Mosaic Map: NRM funded projects
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Small business leads on waste management
Size doesn't matter when it comes to the environment. So, Perth-based small to medium enterprises (SMEs) in Western Australia's Swan region are taking part in a suite of projects promoting environmental best practice.
Tony Soteriou, Sustainable Production Program Manager, said the projects involved close working relationships with local governments, state agencies and industry to ensure initiatives developed were practical, strategic and had the support of all partners and stakeholders.
"There are about 120,000 SMEs in the region with varying environmental threats that impact on water and land assets through pollutants," Tony said. "Leaching into the soil and groundwater, contaminants flowing into rivers and wetlands and solid waste to landfill are some examples.
"More broadly, these contaminants include hydrocarbons, nutrients and metals."
Funding
Work is coordinated by the Swan Catchment Council with $2.6 million from the Australian Government as well as with cash and in-kind contributions from the State Government and Edith Cowan University.
Activities
"Small businesses are the 'powerhouses' of the economy in terms of employment and financial turnover and provide essential benefits to local communities," Tony said. A better public and environmental image will result from the encouragement of SMEs to adopt best management practices - whether regulatory or voluntary - to ensure we look after our water and land assets."
One pilot project is an audit program developed specifically for light industrial SMEs. A purpose-designed risk assessment tool will allow results to be downloaded in real time with GPS and photo capabilities.
Five local government authorities have successfully trialled the technology, aiming at motor trade industries. This will eventually expand to include all types of light industrial land uses covering at least three local government areas.
Another project is evaluating waste management practices within an industrial area and encouraging SMEs to adopt better practices where possible. The aim is to link SMEs directly with the waste management businesses, which requires minimal resourcing from local governments and other agencies.
An existing project sees a partnership with local government, industry and developers to ensure new industrial estates are designed to best practice guidelines. With Perth being one of the fastest growing areas in Australia, there are plans for 15-20 new SME precincts in the Swan region. Most will be situated around the outer metropolitan area or in existing older suburbs, usually on remnant biodiversity sites including wetlands.
Tony said that as a result of the pilot projects, an SME database would be developed to help coordinate data on where industries are situated in industrial precincts."
More information
- Tony Soteriou, Sustainable Production Program Manager: (08) 9374 3314 or tony.soteriou@environment.wa.gov.au
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