APC WRAP UP MAY EDITION
The future of the APC and packaging product stewardship State and Territory Environment Ministers agreed to an extension of the existing Australian Packaging Covenant to 30 June 2016 at their most recent meeting. The existing KPIs for APC signatories will remain in place throughout this extended twelve month period and annual reporting will take place in March 2016 against these KPIs. If you have an expiring action plan and would like advice on how to prepare for the year ahead, please contact the APC member services team. Industry and government representatives will continue to work together over the coming months to agree on product stewardship arrangements beyond June 2016. Preliminary indications are that brand owners should expect an increase in contributions to support a future packaging product stewardship arrangement. The APC will continue to keep signatories up to date as further details come to hand. If you any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the APC for further information.
Member Services Update APC holds first issues focussed forum on polymer coated packaging In March the APC hosted its first issues-focussed forum: Polymer-coated packaging recycling. The intent of the forum is to identify and evaluate a range of opportunities to improve, and ultimately increase, the recovery of polymer-coated fibre packaging. The forum was a success with more than 20 organisations across the supply chain participating to discuss this topic in a proactive, solutions-focussed manner. The group identified and discussed a range of challenges currently limiting the recyclability of paper cups, gable top cartons (fresh) and aseptic cartons (long-life) including: • Material flows and processing capacity • Material make-up (design and construction) • Different end of life messages (sometimes conflicting) The forum has helped to establish the need to determine the key material flows and opportunities for improving these material flows. We intend to pursue this through commissioning an independent study. If your organisation feels it can contribute positively to this study or the forum in general please contact Brett Giddings. Once the study is complete the APC will convene further meetings with key stakeholders to evaluate the viability of progressing projects to address the opportunities identified by the study and the forum in general. Feedback from signatories has indicated that the APC has a key role to play in bringing together all elements of the packaging supply chain to work through recycling and recyclability issues. If you have a topic area that you feel we could add value to please contact Brett Giddings.
NSW: APC scopes sustainable waste management project in regional NSW
The APC would like to thank all those that have contributed to date.
In March, the APC’s Litter Projects Officer travelled to Bourke in regional NSW along with 10 other agencies and organisations to undertake a scoping visit regarding a project proposal from Waste Aid. Waste Aid, a registered not for profit charity was established in March 2014 and aims to reduce ill health caused by poorly managed waste in disadvantaged and remote communities, as well as improve social and environmental outcomes.
New resource: The Business Case for Packaging Sustainability Packaging projects can often achieve positive environmental outcomes while delivering financial and other benefits to businesses. The APC has developed a new resource which explores the business case for packaging sustainability by examining successful projects from eleven signatory companies and identifying the common “strategies for success” in their approaches.
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Projects Update
including reduction in costs, increased sales, reduced product loss or damage, market recognition and improved supply chain relationships.
The strategies outlined in the resource provide practical guidance to other businesses that want to create business value through improving the sustainability of their packaging.
The resource is available now available on the APC website at www.packagingcovenant.org.au/resources.php under ‘KPI 6: Working with others to improve design and recycling’.
The case studies also demonstrate that improvements in packaging design can deliver multiple business benefits –
The APC would like to thank all those who participated in the case studies, providing valuable insights for other signatories.
Waste Aid has established the NSW Sustainable Waste in Aboriginal Communities (SWAC) Reference Group comprising eight agencies and organisations including APC, NSW EPA, Aboriginal Affairs, Department of Health, Local Government NSW, NSW Aboriginal Land Council (ALC) and Resource Recovery Australia (RRA). The objective of this project is to develop and trial a new sustainable waste management model for Aboriginal communities to be piloted at Bourke and Enngonia, 850km NW of Sydney. The waste management model has a number of components, the first being the clean-up of legacy waste, including typically years of accumulated bulky waste, old motor vehicles, illegally dumped materials and litter. The team will then work with the communities to develop and
implement an education program that is developed ‘with the community for the community’, install appropriate infrastructure and procure waste management services. A unique aspect is the engagement of a community stewardship program, to build capacity within the community so they are able to take responsibility for cleaning up and maintaining their land. The final stages involve negotiating a services agreement with the local council for future service provision. A local steering group is being formed to oversee the detailed project planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation with the first session scheduled for 18 March. “It was very valuable as a project officer to visit Bourke and be involved in the project development process. Being able to see the problems first hand provided a great insight and will allow for more understanding throughout the life of the project,” Cayley said. “Not only was it good to see the problems but it was just as important to see the level of commitment and enthusiasm by the numerous stakeholders involved, especially by the local Aboriginal representatives. They know there is a problem and have identified the need for outside help”. Upon the successful implementation, Waste Aid will seek to replicate the model in other Aboriginal communities nationally. The APC is currently funding another Waste Aid project to install cardboard balers into community stores in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands in remote SA.
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After the changes are implemented a second audit will be undertaken to determine the impact of the changes to public behaviour and litter reduction.
The top three types of litter identified were cigarette butts, fast food packaging and wrappers and the most common places for litter were roadsides, car parks and public parks.
The changes to bins will include:
The pilot will inform council’s future public waste strategy to determine the best options for public bins and enclosures.
• 15 bin enclosures will be replaced at Riverway with three new bin locations added based on public use • A change in location to some bins on The Strand • All bins on The Strand will now have a recycling component, colour coded sections and educational signage
The project is also included in the NQ Waste Reduction and Recycling Plan. This Project is supported by the Australian Packaging Covenant and the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection which have provided $115,000 funding for the project.
Data collected last year found that 30% of rubbish tossed in waste bins was recyclable and 25% of non-recyclable items had been incorrectly placed in recycling bins.
QLD: APC funds Townsville bin makeovers Changes to rubbish and recycling bins in two Townsville precincts will be implemented as part of a pilot study on waste management. The Strand and Riverway were selected for the Pilot Study for Public Place Recycling and Litter Management which Townsville City Council is undertaking in partnership with the Australian Packaging Covenant. Initial data from an audit of bins has been used to develop a new waste strategy for the precincts with changes to bins to improve public behaviour. Healthy and Safe City Committee Chair Cr Gary Eddiehausen said more than 40% of litter at The Strand and Riverway was recyclable but the key was putting it in the right bin. “Through this pilot we have been able to undertake a study to determine current bin usage and public behaviour at two of our leading public precincts which has helped to identify small changes which aim to improve initial data collected,” he said. “By introducing changes to the location, style, structure and number of bins we hope to improve recycling rates at these locations, reduce litter and further educate the community on waste management. “Riverway bins will be replaced with a similar style bin as at The Strand, which have a higher compliance rate for litter segregation and they will also be colour coded in red and yellow – the same as your home wheelie bins. “There will be some changes to the bin locations at The Strand to better cater for usage and all bins along The Strand will now have a recycling bin whereas previously some had two waste bins in the same enclosure.
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“New signage will also be installed to clearly identify the waste bin from the recycling bin as well as picture examples of the types of rubbish suited to each.
“ The size of the waste bin opening will also be reduced to ensure rubbish makes it into the bin to prevent litter in the bottom of the enclosure which can blow out.”
VICTORIA: APC funding provides recycling trailers in regional Victoria Hindmarsh and West Wimmera shire councils now have recycling trailers for use at community events.
“Permanently placed bins or other infrastructure is costly and might not be used for most of the time.”
The public place recycling trailers have been provided through funding from Sustainability Victoria, the Australian Packaging Covenant and Grampians Central West Waste and Resource Recovery Group.
Mr Lovett said the trailers had been used successfully for a number of years in other areas.
The purpose-built trailers will hold 15 240-litre wheelie bins that can be loaded and unloaded via a ramp. Group technical officer Wayne Lovett said the group had found there were many public spaces in the region where there was no provision for recycling. “The challenge was to provide a sustainable solution to address this issue, especially where events are only hosted annually or periodically throughout the year,” he said.
Hindmarsh Mayor Ron Lowe said disposing of waste at public events had been an environmental and financial concern for council in the past. West Wimmera Shire Mayor Annette Jones said the trailers would make it easier to be more responsible about resource recovery. The trailers are available for use by residents and community groups for events in Hindmarsh and West Wimmera council areas.
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WESTERN AUSTRALIA: Glass recycling on Rottnest Island A new glass crusher is hard at work on Rottnest Island, purchased with funding from the Australian Packaging Covenant. Rottnest Island exports up to 100T of glass from the Island annually to waste and recycling facilities in Perth. This is approximately 7.8% of Rottnest’s total waste stream. The Glass Crusher will improve the Island’s waste management significantly, providing the ability to reuse glass in Island’s operations. The glass crushing infrastructure is managed by
SOUTH AUSTRALIA: KESAB to develop resources to tackle litter in the school yard
The APC is currently compiling a new factsheet which details the key identified trends in packaging design, format and waste management. The factsheet will be available on the APC website and will explore trends such as:
School sites will be encouraged to submit litter count data to KESAB identifying litter reduction targets and opportunities to engage students with curriculum based actions and initiatives to raise awareness about the impacts of randomly disposed litter in the school yard.
Litter is a concern in school yards and areas adjacent to school grounds (parent pick up and bus stop areas), and its impact on the natural environment and entering stormwater and creek systems. School educators via an online survey have informed
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It is hoped that the crusher will eventually recycling 90% of the islands glass, around 50% of which is generated from island businesses like Hotel Rottnest and Rottnest Lodge. The crusher will also save money previously spend on importing sand products onto the island.
New factsheet: Packaging and Waste Management Trends 2015
KESAB environmental solutions has received funding from the Australian Packaging Covenant and Zero Waste SA to develop a Litter Less schools program to reduce litter in school yards. Litter Less will provide interactive resources (via a microsite) to schools complementing the existing Wipe Out Waste program that has been engaging schools fo r 8 years in South Australia. Professional Development sessions will be delivered to teachers across the state facilitated through the Litter Less resources.
Based on the litter data results, schools will be provided with support resources and information on how they can reduce litter in the school yard and influence improved student behavioural and awareness outcomes.
Rottnest Island Authority staff which reprocess material to 4 mm minus Recovered Crushed Glass (RCG) which meets specifications for use in pipe bedding and as a fine aggregate in civil construction applications.
KESAB they are keen to address the litter issue and looking for new support resources on litter, especially interactive resources and action focused learning that will engage students. Ben Bateman, APC Project Manager said “We are pleased to be supporting this program as it is part of our commitment to the best practice model of education, infrastructure and enforcement to bring about long term changed littering behaviour”.
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Light-weighting
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Increased use of lightweight flexible composite plastic sleeves and pouches
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Shelf-ready packaging
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Packaging reuse
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“Premium-isation”
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Eco-packaging
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Carton size
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and much more.
If you’re interested in being notified when the fact sheet is released please email comms@packagingcovenant.org.au
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