Increase diversion rates of waste

1. Contribute to the circular economy

In a linear economy, materials were produced, used and thrown away. A circular economy changes this approach through reducing, reusing and recycling. The circular economy encourages the recovery of materials that can reused.

 A circular economy can provide a focus for an increased uptake of recovered materials; drive innovation and technology that supports the recovery of materials; help industries and businesses focus support a waste free Australia; and give people the confidence that their waste is being managed in a sustainable way.

So how is BINGO contributing to the circular economy? We’re advocating for change in diverting waste from landfill - and we’ve set targets for a diversion rate of greater than 75%. In 2018 we achieved a 77% recovery rate at our Auburn, Minto and St Marys recycling facilities. We also supported the NSW Government’s Circular Economy Policy.

At BINGO, we’re closing the loop through our commitment to resource recovery and we’re investing in advanced recycling technology to continually improve our recovery rates. We process and separate 5 out the 14 materials we process at our recycling centres. These materials are used by a number of markets, including civil and infrastructure projects, landscaping, housing and residential. We’re picking up the demolition waste, processing it and sending it back out to rebuild tomorrow’s cities.

2. Close the loop with resource recovery

A sustainable way to close the loop, ensuring no material is wasted, is through resource recovery. Resource recovery not only reduces the amount of waste that ends up in landfill, it saves water, energy and reduces our carbon footprint.

The waste industry has been facing an increased demand for recycled materials and there are emerging challenges that are contributing to an increased need for resource recovery. In 2018, China reduced the contamination limits for exported waste products. The China Ban added pressure to the waste industry, as  50% of Australia’s exported waste went to China. 

At BINGO, we’re closing the loop through our commitment to resource recovery and we’re investing in advanced recycling technology to continually improve our recovery rates. We process and separate 5 out the 14 materials we process at our recycling centres. These materials are used by a number of markets, including civil and infrastructure projects, landscaping, housing and residential. We’re picking up the demolition waste, processing it and sending it back out to rebuild tomorrow’s cities.

3. Increase the use of skip bins

Households are the largest generators of waste and most of it ends up on the kerbside for clean-up. Council clean up waste has until recently, ended up in landfill. We have good behaviours when it comes to recycled packaging and food scraps, but this needs to be extended to include other waste types. 

Skip bins have traditionally been used in the construction and demolition (C&D) industry for building and demolition waste and they are used by some households. However the number of households using skip bins needs to increase. If more households used skip bins, we would reduce the amount of waste going into landfill. The majority of the waste from a skip bin is taken to a recycling centre to be reused and recovered.

All of the materials that are collected from BINGO skip bins are taken to our recycling centres to be sorted. The materials are then reused, recycled or sent to other facilities for additional processing.

4. Educate consumers and the next generation

Education and awareness is an effective way to change consumer attitudes about the environment. It is important to not only educate consumers, but to invest in programs for the next generation of recyclers.

The War on Waste television series increased consumer awareness around waste generation and placed the waste sector in the spotlight, encouraging Australians to look at the ways they can reduce, reuse and recycle.

Planet Ark have a number of initiatives that help contribute to the circular economy in Australia and encourage consumers to recycle. The Recycling Near You website educates households on what can and can’t be recycled in kerbside recycling services and enables consumers to search for drop-off locations to recycle a wide range of items from computers to paint.

BINGO has education programs that help the next generation understand the importance of recycling and diverting waste from landfill. We also provide free workplace education programs to enhance sustainable practices and increase knowledge in waste production and recovery.

5. Plan for the future

Our activities today impact current and future generations. 

All initiatives that are aiming to divert waste from landfill are about planning for a better future.

The Victorian government have set up a Statewide Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Plan, which provides a roadmap and a guide for waste and resource recovery for infrastructure projects and sets targets for the recycling of demolition waste. 

The United Nations (UN) has set up a taskforce for climate change and has mandated that by 2020, companies need to disclose their risks for climate change. The UN also have Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which aim to overcome global challenges such as resource scarcity, inequality and climate change. 

At BINGO, we’ve aligned our sustainability targets to the UN SDGs. We’re also committed to exploring climate risks and opportunities by aligning our approach with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) framework. We’re also looking into the use of solar energy at our recycling centres and assessing alternative fuels for our truck fleets. But that’s not all. We have a vision to create a Recycling Ecology Park at Eastern Creek in Sydney.

The Recycling Ecology Park will further enable us to help build a circular economy in Australia. By seeking alternative waste solutions, we can enhance recovery rates and divert waste from landfill. We’re targeting zero to landfill by 2020 and pushing for a waste free Australia.

Learn more about sustainability and landfill diversion.