Page 3259 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 18 August 2009
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This scheme was designed to help businesses and offices become more effective recyclers on their premises. We have committed, as a government, $233,000 in this financial year to address the specific needs of businesses and offices across the territory and region as part of our waste strategy.
The Department of the Environment, Climate Change, Energy and Water has developed a best practice guide of information to educate participants implementing the program. It provides assistance to track initial and end-result waste audit information, including reductions of waste to landfill. Not only will the business and office sector be given the tools to reduce their impact on the environment but they will also find that they are able to reduce their costs as sending waste to a recycling centre is cheaper than tipping at the landfill.
I am delighted that a large number of organisations have already agreed to sign up to the OfficeSmart and BusinessSmart programs. The launch was held at the National Convention Centre. The International Hotels Group, which runs the Crown Plaza Hotel in the city and the Convention Centre itself, has already signed up to BusinessSmart and has reduced its waste significantly through its participation.
I am pleased to say that my department has also secured the support and the commitment of Westfield. Westfield Belconnen and Westfield Woden have both agreed to sign up to OfficeSmart and BusinessSmart to help reduce waste in their shopping centres. That is not just Westfield itself but all the businesses that operate in those centres. These are major gains. They should not be underestimated and should not be dismissed as lightly as Ms Bresnan did in her speech.
As I have indicated, the government has provided funding to develop a future waste strategy to replace the current no waste by 2010 strategy. This will provide an overarching framework that ensures the management of waste streams is utilising the latest waste-to-energy technologies and continues to improve as Canberra grows. It is important to state that the government retains the objective of no waste to landfill. Indeed, this will be absolutely essential if we are to achieve zero net emissions for our city.
We are applying the waste hierarchy that underpins best management practice for managing waste. The hierarchy employs strategies which aim, firstly, to avoid products becoming waste, which is about reducing and reusing; secondly, to find an alternative use for waste, recycling and recovery; and, lastly, safe and appropriate disposal as a last resort. As well as retaining the visionary goal of no waste to landfill, the government is also looking at how waste strategies will contribute to zero net emissions for our city.
One particularly interesting element of this work being undertaken at my request by my department is the feasibility of energy from waste technologies as part of developing a strategic approach to energy recovery from waste. This will provide an important component once traditional sorting and recycling options have been optimised. Benefits from using such technology include renewable energy and the potential for carbon sequestration.
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