A resolution passed by delegates at the first National Buying Green 2003 Conference and Expo has set future directions for environmental purchasing in Australia. The conference was hosted by the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) on 1 and 2 May at Melbourne Park.
Attendees committed to the following initiatives.
- Commonwealth, State and Local Governments to collaborate in setting measurable targets for green purchasing within the next two years.
- A Local Government ECO-Buy alliance to be established in partnership with the peak Local Government body in each State, within the next two years.
- A National ECO-Buy Network to increase participation in green purchasing within a year. The Network will include Councils, the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) and Local Government Associations in each State.
- A biennial National Buying Green Conference to advocate, inform and encourage Government, industry and suppliers to participate in green purchasing.
The resolutions have been sent to State Environment Ministers, the ALGA and all State Local Government Associations, who will be invited to join the National ECO-Buy Network. Resource NSW will host the next National Buying Green Conference in Sydney in 2005.
ECO-Buy Award winners
The Municipal Association of Victoria’s inaugural ECO-Buy Awards for Excellence were presented during the National Buying Green 2003 Conference. The awards and their winners were as follows.
- The ‘Hey Big Spender’ Award for the Council with the greatest per capita expenditure on recycled products went to Loddon Shire Council, which in the past financial year spent over $50 per capita. The next closest Council spent just $17.61 per capita.
- The ‘Spread the Word’ Award for excellence in communicating the ‘Buy Green’ message went to the Leastwaste Regional Waste Management Group. The group has established a regional network of Councils which meets regularly to promote ECO- Buy, resulting in two successful regional expos.
- The ‘Who’s Buying What’ Award for achievements in recording green purchasing went to Cardinia Shire Council, which has established a tracking system to keep accurate records of recycled products purchased by Council.
- The ‘Walk the Talk’ Award for leadership through demonstrating green purchasing in action was won by Whitehorse City Council. Whitehorse almost trebled its expenditure on recycled products during the past financial year and increased use of recycled materials in construction projects from 12,000 to 15,000 tonnes annually. Its purchasing policy provides a ten per cent price margin for recycled products.
