouraging decrease in the extent of contamination found in the garden organics bins, however, the number of plastic bags and plant pots is still a concern.

“The push to improve South Australian’s habits is supported by the use of stickers on each bin in the trial areas, outlining what can and can’t be recycled.

“Quite aside from the more unusual contaminants – such as cutlery and a child’s car seat – householders are unwittingly placing things like plastic bags and rocks in their garden organics bins, unaware they’re contaminating entire truckloads of collected garden organics destined for compost processing.”

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$2 million in grants –
applications close soon!

West Work's hydraulic bin lifter and warehouse.

Applications close at 5pm on Friday, 16 November 2007 for three funding programs:

– the Regional Implementation Program,
– the Metropolitan Re-use and Recycling Infrastructure Program and
– the Social Enterprise Incentive Program.

Two million dollars is available for infrastructure projects which recover materials for reprocessing and thereby reduce waste going to landfill. The grants can be used for a range of projects – from large-scale commercial facilities to small re-use and repair projects in community-based organisations.

For example, last year an $18,000 Social Enterprise Grant was provided to West Works to help purchase a hydraulic bin lifter and several bins.

West Works is an Anglicare enterprise, based at Elizabeth West, which specialises in repairing, reusing and recycling household and commercial items.

“The lifter has made our whole operation more effective. Being able to transport our own waste, which reduces costs and allows us to chase the best price from recyclers, I’ve been able to allocate the manpower to improve our resource recovery,” West Works Project Manager John Swensen said.

“Before the lifter we sent 28% of the material we received to landfill, that’s now dropped to 20%.”

West Works operated the State Government’s fridge buy-back scheme, and re-used or recycled 100% of the 760 fridges collected. The organisation also operates Adelaide’s only free e-waste program for redundant computers and office equipment, which has a 75% recovery rate.

Since 2003, South Australia has decreased the amount of waste going to landfill by 10.69% with almost 70% of waste being recycled. Projects funded by the new grants will help further improve those figures. Details are available from Zero Waste SA at www.zerowaste.sa.gov.au

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Commendation for public artwork

Installing the artwork.

Public artwork commissioned by Zero Waste SA and installed in the Range Wetlands, Dry Creek, could be the first such project internationally to promote the zero waste message.

The $100,000 public art project titled Zero Waste Lifeline has been developed in an innovative bid to raise public awareness about environmental sustainability and highlight the need for a continued focus on reducing consumption and the amount of waste created.

The Zero Waste Lifeline project won a Commendation in the the Design Institute of Australia’s (DIA) 2007 South Australian Design Awards announced on 20 October 2007.

Constructed from zinc-coated galvanised steel tubing, the artwork consists of three 6.5 metre-wide ornamental ‘buoys’, each filled with coloured glass bottles in metal cages. The sculpture has been designed to represent both the circulatory system within the human body and the systems of collection, recycling and reuse of valuable natural resources.

Zero Waste SA Chief Executive Vaughan Levitzke said the artwork - a permanent fixture visible from Dry Creek’s North Hanson Road - celebrates the reclamation of a site in which the nearby hills are built from discarded waste.

“By juxtaposing art against an industrial landscape built from household and commercial waste, we hope to remind Australians that the level of consumption in our everyday lives has a direct impact on the environment,” Mr Levitzke said.

Designed by local artists Greg Healey, Cathoel Jorss, James Hayter and Gregg Mitchell, Zero Waste Lifeline was chosen for commissioning from a shortlist of four SA submissions, following a March 2006 workshop for 30 interested sculptors, engineers, architects and designers.

“Design submissions were required to have artistic merit, whilst successfully highlighting the benefits of a zero waste society and raising public consciousness about climate change,” Mr Levitzke said.

The installation’s three sculptures have been created to sit comfortably within the surrounding landscape and to encourage safe nesting spots for more than 100 species of birds that are supported by the Wetlands. An educational kit and visits for school children to the Wetlands site will be developed as part of Zero Waste SA’s Wipe Out Waste schools program. The project can also be viewed at www.zerowaste.sa.gov.au

The Zero Waste Lifeline project was overseen by representatives from Arts SA, Port Adelaide Enfield Council (which will now assume management responsibility for the project), the Department for Environment and Heritage, the Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure and Zero Waste SA.

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Greening squad pursues zero waste

Zero Waste SA’s Chief Executive Vaughan Levitzke
and Research Officer Sharon Ede. Courtesy The Advertiser.

Zero Waste SA’s staff continue to pursue opportunities to reduce waste and increase recycling within the office and throughout Statewide House, located in Adelaide’s central business district.

Under the guidance of the greening squad - Greening Zero Waste SA - and supported by the efforts of all staff, only a tiny amount of waste is being sent to landfill.

“Residual waste in our office can’t be measured separately from the whole building”, Greening Zero Waste SA’s Sharon Ede said.

“However, by simply observing the tiny amount of waste staff toss into the few rubbish bins in the office shows that we are sending negligible amounts of waste to landfill.”

As well as the paper, cardboard and co-mingled recycling systems run by Statewide House’s building management, the Greening squad has spearheaded the introduction of the following recycling systems:

• shredded paper is collected by Shredlogix on an as-needs basis, with the paper recycled – five 240-litre bins of confidential paper have been recycled in the last financial year

• fluorescent tubes – used tubes are being collected and will be sent to Southern Rocycling where the tubes are crushed and sent for recycling. All metals, glass and mercury are recovered for reuse.

•  non-rigid plastics – mostly food and stationery packaging is taken to Advanced Plastic Recycling at Kilburn, Adelaide (www.a-p-r.com.au/home.asp) – just over five-and-half 240-litre bins have been recycled in the last financial year.

• food organics – a worm farm chews up most of the food waste – almost two 240-litre bins of food waste in the last financial year have been recycled. Zero Waste SA’s Philip Matthews decants the liquid and castings into plastic bottles and biodegradable bags. Grateful staff use the material in their home gardens.

“The Greening Zero Waste SA group continues to work with other Statewide House tenants and building management to expand these systems to a whole-of-building arrangement,” Ms Ede said.

Complete details of Zero Waste SA’s greening activities are in the 2006/2007 Annual Report at www.zerowaste.sa.gov.au/reports.php#corp.

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“Simply amazing”
hazardous waste collections

There has been an overwhelming response to the latest hazardous waste collections organised by Zero Waste SA.

The most recent collection days – involving the council areas of Alexandrina, Adelaide Hills and Mount Barker – saw nearly 1,000 people deliver 69.6 tonnes of material to the six collection points.

This was an increase of 21.6 tonnes or 45% on the previous collections held in 2005.

Similarly, 198 people surrendered nearly 34 tonnes of hazardous waste in September during collections across the council areas of Robe, Kingston and Tatiara.

“That is an increase of more than 20 tonnes or 160% compared with two years ago which is simply amazing,” said Colleen Dobson, Zero Waste SA’s Program Manager for Hazardous Waste.

“History shows the second round of collections is always better than the first, but the increase in these two particular zones is unprecedented… especially as we halved the time at some of the collection points in the Adelaide Hills this time around.”

Colleen believes there could be several reasons for the giant upswing.

“I think our advertising and marketing has improved but I also think the drought might have had some impact with people having more time to go through their homes and sheds.

“I think there’s also a degree of trust building up – we don’t ask where the hazardous waste has come from, we just want to get the materials out of circulation and managed appropriately,” Colleen said.

In all, more than 28 tonnes of waste oil was collected, about 22 tonnes of paint, 22 tonnes of pesticides and more than 15 tonnes of batteries, along with quantities of corrosives, fumigants, solvents, mercury, and strychnine.

Zero Waste SA would like to thank the following people for their support and assistance with the collections:

– Bob Bates (DC Kingston)
– Rachael Hamilton (DC Mount Barker)
– Darryl Knight (Alexandrina Council)
– Carolyn Maciunas (Adelaide Hills Council)
– Richard Pym (DC Tatiara)
– Glenn Sanford (DC Robe)

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Pathways broaden for industry efficiency

The pathways to achieving resource efficiency in South Australia’s industry sector have broadened.

Zero Waste SA’s flagship Industry-Resource Efficiency program encourages businesses to minimise waste and to reduce emissions through measures which are cost-effective and sustainable.

Zero Waste SA Chief Executive Vaughan Levitzke said the initial foundation stage of the program offered key South Australian companies ‘walk through’ waste audit assessments.

“This phase of the program has been completed with participants including Arnotts, GMH, RM Williams, Qantas catering and the New-Castalloy foundry,” Mr Levitzke said.

“The Harbourtown retail centre and the Phoenix Society have recently agreed to join the program.”

Case studies will now be developed for Zero Waste SA’s website which will promote the benefits of resource efficiency to other industry throughout South Australia.

“The original focus on conducting waste audits had now broadened to include training programs and in-house technical support,” Mr Levitzke said.

“This reflects industry’s need for a more customised ‘added-value’ assistance which goes beyond a waste audit. These elements include a combination of industry training packages, tailored in-house mentoring, industry networking and mentoring and a wide range of support programs provided through the Business Sustainability Alliance.

“Zero Waste SA has successfully facilitated the formation of a Business Sustainability Alliance with eight government agencies. This group promotes the sharing of resources and avoids duplication of programs and industry client groups.”

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Zeroing in on centre of excellence

South Australia’s universities are being invited to submit Expressions of Interest in a proposal by Zero Waste SA to establish a research centre of excellence.

Zero Waste SA Chief Executive Vaughan Levitzke said the proposed institute would focus on research into reducing consumption and waste avoidance.

“We already promote research and development through our own research grants program and this has provided a useful interaction with universities in South Australia on technical aspects of waste reduction and recycling," Mr Levitzke said.

“However, we need to take our research capacity to the next level with a particular interest in research into behavioural change that will guide our policy.
“In contrast to sustainable consumption and materials efficiency, reducing consumption in its own right will require an understanding of the psychology of consumption.

“Other areas of interest include measuring consumption, resource efficiency and life cycle measurement and ecological footprinting to provide insights into resource use, biophysical and material flows and consumption.”

It is expected that, over time, the centre would, in addition to providing specific advice to Zero Waste SA build a base of knowledge leadership with benefits accruing to academia, the consultancy sector.

The key criterion for selection of a research partner will be the expected impact of the proposed research program in guiding the development of social change policies and specific strategies in Zero Waste SA.

The expression of interest closes on 28 November 2007.

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Illegal dumping in the spotlight

Illegal dumping – a major issue for the community.

Illegal dumping hot spots – in metropolitan and regional areas – are being targeted in a multi-pronged attack led by Zero Waste SA.

Grants worth $290,000 are now available through Zero Waste SA to help local government and charitable organisations combat illegal dumping over the next three years.

The funding can be used for a variety of approaches:
– Lighting and signage
– Landscape, revegetation and/or beautification
– Establishing alternatives e.g. collection days for tyres or mattresses
– Surveillance cameras
– Moving charitable collection bins to more secure locations

At the same time, Zero Waste SA is funding a KESAB environmental solutions initiative which is developing a specialist “tool kit” to help councils to significantly reduce the incidence of illegal dumping.

In 2005, Zero Waste SA and a number of other organisations investigated the problems and costs associated with illegal dumping and also identified dumping hot spots. The majority of the hot spots were located in four metropolitan councils – Port Adelaide Enfield, Playford, Onkaparinga, Tea Tree Gully – and the two district councils of Mallala and Grant. These are now the focus of Zero Waste SA’s efforts.

“Illegal dumping is a major issue – local government spends more than $1 million a year cleaning up illegally dumped waste,” Zero Waste SA Project Officer Erin Henson said.

“Many charitable groups also suffer because people see their donation bins as handy dump sites.”

The KESAB-developed tool kit, which is now being trialled by the six councils, focuses on deterrence while providing information on legitimate waste disposal options.

“Probably the most striking elements in the tool kit are the ‘crime scene’ tape and stickers,” Ms Henson said.

“The tape helps council staff to cordon off an illegal dump site and the stickers, which are placed on the waste items, warn other potential dumpers that the council is monitoring the area and investigating, and that a $5,000 fine applies.”

The tool kit contains a range of other material including brochures, posters and permanent signage for hot spots. Applications for the grants close on 14 December 2007. For more information visit www.zerowaste.sa.gov.au

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Horticultural media a new ally

Zero Waste SA Board member Lachlan Jeffries with
Education Laurel winner Miffy Gilbert, representing
Horticolour Foundation Plantdeck.

Through grants and sponsorship funding, Zero Waste SA values the relationships and collaborations it develops with like-minded organisations.

Zero Waste SA is pleased to support the Horticultural Media Association’s Australian Horticultural Media awards presented at the Laurels Awards Dinner on Thursday, 11 October 2007.

Master of Ceremonies and Tasting Australia Director, Ian Parmenter, reminded guests to watch out for Zero Waste SA’s campaign to reduce contamination of garden organics in household recycling bins.

The HMA Laurels is a national program run from South Australia which recognises excellence in communications. South Australia boasts some of Australia’s most active horticultural media which are attuned to, and can support local initiatives and programs, such as Zero Waste SA’s campaigns.

“Our horticultural industry is going through periods of extreme change and many of them are associated with drought and/or climate change,” Chairperson of the Laurels Organising Committee Dianne Hall said.

“Never in the history of mankind has so much attention been focused on the problems of the earth’s environment as it is today. I am convinced that now is the time for each of us to re-evaluate the greatness and importance of nature, as exemplified in plants and seek way of harmonising our lives with nature.”

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Awards for SA retailers’
environmental excellence

Adelaide Central Plaza General Manager Michael Vaughan
and Zero Waste SA Chief Executive Vaughan Levitzke.

South Australia’s retail centres are tackling a wide range of environmental issues and increasingly benchmarking their performance.

Zero Waste SA Chief Executive, Vaughan Levitzke was speaking at the SA Retail Property Awards on Saturday, 3 November 2007.

“Zero Waste SA has developed a strong working relationship with the SA Retail Property Group through the development of the Waste Management and Reduction Guide for the retail industry released in March 2007,” Mr Levitzke said.

“The Government recognises the value of partnerships in achieving its sustainability agenda. This view is reciprocated by the Property Council - in September the State Government and the Property Council formalised an agreement which supports the achievement of targets in South Australia’s Strategic Plan.”

Mr Levitzke explained how different a visit to the local shopping centre is when compared to just a few years ago. For example:

– The advent of the ‘green’ shopping bag at the checkout counter.
– Food courts involve the local Scouts group to raise funds by collecting bottles and cans from which they can redeem the deposit value.
– Centre office staff are collecting fluorescent tubes, printer toners and cartridges for recycling.
– At the loading dock bales of paper, cardboard and plastics are stockpiled ready for recycling.
– Some shopping centres have litter patrols, are reducing the water in garden areas and planting native trees and shrubs in their car parks.

“The greening of shopping centres is starting to reach much deeper – overseas retailers such as Wal-Mart and Tesco are focusing on the supply chain,” Mr Levitzke said.

“They are insisting that their suppliers release data about carbon emissions and climate change mitigation strategies. We can expect to see more and more of this happening in Australia - already some shopping centres are starting to measure their carbon footprint and looking to reducing emissions.

“Looking ahead, Zero Waste SA has several projects on the drawing board which will assist the retail industry to better manage their waste, including training and diagnostic and measurement tools.”

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Illegal dumping in the spotlight
Illegal dumping hot spots – in metropolitan and regional areas – are being targeted in a multi-pronged attack led by Zero Waste SA.

$2 million in grants -
applications close soon!