Waste minimisation for business

Waste minimisation resources for business

Planet Ark logo

The Five steps to waste efficiency provides a range of resources available to assist business measure, evaluate and reduce waste and inefficiency.

By knowing how much material it produces over a period of time, and the types of materials that can be diverted from landfill, business can identify the most suitable waste and recycling collection contractors. The Planet Ark Business Recycling website and hotline lists both private and local government recycling services (including collection, transport or drop-off points) across Queensland and Australia. It allows businesses to search by type of material and location so that they can easily find the recycling services they want. 

A series of sample waste profiles have been prepared to help business understand what the likely composition of their waste is and what waste streams can be reduced, reused or recycled. Waste reduction case studies for business sectors provide ideas for diverting useful materials from going to landfill, saving them money and helping protect the environment.

EHP has produced free-to-download recycling signage.

Approvals for the beneficial use of waste

The Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011 promotes higher resource recovery and recycling rates and aims to transform the perception of waste from being seen as ‘waste’ to being valued as a ‘resource’. A waste can be approved as a resource if the department considers that it has a beneficial use other than disposal. Find out more about beneficial use approvals.

Australian Packaging Covenant

The Australian Packaging Covenant is an agreement between companies in the supply chain and all levels of government to reduce the environmental impacts of consumer packaging. This will be achieved by:

• Designing packaging that is more resource efficient and more recyclable.
• Increasing the recovery and recycling of used packaging from households and away from home sources.
• Taking action to reduce the incidence and impacts of litter.

Covenant signatories represent more than 80% of all packaged retail brands sold within Australia, with approximately 760 signatories. Find out more about Covenant signatories and waste minimisation projects.