This is a great example of how Coles is leveraging Cleanaway’s resource recovery capability and prized infrastructure network to divert more residual waste from landfill.
This is a great example of how Coles is leveraging Cleanaway’s resource recovery capability and prized infrastructure network to divert more residual waste from landfill.
Coles Group is passionate about reducing its environmental impact and is committed to becoming Australia’s most sustainable supermarket. Cleanaway works closely with Coles to find new and innovative ways to reduce waste in stores.
In 2019, the Wentworth Point Coles store in Sydney was the first to trial zero waste to landfill, preventing the equivalent of six-and-a-half trolleys going into landfill each day through the introduction of a residual dry waste recovery stream and by source separating food, cardboard, plastic, metal, glass, wax boxes and polystyrene for recycling.
One of the key elements of the trial was identifying additional opportunities for source separation through in-store training and bin audits. We learnt a lot about how Coles’ in store processes could accommodate additional streams – which is critical to achieving their diversion goal.
Coles’ Account Manager, Andrew Crosling, said, “This is a great example of how Coles is leveraging Cleanaway’s resource recovery capability and prized infrastructure network to divert more residual waste from landfill. The learnings from the trial have informed a number of new projects including additional in-store education and new investment in diversion solutions.”
Historically, residual dry waste such as mixed plastic and timber has been the most difficult to divert from landfill. Cleanaway’s ResourceCo Recovery Facility (RRF) in Wetherill Park uses dry waste to produce Process Engineered Fuel (PEF), which is then used to offset the demands of heavy industry for fossil fuels.
Doug Elliss, General Manager of the Cleanaway ResourceCo Wetherill Park facility said, “We’re playing a key role in Australia’s future sustainable energy mix by reducing waste that would otherwise go to landfill and lowering carbon emissions through production of a commercially viable sustainable fuel.”
Pictured: Cleanaway ResourceCo waste to process engineered fuel facility in Wetherill Park
Coles is committed to diverting its waste from landfill. Cleanaway will continue to support Coles’ targets through our store visits, education programs and focus on source separation to enable the diversion of additional material streams.
Cleanaway is committed to our priority SDGs aligned to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. We’re committed to ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all; working with our customers to ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns; building resilient infrastructure, and promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialisation through innovation.
Find out more in our 2020 Sustainability Report.