Georgiou Group has taken a proactive approach to avoid the slated increase in landfill levies, by recycling more than 90 per cent of the waste produced on its building sites
Georgiou Group has taken a proactive approach to avoid the slated increase in landfill levies, by recycling more than 90 per cent of the waste produced on its building sites.
The state government announced in its May budget that the levy for putrescible building waste wold increase from $28 per tonne to $55 per tonne, while the levy for inert waste would rise from $8/t to $40/t in January.
The levy is set to increase further until 2019, when it will be $70/t for putrescible waste and $105/t for inert waste.
Georgiou environmental coordinator William Carter said the company had taken a proactive approach by monitoring waste generation across its building sites around 12 months ago.
The initiative examines all waste produced at Georgiou sites and determines whether it can be reused or recycled.
Prominent Georgiou sites where the initiative has been rolled out include the $16 million redevelopment of City Beach Surf Life Saving Club, the $40 million Cambridge Medical Centre and the $28 million Nexus Central office development on Loftus Street.
"The majority of our waste has been recycled into new products or reused as a raw material – and while this is a small step in the scheme of WA's future, it's a giant step for Georgiou," Mr Carter said.
"To put it into perspective, 1,000 tonnes of waste generated on a project in 2009 would cost $2,940. In 2018, with the new levy in effect, that same tonnage would cost $29,400."
Georgiou general manager of building Frank Dilizia said the initiative was more than a knee-jerk reaction to the levy increase, instead saying it was about education and changing the culture of the construction sector.
"Not only is it the right thing to do from an environmental perspective, but it will result in significant cost savings for the business once the new legislation and rates start to apply early next year," Mr Dilizia said.
Mr Dilizia said the company would now look at implementing the initiative across its infrastructure business, and would also work closely with the Master Builders Association to roll out the initiative across the industry.
"As one of the biggest contributors of waste, the building industry needs to take its responsibility seriously and act now by looking at ways to reduce its carbon footprint and impact on the environment," he said.
"We hope to see others in the industry taking steps to change the way they operate on sites with regard to waste management going forward."
