Infrastructure Sustainability and Waste Management
Infrastructure includes everything from the roads we drive on, the buildings and communities we live in, to the management of waste. Infrastructure sustainability considers the overall design, construction, and operation that is optimized to meet the environmental, social and economic outcomes. One of the key areas crucial to infrastructure sustainability is Waste Management and there are 3 important markers of quality you need to look out for when selecting a waste management provider that can help you achieve your sustainability goals.
There is much invested in increasing the sustainability of infrastructure and construction projects in Sydney. From Government to local Council Projects, the requirements to meet strict standards in construction and Infrastructure sustainability are becoming increasingly important and for good reason.
The Green Building Council of Australia revealed that the built environment is the world’s largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, consumes a third of our water and generates 40% of the world’s waste overall. In Australia, 20.4 Mt (Millions of tonnes) of waste was contributed to the Building & Demolition sector alone, the largest waste stream equally alongside Commercial & industrial waste according to the 2018 National Waste Report prepared for The Department of Environment & Energy.
For Builders and Developers to secure projects, the importance of a portfolio that showcases green credentials is key. To achieve this, it is imperative to partner with a supplier network that is experienced and accredited in sustainability practices and that may be able to assist you in achieving green credentials for your build.
So what do you need to look for when partnering with a waste management provider? What provider can help you reach your sustainability goals?
Here are 3 important markers of quality you need to look for in a waste management provider to help you achieve greater infrastructure sustainability:
1. ISCA Membership
ISCA stands for the Infrastructure Council of Australia and is a member-based, not-for-profit peak body operating in Australia and New Zealand with the purpose of enabling sustainability outcomes in infrastructure. The IS Rating Scheme developed by ISCA is the only comprehensive rating system for evaluating sustainability across the planning, design, and construction of infrastructure and projects in Australia & New Zealand.
Members of ISCA assume membership by demonstrating sustainability leadership. Choosing a waste management provider that is a member of ISCA like Grasshopper Environmental is confidence in a waste management provider that stays at the forefront of sustainability practices and may help you in achieving green credentials.
2. Green Star Accreditation
Green Star is the mark of quality for the design, construction, and operations for sustainable buildings, fit-outs, and communities. The Green Star sustainability rating system is the only Internationally recognized sustainability rating system in place. A Green Star accredited waste management provider is a provider that has been audited annually and found to be compliant with Green Star requirements. A benefit to builders and developers is that Green Star Accredited providers have waste data reporting that has been audited to certify claims on recycling and resource recovery rates. The level of landfill diversion being achieved by Grasshopper Environmental as found in the 2019 audit is classified ‘very high’, averaging as high as 90%.
Thorough and accredited waste data reporting provides you with the proof you need to achieve green credentials for your build.
3. Supply Nation Member / Certified
Supply Nation exists to build a prosperous, vibrant and sustainable Indigenous business sector and to facilitate connections between Indigenous businesses and the wider business community. Although sustainability has focused primarily on the environmental aspects, sustainability in business promotes inclusion and equal opportunity for the Indigenous business sector. This vision is increasingly being shared by the wider business community and major Infrastructure projects across Sydney are increasingly placing requirements on percentages of project spend being directed towards Indigenous business. Partnering with a waste management provider that is certified or a member of Supply Nation like Grasshopper Environmental can work with you to meet project requirements and to facilitate spend on Indigenous business.
There are a number of ways to achieve greater sustainability outcomes for infrastructure and waste management is an important one. Partnering with the right waste management provider can help you to meet some of the outcomes that are set and better assists you in helping you achieve green credentials for your build.