Environment and Waste Management Policy

Purpose. This policy sets out how the business manages the environmental effects of printing, including paper, ink, solvent, plate and packaging waste and energy use.

1.Purpose

Printing uses paper, inks, solvents, aluminium plates, adhesives and energy. This policy commits the business to reducing consumption, preventing pollution and meeting its duties under the Environment Protection Act 2017 (Victoria) and the general environmental duty.

2.Commitments

The business will segregate and recycle paper offcuts, used plates, cardboard and plastic wrap. Solvent and ink waste will be stored in labelled bunded containers and collected by a licensed waste contractor. Substrates and inks with lower environmental impact will be preferred when they meet the client's specification.

• Paper waste baled and recycled weekly
• Used aluminium plates returned to the plate supplier
• Solvent waste collected monthly under manifest
• Wide format inks and substrates selected for recyclability where practicable

3.Responsibilities

The Operations and WHS Coordinator maintains the waste contractor arrangements and the chemical register. Supervisors must ensure waste is placed in the correct stream and that spills are cleaned up using the spill kit and reported. All workers must follow the segregation signage at each waste station.

4.Spills and emissions

Any spill of ink, solvent or adhesive must be contained immediately using the spill kit, reported to the supervisor and recorded in the Incident and Hazard Register. Spills that reach a drain or leave the site must be reported to the Operations and WHS Coordinator without delay so that the regulator can be notified if required. Press room extraction will be maintained and tested as scheduled.

5.Reporting

Waste volumes by stream, energy use and recycling rates will be recorded monthly and reported to the leadership team. The business will complete its annual packaging covenant report using this data.

6.Review

This policy will be reviewed each year, or earlier if waste streams, contractors or legislation change.