• The best use of resources
• How to to use materials better
• How to use ...
  Paper  Office equipment  Vegetation materials   Construction materials 

The best use of resources

All organisations try to use valuable resources effectively. Developing better ways to use existing resources saves money, improves efficiency, streamlines an agency’s operations, increases staff morale and significantly reduces wastage. Some ways to improve resource use include:

• use less – eliminate or minimise the need to use a material e.g. e-mails replace paper copies
• adopt better technology – use more efficient or effective technology to reduce waste or extend the useable life of equipment eg. electronic document transfer systems
• be innovative - turn waste into a useable resource e.g. use fly ash in concrete
• improve management systems – integrate procurement and waste management decisions e.g. consider disposal implications when purchasing new products.

More efficient use of materials and equipment is the best way to avoid creating waste. Extending the life of equipment or reusing materials where possible is also important.

How to to use materials better

• Understand how materials and products are used by your organisation. Who uses them? What quantities are used? Where are they used? What happens to them at the end of their useful life? This can be a complex task – particularly if you are in a large organisation – so simplify this buy tackling a few items first.
• Identify opportunities to use materials better. Prioritise these, get systems and practices in place and then move on to bigger things
• Involve people who are using the materials and work with them to come up with innovative ideas to use them better. Get senior management endorsement of what you are doing.
• Foster innovation – find unique uses for waste and turn them into a resource for your organisation.
• Quantify and document how materials are being used better. Measure this in dollar terms. This is critical if you are going to get the ongoing support of senior management.
• Promote strategies to use materials better within and outside your organisation if appropriate.

How to use ...

Paper

• Reuse writing, photocopy and computer paper for staff note pads.
• Improve filing and document management systems, especially where drafts need to be reviewed several times and chronological copies need to be kept. Keep hard copies in a central file.
• Set up central paper banks for collecting paper printed only on one side for reusing.
• Review draft documents on the screen using editing functions on your word processor. Exchange drafts electronically.
• Print more words per page.
• Use internet publishing, and electronic forms to reduce paper copies (including letterhead). Intranets (web sites accessible by employees only) can be established to review and comment on major documents.
• Use double-sided printing for memos, letters and other documents.
• Learn how to use paper-saving printer options on your word processor, printer and photocopier such as duplex or ‘two-up’ printing.
• Use overhead projectors and whiteboards in meetings and limit handouts.
• Reuse envelopes for internal mail.
• Scan incoming correspondence and store electronically and recycle original (can’t be done if originals need to be kept).
• Avoid direct marketing lists and cancel unwanted subscriptions.
• Circulate documents, periodicals and reports rather than making individual copies.

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Office equipment and consumables

• Avoid using the fax - use e-mail instead.
• Configure your fax so it doesn’t print unnecessary activity reports.
• Long life cartridges with additional paper yield are available. Ask you supplier if they can be used in your office machines.
• Don’t print e-mails or other documents unless you absolutely have to.
• Set printers and photocopiers to double sided printing where this function is available.
• Be careful if using multifunction machines. Reduce printing of graphics, pictures or images down loaded from the internet: additional page coverage will significantly reduce toner life.
• Look after office equipment. Have machines regularly maintained and stick to maintenance schedules.
• Ensure staff are properly trained and know how to use paper-saving functions of office equipment such as double sided printing and photocopying.
• Consider having large print runs photocopied or professionally printed to avoid excessive wear and tear on machines.

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Vegetation materials

• Use compost and mulch where possible to reduce dependence on chemical fertilisers and herbicides.
• Use recycled organic products where soil revitalisation, erosion control and water conservation is needed.
• Use recycled organic products in landscaping applications, parks and playgrounds, roadway landscaping, erosion control projects and more.
• Apply mulches to a depth of 75 to 100mm on the soils surface for the most effective results. Top up every 6-12 months.
• Carefully follow manufacturer’s instructions for each compost product with respect to the nutritional content and any need for additional fertilisers.
• Use an Australian Standard mulch or compost to avoid introducing weeds and pests
• Use selective pruning to reduce green waste generation.
• Install low maintenance gardens with natives or species that require little water.

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Construction materials

• Use building designs that minimise the generation of waste during construction and allow waste management facilities during the building’s operation. Incorporate these features in design stages.
• When selecting a product or material consider the durability of materials and future cost savings of buying an item once but reusing it in a number of ways over the life of the building.
• Use fixtures/materials in fit-outs that can be reused in later refurbishments.
• Include clauses in contracts that discourages over-supply of materials and generation of waste.
• Plan to use excess or waste materials effectively, for example:
• identify which waste materials will be generated (eg concrete, timber, plasterboard, fill etc) and determine how they could be reused
• coordinate use of materials between jobs – excess materials can be used on other sites if necessary
• consider how excess or waste materials could be used if they become available eg. fill, drainage material, soil conditioners, framing, protective coverings, retaining walls etc.
• advertise the availability of free recovered waste materials locally
• maximise separation of wastes and minimise contamination of recoverable materials .
• Work around land features to avoid unnecessary excavation, removal of vegetation cover etc.
• Minimise the handling and transport of materials on and off-site.
• Investigate local opportunities to recover and recycle waste products via local waste contractors, councils, other infrastructure projects, government agencies and councils etc.
• Avoid unnecessary damage to new materials during delivery and storage.

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