Media Release

Barwon Regional Waste Management Group recognised for excellence in sustainability innovation

28 July 2010

Barwon Regional Waste Management Group (BRWMG) was congratulated by the organisers of the Enviro Convention for winning the inaugural SULO Innovation in Sustainability Award, announced at the Enviro 2010 Gala Dinner in Melbourne on 22 July.

The intent of the SULO Innovation in Sustainability Award is to recognize individuals, groups or companies who have recently completed a successful, innovative and sustainable project.

Head of the judging panel, Jan Fitzgerald said, “The judging panel was impressed by all entries, and particularly our five finalists. However Barwon came out on top because of the many environmental and social outcomes on a number of levels the project achieved, and the fact that it was obviously innovative, financially viable and easily transferable as well.”

BRWMG developed an innovative and holistic approach to dealing with the problems of Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) waste that involved working with Geelong Disabled Peoples Industries to establish a collection and processing facility for local traders to ensure they diverted their waste EPS from landfill, and a local manufacturer - Newtown Cement Products - to establish an end-market for the processed EPS waste.

The judging panel commends all entries, in particular the other finalists: Intec Ltd, Siemens Ltd, Veolia Environmental Services & Hazell Bros Group, and Visy Industries.

Full details of the SULO Innovation in Sustainability Award and a short video presentation of the BRWMG project are available on the Enviro website - www.enviro2010.com.au.

Further details are available from:
Max Spedding
Enviro 2010 Chair
0400 880 677

Veronica Dullens
Enviro 2010 Secretariat
02 8746 5055
veronica@wmaa.asn.au