Government office waste: Strategy and better-practice guide

• Less material going to landfill
  Removing under-desk waste bins means staff are more likely to be mindful of waste and create less as they need to consciously dispose of it away from their desks. It encourages staff to separate recyclables and reduce waste disposed to landfill.

• Saves money and time
  A fee is charged for every tonne of waste sent to landfill (landfill levy). This provides an incentive for office buildings to encourage more mindful sorting of materials by staff and maximise the use of the recycling bins. Removing under-desk waste bins also saves cleaning staff time from emptying bins so they can focus on managing the main recycling systems in place.

• Health benefits
  Removing under-desk waste bins provides an opportunity to get up and stretch muscles, relax eyes from the computer screen, and promotes good work health and safety practices. 

Paper is very common to be found in the under-desk waste bin and can be easily recycled. Consider having a small box at your desk for paper collection. Make sure you are following confidential paper disposal policies.

Communicate with staff that cleaners will only manage the central bin station on a regular basis. If staff keep or bring their own under-desk waste bin, it won’t be emptied by cleaning staff.

Staff may express the need for an under-desk waste bin to avoid tissues accumulating at their desk, especially during allergy season. They can consider keeping them in a cup, drawer, or small container to consolidate tissues and dispose of them during their next trip to the bin station. Encourage staff to stay at home if feeling unwell.

Tip: Did you know that tissues can go in the green bin?

Check with your building manager/governance team first as there may be asset ownership or governance aspects to consider. Once approved, there are a few options:

• Repurpose them
  Consider finding a new use for the under-desk waste bins within your agency. Bins can be used as organisers, buckets, green walls, nursery planters, containers, bike baskets, and more.
  
  
• Donate them
  You can consider donating the clean bins for second-hand use. Please contact the organisation beforehand to ensure they will accept the donation, especially if you have a large quantity of bins.
  
  
• Recycle them
  Metal or plastic bins (single stream) can be placed in your recycling bin if they’re not heavily soiled. If the bins are too damaged/soiled, it’s best to place these in the landfill bin, so they don’t contaminate other recycling streams.

Staff may have questions or valuable insights on how to make improvements or identify items that are commonly placed in the wrong bin. This is important if there’s a high turnover with staff or cleaners, who may not be aware of the recycling system. 

When removing under-desk waste bins for the first time, ensure all staff and cleaners are provided adequate notice so it’s not a surprise to come to work one day and find the bins have disappeared. 

In communications leading up to the change, explain why the bins are being removed (for example, to encourage separation of recyclables and reduced waste, to align with state government policy, and to encourage regular breaks from the desk), and explain the expectations following removal (for example, staff are asked not to supply their own under-desk waste bins and must dispose of waste at the appropriate bin stations around the office, and cleaners will not empty any bins that remain at people’s desks). It’s also helpful to identify your ‘recycling champions’ in each team or floor that can help convey key messaging or identify an issue. 

Below are the key stakeholders to engage when removing under-desk waste bins or upgrading your recycling bin stations:

• Facility managers typically have oversight of waste and cleaning contracts and can help communicate the proposed systems to these parties. 
• Cleaners are a critical link in the waste and recycling system to ensure materials remain separated and are emptied into appropriate bins for collection. Consider posting educational signage/diagrams in the cleaner storage room so all staff can learn the recycling systems of your building. 
• Waste contractor will need to be engaged if you seek to add more recycling services to a new or existing contract. Ask your waste contractor where recyclables are processed to ensure transparency. Ideally, you want your materials as high on the waste hierarchy as possible.
• Office staff managers can help voice key messages to staff to ensure a smooth transition. 
• Office staff should be provided with clear messaging on when to expect the changes and why they play a critical role in keeping items out of landfill. 

Consistent and clear signage is a key element for effective source separation of materials, and for minimising incorrect disposal and contamination. This will help engage staff and make sorting materials easier. The signage should also align with the Australian bin colour standards. More information on education signage can be found on the GISA website.