Indooroopily Shopping Centre
| Client: Indooroopily Shopping Centre | Date: 2018 |
| Problem: Inefficient Recycling | Savings: 50% improvement |
After a mammoth waste audit, the Great Forest Australia team came up with a plan. The key ingredient was engaging with the tenants – all 280 of them. The new recycling program was implemented, resulting in a 50% increase in recycling across the site.
-
iconic shopping centre
-
280 retailers, 5 levels
-
waste audits across 3 days
-
implementation of new recycling program
-
roll out of education program with all tenants
-
50% increase in recycling
Indooroopily Shopping Centre
| Client: Indooroopily Shopping Centre | Date: 2018 |
| Problem: Inefficient Recycling | Savings: 50% improvement |
After a mammoth waste audit, the Great Forest Australia team came up with a plan. The key ingredient was engaging with the tenants – all 280 of them. The new recycling program was implemented, resulting in a 50% increase in recycling across the site.
-
iconic shopping centre
-
280 retailers, 5 levels
-
waste audits across 3 days
-
implementation of new recycling program
-
roll out of education program with all tenants
-
50% increase in recycling
A major Brisbane icon for over 45 years, Indooroopily comprises 85,000 square metres of leased space, with more than 280 retail and office tenants across 5 levels.
The Centre’s co-owners, contracted Great Forest Australia to undertake a comprehensive audit of the site’s recycling and waste management systems, analyse tenant performance, and develop a program to significantly increase recycling and reduce landfill waste across the site.
The large size and layout of the site required a multifaceted approach to auditing the waste on site. The audit was conducted over three days, with Great Forest Australia’s audit team conducting various observations of tenant and customer waste disposal habits, as well as assessing all waste and recycling generated during the 3 days, at multiple locations across the site.
After the audit, Great Forest Australia’s project team visited and spoke with each tenancy regarding their current waste management practices, in order to acquire the knowledge required to design an effective recycling and waste management system for the Centre.
Using the initial audit’s findings, Great Forest Australia designed a new system that included:
- an expansion in the number of drop-off points for tenants’ general waste, paper, cardboard, glass, metal, and hard and soft plastics;
- colour-coded signage;
- installation of public recycling bins in the food court
- new signage, education materials and recycling receptacles for tenants
- face to face communication and education with all tenants
Great Forest Australia’s education program focussedon:
- Minimising contamination rates in recycling through education and clear signage in all waste/recycling drop of points
- Ensuring all staff/tenants had written material to refer to regarding what items were/were not recyclable under the new program
- Engaging with tenants face to face on a number of occasions to ensure buy-in, answer any questions, and to resolve any issues.
Throughout the process, strong support from the Centre’s management,was crucial. Any stumbling blocks were addressed as soon as they arose, and a high level of commitment from both Great Forest Australia and Centre staff ensured a seamless transition.
The Post-implementation audit showed that there was a 50% increase in the amount of waste being diverted for recycling. This resulted in the avoidance of 366 tonnes of greenhouse gases being emitted each year.
