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Dear Subscriber,

It has been an action packed start to the year for the team at Grow Me The Money with the statewide launch of the program quickly approaching.  There has been lots of exciting activity taking place with pilot programs in three areas well underway. We have received a very positive response to the program, and it is evident that Victorian businesses care about the environment and want to help reduce their impact.

Grow Me The Money is delighted to welcome Channel 9 onboard as our television media partner in promotion of the program.  Channel 9 has committed to screening the television advertisement and to spread the message of Grow Me The Money initiatives to business and community throughout the year.

As Grow Me The Money continues to develop and grow, Victorian Employers Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VECCI) has taken up the challenge of improving their own environmental and economic performance with gusto.  In our Albert Street offices, VECCI is currently working towards Waste Wise accreditation with Sustainability Victoria, more information available at Sustainability Victoria’s website by clicking here.

This has been undertaken with help from a Monash University Green Steps student sourced through the Grow Me The Money skills bank.  We are also establishing an internal environmental committee made up of motivated staff ready to take up the challenge of a green and clean VECCI operation.

We enjoy hearing updates on how your business and the environment are reaping the rewards from becoming a more resource efficient organisation. So please keep in touch and let us know how you are progressing.

Kate Nicolazzo
Program Director
Grow Me The Money

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Grow Me The Money Service Directory

Grow Me The Money is putting together its own special GMTM service directory that will list companies throughout Victoria who are able to provide business with environmental and sustainability services and advice.

The directory will be available from April 2007 via the Grow Me The Money helpdesk and will later be found online at www.growmethemoney.com.au.  If you would like to be listed in the service directory please contact us at enquiries@growmethemoney.com.au. 

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Regional News

Goulburn Valley update

Goulburn Valley is one of three areas where Grow Me The Money is being piloted to test its effectiveness, and identify improvements to ensure the program is as useful as possible to businesses throughout Victoria.

Congratulations to the following businesses for signing up and taking the first steps to improving financial and environmental performance:

  • Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE
  • Fairleys IGA
  • Richie’s IGA
  • Sundowner Parklake Motor Inn
  • Red Rooster
  • Australia Hotel
  • Goulburn Valley Health
  • Shepparton Private Hospital
  • HMC Property Group
  • Shepparton Retirement Village
  • The Carrington

At a business breakfast Adrian Piani from Hyder Consulting spoke about how much businesses have to gain from being involved in the pilot, and encouraged attendees to put as much as they could into Grow Me The Money participation in order to receive the best results.

Hyder Consulting is available to assist Goulburn Valley businesses build their knowledge and skills in environmental practice and those involved are encouraged to contact Adrian Piani 03 8623 4000 or Kyle O’Farrell on 03 8623 4118 for further support.

Over the next few weeks each of the 11 businesses who attended the breakfast will have a walk-through audit which will identify areas where they can start to make improvements.  Grow Me The Money is looking forward to seeing some great results from the Goulburn Valley. 

If your business is taking part in the pilot we’d love to hear from you and receive some feedback about the program.  Please contact Ben Norden from Grow Me The Money on (03) 8662 5482 or email ben.n@growmethemoney.com.au

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New Grants Available

Recovering commercial and industrial waste

Sustainability Victoria is offering financial support to businesses for the recovery of commercial and industrial waste. Funding is available for projects for the 2007-08 financial year. Sustainability Victoria will provide grants of up to 33 per cent of capital costs to a maximum of $500,000 for a single project.

Applications will be considered for projects that achieve significant resource recovery.  Businesses should demonstrate innovation in the recycling of waste materials through the establishment of new facilities, upgrades to plants and equipment or development of new systems.

The program supports the goal of Victoria’s ‘Towards Zero Waste Strategy’

More information can be found by clicking here.

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Hazard Classification of Waste

Starting on 1 July 2007 there will be new rules set out by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) around the disposal of industrial waste.  The new requirements set stricter standards for what waste will be accepted as landfill and will require some waste to be treated to reduce its hazard level before disposal.

These changes aim to significantly cut the amount of waste disposal to landfill and will provide economic incentive for businesses to investigate avoidance, reuse, recycling and recovery options for their waste.

Grow Me The Money is encouraging businesses to download a brochure outlining how the new rules may affect your business and advice on how to plan for the changes. 

Click here to download the brochure.

For further information, contact the EPA Information Centre phone 03 9695 2777.

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Latest Research

UK survey reveals employees need leadership when it comes to being ‘green’ in the workplace

A recent survey of 1,050 employees in the United Kingdom has found some interesting results in workers’ attitudes to becoming environmentally aware in the workplace.  The research titled, ‘Switched On, Turned Off - Environmental Attitudes at Home and Work'  found while workers are supportive of the idea of saving the environment, they need guidance and incentive from management to implement the same strategies at work that they do at home.

Key findings included:

  • 94 per cent of people are environmentally friendly at home but do not conduct the same good practices at work
  • Half of employees recognise they are wasting energy and would like to do something about it
  • 80 per cent of staff who do not have an environmental policy in their workplace would like to see one in place
  • Management needs to demonstrate a strong commitment to the cause to motivate their staff to be environmentally friendly
  • Educating employees is important to create a collective sense of environmental awareness and participation.  Employees need to feel as though they are part of the ‘global’ solution helping the environment

The full survey results can be found by clicking here.

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If you’re not currently within a pilot region, don’t despair. We are thinking of you too. Visit our website HQ to start using some of the online resources to become more environmentally friendly.
growmethemoney.com.au