The Good Guys Capalaba, Queensland is taking big steps in reducing their carbon footprint by aiming to become Australia’s first zero waste business.
With a strong focus on sustainable business practices, The Good Guys Capalaba has already made an impact on their carbon footprint by reducing their waste by 80% since 2006.
In store initiatives such as a polystyrene recycling program, which sees polystyrene being shipped overseas to make coat hangers and picture frames, helped reduce their waste by 75% alone.
Additional activities such as recycling plastics, plastic strapping, printer cartridges and wooden pallets, as well as shredding paper for use at the local pet store, have all made a positive difference to the amount of waste saved from landfill.
Winner of the 2010 Minister’s Award for ClimateSmart Leadership and proprietor of The Good Guys Capalaba, James Brockhurst believes the Zero Waste goal to be achieved by the end of 2011 is intended to motivate others to work together to find solutions for outstanding waste streams.
“The idea is to use the rubbish we generate more productively so that very little ends up in landfill. Hopefully we can inspire other businesses to tackle the waste challenge too” says James.
With such an ambitious target, James believes a coordinate approach is required. Suppliers, universities, government, recycling companies and staff where all invited to a Zero Waste workshop last week to work together to find new ways to further reduce the waste generated from the store.
“There are still so many things we can do, and collectively we can really make a difference. The workshop was a huge success with many ideas put forward that we are now going to be put into action”, James added.
The latest initiatives that will be implemented at The Good Guys Capalaba will include turning food scraps into compost, recycling aluminum cans with a local charity or sporting organisation, setting up a centralised rubbish sorting area and even a magnet bowl for capturing old staples and paperclips for recycling.
