Reduce waste in your business

Waverley Council has an ambitions target of 75% resource recovery of residential and commercial waste by 2020 in our Environmental Action Plan 2018- 2030 and in line with the NSW Waste and Resource Recovery Strategy 2014 - 2021.This external link will open in a new window

As part of our commitment to becoming a zero-waste community, Waverley Council has partnered with the NSW EPA to coordinate a ‘Swap and Go’ reusable container trial from February to June 2023.

In this trial, businesses will be provided with a fleet of reusable food containers for customers to enjoy takeaway food without single-use packaging. Customer then return the washed container when they next visit the business creating a continuous, waste-free loop.

If takeaway food packaging is a large expense for your business, apply to this government-supported program by emailing environment@waverley.nsw.gov.au.

Reduce organic waste to landfill

Cut food waste with the Your Business is Food program

If you own or manage a food business, reducing the amount of food you throw out will help you cut costs and increase profits. Love Food Hate Waste is a program run by the NSW EPA. Register for their free Your Business is FoodThis external link will open in a new window program and reap the benefits of reduced food waste. Download this useful Food Waste Guide and ChecklistThis external link will open in a new window to see where you could be saving food and keeping

Find an organic waste contractor

If your business generates food waste, consider separating food waste from your general waste bin for organics collection. Talk to your current waste collector to ask if they provide an organics service, or search Businessrecycling.com.auThis external link will open in a new window under Food and Food & Packaging categories to find suppliers or search Compost ConnectThis external link will open in a new window.

Join the Compost Revolution

If your business wants to compost your organic waste onsite, then join the Compost Revolution by doing Council’s free online tutorial and quiz at Compost RevolutionThis external link will open in a new window, then receive your discounted compost bin or worm farm (plus worms) delivered to your door. If you have any questions Email us or call 9083 8000.

Eliminate single-use packaging

In food businesses

Straws, cups and takeaway containers are some of the most commonly littered items on our beaches and streets. Reducing the use of these items in your business can have a dramatic impact on your waste and the litter volumes in your area. Download our tip sheet for unwrapping your business

For dine-in customers, provide reusable cutlery, cups and dishes
For take-away customers, encourage them to bring their own containers and cups
Join a cup or takeaway container exchange program, or start a mug library

Confused about plastic alternatives? Plastic Free Bondi has done the research. Download the Plastic Free Bondi Sustainable Procurement GuideThis external link will open in a new window

There is no legislation prohibiting the use of BYO cups and containers during COVID-19 or otherwise. You can ask customers to provide clean reusable containers and hold on to their lids.

In delivery packaging

Ask your suppliers to eliminate excess packaging (such as plastic wrap) or to swap bulky and polluting materials such as Styrofoam for recyclable or reusable materials. Put the onus on your suppliers to take back their packaging after delivering goods, so that it becomes their responsibility to consider disposal measures.

Upgrade tools and equipment to reduce waste and improve recycling

Have you ever considered equipment or tools that could help reducing waste or improve recycling in your business? Here are some examples of what other local businesses have implemented:

a food dehydrator to save excess prepared items
reusable silicon food wrap to replace cling wrap in the kitchen
source separation bins to improve recycling
an automatic milk or sparling water dispenser to reduce bottles
a cardboard baler to save space in the waste storage area

Learn about grant funding opportunitiesThis external link will open in a new window available to Waverley businesses. Search the Planet Ark catalogue for recycling equipment at equipment.businessrecycling.com.auThis external link will open in a new window

NSW EPA Bin Trim program

The NSW EPA Bin Trim program offers free waste and recycling audits businesses with recommendations to reduce waste to landfill and save costs. Businesses can also apply for the NSW EPA Bin Trim rebate with matching funds $1,000 to $50,000 to upgrade tools and equipment to reduce waste and improve recycling. Find a bin trim assessorThis external link will open in a new window for a free assessment.

Curious how your business waste profile compares to others in the same industry? Browse the Bin Trim fact sheetsThis external link will open in a new window with detailed information about waste generation and targeted suggestions for your industry.

Join free special recycling programs for the workplace

You don’t have to be a facilities manager or deal with waste contracts to have a positive impact at work and reduce the amount of waste going to landfill. Workplaces can make use of free recycling programs for mobile phones, printer cartridges, e-waste and coffee capsules. Download Planet Ark’s easy to use guide to workplace recyclingThis external link will open in a new window to learn more.

Reduce fit out and refurbishment waste from buildings

The Better Buildings Partnership (BBP) is a leading collaboration of property owners, managers and key influencers that plays a key role in improving the performance and sustainability of existing buildings in the City of Sydney area and across Australia. The Better Buildings Partnership have drawn on research and expertise of program partners to prepare resources to reduce fit out and refurbishment waste from buildings. BBP Stripout Waste GuidelinesThis external link will open in a new window – a practical tool to help tenants, building owners and contractors reduce waste through improved stripout processes and significantly increase resource recovery rates.

WRAP promotes and encourages sustainable resource use through product design, waste minimisation, re-use, recycling and reprocessing of waste materials. Designing Out Waste: A design team guide for BuildingsThis external link will open in a new window - This document provides information on the key principles that designers can use during the design process and how these principles can be applied to projects to maximise opportunities to Design out Waste.

Use National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS)

NABERS is a national rating system that measures the environmental performance of Australian buildings, tenancies and homes. NABERS is a platform to measure the energy efficiency, water usage, waste management and indoor environment quality of a building or tenancy and its impact on the environment. NABERS can be used to measure a building’s energy efficiency, carbon emissions, as well as the water consumed, the waste produced and compare it to similar buildings. Learn more: nabers.gov.auThis external link will open in a new window