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Click here for details of the 'RR&R Challenge' Prize Giving Bonanza.
 
Kate Ellis Welsh of Spowers with her new iPod nano,
courtesy of major sponsor Upstream.
 

The RR&R Challenge is in full swing and featured prominently in “Business Owner” in the Herald Sun on Thursday 26 October. The message is spreading and the number of participants is increasing as the CBD embraces the issue of sustainability in the workplace.

 “In The RR&R Spirit”- Spowers

As an architectural company specialising in environmental sustainability design, Spowers definitely knows how to lead by example – becoming the newest business to sign up for the RR&R Challenge.

Located in King Street Melbourne, Spowers employs over 30 staff and has designed buildings globally from the Middle East to the new “5 Star Green Star” Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MBF) Headquarters in Burnley. Practicing what they preach is imperative to Spowers and Business Development Manager Kate Ellis Welsh, saw the RR&R Challenge as a perfect opportunity to reinforce and expand on their current environmental practices.

“We’ve had environmental initiatives in place for quite some time now at Spowers, but the RR&R Challenge provides a constant reminder to staff to remain vigilant with their recycling and environmentally friendly habits”

Examples of the strategies Spowers employ are; waste separation in the kitchen – a different bin for aluminium, glass and plastic, Visy recycling bins at every desk for paper waste, double sided printing, recycling old paper and binding them into new notebooks, incoming faxes are received electronically, installation of a power saving function for screen savers on all PC’s and use of USB sticks to retain information rather than using CD’s and DVD’s.

Ellis Welsh and her team of ten, compiled of staff from both Spowers and their neighbours, The Planning Group, believe it’s important to educate all office workers on the importance of recycling and maintains that being environmentally friendly is actually simpler than people think

“People hear the words ‘environmentally friendly initiatives’ and they instantly think it is too difficult. My aim with the RR&R Challenge at Spowers is to reinforce that even the tiniest action can have a great impact on the environment. Only putting the dishwasher on when it’s full, reading papers online, using your coffee mug instead of a cardboard cup down at the café, writing on both sides of a notebook. All these seemingly small actions over a year add up to make a massive difference to the welfare of our environment.”
 
 

Get your ideas & initiatives to the Grow Me The Money office by Friday 17 November to be in the running for the major prizes. Your creativity and ease of implementation will be judged and winners will be notified Friday 1 December 2006 and presented with their prizes on Tuesday 5 December at Hard Rock Café.

Please note: Judging forms will be made available shortly.
 
 
For further information on the RR&R Challenge please call 1800 309 650.
 
       
         
 

“Beginning the Journey”- Travellers Aid Society.

The Travellers Aid Society of Victoria (TASV) has been in Operation for 90 years. As their name suggests they literally provide aid to travellers at the point of need. This can range from people who have lost their bus ticket to greeting migrant familles. As a not-for-profit organisation, Travellers Aid is required to make the most out of every dollar and through joining the RR&R Challenge they hope to not only improve the environment but save money.

Jodie Willmer, Chief Executive Officer at Travellers Aid was inspired to join the RR&R Challenge, not only for the financial benefits but also to improve the status of the environment here in Melbourne

“At Travellers Aid, we provide vital services in our community; however, we believe that it is important to balance this with improving the environment. Whilst it’s important to help people, if we don’t look after our environment we won’t have an arena in which to care for everyone”

One initiative which Travellers Aid has put in place includes using pre-loved or used stationery; this is through an organisation called ‘Green Collect’. Over a two month period this has saved TASV $680.

Other initiatives include; installation of plants in their City Centre site, new taps with flip levers - which help people with disabilities use the taps more efficiently and minimises wastage, all documents which are shredded are taken to Pet’s Paradise for animal bedding, all computer and office machine parts are recycled, Visy cardboard bins have been ordered, recycled note books are created with waste paper, and most  cleaning products are chemical free and biodegradable and all staff (30 staff and 40 volunteers) take public transport to work. 

TASV also use electric buggies when assisting passengers at Southern Cross Station. The electric buggy is prebooked and picks people with disabilities, older people, and visually or movement impaired travellers to ensure swift, confident and safe passage throughout Southern Cross Station.  Travellers Aid staff then transports them and their luggage to another platform or to make a connecting bus or taxi service. If ever a staff member is required to hire a car, they only hire hybrid vehicles. These vehicles use electricity at speeds under 80km and over this speed converts to petrol.

“For a not-for-profit organisation with limited resources it is difficult for us to purchase new technology or expensive equipment, however we are committed to doing everything within our means to help reduce waste and improve Melbourne’s environment – and if all businesses could make a few small changes, it would amount to making a massive difference” says Ms Willmer.

Conditions of Entry
There are three basic requirements for each entry in the challenge:

  1. Purchase recycled content paper.
  2. Check that your paper bins contain paper and cardboard only.
  3. Set printers and copiers to default to double sided printing.

These are just a few basic ideas to get you started. What you do and how much you do is up to you, but prizes will be awarded to those who go that extra distance.

Each entry that performs these basic steps will automatically go into the prize draw.

Prizes
Don’t forget that prizes are up for grabs for the most creative and innovative ways to help reduce, reuse and recycle. If you are able to put these ideas into practice by Friday 17 November, your chances of winning will increase.

  1. Sony Video Camera and an audit of workplace printing operations to help improve environmental performance (courtesy of Upstream Technology).
  2. 5 cases of Tyrrells wine (for sharing around the office – after hours of course!)
  3. Dinner and drinks at Hard Rock café.
  4. A night ten pin bowling for you and 11 team members.
  5. Tickets for 10 people to attend the horse races of their choice.
  6. Tickets for 10 people to attend a home game of the South Dragons basketball team.

Each entry into the RR&R Challenge also goes into the draw to win morning tea at their workplace with members of the Victorian Bushrangers cricket team and signed memorabilia.

** Details of prizes can be found in the terms & conditions you received in the starter pack.

Spot checks
As a little surprise, RR&R staff will be making impromptu visits to participating workplaces to keep an eye on progress you are making. More prizes will be available if you prove yourself to be doing your bit to make the RR&R challenge successful in your workplace.

Prize Giving Day
Tuesday 5 December @ Hard Rock Café Melbourne, 4:00-6:30. See attached flyer for details.

Major Sponsors

Primary Sponsors

 
  Useful Tip
Only print emails when absolutely necessary and avoid eating take-away meals at your desk. This will reduce the amount of paper that you use and the waste that you produce.