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While Plastic Free July challenges millions of individuals in over 190 countries to refuse single-use plastics, real systemic change happens when organisations step up to lead.

At Perth NRM, sustainability isn’t just a compliance requirement – it is embedded into our daily operations. By rethinking waste, auditing our procurement, and actively participating in the circular economy, we have successfully minimised our environmental footprint.

Whether you are an individual looking to sharpen your eco-habits or a business of any size aiming to scale up your corporate social responsibility (CSR), here is how Perth NRM is turning the “5 Rs” (Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Recycle) into tangible action.

How Perth NRM Inspires Business Actions (Big & Small)

Many businesses want to reduce their waste and adopt Plastic Free July everyday but might not know where to start. Perth NRM has transformed its workspace into a low-waste hub, proving that sustainable office management is highly achievable for teams of 20 to 25 staff.

1. Scaling Down Landfill: The Power of Office Recycling Stations

By introducing a comprehensive, internal separation system, our team of 24 staff (16 FTEs) has reduced its weekly landfill waste to just one medium pedal bin.

By utilising drop off points at local waste innovators like CLAW, Perth Community Clothing Recycling, TreadLightly, and local government recycling centres in the 2024/2025 financial year, we successfully diverted the following from landfill:

• Food Waste: Over 65 kitchen caddies of organic waste and coffee grounds diverted into compost. Why does this matter? Organic waste in landfill emits methane, a potent greenhouse gas, due to anaerobic decomposition
• Hard-to-Recycle Plastics: Eleven shoe boxes of plastic bottle lids collected. Why this matters: Recent litter surveys show that while fewer bottles are littered thanks to deposit schemes, loose plastic lids remain a massive environmental hazard.
• Medical & Consumer Waste: Five shoe boxes of medicinal blister packs and four shoe boxes of batteries.
• Textiles & Footwear: Six crates of shoes and four bags of textiles routed into designated recycling streams.
• E-Waste & Commercial Scrap: Multiple streams of polystyrene, metal furniture, broken equipment, computer screens, and headphones diverted to specialised recycling.

2. Influencing the Supply Chain (Sustainable Procurement)

We are actively addressing sustainable procurement across our goods and services to reduce our carbon and plastic footprint at the source. This includes utilising online marketplaces and “freecycle” networks to rehome and repurpose office furniture, unused stationery, and craft materials rather than buying new.

3. Activating the Strata (Influencing Beyond Your Office Walls)

You don’t need to own your building to make a difference. Perth NRM recently expanded its recycling program to our broader strata title. We installed a dedicated common-kitchen recycling hub for batteries, blister packs, plastic lids, and small e-waste, alongside a Containers for Change bin, encouraging neighbouring businesses to join the movement. Furthermore, the strata have recently transitioned to renewable energy with the installation of solar panels.

4. Zero-Waste Event Management

We lead by example at public and corporate events, supporting our staff to host zero waste events with the following initiatives in place:

• Providing washable mugs, refillable cups, and reusable catering containers instead of paper cups or plastic bottles.
• Serving large-format cordial, juice, and chilled water instead of individually packaged bottled drinks.
• Minimising catering packaging and providing “boomerang containers” for staff to use when purchasing takeaway meals nearby.

Turning Waste into Local Impact: The Containers for Change Loop

One of Perth NRM’s most impactful initiatives is linking waste reduction directly back to community funding through the Containers for Change scheme.

Our office collected 26 crates of eligible containers, diverting them from the waste stream. The proceeds from these returned containers don’t just sit in a bank account—they provide a consistent, regular income stream that serves as a foundation to support grass-roots community work. We turn everyday recycling into small, easy-to-access grants that make a massive difference at a local scale.

Here is how those recycled containers have driven real, year-on-year environmental action:

• 2026 – Sir Dave Day Small Grants: Proceeds contribute to our regular small grant rounds, providing vital funding for environmental volunteers on the ground. This includes supplying:
  • Essential first aid kits for safety in the field.
  • Hospitality kits to support volunteers during morning teas.
  • Practical tools required for hands-on, on-ground conservation work.
• 2025 – Schools National Tree Day: Funded 10 local schools for a national Schools Tree Day event, which featured a giveaway of 500 seedlings (50 to each participating school).
• On-Ground Research Partnerships: Contributed funding towards a student actively researching innovative ways to improve revegetation outcomes alongside community leader Bruce Ivers.
• Future Impact Innovations: We are currently investigating other initiatives to leverage the impact of our larger conservation programs. This includes exploring a dedicated plant giveaway initiative to support Black Cockatoo habitats in areas where nesting boxes have already been installed.

Take Action: What You Can Do This Plastic Free July and beyond

Whether you are looking at your household habits or looking to pitch a green initiative to your boss for Plastic Free July or beyond, you can look to Perth NRM’s framework as your guide:

For Individuals

• Ditch the Lids: When returning your drink containers to Containers for Change, consider the plastic lids. While facilities accept them, collecting them deliberately ensures they don’t end up as loose litter in our oceans.
• BYO Containers: Keep a “boomerang” container and reusable cup in your car or workspace for takeaway lunches.
• Audit Your Bin: Take note of what you throw away most often. Is it soft plastics? Food scraps? Find one local drop-off point (like a local council facility or community hub) to divert that specific stream.
• Visit the Plastic Free July website: There are so many great ideas – from those starting with reducing plastic use to those on the eliminate journey on the Plastic Free July website. Check it out here: https://www.plasticfreejuly.org/get-involved/ 

For Businesses

• Start with a Single Station: Set up a small box system in the staff kitchen specifically for batteries, bottle lids, or blister packs.
• Gamify Containers for Change: Set up a collection bin in the office and pledge the returns to a local charity or environmental cause – just like Perth NRM does for local landcare projects.
• Empower Flexible Work: Look at systemic ways to cut emissions. Perth NRM supports staff to work from home up to 50% of the time, drastically lowering commuting emissions.
• Get Involved in Citizen Science: Keep an eye on local environmental data. Perth NRM is actively participating in construction site and litter surveys to help keep our local environments pristine.

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