What have we ‘Bin’ up to at the ANU John Sullivan Recycling & Sustainable Systems Manager Facilities and Services / Energy and Conservation Office

Where we are  Located in the suburb of Acton, within the ACT  Foot print of 150 hectares  staff and students  Spends in excess of $250,000 pa for waste management

Environmental Management Plan  EMP launched in 1998  8 Key target areas  Waste KPI – 70% reduction of waste to landfill (based on 2002 figures ) by 2008

Key Points Introduction of the recycling Infrastructure comprised of three main areas:  Building Waste  Public Stations  Other recycling activities

Development of a Recycling Infrastructure  Investigation of existing services and systems.  Discussions with end users to determine their acceptance of the ideology

Development of a recycling Infrastructure  Determine the range of services required to suit the users needs  Development of standardised and flexible signage

Development of a Recycling Infrastructure  Maximise the potential of existing systems by use of effective signage

Development of the public stations  Aim – enable recycling within the public/ landscape areas on campus

Development of public stations  Aim – simple construction  Standard components

Introduction of the recycling Infrastructure  Replacement of existing field bins  Raise the level of public awareness of ANUgreen

Event Waste Management  2 or 4 Bin Station  Temporary units

Introduction of the recycling infrastructure  Ability to blend with existing architecture

Service providers  A requirement to provide a level of personal service beyond that normally offered by the larger organisations.

Service Providers  Flexibility of independent service providers to meet the needs of the client.

Development of Waste Audit Methodology  Audit required to evaluate the success of the public stations  To gain a better understanding of the waste stream composition

Development of links with external groups  Interhall working group  Approximately 2500 students on campus

Development of links with external groups  Green Corps team undertaking audit

Development of links with external groups  Environmental accounting Class  17 groups  Carry out audits over a 4 week period

Waste audit sheet

Waste audit results  Actual recycling bins performed well  Waste bins still contained a large percentage recyclable material  Provided good feedback for areas on performance

IT Recycling  Amnesty period for 2003 to encourage the clearing of redundant IT equipment  ANU turnover of 1500 machines per anum  Over 1800 machines collected

Fluorescent tube Recycling  Each 4’ tube can contain around 30 milligrams of mercury, which in turn has the capacity to pollute 30,000 litres of water  600 kilograms of tubes recycled in 2003

Steel Recycling  37.7 tonnes collected in 2003  Cost saving of around $4000  Each tonne of steel recycled saves - up to 75% of the energy required to make steel from virgin materials

Furniture Recycling  Over 450 items recycled in 2003  Opportunity for ANU to interact with Charity groups

Communication  “Back of the loo” program  Information to a captive audience

Conclusion  If you cant measure it you can’t manage it.  Education of staff is an essential component  Systems must be flexible to allow for change