Objectives

    • To determine the need for further action
    • To examine the willingness of companies to participate in future projects
    • To provide information on what they can do to help the environment
    • To identify companies as examples for others to follow

In 1996, the MEC carried out a trial of the industry assessment process with a small number of schools. This trial, as part of the ‘Dob in a Do-Gooder‘ Awards, provided an insight into the type of questions that were relevant and the acceptance of the project by local companies. Although the programme was primarily concerned with the contamination of waterways, the questionnaire aimed to highlight waste and emissions reduction to add scope to the case studies.

Methodology

Following this trial, it was clear that success of the project relied upon communication between the schools, the MEC and the companies.
 
 

Students were given background talks on catchment and pollution  issues as an introduction to the problems that faced the local creeks.  In small groups they visited the companies, under adult supervision,  and interviewed a company representative on issues regarding the  environment and their practices. 200 companies were identified and  approached prior to the interviews. 100 of these were subsequently  interviewed and assessed by the students.

 As a student-led programme it was essential that they were:
    • Encouraged to establish contact with the companies and add their own questions to the
       industry assessment form
    • Given a variety of companies to enable them to assess the different issues impacting on the
      catchment
    • Given sufficient background knowledge to confidently ask additional questions
    • Able to identify the actions that the companies were taking to lessen their impacts on the
     local environment and participate in the process of ranking the companies.

Following the questionnaire the students put forward their nominations for the best company environmental policy. The finalists were then interviewed in depth by MEC staff and students from the University of NSW for inclusion in this Manual. It is hoped their initiatives and ideas will be used as examples for other businesses to follow.

The following companies will be awarded the ‘kcc Green Business Award’.
Renato from Streamwatch getting involved at kcc Congress