A BROWNS Plains recycling company has been awarded for reducing waste by 90%.
Browns Plains Bottles and Cans slashed the waste they produce from 42 bin loads to just two.
The ability to lessen their waste by more than 90% won the business the sustainability category at the third annual Queensland Change Maker Awards.
The business operates a refund point for the Containers for Change scheme, which refunds 10 cents for each beverage container it receives.
Operators Julie Farrelly and Andrew Lambert began accepting drink containers just over a year ago, but soon after took a whole-of-business look at the waste they were creating with a view to drastically lowering their impact on the environment.
They audited their waste into different categories including cardboard, plastic bags, bottle caps and plastic bottles that were ineligible in the scheme, and then sourced other recyclers who could use the material.
Previously they needed to transport six bins of waste a day to the local refuse station – now they fill only two bins for the entire week.
Ms Farrelly said the initiative came after they decided they also had to contribute to the circular economy and recycling effort that the Containers for Change scheme is designed to streamline.
They instigated the change in practice with their staff and the results have been impressive.
“We didn’t think it was right for the customers to come back in and put the leftover rubbish like cardboard and plastic bags back in the boot of their car,” said Ms Farrelly.
“We were doing endless trips to the dump, so we got involved in a sustainability program and it just went from there.
“For the staff now it is just second nature to counting containers.
“It is quite simple really – the ineligible material goes in this bin, the plastic goes in this bin and the cardboard goes in that bin.
“We were doing seven trips a week to the dump with six bins – now the guys at the dump think we have gone somewhere else.”
Ms Farrelly said the change in waste practice had produced other savings, as well as assisting local charities and community groups.
“The process has saved multiple hours every day in packing vehicles, transporting waste to the transfer station, savings on dump fees and a reduction of in-house labour,” she said.
“Where possible we now also save, clean and donate bottle caps to a number of schools, craft groups and charities.”
