Sustainable Work Practices
Session 3
Sustainable Gardening
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Environmental Sustainability Policies & Procedures
4.5 Environmental Policy
SEEDS Bushland Restoration and Environmental Education acknowledges that everything that we do in the day to day operation of our Business could impact in a detrimental way on the environment. That is unless we take the necessary care and responsibility to prevent environmental damage.
Some of the ways a workplace can impact on the environment are:
· Atmospheric emissions
· Site contamination through spills
· Noise emission
· Damage to flora & fauna
· Poor storm-water management
· Excessive or unnecessary energy consumption.
Various States’ Legislation recognizes the benefits to the community of maintaining a clean, green and healthy environment.
SEEDS Bushland Restoration & Environmental Education acknowledges the benefits of environmental management and undertakes to fulfill its legal and community duty, by taking all reasonable and practical measures to prevent or harm to the environment. All employees, contractors and visitors are directed to act likewise by exercising due diligence toward the environment in all their activities.
SEEDS Bushland Restoration & Environmental Education is committed to achieving compatibility between economic development and the maintenance of the environment through ensuring that proper consideration is given to the care of the flora, fauna, air, land, water and the community, which may be affected by our activities.
To fulfill this commitment, SEEDS Bushland Restoration & Environmental Education will observe all environment laws and promote environmental awareness among all staff to increase understanding of environmental matters.
SEEDS Bushland Restoration & Environmental Education also undertakes to notify the relevant authority in the event of a major environmental impact that causes harm, or has the potential to cause harm, to the environment.
SEEDS Bushland Restoration and Environmental Education acknowledges that everything that we do in the day to day operation of our Business could impact in a detrimental way on the environment. That is unless we take the necessary care and responsibility to prevent environmental damage.
Some of the ways a workplace can impact on the environment are:
· Atmospheric emissions
· Site contamination through spills
· Noise emission
· Damage to flora & fauna
· Poor storm-water management
· Excessive or unnecessary energy consumption.
Various States’ Legislation recognizes the benefits to the community of maintaining a clean, green and healthy environment.
SEEDS Bushland Restoration & Environmental Education acknowledges the benefits of environmental management and undertakes to fulfill its legal and community duty, by taking all reasonable and practical measures to prevent or harm to the environment. All employees, contractors and visitors are directed to act likewise by exercising due diligence toward the environment in all their activities.
SEEDS Bushland Restoration & Environmental Education is committed to achieving compatibility between economic development and the maintenance of the environment through ensuring that proper consideration is given to the care of the flora, fauna, air, land, water and the community, which may be affected by our activities.
To fulfill this commitment, SEEDS Bushland Restoration & Environmental Education will observe all environment laws and promote environmental awareness among all staff to increase understanding of environmental matters.
SEEDS Bushland Restoration & Environmental Education also undertakes to notify the relevant authority in the event of a major environmental impact that causes harm, or has the potential to cause harm, to the environment.
5.14 Disease Spread (Phytophthora) Control Procedures
Phytophthora cinnamomi is a soil- borne organism referred to as a fungus that belongs to the Oomycetes or water moulds, the microscopic pathogen lives in the soil and plant roots and depends on moist conditions for survival, sporulation and dispersal in areas of rainfall greater than 600mm of rain annually. The pathogen penetrates the roots of plants causing death of root cells from a reduction in water up take with the plant presenting symptoms of drought stress showing yellowing of leaves and wilting leading to leaf loss from outer branches and is referred to as dieback, which may lead to the death of a plant.
Under federal law Phytophthora cinnamomi has been identified as one of Australia’s 5 national threatening processes under the Commonwealth Endangered Species Protection Act 1992 and was listed as a key threatening process under section 183 of Commonwealth EPBC Act 1999.
.Phytophthora cinnamomi can be spread by earthworks, recreational activities, revegetation activities, nursery activities and fire management/emergency activities.
To stop the spread of this pathogen SEEDS management and employees can take the following procedures:
5.15 Waterway Protection
Key issues affecting the protection of waterways are addressed below:
5.15.1 Erosion
5.16 Flora, Fauna & Habitat Protection
Protection and enhancement of the environment and its biodiversity is at the forefront of what SEEDS aims to achieve. Special consideration of our activities and the affect they have on the environment must be taken at all times in particular:
5.16.1 Flora
5.17 Cultural Heritage Protection Procedure
It is estimated that the Mornington Peninsula has been inhabited by Aboriginal Australians leading a hunter/gatherer lifestyle for over 40,000 years. Under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 all cultural sites and artifacts are protected by Law.
These may include:
· surface scatters
· scar trees
· middens
· mounds
· stone tools
· burials
· quarries
· hearths,
· rock art
· grinding stones
Should any of these be suspect on site, do not disturb the site or remove any material, inform Team Leaders will record details on the daily record sheets and notify a manager who will contact The Registrar, Aboriginal Affairs Victoria, Melbourne and other relevant stakeholders.
If any suspected human remains are found during any activity, works must cease. The Victoria Police and the State Coroner’s Office should be notified immediately. If there are reasonable grounds to believe that the remains are Aboriginal, the Department of Sustainability and Environment’s Emergency Coordination Centre must be contacted immediately on 1300 888 544.
Phytophthora cinnamomi is a soil- borne organism referred to as a fungus that belongs to the Oomycetes or water moulds, the microscopic pathogen lives in the soil and plant roots and depends on moist conditions for survival, sporulation and dispersal in areas of rainfall greater than 600mm of rain annually. The pathogen penetrates the roots of plants causing death of root cells from a reduction in water up take with the plant presenting symptoms of drought stress showing yellowing of leaves and wilting leading to leaf loss from outer branches and is referred to as dieback, which may lead to the death of a plant.
Under federal law Phytophthora cinnamomi has been identified as one of Australia’s 5 national threatening processes under the Commonwealth Endangered Species Protection Act 1992 and was listed as a key threatening process under section 183 of Commonwealth EPBC Act 1999.
.Phytophthora cinnamomi can be spread by earthworks, recreational activities, revegetation activities, nursery activities and fire management/emergency activities.
To stop the spread of this pathogen SEEDS management and employees can take the following procedures:
- When possible work on susceptible and infected sites during summer when the pathogen is not active
- Clean hygiene practices at the nursery, by cleaning tools and pots before and after use
- Clean boots with a hard stiff brush and treat with Phytoclean before and after being on site
- Clean tools and vehicles with a Phytoclean before and after being on site
- Stay on tracks and avoid wet and muddy areas where possible.
5.15 Waterway Protection
Key issues affecting the protection of waterways are addressed below:
5.15.1 Erosion
- Keep any clearing to a minimum in high erosion prone areas
- Use silt traps if necessary
- Seek advice from supervisor if in any doubt.
- No spraying of chemicals over waterways and creeks – work from creek edge in waders cut/paint
- Carrying spill kits for all spraying and petrol driven plant use
- If spill occurs – act as per procedures to contain, absorb and remove contaminated material, completed Incident Report Form
- Use boom system for trapping and catching any weeds with high invasion potential on water or water’s edge.
5.16 Flora, Fauna & Habitat Protection
Protection and enhancement of the environment and its biodiversity is at the forefront of what SEEDS aims to achieve. Special consideration of our activities and the affect they have on the environment must be taken at all times in particular:
5.16.1 Flora
- Spray in suitable weather conditions <7km to avoid drift & off-target damage
- Do not trample vegetation
- Careful application of herbicide to weed species only to encourage regeneration
- If in doubt don’t pull it out – confirm identity of species before removing/spraying if unsure
- Seek identification of any unknown species having a weed potential
- Following correct methods of seed collection
- Bag and remove all green waste with potential to release seed
- Cover loads to prevent weed seed spread
- Take care not to carry weed seed on boots and clothing
- Report/record any sightings of significance- including evidence of ferals
- Notify client of habitat value of weeds being treated and make appropriate recommendations
- Not disturbing fauna on site
- Take care when handling chemicals
- Spill Kit and contact Poisons Information Service on 131 166
- Notify client representative immediately.
5.17 Cultural Heritage Protection Procedure
It is estimated that the Mornington Peninsula has been inhabited by Aboriginal Australians leading a hunter/gatherer lifestyle for over 40,000 years. Under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 all cultural sites and artifacts are protected by Law.
These may include:
· surface scatters
· scar trees
· middens
· mounds
· stone tools
· burials
· quarries
· hearths,
· rock art
· grinding stones
Should any of these be suspect on site, do not disturb the site or remove any material, inform Team Leaders will record details on the daily record sheets and notify a manager who will contact The Registrar, Aboriginal Affairs Victoria, Melbourne and other relevant stakeholders.
If any suspected human remains are found during any activity, works must cease. The Victoria Police and the State Coroner’s Office should be notified immediately. If there are reasonable grounds to believe that the remains are Aboriginal, the Department of Sustainability and Environment’s Emergency Coordination Centre must be contacted immediately on 1300 888 544.
Supply Chain & Product Life Cycles
Step 2 - Life cycle mapping
Draw a life cycle map showing the main stages for your product or service. Note some of these will occur ‘outside
your gate’. You may need to do a little research here. See potato chips example, but note your map may be more
or less complex than this. Note you may also decide to do separate maps for different operations.
Draw a life cycle map showing the main stages for your product or service. Note some of these will occur ‘outside
your gate’. You may need to do a little research here. See potato chips example, but note your map may be more
or less complex than this. Note you may also decide to do separate maps for different operations.
Step 3 - Identifying key environmental impacts
Use the information from your map to complete the life cycle impacts matrix by thinking about the environmental
impacts that may occur at each stage – note some of these will be completely outside your influence. This may
require some additional research on your part, for example you might need to research the raw materials that
go into your product and the environmental impacts associated with sourcing and processing these. When
completed, use a highlight pen to identify the ‘key’ impacts and another to highlight the ones that you can
influence directly or indirectly. (See potato chips example)
Use the information from your map to complete the life cycle impacts matrix by thinking about the environmental
impacts that may occur at each stage – note some of these will be completely outside your influence. This may
require some additional research on your part, for example you might need to research the raw materials that
go into your product and the environmental impacts associated with sourcing and processing these. When
completed, use a highlight pen to identify the ‘key’ impacts and another to highlight the ones that you can
influence directly or indirectly. (See potato chips example)
Step 4 - Developing strategies to reduce environmental impacts
You now need to think about possible ways of reducing these impacts. Complete the strategies table for the key
impacts you can influence directly or indirectly that you identified in your life cycle matrix i.e. the ones you highlighted.
You may need to do some research here, or seek some external advice to help identify strategies, especially as
some of the key impacts may be ‘outside your gate’ i.e. in the supply chain, and therefore difficult to influence.
You may also think of further work required before strategies could be adopted, e.g. more research, costings,
availability of resources and expertise etc.
You now need to think about possible ways of reducing these impacts. Complete the strategies table for the key
impacts you can influence directly or indirectly that you identified in your life cycle matrix i.e. the ones you highlighted.
You may need to do some research here, or seek some external advice to help identify strategies, especially as
some of the key impacts may be ‘outside your gate’ i.e. in the supply chain, and therefore difficult to influence.
You may also think of further work required before strategies could be adopted, e.g. more research, costings,
availability of resources and expertise etc.
Green Purchasing Guides
“Green purchasing” or “green procurement” is when people or organisations buy products and services that minimise negative environmental impacts over their life cycle of manufacturing, transportation, use and recycling or disposal.
Examples of environmentally preferable characteristics include products and services that:
Examples of environmentally preferable characteristics include products and services that:
- promote long-lasting, high quality, reusable products
- reduce the presence of toxic and hazardous materials in schools
- conserve energy and water
- minimise the generation of waste and release of pollutants
- are made from recycled materials and that can be reused or recycled (including biodegradable products)
- decrease greenhouse gas emissions
- improve environmental health
- take up less room in landfill.