Monash Green Impact
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In 2021, the Green Impact program engaged more than 4159 staff via 40 teams and implemented more than 2,068 actions across multiple campuses and sites. Teams worked to drive positive environmental change within their local areas through a range of activities focused on climate action, circular econoly, transport, health and wellbeing, engagement and change, and urban ecosystems. This year saw the successful expansion of the program to Monash residential students and the MSA's Clubs and Societies to ensure not just staff but also students could engage with campus sustainability programs.
Circular Economy Strategy
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Monash University has committed to; establish a five-year circular economy plan to minimise waste to landfill and transition from co-mingled recycling to 'close the loop' on valuable materials through a range of better business practices and infrastructure investment; Eliminate single-use retail plastics across all its Australian campuses by 2023; and implement a food organic waste program to divert organic waste from landfill.
Reuse Centre
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The Monash University Reuse Centre furniture reuse store was established in 2010 and since 2012 has resued over 18,000 items diverting 500+ tonnes of furniture and equipment from landfill. Monash faculties and departments are encouraged to donate surplus furniture to the centre rather than storing or throwing away. In turn the program also offers departments, staff, students and the public quality furniture at savings of between 60-90 percent off the recommended retail price.
Waste and recycling
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The University produced 1,321 tonnes of waste in 2020-21, a 62.7 per cent decrease on 2019-20. A total of 477 tonnes of waste was recycled. The reduced staff and student load on campus due to COVID-19 resulted in a significant reduction in waste generation from the campuses. The amount of waste recycled increased from 33 per cent in 2019-20 to 36 per cent of total waste generated in 2020-21.
Waste and circular economy collaboration
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Monash University’s BehaviourWorks Australia team, together with its consortium partners, have been working to help fix Australia’s ongoing waste crisis by engaging with industry and government to explore how behaviour change science can help Australians reduce waste, recycle more and accelerate the transition to a circular economy. In 2021, it wrapped and shared the results of three streams of behaviour change research: (1) Kerbside Recycling Contamination, (2) Effectiveness of product labelling schemes, and (3) Business Barriers to a Circular Economy