Primate Keeper Pij Olijnyk at the orangutan exhibit

Zero Waste SA Industry Program

Zoos have some pretty spectacular SA takes a sustainable sustainability challenges. We’re major energy and water users and we produce gargantuan amounts route to animal care of organics. Finding a solution is made even more complex because As far as sustainability programs go, they Then there is the issue of managing all we are such a diverse business and don’t come much more complex or daunting the waste. The operational requirements we can’t compromise the welfare than those faced by a large zoo. of thousands of visitors and the animals of the animals in our care. produce significant quantities. and its open-range Vicki-Jo Russell AM sister Monarto Zoo are quite different In recent years Zoos SA, a not-for-profit operations but both face similar significant conservation charity which runs both Director Conservation, Planning and challenges when it comes to lowering their Adelaide and Monarto Zoos, has been Sustainability, Zoos SA environmental footprint. making some impressive inroads into

reducing energy and water use, and keeping Looking after the welfare of hundreds of waste out of landfill. animals from all parts of the world requires enormous amounts of water and electricity. The environmental program has now entered its next phase and has been elevated With the needs of each species different, to a new strategic level with assistance from there is no single solution to lowering usage. the Zero Waste SA Industry Program. The task at Adelaide Zoo, the second oldest zoo in , and Monarto is made more difficult because of the mix of new and ageing infrastructure. The introduction of reporting has allowed the zoos to start charging restaurants and cafes for their waste removal.

Sustainability objectives Outcomes • achieving sustainability improvements in a highly challenging environment Raising sustainability to a new strategic level by targeting improvements in every day business across all areas. • significant gains in keeping waste from landfill • master planning for the future Annual savings • benchmarking improvements with other major zoos Waste to landfill Recycling Recovery rate • reducing excesses while maintaining 2009 197 tonnes 228 tonnes 54% animal welfare 2013 79 tonnes 380 tonnes 82% • strong support from staff

In 2013 Adelaide and Monarto Zoos Adelaide Zoo recycled: Water Opened in 1883, Adelaide is the second Major savings have been achieved in Waste streams Tonnes oldest zoo in Australia and the only major bore water use at Adelaide Zoo, with metropolitan-based zoo owned and infrastructure upgrades realising a 76% Solid organic 285 operated as a not-for-profit charity. The zoo reduction in groundwater consumption. houses more than 2,500 animals from 250 Cardboard 27.4 2008 222,992 kl species which are exhibited in eight hectares Timber 2.4 of land next to Adelaide Botanic Gardens. 2013 53,580 kl Co-mingle 41.4 Monarto Zoo Liquid organics 8.7 Zero Waste SA support Monarto is an open-range zoological park Steel 5.5 • funding for eco-efficiency review spread over 1,000 hectares of land near Murray Bridge. The zoo, which is now home • assistance with new waste recycling Drink containers 4.2 to about 500 animals, was established in and cleaning contract 1983 as a special-purpose breeding area for Concrete 5.1 • ongoing advice on new endangered species and opened to the public e-Waste 1.0 sustainability initiatives 10 years later.

Total 380.7 • development of a case study John Freeth, Principal of Directed Resources and a consultant to Zero Waste SA, with Vicki-Jo Russell, Director Conservation, Planning and Sustainability and Sustainability Officer Wayne Yorath

that we had no reporting on waste and recycling In the first reporting year in 2009, the two First steps towards which seemed like a very good place to start,” zoos recorded a 54% recovery rate, with sustainable practice says Wayne. 228 tonnes of waste going to landfill and 197 tonnes recycled. By 2013 this had been “And apart from animal waste which went for progressively improved to the stage where Zoos SA began its journey to a more composting – and accounted for more than only 79 tonnes went to landfill and 380 tonnes sustainable operation in 2009. half our total waste – there was no recycling.” were recycled – a recovery rate of 82%. Management understood there could be The new waste management reports With assistance from the Zero Waste significant financial gains in pursuing an identified that most of the time the bulk SA Industry Program, Zoos SA has now environmental program and it fitted well organics bins were being transported under negotiated a new five-year contract with with the organisation’s commitment to capacity. wildlife conservation. Veolia Environmental Services (VES) for an On average, the bulk bin was being emptied integrated waste management and cleaning A green team was established and Wayne twice weekly at about 2.2 tonnes. By using a service. Yorath agreed to become Zoos SA’s first larger bulk bin and a backhoe to compact For the first time the contract has a capped Sustainability Officer on a part-time basis. the organic material, this was increased to monthly service fee and a guaranteed an average nine to 10 tonnes per lift. This It was a role he admits was totally new to minimum recovery rate of 84%. This is 9% resulted in a reduction in freight charges and him, but what he lacked in experience he above the State Government’s 75% target for associated carbon emissions. made up for in enthusiasm. commercial and industrial waste. Wayne’s trade background and 15 years in Recycling program Veolia has also entered into a sponsorship the zoo’s asset department also meant he agreement with Zoos SA and is funding the had a good understanding of its equipment, delivers major benefits roll-out of a new three-bin recycling system infrastructure and working practices. for visitors. Bins are being provided at 15 New waste streams were progressively added public stations for drink containers, plastics, One of his first challenges was helping to to the list of items for recycling. establish a new waste management contract. cardboard and general waste. Underutilised bays near Adelaide Zoo’s “I didn’t know a great deal about the waste workshop became a mini transfer station management industry back then but I did notice with recycling expanded to include solid and Master plan for liquid organics, steel, concrete, timber, drink containers, plastic, cardboard, e-Waste, sustainability THE SUSTAINABILITY medical waste and batteries. Since 2009 Zoos SA has made significant progress towards a more sustainable The introduction of reporting allowed the TEAM IS DRIVEN BY operation. Now the program has been zoos to benchmark improvements and also TWO SLOGANS: elevated as a key goal under its 2012 start charging tenants, such as restaurants and strategic plan. • if you can’t measure it cafes, for their waste removal. you can’t manage it In 2012 Vicki-Jo Russell became the first senior With support from staff in separating waste for manager with responsibility for sustainability • we won’t pay to give it away. recycling, the improvements were dramatic. in her role as Director Conservation, Planning Vicki-Jo Russell at Adelaide Zoo’s mini transfer waste station

and Sustainability, and is working closely with making improvements so it is vital our staff • further energy and water savings could be Wayne to implement the program. and volunteers are fully behind what we are achieved through a planned maintenance trying to achieve,” says Vicki-Jo. schedule on plant and equipment Vicki-Jo is an environmental specialist who received a Young Australian of the Year Senior managers have been involved in • on-going energy and water management Award in 1998 and five years later was made the sustainability master plan and staff are would benefit significantly from an on-line a member of the Order of Australia (AM) in regularly updated through the internal monitoring system. recognition of her work. newsletter and staff forums. She says Zoos SA’s commitment for a more Visitors’ program sustainable operation is being driven by the Eco-efficiency review need for economic efficiencies and is also Each year more than 500,000 people consistent with its messages on conservation. targets new savings visit Adelaide and Monarto Zoos. An eco-efficiency review has helped identify Communicating the sustainability message “Our challenge is to identify our biggest opportunities for further reducing energy to these visitors features prominently in impacts and then find the most cost-effective and water consumption at both Adelaide and Zoos SA long-term planning. Initiatives being ways of mitigating those. Sustainability has Monarto Zoos. considered include: become a key part of our master planning and we are working towards embedding it into the The review was commissioned under the • developing a sustainability trail featuring very fabric of our business,” says Vicki-Jo. Zero Waste SA Industry Program and environmental improvements to the carried out by Energyfocus with support animal exhibits “We’re a not-for-profit charity and we can’t from energy management specialists Adjel in do everything, but if we do it smartly and • building an exhibit to educate visitors on the winter of 2013. at scale with everyone on board, then the sustainability actions they can take. benefits will be significant, including for our The assessment noted that the two sites animals.” are large and disjointed with buildings and equipment ranging widely in age, level of Benchmarking zoos For Zoos SA to achieve its goals Vicki-Jo complexity and condition. While major zoos across Australia regularly says it also needs some great partners. share knowledge about their animals, they But it also reported that there is a “huge It became a participant in the Zero Waste rarely communicate information on business range of individual opportunities to reduce SA Industry Program in 2013 and is working operations such as sustainability initiatives. energy and water consumption at each closely with various other key organisations, That’s now changing. site,” although many would be beyond such as VES, SA Water and AGL on available resources. Zoos SA initiated discussions with Melbourne sustainability options. Zoo and this has now been extended to Zoos SA is acting on several of the major Support from Zoos SA’s workforce of 230 include most capital city zoos through a findings. The review found that: full-time and part-time employees and more sustainability action group which is beginning than 600 volunteers is also critical to success. • there is scope to achieve at least a 10% to compare and benchmark progress. reduction in electricity consumption across “Changing the way we do little things every both zoos through small scale initiatives day is one of the most cost-effective ways of such as running times of appliances An upgrade to the hippo pool is saving 23,000 kl of water a year

For the first time sustainability issues to Adelaide Parklands (GAP) recycled are also being reported to the peak water project and is also considering a Targeting energy accreditation body the Zoo and Aquarium computerised weather station with consumption Association. multi-sensors for more controlled irrigation. ’s searing summer Adelaide Zoo currently has some rainwater temperatures and cold winter nights Tackling water use capacity but the systems and capacity means heating and cooling is a priority for are limited. animals – and that involves an enormous Adelaide and Monarto Zoos use huge amount of energy. amounts of water for irrigation and for the Wastage is a major concern at Monarto Zoo habitats of some animals. which relies solely on mains water. Priorities Each year Adelaide and Monarto Zoos use include remote monitoring to help identify about 1.8 GW hours of electricity – enough Reducing bore water use at Adelaide has numerous leaks, and improved designs for to power about 270 houses. Initiatives to been a key focus over the past five years. animal ponds which lose large amounts of help reduce this include: The results have been dramatic with annual water through evaporation and leaking. bore water use reduced nearly six-fold from • a staff awareness program encouraging 226,992 kl in 2008 to 53,580 kl in 2013. The zoo is also trialling new smart metering people to switch off appliances in a pilot project with SA Water. • more effective monitoring, including The impressive turnaround is the result of: sub-metering, smart-metering and data • staff changing the way they do things, such energy loggers, to identify where energy as turning appliances off when Keeping hippos cool is being used they aren’t needed A hippopotamus requires an awful lot of • increased solar power (the two zoos • more metering to identify where water to stay cool. currently have a total 44 kW solar water is being used capacity) But 47,000 kl of bore water a year is an • new automated infrastructure, such • a building management system at as flow switches and pressure timers enormous amount even for Adelaide Zoo’s Adelaide Zoo’s new entrance. precious resident hippos Brutus and Susie. • a concerted effort to rectify leaks. Such initiatives will help the two zoos Wayne Yorath says that through upgrades continue reducing energy consumption, Vicki-Jo says water is now part of Zoos SA’s involving programmable relays, the zoo has which fell by 186,000 kW hours (9%) in master planning to achieve long-term managed to nearly half water usage in its 2011–12. While usage remained unchanged water security. hippo pool to 24,000 kl. in 2012–13, a significant reduction of 85,000 “We have to plan for future water “Initially there was some hesitancy among the kW hours was reported in the second restrictions even if that may be 20 years hippo keepers because they always have the quarter of 2013–14. ahead,” says Vicki-Jo. “At Adelaide we use animals’ welfare in mind,” says Wayne. Zoos SA had achieved an 8% reduction predominantly bore and mains water and “But once we demonstrated the enormous in energy for 2012-13*, which equates to must assume that availability isn’t always 126,000kwh saved and a saving of $26,712, going to be continuous.” wastage that was occurring and that water quality would not be compromised by the based on the current per kwh price of 0.212. Zoos SA is liaising with SA Water about changes, they were fully supportive.” *Prior to Energy Focus report funded by Zero Waste SA its possible involvement in the Glenelg Adelaide Zoo’s male orangutan Kluet. A new efficient heating system is being designed for his sleeping quarters.

Zero Waste SA Industry Program

The support provided by Zero Waste SA wins that can be gained by our approach Sustainability Officer, Zoos SA will enable the Zoo to build upon these and motivate staff to get some really good 8230 1242 achievements, with the eco efficiency review benefits across our exhibits.” [email protected] identifying a further 10% in savings, and Options being considered for the orangutan Sharon Ede providing crucial evidence to support energy quarters include motorised louvers and Senior Adviser, Industry Sustainability reduction goals and investment in associated de-stratification fans in the roof to 8204 2111 capital upgrades to achieve these savings. recirculate heat. [email protected]

Keeping orangutans warm Zero Waste SA Zoos SA Level 8 Karta and Kluet – the two Sumatran A not-for-profit conservation charity, Zoos SA 99 Gawler Place orangutans at Adelaide Zoo – live in a operates both Adelaide and Monarto Zoos. Adelaide SA 5001 large exhibit which has been specially The organisation runs conservation, breeding designed to reflect a South-East Asian jungle. and research as part of an international Published September 2014 While the habitat looks idyllic and is as close program in addition to public education on to their tropical home as possible, keeping animal habitats and endangered species. the animals warm during a cold Adelaide winter night is challenging. Zero Waste SA The animals currently sleep on heating A South Australian Government agency pads which are expensive to run and heat that advances improved waste management is wasted. Now the exhibit and sleeping policies and the development of resource quarters are being used as a case study for recovery and recycling. The Zero Waste more efficient heating and cooling. Lessons SA Industry Program advises and supports learned can be applied to other exhibits. companies to achieve sustainability goals in “This case study is very important to us because waste, water and energy. it’s critical that exhibit designs factor in both

www.zerowaste.sa.gov.au 92923FIS animal comfort and sustainability,” says Vicki-Jo. “We’re hoping that it will show the win- Wayne Yorath