Mining village service provider Sodexo Australia’s resource recovery program has won it the Waste Authority’s Waste Reduction & Resource Recovery Initiative award at the 2011 Waste Awards.
Sodexo has been recognised for the work it has done through its resource recovery program to reduce waste at the 19 remote accommodation sites it operates in regional Western Australia.
The group’s initiatives have touched almost every aspect of life on the mine site, including catering, cleaning, security and administration.
In addition to the traditional domestic recycling, Sodexo recovers oil from its kitchens and even soap and hard hats are collected for recycling.
Sodexo’s environmental adviser, Ryan Oostryck, said the award was highly prized by the company, which prided itself on its environmental reputation and its commitment to sustainability across the multi-national organisation.
“The main focus has been on recycling glass, plastic and cardboard but we have also tried to recover other materials like batteries and construction materials,” Mr Oostryck said.
The award comes two years after Sodexo picked up a Golden Gecko for its recycling and waste reduction strategies at its mine site villages. The Golden Gecko awards were set up by the Department of Mines and Petroleum to recognise outstanding advances in environmental practices in the resources sector.
Mr Oostryck said the waste award was a further endorsement of the group’s commitment to environmentally sustainable practices and a vital tool in bolstering its profile in Australia.
Sodexo operates across about 80 countries and it already provides services for about 40 mining villages in Australia.
As part of its ongoing commitment Sodexo is installing a waste processing machine in one of its South Australian mine sites that will process all food waste into a product that can be used as fertiliser.
Two other groups were awarded honourable mentions in the Waste Reduction & Resource Recovery Initiative category, including the All Earth Group and LandCorp.
LandCorp was recognised for its work to divert demolition material from Perry Lakes for recycling or re-use.
“The Waste Authority created these prestigious awards to recognise the significant and often creative contributions make to waste avoidance and resource recovery across the state,” chairman Peter Fitzpatrick said.
