Workplace Waste Assessment Tool

This workbook is to assist with data collection only. Once completed, a

report can be requested from your CitySwitch Program Manager or
cityswitch@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au by sending the workbook back.
 Instructions
This tool is designed to provide you with a simple snapshot of your office's waste generation and recycling
rates.

Through a visual observation of waste streams, it will give you an approximation of what you are currently
sending to landfill and diverting to recycling. This tool will highlight potential cost savings to both your own
organisation and the building management.
Using this information, it will then enable you to begin discussions with both your own management and the
building management on simple cost-effective solutions to improve your waste processes.

Conducting the Assessment

1. The visual observation should occur over a working week (5 days).

2. Avoid conducting the observation over any holiday periods e.g. Christmas and school holidays.

3. Undertake the observation at approximately the same time each day, and ideally towards the end of the
working day to get a reflective sample of your waste generation.

4. Ensure that you wear appropriate Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) i.e. gloves and glasswear if
required. Tongs may assist in handling materials to achieve better observations.

5. Choose a floor(s) to sample from your tenancy – the more bins/floors you choose, the more
representative your sample will be of your office waste profile. Ensure you include all the bins within your
chosen area, noting the location, and remembering bins may be located in printing areas, kitchens and
under desks.

6. For each bin selected note the volume capacity i.e. typical household wheelie bins are 240L and smaller
wheelie bins (like most household general waste bins) are 120L. Common round dome-lid garden bins (what
you would buy from a hardware store) are 60L. Pedal bins in kitchen areas are typically 40L. Small under-
desk bins/boxes are 10L.

7. Determine whether the bin is either 10%, 25%, 50%, 75% or 100% full. If the bin is overflowing this can
be noted as 125% full. Refer to the following page for a visual example.

8. Visually observe the contents of each bin and determine the composition percentage for each stream i.e.
50% landfill, 20% paper, 20% mixed recycling, 5% cardboard, organics 5%. The total composition must add
up to 100%. Please note – hand sorting through the waste is not recommended, however giving the
bin/liner a quick shake or using some tongs may assist you in determining the bin contents.

9. Count the number of coffee cups in each bin. Note that the disposable cup is classed as landfill and you
should also include this in estimating the volume of landfill during the visual observation.

10 Litres 40Litres 45 Litres 60 Litres 120 Litres 240 Litres

http://cityswitch.net.au/waste
 10. There is also a comments field that can be used to note the actual contaminants in each bin which can
then be noted for any future engagement/signage issues.

Once your visual observations are completed, input your information to both the Site Details
and Data fields within this Excel Spreadsheet, save it, and e-mail it back to your CitySwitch
Program Manager.

Not already a member? Get in touch at cityswitch@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au and a program

manager will contact you.

Definitions

Mixed Recycling – all plastics numbered 1-7

i.e. drink bottle, food containers, aluminium
and steel cans, glass

Paper – all paper types including glossy

magazines, newspaper, envelopes with
plastic window

Cardboard – all cardboard packaging, boxes,

cards etc. Note – waxed cardboard i.e. from
fruit shop is not to be included in the
cardboard category, it should be considered
landfill.

Organics – Food scraps, vegetation (flowers)

Landfill – all other non-recyclable items

including soiled handtowels, coffee cups
(even if they are labelled recyclable)

Contamination is any material that enters a recycling stream that cannot be recycled at the facility. If
contamination is too high the entire contaminated content will have to be sent to landfill. Common
contaminants include coffee cups in paper/recycling bins, ream wrappers in paper bins, significant food in
plastic containers within the recycling stream, paper hand towels in paper bin, etc. Note that repeated
contaminants should be added in the comments field of the data sheet.

http://cityswitch.net.au/waste
Site Details
note: all cells in red require to be filled out as a minimum
AUDIT DETAILS

Name of Assessor

Start Time
Audit - Day 1
Audit - Day 2
Audit - Day 3
Audit - Day 4
Audit - Day 5

BUILDING DETAILS
note: you may be required to contact your building manager for some of this information

What is your building

Name/Address?

Building
Owner/Management

How many floors in the

building? Hint: Check your lift or building directory

How many m2 is the

entire building?

Who is your primary

waste contractor?

Who is your cleaning

contractor?

Input your cost per bin collected if this is available to you. (Hint - Ask your Building Manager)
This will provide a more accurate cost analysis.
Landfill 120L
240L
660L
1100L
Mixed Recycling 120L
240L
660L
1100L
Cardboard 120L
240L
 660L
1100L
Office Paper 120L
240L
660L
1100L
Organics 120L
240L
660L
1100L

TENANCY DETAILS

What is the name of

your tenancy?

What is the TOTAL m2

(NLA) of the floors
audited? ask your building manager for help if you don't know!

What is the TOTAL m2

(NLA) of YOUR ENTIRE
office space for your
tenancy? ask your building manager for help if you don't know!

How many floor does

the tenancy occupy in
the building?

How many floors did

you audit?

# of Full Time
Equivalent employees
on floor/s that were
audited

# of Full Time
Equivalent employees
for your tenancy

Does each employee

have a General Waste
under desk bin? Yes/No
 Does each employee
have a Paper under
desk bin? Yes/No

Does your office utilise

pull or follow me
printing? Yes/No

Is double-sided
printing a default on
your printer? Yes/No

ADDITIONAL DETAILS

Is there a dedicated
sustainability
person/team in your
organisation? Yes/No

How would you

describe the current
commitment within
your organisation's
senior management to
improving waste
performance in the
organisation?

_x000D_
How would you
describe the current
commitment across
your wider
organisation and staff
to improving waste
performance in your
offices?

How would you

describe the current
level of
knowledge/awareness
of waste by your
sustainability staff or
internal champions?
 How would you
describe the current
level of
knowledge/awareness
of waste across your
wider organisation and
staff?

How would you

describe the level of
waste improvement
achieved to date
within your
organisation?

GENERAL COMMENTS
please provide any feedback or comments below
Audit Sample Data
note: if you require more lines to add in additional sample data just enter the next sample number on the line
below the final sample number in column A
OBSERVATIONAL
Bin Size (in
How full is
Litres) - look at
the bin? (in Mixed
Sample Date Area Waste Stream instructions tab Landfill Cardboard
percentage Recycling
for indicative
)
volumes
1 12/30/1899 General Office Landfill 50 100% 100%
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OBSERVATIONAL BREAKDOWN in %
Check
# Coffee Percentages
Office
Organics Cups in input if an
Paper
Stream exclamation
mark appears
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Sample.

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Comments & Observations
Audit Sample Data
note: if you require more lines to add in additional sample data just enter the next sample number on the line
below the final sample number in column A
OBSERVATIONAL
Bin Size (in
How full is
Litres) - look at
the bin? (in Mixed
Sample Date Area Waste Stream instructions tab Landfill Cardboard
percentage Recycling
for indicative
)
volumes
1 12/30/1899 General Office Landfill 50 100% 100%
2 12/30/1899
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OBSERVATIONAL BREAKDOWN in %
Check
# Coffee Percentages
Office
Organics Cups in input if an
Paper
Stream exclamation
mark appears
3
Sample.

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Comments & Observations
Audit Sample Data
note: if you require more lines to add in additional sample data just enter the next sample number on the line
below the final sample number in column A
OBSERVATIONAL
Bin Size (in
How full is
Litres) - look at
the bin? (in Mixed
Sample Date Area Waste Stream instructions tab Landfill Cardboard
percentage Recycling
for indicative
)
volumes
1 12/30/1899 General Office Landfill 50 100% 100%
2 12/30/1899
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OBSERVATIONAL BREAKDOWN in %
Check
# Coffee Percentages
Office
Organics Cups in input if an
Paper
Stream exclamation
mark appears
3
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Comments & Observations
Audit Sample Data
note: if you require more lines to add in additional sample data just enter the next sample number on the line
below the final sample number in column A
OBSERVATIONAL
Bin Size (in
How full is
Litres) - look at
the bin? (in Mixed
Sample Date Area Waste Stream instructions tab Landfill Cardboard
percentage Recycling
for indicative
)
volumes
1 12/30/1899 General Office Landfill 50 100% 100%
2 12/30/1899
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OBSERVATIONAL BREAKDOWN in %
Check
# Coffee Percentages
Office
Organics Cups in input if an
Paper
Stream exclamation
mark appears
3
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Comments & Observations
Audit Sample Data
note: if you require more lines to add in additional sample data just enter the next sample number on the line
below the final sample number in column A
OBSERVATIONAL
Bin Size (in
How full is
Litres) - look at
the bin? (in Mixed
Sample Date Area Waste Stream instructions tab Landfill Cardboard
percentage Recycling
for indicative
)
volumes
1 12/30/1899 General Office Landfill 50 100% 100%
2 12/30/1899
3 12/30/1899
4 12/30/1899
5 12/30/1899
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OBSERVATIONAL BREAKDOWN in %
Check
# Coffee Percentages
Office
Organics Cups in input if an
Paper
Stream exclamation
mark appears
3
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Comments & Observations