Ecologically Sustainable Development
The Mint continues to improve its environmental performance, and has implemented a range of new initiatives which have contributed to the Mint improving performance against the endorsed Environmental Policy.
A review of operational procedures and processes has focused on providing specific strategies including energy supply, energy use, delivery of goods and services, and redesign of production process flows. This will achieve savings and enhancement of conservation measures and waste minimisation.
Environmental Management
The Mint’s Environment Management System has been further refined to ensure that the requirements of the ISO 14001:1996 standards are achieved. This has included a review of the strategies of the Integrated Management Manual to improve the non-wasteful use of resources and the reduction of potential hazards to human health and the environment from emissions and wastes.
The Mint continues to participate in Clean Up Australia Day activities, reinforcing the culture of an environmentally friendly organisation.
The Mint encourages the shared subscription of publications and promotes the substitution of electronic communications for paper and print media.
The Mint has initiated a new recycling program for staff and visitors that includes new disposal procedures for classified, non-classified documents and packing materials, and the introduction of recycling waste bins in public areas.
The Mint increased water conservation measures during the period by introducing the following:
- Compliance with Stage 3 Water Restrictions, introduced in the ACT (on 16 December 2006);
- Monitoring of water consumption and the use of timers on manufacturing and production equipment; with exception reporting at 15 minute time intervals;
- Cessation of watering of Mint lawns and gardens;
- Cessation of programmed window washing; and
- Increased maintenance of associated hydraulic (water) fitments, including taps and showers in bathrooms and kitchens.
Water consumption for the period was 15,065 Kilolitres; a decrease of 31 per cent over the previous period.
Energy Management
In order to reduce the consumption of energy, the Mint has further improved its maintenance programmes by monitoring all systems with new exception reporting procedures (exception reporting is now at 15 minute time intervals).
Natural gas consumption was 5,245,980 Megajoules for the period and electricity consumption was 2,678,512 Kilowatts; this is a decrease of 13 per cent and 18 per cent respectively on the previous financial year. The electricity consumption figure includes the additional requirements coinciding with the commencement of building refurbishment construction activity.
Top