The increase in demand for high-rise living has led to a boom in energy and water consumption, as well as waste output from larger buildings. However, there are several ways that your strata can get on board with efficient and sustainable waste programs. Let’s take a look at some of the best ways you can get involved.
Composting
With a growing climate crisis, the City of Sydney has implemented a Zero by 2030 goal striving towards net-zero waste heading to landfill. One of the best ways to reduce your waste output? Food, vegetable scraps and certain household products make a fantastic fertiliser for communal gardens and outdoor spaces.
Creating a clean, attractive outdoor area like a vegetable or herb garden can act as a great incentive for residents to save compostable items and repurpose them for the greater good. If your building has a substantial outdoor area, talk to your owner’s corporation about setting up a compost bin or worm farm that can be used to fuel plant growth for all occupants and visitors to enjoy.
Communal recycling programs
The average Australian produces around 540kg of waste per year, which has a seriously detrimental effect on our delicate environment. While much of this ends up in landfill, many waste items can easily be recycled or repurposed, reducing the need for raw material production.
For those strata schemes looking to become more environmentally friendly, consider setting up a communal recycling program for the building. With regular emptying schedules overseen by a building manager, residents can ensure that their waste makes it to recycling plants instead of landfill. Bottles and cans often come with a 10c rebate for their return (at Return and Earn facilities), which can quickly add up and be used for community events to bring occupants together. Depending on available space, you can also set up collections for everything from mobile phones to batteries and light globes.
Smart Green Apartments Scheme
Waste does not just come in the form of discarded plastics and food. Energy consumption is one of the greatest strains on strata schemes, with much of the usage coming from communal areas like swimming pools and lobbies.
Sydney Council’s Smart Green Apartments Scheme helps buildings become more energy-efficient, reducing long-term economic and environmental impact. By analysing points of energy wastage, the program helps buildings replace and upgrade fittings like light bulbs, meters and solar panels to reduce usage in the long term. Depending on the scope of your strata to implement changes, the Smart Green Apartments Scheme can save residential buildings up to 82 per cent of their annual energy usage – good for the wallet and the planet.
Start Small
It may seem intimidating to make the move to a more environmentally-friendly lifestyle, but even the smallest changes can make a big difference. While convincing your strata to install solar panels and other renewable programs could be a stretch, taking small steps towards the greater goal will allow you to get your building on board – one day at a time!
Reduce your waste for a better future
While reducing your waste may seem like a big task, there are many programs and systems designed to help you and your strata succeed. For more tips on how to become a sustainable and responsible scheme, contact More Than Strata today.
