Sustainable Industries Sustainable National Packaging Industries Covenant

Queensland achievements 2000 - 2005 The National Packaging Covenant (EnviroCom) The National Packaging Covenant (the The National Environmental Covenant) was launched in August Protection Measure (NEPM) 1999 with the aim of providing more A key regulatory framework called the effective management of used National Environmental Protection packaging materials based on the Measure supports the voluntary principles of shared responsibility Covenant. Designed as a tool to and product stewardship. encourage compliance throughout The Covenant is a voluntary the packaging chain, the NEPM helps agreement between the packaging ensure that signatories meet their supply chain and government. Covenant obligations via action plans Covenant signatories agree to share and reports. responsibility for reducing the Since 2000, more than 600 environmental impacts of packaging. businesses from a broad range of Under the Covenant, raw material industries have been identified as suppliers, designers, manufacturers, meeting the brand owner users, retailers and consumers, as requirements of the NEPM. well as government and collection Companies not entitled to exemption agencies, all accept responsibility for under the NEPM were required to their activities. either become signatories to the The Covenant’s key objectives for the Covenant or to meet the more first five years were to: rigorous regulatory requirements of the NEPM. • Establish a framework, based on the principle of shared With assistance from the responsibility, for the effective Environmental Protection Agency lifecycle management of (EPA), many of these businesses packaging and paper products _ elected to sign the Covenant and are including their recovery and now benefiting from the outcomes utilisation the voluntary process delivers. • Establish a collaborative approach The Covenant in to ensure that the management of The Queensland Jurisdictional packaging and paper throughout Recycling Group (JRG) administers its lifecycle and the Covenant projects and funding in implementation of collection Queensland. The group is made up of systems, including kerbside representatives from the EPA, the recycling schemes, produce real Department of State Development and sustainable environmental and Innovation, regional local benefits in a cost-effective manner governments, industry associations • Establish a forum for regular and waste and recycling contractors. consultation and discussion of The JRG meets every six weeks to issues and problems affecting the develop key Queensland projects, recovery, utilisation and disposal consider grant applications and of used packaging and paper, provide updates on Covenant including cost activities. ecycling facility at UQ, St Lucia (University of Queensland) (University Lucia facility at UQ, St ecycling R Covenant signatories include: In Queensland Reporting and data • Local Government Association of • There are 51 signatories Measuring and reporting recycling Queensland (LGAQ), representing to the Covenant data is important in the management 125 local governments • Covenant funding has supported of used packaging materials, and 39 separate projects under Queensland legislation, local • Alvey Reels Australia • Funding to the value of $3.6 governments must report waste and million has been awarded • Australian Country Choice Pty Ltd recycling data each year. • Buderim Ginger Since 2000/01, this data has been Key Queensland Projects • Bundaberg Sugar collated annually and published by During the Covenant’s five years, the the EPA as The state of waste and • Capilano Honey Ltd and the recycling in Queensland. • Cenovis Pty Ltd Covenant’s industry signatories have Each year the report captures jointly funded the following projects: • Cooroy Mountain Spring Water Queensland’s recycling performance, • Market Development Grants recording the status of local • Crows Nest Cordials Program for Plastics government resource recovery and • Foods Limited recycling, and highlighting key • Recycling initiatives undertaken by state and • Fisher & Paykel Australia Infrastructure Feasibility Project local government, industry and the Holdings Ltd • Best Practice Kerbside Recycling community to improve performance. • Golden Circle Limited Project It also provides a useful reference • Harvest FreshCuts Pty Ltd • Best Practice Kerbside Recycling document regarding Queensland’s • Herron Pharmaceuticals Incentive Grants waste minimisation and recycling issues, identifying the challenges • Local Government Data Collection • Lion Nathan Australia to be met in reducing the amount Protocol • Nerada Tea Pty Ltd of recyclable resources going to • Regional Education Program landfill and using these recoverable • Pixie Ice Cream Pty Ltd • Public Place Recycling / Litter resources more sustainably, now • Parmalat Australia Ltd (formerly Management Grants Scheme and in the future. Pauls Limited) • Transport and Logistics Study and To achieve greater consistency and • Prepared Foods Australia Model accuracy for collecting and reporting data, the LGAQ and EPA have • SunCoast Gold Macadamias • Sustainable Community Based developed a Waste and recycling data (Australia) Ltd Recycling Assistance collection guide. • Weis Australia Pty Ltd • Waste Education Facilities Evaluation

Household recycling (kilograms per capita) Total household recycling (000’s tonnes / year)

44.6 Total household recycling 169.2 170.0 (000's tonnes/year) 45 165.0 158.5 44 160.0 155.0 150.4 43 41.6 41.7 41.3 150.0 141.5 42 145.0 41 140.0 135.0 40 130.0

Recycling Rate (kgs/person) 125.0

39 Quantity recycled (000's tonnes) 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 Year Year Towards Best Practice Kerbside Recycling in Queensland

The Best Practice Kerbside Recycling • Materials recovery facility (MRF) the program, funding of $2 per Project was developed with the contract service requirements household was made available to primary aim of helping local support community education • Recycling collection service governments develop sustainable initiatives. requirements. kerbside recycling programs by To qualify for funding, local providing training, tools and support Decisions made within the guideline governments must demonstrate: for the adoption of best practice are directly linked to a model kerbside recycling principles. contract, which provides a framework • Increased yield of recyclable for preparing tender documents, materials The guideline Towards Best Practice assessing submissions and drafting Recycling in Queensland takes into • Transparency of cost to rate contracts. account Queensland’s unique payers Best Practice Kerbside situation including dispersed • Sustainable contract costs population, tyranny of distance, Recycling Funding • No market risk to council location of markets, viability and To help local governments to adopt service affordability. the Best Practice Kerbside Recycling In 2001/02, only 45 of Queensland’s The guideline also addresses best model, $1,057,872 has been made 125 local governments reported practice principles for drop-off available through the Covenant. provision of kerbside and/or drop-off recycling services for their recycling centres for those local The amount of funding provided for communities. This figure has now governments that determine that each local government was based on increased to 65, giving 93 percent of kerbside recycling is not sustainable the type of system implemented, Queensland’s population access to in their communities. from $8 per household for mobile bin recycling services. The guideline addresses critical systems to $3 per household for service level decisions including: drop-off centres. • General recycling contract Where best practice had already been requirements achieved prior to commencement of

Kerbside collection (Redcliffe City Council) Kerbside recycling bin (EnviroCom) Program participants • Baseline data collection to enable performance auditing of processes In Queensland, the Best Practice and outcomes to determine

Kerbside Recycling Program has (EnviroCom) improvements over time provided grants to the following local governments: • Ongoing data collection and analysis for performance • Bowen Shire evaluation • Brisbane City • Customising model contracts and • Bundaberg City assessing their application • Caloundra City • Establishing drop-off centres where kerbside recycling is not a • Douglas Shire viable option • Gold Coast City • Upgrading council-owned • Hervey Bay City materials recovery facilities • Ipswich City • Expanding collection and processing capacity to enable • Livingstone Shire recycling of a wider range of • Mackay City material types • Maroochy Shire • Introducing glass fines recycling • Pine Rivers Shire • Developing and implementing comprehensive community • Redcliffe City education programs • Redland Shire • Developing and evaluating • Thuringowa City purpose-built waste education facilities • Toowoomba City • Promoting services and facilities • Townsville City via advertising campaigns and Best Practice Projects direct mail Local governments have undertaken a • Developing and distributing a range of projects under the Best householder recycling guide Practice Kerbside Recycling Incentives • Recruiting suitably skilled scheme. personnel to ensure effective Some of these include the following: delivery of new services Glass recycling at Hervey Bay MRF (EnviroCom)Glass recycling for sorting Unloading recyclate (Mackay City Council) van Ipswich 3R’S promotional Townsville and Thuringowa The councils surveyed community With support from a Best Practice City Councils attitudes and knowledge prior to Kerbside Recycling Grant, and in developing the education strategy. consultation with the local In 2001, the future of kerbside community, Livingstone established recycling in Townsville and Communication initiatives included an accessible recycling drop-off Thuringowa, and more broadly in well-signed recycling vehicles, centre adjacent to the Nerimbera North Queensland, was in doubt. householder information packs, State School. The school community television advertising and use of the The neighbouring cities of Townsville and shire council jointly drove the Beverage Industry Environment and Thuringowa had different project. Council’s ‘Don’t Waste…’ logo. recycling systems in place and The Livingstone Drop-off Centre is separate arrangements for collection In addition to education program easily accessible to passing traffic, and processing of recyclables. funding through the Best Practice provides clear instructions for users Kerbside Recycling Project, the With funding from the Covenant, and is well maintained. Townsville and Thuringowa materials Nolan ITU undertook a north recovery contract required an annual Since the first months of the project, Queensland recycling infrastructure education contribution. Livingstone Shire has increased its feasibility study. This study found resource recovery from approximately that recycling in the region would be Ratepayers in both cities now enjoy 16 tonnes a month to 30 tonnes a viable if regional materials recovery integrated kerbside recycling services month. Council sources suggested facilities were built and suitable and effective public place recycling this was just “the tip of the iceberg model contracts developed. initiatives that yield cost effective for recycling in the shire”. resource recovery. As a result of community demand The Livingstone case demonstrates for kerbside recycling services, Livingstone Shire Council that drop-off centres can provide a Townsville and Thuringowa agreed Community Recycling Drop-off sustainable alternative to kerbside to proceed under a model contract Centre recycling and a valuable community which included collection and Feasibility studies in the small central facility in rural Queensland. processing arrangements and Queensland establishment of a regional materials showed that kerbside recycling was recovery facility. not a viable option. Collection contracts were awarded to The council had in place a small glass Townsville Council’s CitiWaste deposit centre that was neither well business unit, and the materials used nor well managed. processing contract to Visy Recycling.

Livingstone Shire glass recycling at New Livingstone drop-off centre Drop-off centre recyclate collection (Livingstone Shire Council) (Livingstone Shire Council) (Livingstone Shire Council) Best Practice Kerbside Recycling at Townsville-Thuringowa

In late 2002, Townsville and the north and ongoing community improved environmental awareness Thuringowa City Councils revamped support for kerbside recycling, both from knowing the program really their separate kerbside collection Councils bit the bullet and invested in works. systems with an integrated best a new best practice program. MRF operator Visy Recycling has also practice program servicing both cities, “From a low of only 26 kilograms of been pleased with the results, as and the results have far exceeded recyclables per person in 2001, the Queensland Recycling Manager John expectations. rate almost doubled to over 50 Hadden explained. With high contamination levels, an kilograms in 2004 while “The proportion of aluminium to glass inefficient materials recycling facility contamination levels fell from 40 to 11 collected in Townville is significantly (MRF), lack of markets for collected percent,” Mr Steen said. higher than the Queensland average, materials, and poor risk management “From 60 percent below the state reflecting industry efforts to ship food of fluctuating commodity prices and average of 43 kilograms per person in and beverage products to the north in volumes, Townsville and Thuringowa 2001, we’re now 12 percent above the lighter aluminium to cut transport were among the state’s worst state average. This means that less costs. recycling performers. recyclables now go to landfill and “While aluminium is around 13 times Grant Steen, Manager of Townsville more are sold to market. lighter than glass, it is around 20 CitiWaste freely admitted: “recycling “These improvements in kerbside times more valuable as a secondary- levels in 2001 were just a fraction of recycling performance have delivered market commodity. We didn’t fully those of comparable regional cities important economic benefits for both anticipate this and have been such as , and a full 60 councils and ratepayers. Townsville pleasantly surprised by the end percent below the state average.” alone saves $600,000 a year from result.” “With high contamination levels and improved collection and sorting Hadden concluded: “This means that poor marketing of collected materials, efficiencies and marketing of kerbside recycling in Townsville and we were faced with the real possibility materials.” Thuringowa has a rosier future than of shutting the system down.” From a cost of $14 per household in we originally hoped. The extra As part of its Covenant work, the EPA 2001, recycling now delivers a benefit revenue from aluminium means Visy developed model contracts based on of $17 per household per year, a $31 can further invest in the Townville earlier efforts by Brisbane City turnaround. Other less tangible program and help to secure its Council. Encouraged by Nolan-ITU’s benefits include increased community future.” report on the viability of recycling in participation in recycling and

Townsville alone saves $600,000 a year from improved collection and sorting efficiencies and marketing of materials.

Recycling collection truck (Townsville City Council) Public Place Recycling and Litter Management

While opportunities to recycle monitoring of litter abatement, Events and community domestic packaging waste have been resource recovery and cost savings. facilities relatively well established in major The Public Place Recycling / Litter In addition to ongoing support for population centres for some years, Management Grants Scheme enables public place recycling, the EPA, in the packaging waste generated away local governments to implement association with local governments, from home is now being tackled. public place recycling initiatives in has actively supported public place With populations growing and people community spaces and at sporting recycling initiatives at a number of spending increasing amounts of time and community events. events and community facilities. in public places, at entertainment In addition, the grants complement These include: venues and sporting events, more the efforts of local governments food and beverage containers are • Brisbane Turf Club, Doomben moving towards holistic resource being disposed of away from home. recovery and recycling programs • The Gabba (Brisbane Cricket Providing recycling facilities at public through the Best Practice Kerbside Ground) venues means that the growing Recycling Program. • Suncorp Stadium volume of packaging discarded is not The following Councils have shared in a wasted resource, as it can be • ANZ Stadium infrastructure funding of $204,000 collected and recycled rather than under the program: • Southbank Parklands going into landfill or becoming litter. The Queensland public views • Bowen Shire • Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville packaging litter as a significant • Redcliffe City • The RNA showgrounds environmental issue, so its • University of Queensland, St Lucia management and minimisation are • Caloundra City key components of the Covenant. • Pine Rivers Shire Public Place Recycling has now been adopted at non-funded events and In partnership with the EPA, the • Redland Shire locations as a result of increased Beverage Industry Environment public awareness and the community Council (BIEC), through its local • Hervey Bay City expectation that recycling facilities manager, has assisted Councils to • Ipswich City will be provided. The Big Day Out and implement Public Place Recycling • Townsville City Woodford Folk Festival are two such Systems with infrastructure events. placement, signage and training. The • Thuringowa City training has been based around their • Toowoomba City It is estimated that more than 500 Bin Infrastructure System (BinS), an tonnes of discarded packaging is now assessment tool for performance recovered from major events in Queensland every year.

The Strand, Townsville (BIEC) Redcliffe bayside recycling (Redcliffe CC) Public Place Recycling at Doomben

When jockey Chris Munce brought in Australia to introduce it. With the EPA’s help we’ve kept it Queensland Oaks winner Vouvray simple and it has worked very well Brisbane Turf Club’s Chief Executive back to scale after winning the classic with contamination levels remaining Sean Kelk said at first he was of the winter carnival at Doomben low from the outset. sceptical about adopting on-course Racecourse in 2004, he was greeted recycling, but was pleasantly “Since starting the program, over 30 with the usual roar of approval from surprised at how well it turned out. tonnes of plastic, glass, paper and racegoers when well-backed horses cardboard is being recycled annually. save the day. “Our savings are in the thousands of Even Vouvray’s droppings are now dollars a year from avoided waste But what may not have been clear to recycled at a worm farm and I hear it disposal costs. We’ve also saved Munce was that at the feet of the produces very good compost.” money and time in cleaning up after throng lining the rails and the packed meetings and the course just looks The success of the public place grandstand there was very little litter. better on race days and the patrons recycling program sees the Gabba Munce would have had to look very appreciate that.’ recycle eight tonnes at every Lions’ hard to see any discarded bottles, home game and substantially more at spent form guides, and betting slips The program at Doomben operates the annual November cricket test bearing the names of horses slower along similar lines to all public place match. During the 2003 World Rugby than Vouvray. recycling initiatives and uses a dual Cup, 12 tonnes were recycled at bin system with the yellow lid for Brisbane Turf Club, which operates Suncorp Stadium and a further four recyclables. the Doomben track, has had on- tonnes at Dairy Farmers’ Stadium, course public place recycling since Kelk explains, “Racegoers recycle at while the University of Queensland’s November 2002 and was the first home using a yellow-topped bin and St Lucia campus recycles over one racecourse and major sporting facility we tried to mimic this system here. tonne every week.

Our savings are in the thousands of dollars a year from avoided waste disposal costs.

Recycling at Doomben Racecourse (EPA) Collected recyclate (EPA) Waste Education Kit (EnviroCom) Kerby (LAWMAC) The Wagon (Toowoomba City Council) Education and communication Community education is a critical The kit is available from the EPA The Wagon aspect of successful waste website, and was distributed to The Reduce, Re-use, Recycle trailer minimisation and resource recovery Queensland’s 125 Councils with known as The Wagon services initiatives. follow-up training. 13 local governments in the Darling For Queensland local governments Regional Mobile Education Downs Regional Organisation of that administer large areas with small Units Councils. populations and limited resources, Kerby Coordinated by Toowoomba City raising community awareness can be Council, The Wagon contains difficult. The Local Authority Waste educational displays and interactive Management Advisory Committee Waste Education Kit resources for both the community (LAWMAC) represents 31 north and schools. Designed for easy The EPA commissioned the Queensland Councils from Mackay to transportation and manoeuvrability, development of a comprehensive kit Cooktown and west to Mount Isa. the trailer can be set up inside or Waste education in Queensland - a In 2002, LAWMAC was awarded outside at shopping malls, regional guide to developing, implementing Covenant funding to support shows, community events and and evaluating waste education development of a mobile waste schools. programs. education unit promoting waste The Wagon generated interest prior Providing a comprehensive guide to minimisation and recycling messages to the launch through a naming and support Council waste, recycling and throughout the region. logo competition. Support from local litter education projects, the kit A former Brisbane City Council bus businesses including a regional includes: was named Kerby and refitted to television station, has assisted with • A how to guide for developing incorporate static and interactive funding and promotion. a community waste education displays addressing various waste Evaluation of waste education strategy issues. Since its launch in September facilities 2002, Kerby has visited regional • Decision-making tools for shows, community events and more The effectiveness of both mobile and implementing education programs than 500 schools throughout the fixed purpose-built facilities • Checklists and pro forma for LAWMAC region, hosting over 50,000 dedicated to community waste posters, fact sheets, surveys, visitors. education is currently being curriculum materials and evaluated. Local media have promoted Kerby’s advertising key messages and local governments The results of this study will help • Generic resource materials that have reported increased demand for determine the future targeting, can be customised for local use recycling services, improvements in placement and use of such facilities • An image library for use in recycling behaviour and in some within the framework of community developing local materials cases, decreased waste to landfill. education programs. Industry

Industry plays a critical role in the its action plans, as well as broader For example, chicken meat was success of the Covenant, with Covenant initiatives throughout previously supplied in non-recyclable Queensland businesses showing that Australia. wax cartons, which comprised 9.4 implementing the Covenant’s percent of the total waste stream. The In February 2002, the Toowoomba principles makes good business bulk of chicken meat now arrives facility commissioned a full audit of sense. packaged in recyclable cardboard or all its production waste with a focus re-usable plastic tubs, eliminating The Covenant requirement to on packaging in the waste compactor. over 13 tonnes of waxed cardboard develop, implement and evaluate This has led to the elimination of from landfill annually. action plans has changed the culture wasteful in-house packaging of some Queensland companies, practices. “During the formulation of our NPC involved staff in environmental The company’s other major successes Action Plan, the Environmental decision-making and provided include: Manager insisted that we should go business opportunities for others. ‘beyond compliance’. The • Almost 700 tonnes of cardboard K R Castlemaine Foods investigative and analytical procedure boxes and several tonnes of required to uncover areas where Darling Downs Foods was one of the cardboard inner tubes being first Queensland companies to recycled annually beneficial changes should be made become a signatory to the Covenant. regarding ‘packaging’ is time • 62,000 paper ingredient bags Darling Downs Foods merged with consuming. It was decided to enlarge weighing 14.3 tonnes being Castle Bacon in 2003 to form K R the scope beyond packaging during included in the cardboard Castlemaine Foods, one of the largest the investigative process and include recycling stream each year manufacturers of smallgoods in all other wasteful practices and Australia. • Waste cardboard being procedures that have ‘always been transported in special tippers K R Castlemaine Foods sees its done that way’. Subsequently our rather than on pallets, eliminating involvement in the Covenant not just eco-efficient Materials Efficiency 40,000m of stretch wrap from the as one of compliance, but of good Strategy (MES) was hatched. K R waste stream corporate business. Everyone in the Castlemaine Foods (Toowoomba) company, including the chairman and K R Castlemaine Foods also works decided to investigate all waste senior managers, participates in with suppliers to substitute excessive streams and wasteful practices and to developing and implementing action packaging or provide take-back develop stewardship strategies for schemes. This has resulted in plans. precious resources...... ” substantial waste reduction and cost Through internal environmental efficiencies for the company and K R Castlemaine Foods media updates, staff are kept up to suppliers. National Packaging Covenant date on the company’s progress with Annual Report 2004 and Action Plan 2005

Commercial collection (Gold Coast City Council) Cardboard recycling (KR Castlemaine Foods) KR Castlemaine waste stream audit (EnviroCom) Golden Circle operations (Golden Circle) Markwell’s bait bags (Markwell’s) ReBUL collapsible boxes (ReBUL)

Golden Circle Limited Markwell’s environments such as the seabed, so they have less potential to adversely Queensland icon Golden Circle Queensland-based fishing bait affect marine animals. Limited became a Covenant signatory retailer Markwell’s has partnered with in 2000. Based at Northgate in the EPA, Sea World, Sunfish The challenge now is for other state Brisbane, Golden Circle also has Queensland, PCC Packaging and and national fishing bait retailers to operations in Victoria and New South Healthy Waterways to make match Markwell’s and help protect Wales. biodegradable bait bags a reality in the environment by using more the market place. environmentally-friendly packaging. Golden Circle’s successes under the Covenant include: Thousands of biodegradable bait ReBUL Packaging bags have been sold over the past • Working with suppliers, customers ReBUL(which stands for Recyclable three years with plans to introduce and industry associations to Bulk Packaging) is a Queensland- different sizes and bait types. While reduce packaging waste based family company that has production of these bags is currently identified implementing company • Changes in packaging types to more costly than conventional plastic action plans as an opportunity to achieve greater recyclability _ bags, Markwell’s is selling develop a new and innovative 95% of Golden Circle products biodegradable bags at the same business venture for the sustainable now come in readily recyclable price. transportation of products. containers The EPA has been working with the ReBUL’s product line consists of • Implementing engineering fishing bait industry to find a long- custom-sized cardboard boxes and solutions to reduce production term solution to the serious pallets. waste by more than 35 tonnes in environmental impact of plastic bait 2003/04 bags. The boxes are made from 100 percent recycled paper and are 100 percent • Forming a Process Improvement The estimated three million bait bags recyclable. They are lightweight and Group used in Queensland each year are a require no additional packaging • Developing an Internal Packaging significant component of marine litter. insert support or specialised tools for Waste Tracking System which Plastic bags ingested by turtles, assembly. results in landfill savings and dugongs and other marine mammals Because the boxes can be collapsed internal and external re-use can block the animals’ digestive after use, they are ideal for storing, opportunities systems and cause their death. or for supplier take back and re-use. • Waste reduction training The biodegradable bait bags are The six-panel design allows damaged integrated into the internal made from renewable cornstarch and panels to be easily replaced and environmental training program decompose more quickly than plastic recycled. and via staff newsletters bags. The breakdown process is even more rapid in biologically active Industry case study _ Bunnings

In 2001 and 2002 the EPA issued the time, and product stewardship sustainability issues in the wider compliance notices stating was a term we certainly hadn’t heard community. We want to play our part companies could either sign up to the of,” Mr Gomm said. in safeguarding tropical rainforests Covenant or elect to follow the more while also tackling resource “When the issue was put to Bunnings onerous rules of the NEPM. Notices consumption and litter closer to directors, it was well supported. Our were sent to companies whose home. first action plan signalled a packaging dominated the waste commitment to packaging waste as “Bunnings’ program to reduce the stream, which in effect targeted large well as other sustainability outcomes. use of plastic shopping bags has national or multi-national companies. been well received by our customers. “We not only learnt what product Forty companies received notices, It has cut the number of bags stewardship meant, but started on a including Harvey Norman, KFC and entering the waste stream by more program that has changed the culture Pizza Hut, Streets, Ridley, Yakult, than 2 million, while over $100,000 of the business, our suppliers, and Mayne Health, Mitre 10, and has been donated to Keep Australia most importantly, our customers. Bunnings. All elected to join the Beautiful from the 10 cent levy on Covenant, although one company “Beginning with internal packaging plastic bags sold. took its obligations further that the and waste outputs, we now recycle “We’ve adopted a sustainable timber others. around 17,000 cubic metres of purchasing policy to ensure all timber carboard and plastics nationally each Bunnings Building Supplies Limited, a products are sourced from legally year while warehouse stores have division of the Wesfarmers Group, operating and sustainably managed reduced landfill costs by up to received its compliance notice in forests, and we’ve changed to recyled $18,000 a year. November 2001. plastic pallets at our distribution Mark Gomm, National Risk Analysis “Bunnings now takes a more strategic centres to reduce timber usage. approach to product stewardship, Manager at Bunnings, explained that “At Bunnings we now understand influencing our supply chain, and the compliance notice from the how much we can influence positive seeking opporuntities to partner with Queensland EPA came as quite a environmental performance through shock. suppliers and waste management the supply chain, and we’re agencies in recovery initiatives. “We’d vaguely heard of the Covenant, committed to continuous but we weren’t really looking at “We’re looking at water and energy improvement as part of our overall waste, litter and recycling issues at use in our stores as well as social responsibility.”

Each store now saves around $18,000 a year in avoided waste disposal costs.

Bunnings retail recycling (EPA) Bunnings loading dock (EPA) Bunnings customer recycling (EPA) Research and Development

Transport and Logistics Study materials at these hubs, the Cost/benefit analysis can be consolidated material then has a undertaken by applying a number of The tyranny of distance is a major higher value, making council recycling variables to the model, including factor preventing the introduction of schemes more viable. market prices for recovered kerbside recycling to rural and resources. regional communities in Queensland. As a result of this study, an electronic decision-making tool _ the Recyclable The EPA and LGAQ will have access to The cost of collecting from individual Materials Transport Decision Support the model to assist Councils to make properties and then transporting System _ has been developed to informed decisions about the future relatively small quantities of examine data and identify of recycling in their area. recovered resources to distant opportunities for collection of both markets is often environmentally and The project is a forerunner to studies commingled and individual material economically prohibitive. and programs that support types. development of secondary markets The Transport and Logistics Study The transport and logistics model for recovered resources in rural and was commissioned in 2004 to was developed using existing regional Queensland. address these issues. Its key purpose transport routes and applications for was to identify hubs for developing delivery of recovered resources to the materials recovery facilities. By hubs and to final markets. delivering and sorting recyclable

Catchment map showing the collection catchments based on price for glass being sent to the Maroochy Shire MRF (GHD) Plastic(HDPE) flakes for reprocessing (EnviroCom) Recovered resources (Rockhampton City Council) Sorting plastics (Mackay City Council) Community Based Recycling populations, including some in south aim was to reduce kerbside collection in Queensland east Queensland. costs by eliminating the need to transport recovered plastic to In some Queensland rural Community-based organisations southern states. communities, small population size deliver effective recycling services as means that market-based recycling is part of a wider social agenda, Two applicants, Visy Recycling and not commercially viable. However, providing employment for otherwise Recycled Plastic Technology, were community groups and not-for-profit marginalised members of the awarded grants to determine the organisations provide kerbside and community and supporting fund- feasibility of establishing a High drop-off centre recycling in a number raising initiatives. Density Polyethylene (HDPE) of areas. recycling plant in Brisbane. A comprehensive guideline In Rockhampton the award winning Sustainable community-based The processing of HDPE to produce materials recovery facility is staffed recycling in Queensland: a guide for resin suitable for re-use, and the by correctional facility labour. local governments is being developed manufacture of conduit, flood pipe Nigel Tuckwood, Rockhampton City with Covenant funding. The guideline and plastic strapping from the resin Council waste services coordinator surveys community based recycling were both considered. schemes in Australia and overseas to said: “Here at Rocky Recycles we High export prices for plastic, establish a framework for local recycle 650 tonnes a month with competition from existing plants in government to develop and manage almost no contamination thanks to Victoria and New South Wales and community-based recycling the continued support of the the limited amount of resources initiatives. Rockhampton community. We’re recovered from kerbside systems in pleased with the support and The guide complements Towards best Queensland meant that developing cooperation of Corrective Services practice kerbside recycling in local processing facilities was not over the last 13 years and the guys Queensland and provides a step-by- commercially viable. themselves appreciate the work step decision-making tool for local opportunity.” Since this study was undertaken, government. there has been a substantial increase The EPA’s The state of waste and Secondary markets for in both the number of local recycling in Queensland 2003 report recycled plastics governments undertaking recycling places Rockhampton in the top ten and the amount of recyclate recycling programs in the state. With In 2001, the Industry Grant Program collected. 48.7 kilos of household recovered funded feasibility studies to resources per person per year, determine the viability of developing As a result, Australian Plastics Rockhampton outperformed other Queensland-based secondary Reprocessing has now established an local governments with higher markets for recovered plastics. The HDPE processing plant at Rocklea.

Rocky Recycles (Rockhampton City Council) Sorting recyclate at MRF (Visy Recycling) The way forward _ a new and strengthened Covenant

With the current Covenant expiring in recycled packaging and the consumer packaging at public July 2005, extensive national and recycled content of packaging places, workplaces and state consultation has been commercial and industrial • Explicit Key Performance conducted and a draft proposal premises Indicators (KPIs) to enable more prepared for a new and strengthened detailed, transparent and • Revised funding arrangements Covenant for 2005-2010. accountable performance with industry commitment to a Key elements of the draft include: reporting minimum of $3 million a year • Specific environmental, social • More rigorous governance and • Amendment of the Environmental and economic goals compliance procedures to Code of Practice for Packaging to determine whether signatories are further reflect product • Overarching targets addressing fulfilling their obligations stewardship obligations reductions in the amount of packaging landfilled, the use of • Broadened coverage to include • A strengthened NEPM non-recyclable packaging, distribution packaging and • More rigorous enforcement by increase in recovered and collection systems, and to recover state regulators Further information Further information about the National Packaging Covenant is available on the Department of Environment and Heritage website at www.deh.gov.au/industry/waste/covenant The action plans of signatories to the Covenant can be viewed on the Packaging Council of Australia website at www.packcoun.com.au Waste education in Queensland: a guide to developing, implementing and evaluating waste education programs is available on the Environmental Protection Agency website at www.epa.qld.gov.au Towards best practice recycling in Queensland: an information kit for local government and Waste and recycling data collection protocols are available on the LGAQ website at www.lgaq.asn.au

For more information > visit www.epa.qld.gov.au/sustainable_industries > email [email protected] > call (07) 3225 1999