Wannon Water managing director Grant Green (left) receives silver certification from South West Regional Waste Management Group chairman Chris O’Connor outside the authority’s Gateway Road offices.
WANNON Water’s efforts to reduce waste from its Warrnambool offices in Gateway Road carry an official silver lining.
The water authority earned silver certification from the Kerbside Pride Program run by the South West Regional Waste Management Group (SWRMRG).
Wannon Water won the certification for a range of waste reduction initiatives, including a recycling system that diverted 76 per cent of waste from the office away from landfill.
Part of the reduction was achieved voluntarily by staff members, from the authority’s Green Steps Program, working with a local community garden to incorporate organic waste from Wannon Water’s offices with weed and grass clippings into high-quality compost.
The Green Steps Program is run by Monash University and helps organisations use resources more sustainably.
Wannon Water managing director Grant Green said the authority was hoping to expand its best practice recycling program across other Wannon Water sites.
“We actively encourage the waste-wise philosophy through our sustainable purchasing policy and staff Green Steps program,” Mr Green said.
He said the authority had conducted a waste assessment that led to an easy-to-follow plan of actions to reduce, reuse and recycle.
Wannon Water was the first organisation in the south-west to join the Kerbside Pride Program.
SWRMRG regional education officer Lisa Finn said the waste reduction group would help organisations reduce their waste.
ehimmelreich@standard.fairfax.com.au