Case Study 

Dock Consolidation

During 2010 the centre management team at Westfield Parramatta recognised the way in which their waste was disposed of could be more efficient. The system had evolved over a number of years and had a number of inconsistencies for historical reasons only, and as the centre’s objective to reduce waste to landfill was investigated more closely, the issues that needed to be resolved were more clearly identified. 

There were 16 separate docks scattered throughout Westfield Parramatta’s back-of-house areas, each of which had separate — but not identical — waste streams. This included open bin systems and cardboard bailers, and was coupled with rigorous staff requirements to oversee the disposal processes and reduce contamination. 

The centre management team, working closely with its waste contractor, made the decision to reduce the number of waste docks from 16 to just four, replacing the existing infrastructure with compactors that would lead to improved measurement of waste quantities and an increase in recycling tonnage. In addition to the operational challenges of making such significant changes to the waste disposal process, there was also a major task in change management where the centre’s 488 retailers were concerned. 

Over the course of 2011 the bin systems in multiple docks were gradually removed and retailers were redirected to the general waste compactors that were located in the four dedicated waste docks. 

The new system yielded clear benefits. Whereas the open bin system resulted in frequent collection by the waste contractors of half-empty bins, the replacement compactors meant that more waste could be accumulated before requiring collection, and importantly — the measurement of that waste would be more accurate due to the collection only taking place when the compactors were completely full. 

Waste disposal at Parramatta became significantly easier to manage due to the consistency between the four docks, which allowed for more streamlined processes in terms of how the waste was disposed of by retailers, how it was measured, and how it was collected.

The implementation of the new waste dock system was not without challenges however. The phased implementation actually saw some recycling figures decrease in the short term as the changes were still being embedded; and a consistent and clear retailer information program was necessary to ensure that the centre’s retailers understood and embraced the new system. There were also operational requirements that the centre needed to meet to guarantee ease of access for retailers getting to the new dock areas. 

Despite any short term challenges the dock consolidation implemented during 2011 at Parramatta has laid the groundwork for vastly improved recycling practices and outcomes to be achieved at the centre in future.