A growing number of businesses in Hornsby Shire are saving money and helping the environment by signing up to Council’s Sustainability Advantage Program. The program is part of Council’s Economic Development Strategy and was launched in partnership with the Department of Environment and Climate Change New South Wales. Commencing in March 2007, it aims to help companies and organisations become more environmentally friendly, sustainable and save money.
Co-owner of a local nursery, Sonia Cameron, is taking part in the program.
“We saw the Sustainability Advantage Program as an opportunity to tidy things up, get some expert advice and improve our business,” she said.
The program involves Council staff working with local business owners or managers to help them become more profitable. It also assists businesses to improve environmental standards, incorporate environmental strategies into their business plan, use resources more efficiently, reduce waste and develop better customer supplier relationships to improve efficiency.
Each business involved has had its operations fully assessed and Council is now delivering training modules. The first training session covered vision, commitment and planning, which assisted business owners to develop goals and a vision they could work towards achieving.
“The program has been great for us so far, because until now we haven’t had any of our policies and procedures written down,” Sonia Cameron said. “Now that we do, they incorporate environmental aspects as well.”
Sustainable Business Strategy
In addition to the Sustainability Advantage Program, Council also has a Sustainable Business Strategy. This strategy aims to have Council and businesses working together to reduce their impact on the environment. Some objectives include reducing water consumption by 18 per cent by 2011, encouraging improved waste management and reducing the Shire’s industrial and commercial sector’s greenhouse gas emissions by five per cent in 2010.
The strategy is available on Hornsby Council’s website at www.hornsby.nsw.gov.au/business
For further information contact Kim Appleby, Council’s Research and Policy Development Officer, on (02) 9847 6014.
