How Wrenford is turning waste into resources
Many businesses, schools and community groups across Wrenford are already keeping most of their waste out of the landfill. Through recycling, composting and smart purchasing, they are saving money and protecting the Tamsin River. Read these local stories for ideas you can use at your own workplace or home.
Wrenford General Hospital
The hospital's Green Team set a goal to cut landfill waste in half. They started by running a waste audit to see what was being thrown away. They found that paper, food scraps and plastics made up most of the bin content. The team replaced every standard waste bin with a three-stream station: garbage, recycling and organics. They added clear signage and trained staff on what goes where.
Within one year, the hospital diverted 60 per cent of its total waste. That equals roughly 450 tonnes kept out of the landfill each year. The hospital now uses composted food waste to feed the hospital gardens and grounds. The Green Team says the biggest challenge was keeping staff engaged, but regular updates and staff-led litter pick-ups helped build a culture of care.
Tamsin College
With more than 1,200 students and staff, Tamsin College needed a simple system to manage campus waste. They launched the Campus Waste Initiative, which places centralized diversion stations in every hallway and classroom common area. The college uses a no-sort recycling programme, meaning paper, cardboard, plastics, metals and glass all go into one blue bin. This matches the rules residents follow at home, making it easy for students to learn.
Students also run an electronics and battery drop-off programme each semester. The college diverted 85 per cent of its waste last year. They saved over $18,000 in disposal fees and reduced their carbon footprint. The college now includes waste sorting in its new student orientation and offers awards to departments that achieve the highest diversion rates.
Downtown Wrenford BIA
Restaurants and retail stores in the downtown core produce a lot of waste, especially during busy events. The Downtown Wrenford Business Improvement Association (BIA) launched the Zero Waste Challenge to help members reduce their trash. The BIA provided free compost bins, recycling decals and customer-facing signage to 45 participating businesses.
Businesses tracked their waste weekly and shared tips on social media. The challenge cut overall landfill waste in the downtown zone by 22 per cent in six months. Shop owners report that customers notice the green efforts and appreciate the clean streets. The BIA now offers a free quarterly waste workshop for new downtown businesses.
Start your own diversion programme
You can use these same steps at your workplace, school or community group:
- Run a waste audit. See what you are throwing away and find the biggest opportunities.
- Set clear bins. Use colour-coded bins and simple signs so everyone knows where to put their waste.
- Educate and engage. Share updates, host training sessions and celebrate small wins.
- Track your progress. Keep a log of waste collected and look for ways to cut contamination.
The City's Business Waste Diversion Programme offers free audits and sorting guides for new commercial accounts. Contact the Waste Programs team at [email protected] to get started. You can also browse the Waste Wizard and disposal guide online to find the right bin for any item.