Environmental Policy for Commercial Landscaping
Environmental policy aims
The aim of the Red’s Landscaping and Civil Environmental and Sustainability Policy is to provide effective environmental management that emphasises:
- A planned and proactive approach.
- Commitment and involvement of managers and officers at all levels.
- Meaningful and effective involvement of employees and other workers.
- Identification and control of potential sources of waste and pollution.
- The development of a workplace culture that recognises the importance of environmental management and sustainability.
- Appropriate provision of instruction, training, information, and supervision.
Environmental Protection Policy Responsibilities
The importance of environmental management requires that employees, sub-contractors, and visitors take steps to safeguard the environment. Not only because of the potential legal implications, but also because it is the duty of companies to exceed the requirements of environmental legislation.
Employers and self-employed people should be proactive and take all reasonable measures to ensure a high standard of environmental protection;
Employers and employees should exchange information and ideas about risks to the environment and measures that can be taken to eliminate or reduce those risks;
Employees encouraged to submit ideas regarding waste minimisation, continuous improvement, health and safety and environmental protection. These are agenda items for the tool box meetings.
Environmental and Sustainability Policy Mission Statement
Environmental Policy
Red’s Landscape Gardening will comply with, and exceed, all local, state, and federal laws and regulations on:
- disposing of hazardous waste and dangerous goods (including EPA’s list of prescribed industrial waste), trade waste (i.e., waste added to the sewer) and waste water
- safe handling, storage, and transport of hazardous waste and dangerous goods
- noise
- land use
- air pollution and carbon emissions
Procedure
Red’s Landscape Gardening will set targets each year to increase energy and water efficiency and seek opportunities for reducing and recycling waste. To do this, we will:
General
- investigate ways to reduce consumption or recycle waste. For example, formwork recycling
- give preference to maintenance and other contractors using green products
Energy
- buy electrical and lighting systems rated as energy efficient
- use accredited by GreenPower, either in part or whole
Water
- buy appliances rated as water efficient
- install irrigation systems that are designed to save water and minimise losses due to evaporation.
- Select drought tolerant plants indigenous to the area where possible.
Waste
- look for opportunities to improve waste management. Sustainability Victoria has tips on good waste management. Regular site inspections to identify potential safety and environmental hazards as well as potential waste reduction opportunities.
Environmental Policy: Soft Landscaping
- We are committed to the conservation and protection of trees, especially large canopy trees that take many years to mature.
- Effective mulching to reduce losses due to evaporation.
- Use natural fertilisers where possible.
- Identify and report any noxious or problematic weeds.
- The application of garden chemicals should be supervised by suitably qualified and experienced individuals. The supervisor must hold a recognised chemical handling license. All chemicals must be clearly labelled, and food containers must not be used for chemicals.
- Chemicals must be stored under lock and key with appropriate measures for spillage or leakage. An MSDS must be on site with any chemicals.
- Materials brought into the worksite must be certified to the appropriate standard. For example, topsoil to Australia Standard AS 4419:2018 Soils for landscaping and garden use.
- Only clean topsoils and sands with no contamination shall be brought on to site.
Environmental Policy: Construction and Demolition Waste
Building and construction sites create pollution, including different types of waste, noise, and dust. Measures must be taken to minimise the impact of our work on the health of people and the environment.
Environmental waste generators
As a waste generator, Red’s Landscaping and Civil is responsible for ensuring waste is taken to a facility that can lawfully accept it. Waste receipt dockets from an approved waste disposal facility are the only guarantee that waste from the site is going to the right place.
Construction and demolition (C & D) activities generate a wide range of industrial waste materials, including:
- excavated material such as rock and soil
- waste asphalt, bricks, concrete, plasterboard, timber, and vegetation
- asbestos and contaminated soil.
If not managed responsibly, these waste streams can pollute the environment, pose a public health risk (particularly asbestos and contaminated soil), and pose amenity issues.
How to dispose of construction and demolition waste
"Under section 27A(2) of the Environment Protection Act 1970 (EP Act), any person (including a waste generator, transporter or receiver) who dumps or permits the inappropriate disposal of industrial waste at a place that cannot lawfully accept that waste type faces a fine of more than $7500, or up to $777,300 (5000 penalty units) if prosecuted." "The EPA can require the waste generator, transporter, and receiver to clean up and pay for waste to be taken to a lawful place."
Tips for managing construction and demolition waste
- Know what types of waste will be generated during excavation, demolition, and construction.
- If a quote for managing waste is low, find out why. The company may be avoiding costs by taking the waste to a place that cannot lawfully be used as a waste facility.
- While not a requirement, preparing and implementing a waste management plan ahead of demolition is an effective way of managing lawful waste disposal. A good plan would include:
- details of each type of waste that will be generated, and the management action proposed for each type of waste
- procedures that ensure the waste is disposed of at a lawful place
- a description of the roles and responsibilities of everyone who manages the waste, including the site supervisor and subcontractors.
Remember:
- The level of detail in the waste management plan should reflect the size and complexity of the project's waste issues.
- Regularly update the waste management plan to record how waste is managed and audit where waste is taken.
- Provide adequate supervision to ensure waste management plans are implemented and complied with, and regularly audit everyone who manages waste on your behalf.
- Provide training about the waste management plan and protecting the environment.
- Keep accurate written records such as:
-
- who transported the waste (company name, ABN, vehicle registration and driver details, date and time of transport, description of waste)
- copies of waste receipts from the waste facility (date and time of delivery, name and address of the facility, its ABN, contact person)
Drainage and runoff
Melbourne has many beautiful waterways that are very sensitive to the effects of pollution.
During construction, rainwater may flow into onsite or nearby drainage systems, as well as nearby creeks and river systems. This can lead to contamination of the water from the worksite or clogging of drains or waterways from picked up sediment or litter. Appropriate measures such as bunding must be taken to mitigate against this. Potential contamination of groundwater must also be considered.
Environmental Protection Agency-Works Approvals
Works approvals are issued by EPA Victoria under the Environment Protection Act 1970. They are required for industrial and waste management activities that have the potential for significant environmental impacts.
A work approval permits plant and equipment to be installed, the operation of which will result in one or more of the following:
- the discharge of waste to the environment
- an increase in, or alteration to, an existing discharge
- a change in the way waste is treated or stored.
CO2 emissions
To minimise CO2 emissions, Red’s Landscaping and Civil has introduced the following strategies:
- Car-pooling amongst employees.
- Selecting vehicles that run on alternative fuels, such as
- 30% Ethanol.
- PHEV (where feasible.)
- Keeping the vehicle in good condition and getting the longest possible life out of them.
- Use local suppliers as close as possible to the worksite.
Clinker
The construction industry is one of the largest contributors of atmospheric carbon dioxide, with concrete alone responsible for up to 8% of all anthropogenic carbon emissions. Carbon dioxide is released as a by-product when limestone (calcium carbonate) is heated to produce cement.
To minimise CO2 from the use of concrete, Red’s Landscaping and Design has the following strategies:
- Very accurate calculation of the required concrete.
- A professional estimator is used to accurately estimate quantities.
- Accurate surveying of the worksite to drawing.
- Accurate control of formwork dimensions.
- Thinking ahead with form work to create a use for leftover concrete.
- Checking drawings for excessively large foundation sections etc.
- issuing a purchase order with the correct quantity and grade of concrete.
- Working with concrete suppliers on low clinker mixes when they become available.
References
This policy references following legislation in the State of Victoria;
- Environment Protection Act 1970
- Environment Protection Act 2017 (the 2017 Act)
- Pollution of Waters by Oils and Noxious Substances Act 1986
- National Environment Protection Council (Victoria) Act 1995
Additional Environmental Protection Regulations - Queensland Government
Environmental protection regulation 2019
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