Purpose
Our company seeks to minimise the waste going to landfill through recycling initiatives. Our company policy is to promote recycling of materials by having in place a comprehensive recycling scheme to:
Reduce the output of the general waste stream;
Minimise contamination in the recycling stream;
- Reduce the need for landfill space;
- Take advantage of the economic benefits arising from recycling;
- Promote resource conservation of non-renewable and renewable resources; and
- Reduce CO2e emissions associated with waste to landfill.
Scope
This policy and procedure applies to the following recycling streams at our company sites:
- Paper;
- Cardboard;
- Polystyrene
- Toner and Ink Jet Printer Cartridges;
- Mobile Phones;
- E-Waste (computers and other electronic equipment);
- Fluorescent tubes and other lamps; and
- Co-mingled (aluminium, glass, and plastics)
Responsibilities
Managers and Supervisors Ensure that employees are trained in the Recycling Waste Operating Procedure.
Property and Facilities Provide/arrange for recycling collection service; Liaise with facilities, and Executive Officers to ensure that recycling is effectively carried out at our company sites; and Review the recycling procedure as required.
Procedure
Please sort and dispose of your recyclables thoughtfully. Our company managed grounds, Centres and Administrative sections should also consider the use of alternative means of disposal, e.g. agreement with computer manufacturers for disposal service during procurement of new computers.
Appropriate receptacles for select recycling categories are placed throughout the company buildings and grounds.
Paper Recycling
Paper Recycling Boxes at a desk
- Paper recycling boxes at your desk are available at most sites. Items you can and cannot recycle are listed on the side of the box.
- Once filled, please empty your box into the 120-litre paper recycling wheelie bins located within your building.
- To obtain a paper recycling box for your office, contact your Manager
Paper Recycling Bins - Secure Paper Destruction Service
- Secure 240-litre wheelie bins with a lockable lid will be supplied for all confidential documents.
- To arrange a secure paper recycling service
- Ph: [insert contact #]. If required, the area can request a Certificate of Destruction.
- In situations where it is determined necessary, [insert contractor] will provide an additional service where documents will be destroyed on site. An extra cost will be charged.
Paper Recycling – not confidential
- Unlocked 120-litre wheelie bins are supplied free of charge by the local council. The material is not shredded, but it is ultimately reprocessed.
- To arrange paper recycling bins, email: [Manager contact]
Cardboard Recycling
- All types of cardboard except waxed or glossy can be disposed of through this system.
- Flatten cardboard and leave at designated collection points in buildings or in containers located around campus.
- Discard ancillary waste (eg. polystyrene packaging) appropriately, not with cardboard.
Polystyrene recycling
- Separate polystyrene from all other waste.
- To arrange collection on an ad-hoc or regular basis, email [Manager contact]
Toner and Ink Jet Printer Cartridges
- Send empty toner and ink jet printer cartridges to P&F’s central store who arrange for the cartridges to be sent to a recycling facility.
- Place empty cartridges in SEALED plastic bags or boxes and send by internal mail to: [nominate authorised Manager]
Mobile Phones
- Schools, Centres and Administrative sections can return mobile phones with batteries and accessories to suppliers.
- Mobile Phone satchels are available at Australia Post outlets.
- Mobile phone handsets, batteries and accessories can be sent by internal mail to the Company Mail Room. They are collected free of charge by the Mobile Phone Industry Recycling Program. For further information, go to: [insert contact point].
E-Waste[insert department] collects and arranges for the disposal of office equipment (computers, monitors, photocopiers, etc.). This equipment is sent to companies who recycle the raw material.
To arrange collection of office equipment:
- Email [insert relevant contact] with a request for collection and advise location.
- Our company employees will arrange to have the equipment collected from the Centre’s nominated location.
- It is the responsibility of Sites, Centres and Administrative Units to remove data from obsolete computers that are to be disposed of. These computers should also be delisted and taken off the asset register.
Note: Please remove toner cartridges from printers prior to collection and recycle separately.
Fluorescent tubes and other lamps
- Fluorescent tubes are replaced by Property and Facilities’ electricians as required.
- Old fluorescent tubes are stored in cardboard containers which are then placed in a skip located in the Company Workshop.
- Once the skip is full, the fluorescent tubes and lamps are collected by a contractor for recycling.
- Schools, Centres and Administrative sections can email recycle@pf.uq.edu.au to request collection. Please accumulate a quantity prior to requesting collection.
Co-mingled recycling
- Co-mingled recycling bins for glass, plastics and aluminium cans are located across campuses and sites.
- Small recycling bins are also supplied in kitchens
Bins for events
- For additional co-mingled recycling bins (and general waste bins) email: [insert appropriate contact] approximately 1 week in advance depending on the size of the activity.
- In cases of a major event, 2 weeks’ notice is preferred.
Definitions
Cardboard - Thin, stiff pasteboard generally used as packaging material.
Contamination of Recycling Streams - Contamination of recycling streams occurs when the unwanted material is disposed of with the recyclable material. Contaminated material is not suitable for reprocessing and must be separated from the recyclable stream.
Computer Equipment - Obsolete computers and associated equipment including monitors, pc cases, apples/macintosh, mouses, keyboards, printers, scanners, component parts.
Co-mingled Recycling Stream - It is a stream that contains several recycling waste materials such as:
Aluminium (tins and cans); Glass; and Plastics (Identification Codes 1-7) – includes PET milk bottles and HDPE soft drink bottles.
E-Waste - Electronic equipment that is no longer used as originally intended, but can be reused or recycled.
Recycling - Recycling refers to capturing materials from the post-consumer waste stream to be used as secondary source material.
Toner and Ink Jet Cartridges - Toner and inkjet printer and photocopier cartridges.
Waste - Under Section 13 of the Environmental Protection Act, 1994 waste is defined as “any gas, liquid, solid or energy (or a combination of wastes) that is surplus to, or unwanted from, any industrial, commercial, domestic or other activity, whether or not of value.”