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MGA TMA - Waste and the Australian Circular Economy

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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.

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. 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

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

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revenue streams whilst doing good for the environment.

This will be a unique and distinct point of difference for members businesses within the communities in which they trade and will endear customers to the business, resulting in them coming back to the store day in day out.

Consumers will be drawn to members businesses because the MGA TMA Sustainable Solutions promotional program, will include, share and attribute what you do and your success in minimizing your environmental footprint, with your customers to foster a joint action toward creating a better planet.

MGA TMA and Australian Circular Economy Solutions Pty (ACES) - Who is ACES?

Together with MGA TMA, ACES operates within the sustainability industry.

We focus on providing environmental and socially responsible management solutions to businesses to help reduce the cost of waste and the negative consequences associated with waste being sent to landfills, reducing annual quantities of CO2 equivalent gasses into the atmosphere.

What does the public – your customers think about the Circular Economy – protecting the environment?

The public is becoming increasingly aware of the environmental fragility of the planet and the world we live in. There is a groundswell of public support for businesses implementing and executing “planet-saving” strategies into their businesses and helping to make consumers feel they are contributing and “doing their bit” to help eliminate waste from landfill, embracing the circular economy, resulting in creating a more sustainable environment.

The benefits of your business being a leader and a beacon for your local community sustainability and MGA TMA assisting you to promote your circular economy credentials, is that customers who care about the environment they live in will return to your store over and over again.

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