From little things big things grow

THE BARUNGA VILLAGE RECYCLING PROJECT

The local chickens and pigs around the Port Broughton area on South Australia’s York Peninsula are set to get a bit more variety in their diets due to a new waste recycling project introduced by LASA Member Barunga Village.

The re-negotiation of a waste management contract in February this year prompted the Barunga Village Board to investigate ways it could develop a strategy to reduce costs over the long term. The subcommittee talked to Kesab (Keep South Australia Beautiful) and the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and looked at recycling policies interstate.

“Basically it’s about separation of waste at the source, if we can sort it and dispose of it in different ways,” Mr Elliott says.

“We now have a sustainable strategy, which is cost-neutral, can be implemented across the organisation and which engages House Members as well.”

Barunga Village Chairperson Juan Elliott said what started as a subcommittee of Board members, staff, residents (known as House Members) and volunteers has resulted in a plan that will engage the community and residents, and save money.

The Village hosts retirement living and Barunga Homes, a 75-bed aged care facility situated in four houses with their own kitchens in addition to the commercial kitchens which service the entire village.

“At Barunga Homes we offer a home-like environment and each of our four houses has their own kitchens where House Members can prepare their own food or make a coffee or tea when they want,” Mr Elliott says.

Once an audit of the village’s waste management practices had been completed and policies updated, the subcommittee looked at what other businesses in town were doing, including the caravan park, the local school and the council.

“All of our waste was going into landfill, nothing was being recycled. Like any aged care provider, or similar organisation, Barunga Village buys food and other items in bulk which leads to large amounts of packaging and large empty containers to dispose of,” Mr Elliott says.

“We wanted to find a way to cut costs but also be environmentally friendly.” Annie lives in Evelyn House and enjoys playing her part in the recycling program.

The new plan adopted by Barunga Village introduces a number of ways to reduce waste and recycle including: • Using council recycling bins for large bulky items such as soup and fruit tins • Hotel Services negotiating reduced packaging with their suppliers • Food scraps regularly picked up by local residents for their chooks • Used oil regularly picked up by a local farmer for his pigs • House Members collecting cans and bottles for fundraising • Cardboard and paper separation for recycling.

“The House Members were happy to take it on board and they can also do some fundraising by collecting cans and bottles for the refund,” Mr Elliott says.

The next step is further education for staff and House Members on the importance of effective waste management to our organisation.

“Every dollar that can be saved on waste management can be spent elsewhere in the organisation to support House Members to live the best life possible,” Mr Elliott says. “At Barunga Village we strive to improve, learn and innovate with an expectation that everyone in our team pursues better approaches in order to achieve personal growth as well as increased organisational capacity.”

Kim and the rest of the team are happy to get behind the recycling program.

Kate Hannon is Aged Care Reform Communications Advisor, Leading Age Services Australia. For more information visit www.barungavillage.com.au