Packaging Stewardship Forum

The Packaging Stewardship Forum (PSF) of AFGC was established in 2006.  The PSF works with partners across Australia to deliver industry recycling, litter reduction and education programs on behalf of its members, who consist of Australia’s major beverage companies and their packaging suppliers: Amcor, Bundaberg Brewed Drinks, Coca-Cola Amatil, Fosters, Golden Circle, Lion Nathan, Owens Illinois, Schweppes and Visy.

We aim to achieve sustainable packaging recovery in Australia and provide support to our members’ commitment to the National Packaging Covenant.
  

Australians have been recycling packaging materials and newsprint for more than a decade through kerbside collection systems. Kerbside recycling is increasing year on year, with over 850,000 tonnes being recycled in 2006-07.  Between 90 and 95 per cent of Australian households are serviced and it costs on average $1 per household per week. For information on recovery and recycling of beverage containers at home and away from home have a look at the PSF’s 2008 Australian Beverage Packaging Consumption, Recovery and Recycling Quantification Study below.

Our programs target Australia's major away from home venues, places where large numbers of people gather and consume beverage packaging that can easily be recycled. Through our partnerships with these venues and communities we are making it just as easy and effective for people to recycle when they're out and about as it is when they're at home. These programs are; Glass recovery and recycling, Stadia and entertainment venues, Higher education institutions, Shopping centres, Airport and rail networks, Remote and indigenous communities, Do the Right Thing communication and education and Public place and event recycling training.

Here's a brief look at the projects we have running throughout Australia in each of our program areas.

Glass recovery and recycling

This program involves the establishment of glass processing infrastructure, the development of alternative markets for recycled glass and the implementation of new glass recycling systems in pubs, bars, venues and clubs across Australia.  Examples of some of our projects include:

• Bottlecycler, a glass crushing machine enabling pubs and clubs to effectively recycle, which to date has recovered 4,000 tonnes of glass for recycling. Bottlecycler can be found in well known venues such as the Hilton in Sydney to the Qantas Club in Melbourne and even across the Bass Straight on the Spirit of Tasmania vessels. 
  
• Research into glass recycling and alternative uses for glass such as a sub-base aggregate in footpaths, road base, kerbing and asphalt. Alternative market projects are currently underway in NSW, Tasmania and Victoria. To view our recent research into these areas click on the two pdf's below.
  
• New glass reprocessing equipment to enable Hamilton Island to use recycled glass on site without having to transport material back to the mainland for processing.

Have a read of some of our recent studies in the 'Glass space'. Below you'll find a study on the use of crushed glass as both an aggregate substitute in road base and in asphalt in Australia as well as a report on the issue of contamination by glass in fibre packaging and non-packaging materials recovered for recycling.

Stadia and entertainment venues

Working with major stadia and entertainment venues throughout Australia, we are installing new public place recycling systems and signage in many well known venues. Large amounts of PET cups and bottles are disposed of in these venues and it’s the PSF’s aim to not only provide the correct recycling infrastructure and signage but to educate visitors to the venue to do the right thing and put their beverage containers in the right bin. Venues we’ve worked with to date include:

• Tasmania; Aurora Stadium, Bellerive Oval, Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, Derwent Entertainment Centre
  
• Victoria; Etihad Stadium, Melbourne Exhibition and Conference Centre
• Western Australia; WACA, Burswood Entertainment Centre
• Queensland; The Gabba, Dairy Farmers Stadium, Carrara Stadium, Skilled Park Stadium, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Cairns Convention Centre, Gold Coast Convention Centre, Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Blue Lagoon Aquatic Centre,  Movie World, Wet n Wild, Dreamworld, Seaworld, Currumbin Bird Sanctuary
  
• New South Wales; ACER Arena, Newcastle Entertainment Arena, Wollongong WIN Stadium

Have a read of our case study on our project with Queensland's well known Suncorp Stadium. It reports comprehensively on how the project was planned, how each milestone was implemented and the outcomes achieved.

Higher education institutions

In a partnership with Australasian Campuses Towards Sustainability we’re rolling out away from home recycling systems at higher education institutions across Australia. The away from home recycling program provides bin infrastructure and educative signage for long term effective recovery at participating universities and TAFE's, which to date include:

• Tasmania; University of Tasmania
• Victoria; University of Melbourne, Monash University, Deakin University, Chisholm TAFE, Holmesglen TAFE, Kangan Batman TAFE, Swinburne University, Australian Catholic University, Gordon TAFE, University of Ballarat
  
• Western Australia; University of Western Australia, Edith Cowan University, Murdoch University, Curtin University, Swan TAFE.
  
• Queensland; Queensland University of Technology, Bond University
  
• New South Wales; Macquarie University, Charles Sturt University, North Coast Institute of TAFE
  

Have a read of our case study on our project with the University of WA. It provides insight on how to effectively encourage good recycling behaviour amongst many different target audiences, such as students, staff and visitors to the University.

Shopping centres

More than 1.75 billion people visit shopping centres each year, many of whom visit the food court and leave behind packaging waste. The Shopping Centres Program targets packaging waste generated in food courts throughout Australia aiming to encourage people to recycle the correct materials (i.e. plastic/glass bottles and aluminium cans). With the support of the National Packaging Covenant, we have developed a guide for centre managers called ‘Guidelines for public recycling in shopping centres’. The guide shows centres how to run an effective recycling system within their shopping centre by keeping it simple and making it easy. 

We currently have projects running with Lend Lease, Westfield and Mirvac owned shopping centres throughout Australia, which will see new systems installed in nearly 50 centres by the end of 2010.

To view the Guidelines for public recycling in shopping centres click on the document below.

Airports & rail networks

We are partnering with major Australian airports, airlines and rail networks to help them meet their environmental objectives and to successfully recover large tonnages of cans and bottles for recycling.

Our financial and mentoring support enables waste management planning, bin infrastructure installation and signage for long term successful recovery at participating airports and train stations, which to date include:

• Tasmania; Launceston Airport
  
• Victoria; Connex Rail, Melbourne Airport
  
• Western Australia; Perth Airport, Broome Airport
  
• Queensland; QLD Rail, Brisbane Airport, Gold Coast Airport, Cairns Airport, Mackay Airport
• New South Wales; Sydney Airport (T1 and T2)
  

Australia's two largest airline companies, Qantas and Virgin Blue, are assisting in the national rollout of public place recycling in their terminals in parts of Australia. Through the support of PSF and mX Magazine, Connex (now Metro Trains), in Victoria has completed installation of new systems in more than 100 of its premium and host stations and we will soon see the installation of new systems at Brisbane CBD stations through a partnership with Queensland Rail and the Queensland Government. Have a read of our case study on the Connex project, some great outcomes were achieved through effective planning and implementation.

Remote and indigenous communities

In remote areas of Australia, we’ve been working with Keep Australia Beautiful NT to support indigenous communities in their clean up efforts. We have supported 50 remote indigenous communities in the Northern Territory and Western Australia, since our 'Clean Up' Book was launched in December 2007. This initiative has also seen the introduction of new recycling systems to many of these communities, who have never had a recycling service before.

As a result recyclable material is now being collected, materials which previously would have gone to landfill.  Have a read of the report of the first year of implementation of the 'Clean Up' Book intiative in the Northern Territory.

Do the Right Thing communications and education

Over the last decade, the PSF and its predecessors undertook world leading research into littering and recycling behaviours to inform stakeholders and direct our program activities, spearheaded by the Do the Right Thing message. Do the Right Thing is one of the most successful behaviour change programs in Australian history, with 80 per cent of Australian's recognising the message means put your litter in the bin.  The message has now been expanded to Do the Right Thing Use the Right Bin to encompass recycling.

It is currently being used by more than 300 townships and organisations across Australia, educating communities to reduce litter and recycle their bottles and cans. We conduct an annual Do the Right Thing signage support program, enabling local councils and community groups to apply for free anti-litter and recycling signage. To date nearly 140 councils and community groups/festivals have installed more than 17,000 anti-litter roadside signs, posters and waste and recycling bin stickers throughout Australia. The PSF's Do the Right Thing Signage Support Program has just commenced its third round of funding, offering support to local councils, community groups and schools.

Public place and event recycling training

Since redevelopment of our well regarded Public Place and Events Recycling Training program in 2007, more than 200 state and local government officers, waste service providers and event industry professionals have undertaken training.  The training program teaches participants how to effectively manage litter and recycling in public places and at events by helping them gain the practical knowledge, understanding and confidence to implement effective litter and recycling systems.