Resource efficiency

Our approach

ANZ is committed to firstly minimising the amount of waste generated and then to recycling as much as possible. Recycling leads to savings in energy, water and carbon emissions.

ANZ measures and monitors the average daily waste at eight key sample sites across our major commercial buildings, covering 60% of Australian based employees. In addition, we monitor the total amount of recycling across our property portfolio including the retail branch network.

How we are reducing waste

Working with suppliers and contractors to reduce waste

ANZ has adopted a consistent approach to recycling in the Melbourne CBD commercial portfolio which includes removal all desk-side bins. Recycling and general waste facilities are provided in central locations on each floor. As a result, ANZ has seen a reduction of more than 40 tonnes or 20% of the total annual volume of general waste.

In 2011 ANZ introduced the daily weighing of waste using electronic scales for both general waste and recycling at the ANZ Centre. The waste includes that generated by the on-site retailers. By using the electronic scales, ANZ has been able to explore ways of both reducing the cost of waste services and increasing the total volume of recycling from the 6,500 staff located in the building.
Case study: Our Move

The 'Reduce, Recycle and Redistribute' campaign played a key part in the relocation of over 8,500 ANZ staff to ANZ's new global headquarters. The campaign aimed to 'reduce' filing and storage needs, 'recycle' un-used paper files and other recyclables, and 'redistribute' excess IT, office equipment and files for archiving.

Clean-up weeks were held on each floor before the move. In summary, of the 400 cubic meters removed from various ANZ sites, 7% ended up in landfill (less than 30 cubic meters), 36% was recycled (just over 140 cubic meters), and 57% was redistributed internally or to charity or archives (about 225 cubic meters).

This included: 78 tonnes of paper securely destroyed and recycled; 78 cages of miscellaneous items recycled; 52 cages of furniture and office equipment, including 6 pallets of IT hardware collected for internal redistribution; 43 cages of stationery, books, toys, and other items set aside for charity. This recycling and redistribution resulted in 29 cages of non-recyclable items ending up in landfill.

We will adopt a similar process when we move into our new headquarters in Sydney.

 

2011 results

Australia

In 2011, ANZ achieved a 4% reduction in the average waste generated per staff member per day due to systemic changes (e.g. removing desk side bins), improved recycling processes and the continuing ‘change-of-habit’ benefit derived from the relocation to the ANZ Centre in Melbourne. These changes have led to ANZ achieving an 18% improvement in the percentage of waste recycled when compared to the 2009 baseline. Recycling as a percentage of total waste has increased from 62% to 74% during this time period.

% total waste recycled - Australia

New Zealand

In 2011 New Zealand introduced co-mingled recycling services (for plastic bottles/cans/glass bottles) into retail branches. The project has increased the volume of co-mingled recycling by 13%. A survey conducted in 2011 concluded that the percentage of total waste recycled was 71%, a 37% increase compared to a similar survey done in 2009.

% total waste recycled - New Zealand

2010 results

Australia

  • In 2010, there was a 10% increase in the amount of waste recycled due to both a reduction in general waste levels, systemic changes (e.g. removing desk side bins), improved recycling processes and the effect of moving into our new headquarters.

Waste to landfill - Australia

New Zealand

  • Recycling rate has remained steady. Recycling is to be implemented for retail locations at the end of 2010. The extension of services, in conjunction with improved measurement of waste management will provide a more accurate measurement moving forward.

The future

ANZ will continue to review the performance at major sites and will be adopting revised processes in all major commercial buildings across Victoria.

ANZ Centre, our largest site, remains of continued focus and will drive future performance given the size of the building. ANZ will be reviewing the need to collect better quality information about the landfill waste generated in our retail branches as part of our carbon reduction focus.

2009 results

In Australia, average daily waste per FTE measured at 10 key sites in 2009 was reduced by 15%. Over the last two years average daily waste was reduced by 11% meeting and slightly better than our two year target of a 10% reduction.

Total waste recycled in Australia increased by 221 tonnes, or 15%, while in New Zealand recycling increased by 397 tonnes, or 39% following a broader collection of paper recycling data and the introduction of paper and other waste recycling into corporate locations.

During the construction of ANZ Centre's fit out, Lend Lease, the building contractor, recycled 60% of all waste produced.

Progress chart

Waste consumption - Australia

* Waste data was not collected for 2006

The future

Further work is required to reduce the volume of waste going to landfill and to maximise the use of recycling wherever possible.

We have adapted our approach for the coming year given the move to ANZ Centre where we will be capturing data from 100% of staff.  Whilst we will still be capturing total waste to landfill, our new waste management procedures at ANZ Centre, which focus on recycling (glass, metal, organic, paper) has meant that our focus should change as well.  We are aiming to increase our percentage of total waste recycled by 10% over the next two years.

2008 results

In Australia, ANZ has seen an increase of 5% per FTE in waste sent to landfill from our 10 key sites. This is in spite of an overall increase in recycling across the portfolio of sites. ANZ has recently established an Eco Team at one of our key sites specifically charged with reducing waste to landfill.

Waste - Australia

In New Zealand the focus has been on introducing better recycling facilities including paper, glass, plastics and cans. Total recycling for this financial year is up by 420 tonnes including 34 tonnes of mixed recycling.

The future

We will continue to work towards a target of 10% reduction in waste sent to landfill across the current two-year period, in both Australia and New Zealand.

Further work is required to reduce the volume of waste going to landfill and to maximise the use of recycling wherever possible.

A key component of future strategy is the development of efficient waste management processes for our new workplace, home to 6,500 staff.