Brunswick Heads survey produces pleasing results

A monthly column by Jeanie McKillop, Business Waste Reduction Co-ordinator with the North East Waste Forum …

It was very interesting to get the results back this week from the Brunswick Heads Business Survey held in October. 

The North East Waste Forum, on behalf of Byron Shire Council and with the support of the Brunswick Heads Chamber of Commerce, conducted a survey to find out how business in the town managed their waste and if they operated sustainably. 

The survey asked simple questions about recycling, composting and sustainable purchasing.

It also gave businesses an opportunity to give Council feedback, with a question about how the town’s sustainability could be improved.

The results for recycling are shown in the graph above.

100% of all businesses interviewed separate cardboard from the waste stream for recycling, and 69% of businesses recycle co-mingled material such as plastics, metals, paper and cardboard.

These are pleasing results as rates are considerably lower in some other coastal towns surveyed.
 
One area where the town, like most, could improve in is the treatment of organic waste. 

Only 11.5% of businesses composted or reused their organic materials, with 38% of the businesses surveyed not producing any organics.

Composting and worm farming are more challenging than using a recycling bin but the rewards are many. However, with Council and the Chamber both investigating opportunities for organics collection, these results may soon improve.

It was great to discover that so many businesses in the town are responsibly recycling.

But many went beyond this to undertake additional sustainable actions.

These actions included using recycled paper, conserving power, buying local and organic, reusing containers, refilling cartridges and reducing paper and plastic bag use.

In addition, nearly half of the business surveyed wanted to improve their environmental performance further.

Well done Brunswick business and keep it up.

Related posts:

1. Organic recycling has many benefits, as Lennox Head finds out
2. Recycle and save with tips from the North East Waste Forum
3. RTA to remove Brunswick Heads-Yelgun audible line marking
4. Recycle Right during National Recycling Week
5. Byron Council to act on coastal reserve encroachments

Related Articles:

Related posts:

1. Organic recycling has many benefits, as Lennox Head finds out
2. Recycle and save with tips from the North East Waste Forum
3. RTA to remove Brunswick Heads-Yelgun audible line marking
4. Recycle Right during National Recycling Week
5. Byron Council to act on coastal reserve encroachments