INDUSTRY NEWS
17
NATIONAL
MGA TMA - Waste and the Australian Circular Economy As members will have seen in earlier editions of the IR magazine, MGA TMA has embarked upon an historical Joint Venture with its Corporate Partner Aussie Energy to form a company, Australian Circular economy Solutions Pty Ltd. (ACES) to address the immediate and urgent issues regarding members waste and energy management.
ACES will be developing a unique Circular Economy Solutions programme for members via the Sustainable Supermarkets, Sustainable Bottle Shops and Sustainable Timber and Hardware businesses. More information will follow, including a plan to reuse most of the waste we generate in our businesses and having alternative uses as a part of a comprehensive recycling programme.
Waste and Energy usage in the independent supermarket, liquor store and timber and hardware sectors. Waste and energy usage and management have become an enormous cost to do business for our members and will continue to exponentially rise as state and federal governments impose new taxes and levies upon consumers for the disposal of organic and non-organic waste to landfill. Waste generated by our members’ businesses can actually become a new
resource. Almost all organic and nonorganic waste streams, when properly managed, can be recycled into products to reuse the raw materials and reduce the need for new resources to be used.
Circular systems and solutions introduced in member businesses will enable the reuse, sharing, repair, refurbishment, remanufacturing and recycling of waste to create a closedloop system that will help minimize the use of resource inputs and the further creation of waste, pollution and carbon emissions.
The principles of the Circular Economy
What is the Circular Economy, and why is it relevant for our industry sector/s? A circular economy is an economic system aimed at eliminating organic and non-organic waste in MGA TMA members supermarkets, liquor stores and timber & hardware businesses and driving the continual reuse of resources.
The principles of the Circular Economy involves members putting a range of measures in place within their business that will structure the behaviours of their consumers and staff alike, to avoid waste, reuse that waste, recycle that waste and recover energy.
Why should MGA TMA members adopt the principle of the Circular Economy? MGA TMA members are the hubs within the communities they trade - by adopting the principles of the Circular Economy within their businesses waste management costs and burdens for business can be turned into
