Melbourne Health and Australian Paper have been named as finalists in Victoria’s 2016 Premier’s Sustainability Awards.
Sustainability Victoria announced 30 finalists from across the state in 10 categories on 5 September. They will be invited to the presentation ceremony on 20 October at Melbourne’s Plaza Ballroom, where the winners will be announced.
Melbourne Health made the shortlist in the Health category for its “Reducing Waste One Dialysis Patient at a Time” program.
Kidney disease treatment features among the most energy and resource intensive medical therapies and has significant negative environmental effects.
Melbourne Health Nephrology has championed a range of initiatives to reduce the amount of waste the service as a whole, and its patients, produce each year.
By seeking alternative disposal methods for PVC materials and by improving recycling, the nephrology service has been able to make significant reductions in clinical waste, while helping to educate staff and patients about sustainable practices and appropriate waste segregation.
One satellite dialysis site shrunk its clinical waste per patient treatment from 2.4 kilograms in 2010 to 1.55 kilograms in early 2016, a 35 per cent reduction.
Paper recycling results
Australian Paper was shortlisted in recognition of its Maryvale Recycling Facility. As a manufacturer of a range of paper products, the firm has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to social, economic and environmental sustainability.
It commissioned its wastepaper de-inking and recycling plant at Maryvale in April 2015. The site has the capacity to divert up to 80,000 tonnes of local wastepaper from landfill every year, saving up to 200,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
The plant processed 23,636 tonnes of waste paper and nine projects delivered savings of 33,372 tonnes of CO2 emissions in the nine-month period it operated in 2015.
The Vinyl Council of Australia, Crown Melbourne and TIC Group also feature on the category shortlist.
Sustainability Victoria Chief Executive Stan Krpan congratulated all finalists for their innovative and forward-thinking initiatives.
“This year’s awards attracted an extremely diverse group of sustainability projects,” he said. “These awards represent Victoria’s highest recognition for sustainability, and acknowledge leadership, innovation and achievement. Each finalist should be congratulated for improving sustainable outcomes across business, government and within the community.”
Details about the finalists and how to purchase tickets to the presentation ceremony are on the Awards website.