National Recycling Week, established by Planet Ark in 1996, is held every year during the second week of November. The theme this year is 'Celebrate National Recycling Week YOUR way!'.
At Ventia, we're committed to creating a lasting and positive impact for people and the planet, and we strive to do that in a sustainable way.
This week we share some examples from across our business of sustainability in action.
Sustainability on Sydney's M2
Since 2019 we have partnered with Transurban to advance sustainability in the communities where we operate.
As part of our maintenance contract on Sydney's M2, an audit identified the opportunity to reduce roadside waste materials sent to landfill.
Today, with the introduction of additional waste streams for recycling and streamlining to a single waste contractor through Indigenous business Grasshopper, we collect co-mingled recyclables, cans and bottles, as well as heavier consumables such as batteries and tyres. In the first three months of operation, we diverted 6.2 tonnes from landfill, that's the equivalent to the weight of 53 baby elephants!
Improvements to our waste reporting are also enabling us to better track our progress and measure the environmental benefits of our additional recycling.
Read more on our initiatives with Transurban here.
Recycling at the Larrakeyah Defence Precinct
Research shows that effective waste segregation makes waste easier to recycle, reduces cost and lowers the amount of waste going to landfill - a win for the environment and our communities.
Following a recent waste audit, our team at the Larrakeyah Defence Precinct in the Northern Territory have taken on feedback to make improvements to waste management on site.
Working closely with waste management supplier Veolia, we provided our team with key educational material about different waste types including cardboard, organics, mixed recyclables and general waste. Through the use of QR codes, employees can now scan and learn more about the waste type before "before they throw" - both at home and at work.
While this initiative has only just been launched, we are hopeful that the QR codes will not only help our team meet sustainability outcomes, but also improve their waste management knowledge.
Read more about out work with Defence here.
Celebrate National Recycling Week your way
Watch our short video for some simple tips on how you can make recycling part of your every day.