bankmecu recognises that overconsumption and waste to landfill are significant environmental issues – both in use of limited resources and impact of disposal. bankmecu monitors waste across its service centres in an effort to understand bankmecu’s waste streams and implement initiatives to minimise waste sent to landfill. 

Figure 8i: Breakdown of waste  

Note: The FTE figure for waste excludes casual employees. 

Waste figures across all bankmecu service centres in 2010/11 were extrapolated from sample data gathered from bankmecu service centres employing more than 4 employees. Sample data came from Kew, Morwell, Traralgon, Mildura, Bendigo, Ballarat and Moe. 

Prior to 2009/10, waste figures were not estimated for service centres with less than four employees or those in shared waste arrangements, such as service centres located in shopping centres. However, waste figures were divided by all FTEs, including FTEs at these service centres. bankmecu now estimates waste to landfill and recycling figures for all FTEs across bankmecu based on sample data to assist in determining more accurate Scope 3 emissions. As a result, total landfill and recycling figures increased from 2009/10.   

Total waste generation, including recycled material and waste to landfill, decreased by 4% compared to last year. 

The ratio of waste to landfill versus recycled material shifted from 47% landfill and 53% recycled material to 59% landfill and 41% recycled material. This is largely attributed to an increase in waste to landfill recorded at Kew Head Office. Waste metrics require further development, as they are estimated by visual audit prior to collection. 

Figure 8j: Waste to landfill versus recycled material 

Initiatives to reduce waste generation and increase recycling in 2010/11 included:

• Waste Wise certification.
• recycling training, which is included in the induction process for all new employees.
• battery collection points at bankmecu’s Head Office and at bankmecu’s call centre in Moe (the two largest staff occupied buildings) and awareness initiatives about the importance of battery recycling by email.
• mobile phone recycling at all service centres.
• paper, cardboard, toners, plastics, glass, aluminium, liquid paperboard, and steel container recycling systems.
• excess electronic equipment donation to the not-for-profit organisation Computerbank. bankmecu pays a small fee to have this organisation collect the equipment. Computerbank then either recommissions this equipment, offering it to disadvantaged groups/communities where appropriate, or disposes of it in a responsible way.
• Keepcup campaign to replace the need to use disposable coffee cups.
• awareness emails informing staff about what can and can’t be recycled; and the impacts of using bottled water.