Office building

Around one third of WA’s waste is produced by workplaces.

Around 56% of this is recycled but a lot still goes to landfill (about the same volume as all of Perth metropolitan area's general household waste).

What’s the problem?

Our workplaces are often like second homes – so they represent an additional opportunity to reduce your waste.

It’s here that we churn through items like paper, electronic goods, printer cartridges, food, and a range of plastic materials like stationery, packaging and disposable cups. Because, unlike at home, we’re often not responsible for emptying the bins, we often feel less accountable. The truth is, we still are.

The diversity of WA workplaces also means there’s no one-size fits all solution to waste-reduction. While the commerce and industry sector (our businesses and major employers) has made gains in recent years, we’re still some way off the 2020 target of a 70% landfill diversion rate.

What can you do?

Regardless of your type of workplace there's plenty that can be done to reduce waste.

It all adds up stamp

The WasteSorted guide to
Cutting waste in the workplace

Employees

You might not get to call the shots, but you can still be a waste reduction champion. Small measures will still make a difference and have the potential to become an avalanche of positive change!

For more ideas download the Workplace Workout Checklist

  • Embrace low-waste lunches
  • Stop hitting print (or switch to double-sided printing)
  • Get yourself a reusable cup
  • Form a committee
  • Use the recycling bin

Decision Makers

You've got the power to drive waste reduction in your workplace and help your organisation and staff reduce their waste.

Audit your waste and consider what else you could do to reduce, reuse and recycle – here' a bunch of ideas to get started:

Reduce

  • Go paperless where possible
    Email payslips, invoices, memos and documents, use online file transfer sites rather than USBs, provide fewer printers, and consider using tablets or phones for functional tasks.
  • Convert waste into soil and compost
    If your bins are full of food waste, turn it in to nutrient-rich fertiliser or green energy rather than sending it to landfill to rot.
  • Optimise bag and carton sizes
    This has the potential to result in you buying a lower total volume of packaging and your customers having to throw less away.
  • Opt for a lower-waste fleet
    Look for quality in the first instance and then maintain rather than replace.

Reuse

  • Embrace pre-loved items
    Pre-used furniture, equipment and cars may help save you money as well as lower your organisation's impact.
  • Pack it up
    Swap new packaging for recycled or compostable varieties – a decision that will help you, your staff and your customers reduce their waste.

Recycle

  • Invest in better partnerships
    Seek out or partner with a recycling company who accepts a wider range of recyclable materials. Bigger organisations could go one step further and have these items repurposed into other products.
  • Make it easy
    Ensure you have dedicated recycling areas for items such as printer cartridges and batteries and that ALL recycling bins are clearly labelled.