Newsletter 2016 Spring

Don’t forget! National Recycling Week 7–13 November Come and visit us at on 11 November. Materials Recovery Facility Tour Wednesday 9 November – 11:30am and 1pm Come along and discover what happens to the recycling from your workplace. RSVP to [email protected] Actsmart Accredited Cleaners Workshop Business Sustainability Expo Is your cleaner Actsmart accredited? Visit the website for more information. After a huge day of seminars, education and networking, the actsmart.act.gov.au Business Sustainability Expo is done and dusted for another year. Dorte’s message Held at a new venue, the Expo featured 45 stallholders and a Welcome to the 2016 spring 30% increase in attendees – our most successful event to date! edition of the Actsmart Industry professionals from around flocked to Business newsletter. to show off new products and technologies. The This edition highlights Actsmart’s Lighting Efficiency webtool was also launched. This free events and ongoing achievements. tool provides advice about improving the lighting efficiency The annual Business Sustainability of your business. Check out the Actsmart website for more Expo was held in early September at the National Convention Centre information. with 45 great exhibitors. Information and solutions to Lish Fejer from 666 ABC Canberra hosted the main stage improve waste management and assist with energy and and interviewed stallholders throughout the day. She also sat water savings were on display for all. down for a chat with our special guest, Barry Du Bois from Complementing the Expo, the Actsmart for Change Ten Network’s The Living Room. Barry shared his wealth luncheon was held where guests had the pleasure of hearing from innovative industry leaders and like-minded of knowledge and experience during the late afternoon individuals all dedicated to climate change action. Guest networking session, which was also attended by Minister speakers from Urban Honey, 1 Million Women and World Corbell. Wide Fund for Nature shared their knowledge and insights with keen listeners. As we power towards 100% renewable energy by 2020, the In this edition you will find information on the first Actsmart Minister thanked stallholders and attendees and encouraged Champions breakfast that was held in July at the Pavilion commitment to sustainability within the workplace to create a on Northbourne. This was a fantastic opportunity to hear more sustainable Canberra. our award winners showcase their experience with the Actsmart Recycling and Energy and water programs. The Actsmart team would like to thank all exhibitors and attendees who participated in this event. We look forward to Dorte Ekelund seeing you all again next year. Director-General

National Recycling Week is coming up from 7–13 is coming up from National Recycling Week place from Come and visit us at Garema November. 10am – 4pm on 11 November! Follow us Are you holding a public event in theAre you holding a public event fete,ACT this year, such as a school event? festival, fair, show or sporting free we offer No matter if your event is small or large, sustainable. assistance to make your event more program,Be part of the Actsmart Sustainable Event which now includes energy and water reduction options. It can save your time and money—and the environment! by emailing Register your interest [email protected] Don’t forget National Recycling week!

woodlandsandwetlands.org.au

Champions Breakfast Champions actsmart can help: of the Mulligans Flat Sanctuary and Jerrabomberra by Berry the Bettong greeted guests were Wetlands, to see how you below). Check out their website (pictured what sustainability means to him and how to put it into practice in the workplace. of and support development raise awareness help To US Embassy. Special guest speaker Carlo Krikowa, US Embassy. spoke aboutcofounder and owner of boyandgirlco, A panel discussion was held with champions from from A panel discussion was held with champions Belconnen Early Childhood Centre, The Smith Family, and the Group Barmco Mana Partnership, Brema success stories and explain how easy it is to makesuccess stories and explain how easy sustainable change. Clients not currently participating in the Actsmart participating Clients not currently invited to come along and hear were programs their winning businesses share Actsmart award This year marked the inaugural Actsmart ChampionsThis year marked the inaugural Actsmart Breakfast. Five quick questions with....

Dog Companion Spielwelt Club

1. What was your main goal in signing 1. What was your main goal in signing up up to the Actsmart Business Recycling to the Actsmart Business Energy & Water Program? program? Our primary goal was to make our waste management We really want to be doing the right thing for the future of more environmentally sustainable. One of our volunteers our children. As a not-for-profit volunteer run organisation, had worked in another, much larger organisation that we don’t have a lot of money to spend, and we don’t had received Actsmart accreditation and we felt there necessarily have a lot of expertise in energy saving was some potential. Public recognition for our efforts measures. It can be hard to get unbiased advice from through the program is a bonus. sales people, and know what’s best to do. Another organisation steered us towards the Actsmart Business 2. Have you seen improvements from staff Energy and Water rebate program. in their recycling efforts since being involved in the program? 2. Have you seen a saving in your energy or Yes. We already had some recycling systems in place water costs since implementing some/all of identified opportunities? and in the six months since implementing the program we have reduced our waste to landfill by 25% and YES! We’ve seen an enormous saving in our energy costs redirected all our mixed recyclables for reprocessing. since installing the weather-stripping, draught-stoppers, Everyone has enthusiastically embraced the opportunity LED lights and new more efficient heaters/coolers. to ‘do the right thing’. 3. What, if any, have been the major 3. What, if any, have been the challenges challenges you have faced? you have faced? Our major challenge was to hold back the enthusiasm of our As the club has a high turnover of members and visitors electrician! He was very excited about all the improvements. using our training facilities, we need to continually promote our recycling initiatives to encourage ongoing 4. What is the biggest benefit in being part of the Actsmart Business Energy and compliance. The prominent signage provided by Water program? Actsmart has helped us meet this challenge. We also purchased mini-wheelie bins with colour-coded lids so The biggest benefits were undoubtedly our visit from the people can easily recognise which bin to use. incredibly knowledgeable Andrew Bell, his team’s report and the $5,000 rebate, without which we would not have 4. What is the biggest benefit in being embarked on all the changes we made. part of the Actsmart Business Recycling Program? 5. Would you recommend the program to other small businesses around the ACT? Cost savings is a bonus for us. Most of the club’s landfill stream is dog waste and while we use biodegradable We sure would; and we have! plastic bags, we wanted to find a better solution. It was great to attend this year’s Sustainability Expo where “Our major challenge several businesses were marketing a wide range of compostable bags made from plant starch rather than was to hold back the plastic. We will be investigating the feasibility of switching to these products—and promoting them to members. enthusiasm of our 5. Would you recommend the program to electrician! He was very other businesses around the ACT? excited about all the Yes. It’s great that the program is available to not-for- profit organisations like ours as well as businesses. improvements.” Actsmart Business accredited recyclers:

• ACT Auditor General’s Office -- Canberra Avenue • Hireall • OneSteel Reinforcing • ACT Companion Dog Club -- Macarthur House • Hobart Place Dental • OPC IT Pty Ltd • ACT Legislative Assembly • Shared Services • HorizonOne Recruitment • Oxley Early Learning • Ainslie Football & Social Club -- Allara Street • Illoura Childcare & Education • OzHarvest Canberra • Allbids.com.au -- Eclipse House Centre • PCA People • AMC Training Centre -- Mitchell • Indigenous Community Volunteers • PELLE Architects • American Embassy Canberra -- Nara House • Instant Colour Press Pty Ltd • Peter Blackshaw Woden & • Appletree House Child Care and -- Winyu House • IP Australia Weston Creek Education Centre • Ciao Cafe & Cakes • Isabella Plains Child Care & • Physio Sport O’Connor • Atlas Business Services • Civil Aviation Safety Authority Education Centre • Power Protect • Australian Institute of Aboriginal • Coca-Cola Amatil • JJ Richards & Sons • Promo Concepts and Torres Strait Islander Studies • Coffers Cafe • John James Foundation • Pure Gelato ACT • Australian Medical Association • Comcare - Marcus Clarke Street • Justice & Community Safety • Queanbeyan Physiotherapy • Australian Sports Commission - • Communications Design & -- 12 Moore Street Centre AIS Arena Management -- ACT Magistrates Court • • Baker Deane & Nutt • Community Services Directorate -- North Building • Regency Knights Window • Barmco Mana Partnership -- Child Development Service -- Public Trustee and Guardian for Fashions • Belconnen Early Childhood Centre -- West Belconnen Child & the ACT • Reuse - Recycle IT (part of the • Bentleys of Canberra - Garran Family Centre -- Victim Support ACT Capital Easy Group) • Biotext • Conference Logistics • Kambah Child Care & Education • Richardson Childcare & Education • Blueblood Solutions • Conservation Council - ACT Centre Centre • Bond Hair Religion Region • KBT Overnight Express • Robson Environmental • Boston Consulting Group • Continuity Capital Partners • KDN Group • Rolfe Property Services • Bottles of Australia • Create Imagine Learn • Kindy Patch Queanbeyan • Schiavello • Brema Group Queanbeyan • Koala Playschool • Sentinel Pty Ltd • Brindabella Hearing & Speech • CrimTrac • Kowalski Recruitment • Serco Immigration Services Centre • Crowne Plaza Canberra • KPMG • Service One Mutual Limited • Bruce Early Childhood Centre • CTO Group Pty Ltd • Kwik Kopy • Shepherd Electrical • Calibre Consulting (ACT) • Delnas Metal Roofing -- Canberra • Shop Basics • Calvary John James Hospital • Department of Education, -- Phillip • Signs Letters N Lines • Employment and Workplace • Labor Club • Solace Creations -- Brindabella Services & Car Park Relations -- Belconnen • SOS Recruitment Office -- 17 Moore Street -- City • Sparke Helmore Lawyers -- Fairbairn Guardhouse • Department of Environment -- Ginninderra • Spectrum Graphics -- Gate 5 Air Operations -- Building -- Weston Creek • Sportscare & Physiotherapy -- Management Office • Lavender Lane Gungahlin -- Barton -- Terminal Car Park Office • Director of Public Prosecutions • East Hotel Childcare -- Dickson -- Terminal Services • Lend Lease Building • The Firm • Canberra Audiology • Education and Training Directorate • Lifeline Canberra • The Hairdressing • Canberra CBD • M & M Rolfe Cleaning Services • The Rehabilitation Specialists Pty • Canberra Centre -- Hedley Beare Centre for Teaching and Learning • Macquarie Childcare Centre Ltd • Canberra Equine Hospital • The Riverview Group -- Northbourne Avenue • Manuka Swimming Pool • Canberra FM Radio • ThyssenKrupp Elevator Australia • Effective People • McMillan Staff Development • Canberra Furnished • Michael Holmes Chartered • Totom House Multicultural Early • Elections ACT Accommodation Accountant Childhood Centre • Embassy of Hungary • Canberra Netball Association • Mooseheads • Trade Guardian • Engineers Australia • Canberra Outlet Centre • Morgans Group • Transport Canberra and City • Environment and Planning • Canberra Veterinary Hospital • NAB Canberra Business Bank Services Directorate - Dame Pattie • Capital Region Farmers Market • National Convention Centre -- Macarthur House Menzies • Capital Waste Skips Canberra -- Murrumbidgee depot, • Five Star Electrical (ACT) • Care Australia • National Electoral Education Casuarina Sands • Focus ACT • Chief Minister, Treasury and Centre -- Ron Reynolds Centre Curtin • GHD Economic Development • National Library of Australia • Tuggeranong Hyperdome • Gillian Beaumont Legal Directorate • National Rural Health Alliance • Turner & Townsend -- Canberra and Region Visitors • Ginninderra Early Childhood • Ngunnawal Child Care & • Vivid Chartered Accountants Centre Centre Education Centre • Vivid Print Services -- Exhibition Park • Gold Creek World of Learning • Nicholls Early Childhood Centre • Waste Away -- GIO Stadium • Griffin Legal • Norman Disney & Young • Wisdom Learning -- • Health Directorate • Norris Cleaning Company • Woden Early Childhood Centre -- Land Development Agency -- Building 5, Canberra Sexual • Office of the Commissioner for • Woden Valley Child Care Centre -- Telstra House Health Centre Sustainability and the Environment • Womens Health on Strickland • Access Canberra -- Queen Elizabeth II Family • One of a Kind Apartments • Xact Project Consultants -- Mitchell Centre

Get involved today! Contact: GPO Box 158 Fax: 02 6207 2244 Printed on 100% recycled paper, made in Australia from Australian Canberra ACT 2601 E: [email protected] waste. No chlorine bleaching occurs in the recycling process and the paper has ISO 14001 environmental accreditation. A percentage Phone: 13 22 81 W: actsmart.act.gov.au from the sales of this paper is donated to Landcare Australia for the restoration and replanting of landfill sites throughout Australia.