Waste Not

Quayclean Site Leader, Daizy Gonawala assisting with waste separation onsite at Sydney Cricket Ground.

Tailored bin covers in public areas at the Australian Turf Club, has encouraged excellent recycling at this venue

Greg Campbell outlnes Quayclean’s actions to meet United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and its commitment to waste reduction

The 2022 five-day Ashes cricket Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground attracted over 110,000 attendees, despite daily capacity restrictions - the ground’s highest attendances since before the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in 2020.

These fans, plus catering and grounds staff, produced over 50 tonnes of waste - the equivalent of 35 large family cars.

In years past, most venue waste produced at the SCG and at other major venues across the country, would have been swept up and poured into trucks before being dumped as landfill.

But as the world steps up its commitment to climate change and creating a sustainable environment, the responsibilities of contract cleaning have become more substantial, broader, and deeper.

Leading cleaning, hygiene, and presentation company, Quayclean Australia, is one company leading the nation’s charge towards venues creating sustainable environments.

Among Quayclean’s customer base are major sports and tourism sites such as Marvel Stadium, Adelaide Oval, the Gabba, Sydney Opera House, Perth Zoo, Sydney Olympic Park - the site of the Sydney Royal Easter Show - as well as the SCG.

Earlier this year, Quayclean appointed the first of two Sustainability Managers to assist the company and its customers take steps towards improving recycling and implementing sustainable actions to support customers with ambitions of being carbon neutral and even carbon positive.

Then in June, Quayclean announced a company-wide pledge to six of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Quayclean Chief Executive, Mark Piwkowski, said the identified United Nations Sustainable Development Goals - Good Health & Wellbeing, Quality Education, Gender Equality, Clean Water & Sanitation, Reduced Inequalities and Climate Action - are aligned to the values of its business.

Advising that Quayclean is purchasing more battery-operated equipment where applicable, and the company is aiming to be a carbon neutral business in five years, Piwkowski commented “we have made these sustainability appointments and initial pledges to the identified United Nations Sustainable Development Goals because we are serious about the environment and adopting sustainable practices.

“We believe by adopting these six United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, that our business and our workers will be positively contributing to protecting and restoring our planet.”

Piwkowski sees that with heightened awareness of the need for action following the devastating climatic events across the globe in recent years, more and more venues, schools and public facilities are adopting decisive sustainability measures.

Noting that Quayclean is focused on helping educate its customers and assist with the development of waste management systems, knowledge and skills that leads towards a reduction in waste being produced and achieve higher levels of recycling from collected waste, Piwkowski explained “getting organic and wet waste

Quayclean team provide ‘separation at source’ services during post event cleaning. into its own designated bins is the first crucial step towards reducing waste contamination.

“If we can correctly capture waste into the right sorting bins at its source, this will accelerate diversion rates and fast-track venue diversion goals.”

Piwkowski points to impressive results coming out of large venues such as Australian Turf Club (ATC) racing venues, Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium, The Gabba, Adelaide Oval and Venues Canberra sites, with tonnes of separated e-waste, glass and food waste influencing high recycling rates.

Piwkowski noted “at Adelaide Oval, 89% of waste is being diverted from landfill, ATC landfill diversion rates are now at 80.36% while total diversion rates at The Gabba rose significantly from 38.85% to 70.74% last year.”

Stating that Container Deposit Schemes (CDS) have also reaped significant outcomes, he added “we have captured 177.31 tonnes of CDS materials over the past nine months at ATC venues, 180,000 bottles have been recycled at Venues Canberra sites since last year, and over 80,000 recyclable bottles have been collected at The Gabba and Cbus Stadium in the first seven months of this year.

“Last April, over 2000 kgs of e-waste was diverted from landfill at Marvel Stadium, and over 22,000 kgs of glass was recycled over a three-month period from Marvel Stadium and Melbourne Racing Club.

“As part of Sydney Opera House’s Environmental Action Plan, we are wholeheartedly supporting its goal to reduce the volume of waste generated and achieve an 85% recycling rate.

“With greater awareness and site co-operation, we anticipate recycling and diversion rates at venues such as these will climb much higher.”

Piwkowski said a high volume of waste is, ironically, produced back of house by staff and not front of house by paying attendees, going on to say “we want to get venue workforce personnel thinking more about how they discard their waste and how they can assist with waste diversion programs.

“Most people blame the public, the patrons, or the students, but it’s the waste produced from poorly managed catering, property and grounds areas that contaminate bins condemning waste loads to landfill.”

Piwkowski said on-site waste streams needs to be viewed as either dry or wet waste, explaining “if wet and dry waste streams are properly separated, then there is really no need for a general waste bin.

“Dry waste can be separated into paper and cardboard, plastics, timber, containers such as aluminium, glass and plastic, dry food packaging to name a few. Dry waste can include building materials also.

“Wet Waste can be separated into organic food and coffee grinds, food scraps, green grass clippings, horticultural waste. You go one step deeper and you collect cooking oils, batteries, electrical equipment, fluorescent tubes, highlighters, and clothing material.”

Piwkowski strongly encouraged all businesses, venues, and event organisers to establish sustainability plans, practices, and targets, concluding “collectively, there is much more to be done to boost recycling rates and Quayclean constantly challenges itself and its customers with new ways to drive up recycling rates and reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.

“Our population has increased by 30% in 20 years, but waste volumes have increased by 170%. We must reduce the volume of waste generated in addition to achieving elevated levels of recycling in our bid to improve air quality.” Greg Campbell is Managing Director of Prism strategic communications.

Bio pack Vs reusable/aluminium cups Compostable packaging is still single use, reusable cups require collection and washing, but can be re-used many times. If you have the capacity to use re-usable/aluminium cups, it’s better for the environment. General waste The great misconception. Most public venues and facilities have general waste and recycling waste bins side by side. But what’s general waste? Most punters put the same waste in a recycling bin as they do general waste bin. General Waste vs organic/dry waste - general waste. Coffee grinds and food are great organic matter that are compostable when separated at the source. However, if mixed with other waste streams, they are contaminators and waste carriers are forced to send to landfill. What a waste of a valuable resource. Dry waste which can be used for energy is a great material for re-use.

Recommendations

1.Prepare a simple waste management plan that engages the hearts and minds of your team. 2.Set a great goal for recycling - over 80% is good. 3.Identify sources of waste and how this can be reduced by 10% per annum. 4.Complete a waste audit on your waste and identify what are recyclables and what are contaminators. 5.Set up bin infrastructure with great signage and communication to all stakeholders. 6.Identify end user markets for your waste with your waste provider. If they can’t assist you get a new one or call Quayclean.