Despite the relatively small geographic region it covers, the A.G. Coombs Group’s Canberra operation that incorporates Integrated Technical Management and Walker Fire is responsible for managing and maintaining the building services of a significant number of high-profile organisations, institutions and Australian icons across the ACT.

With an embedded culture of sustainability in all its processes and procedures, the ACT team puts an emphasis on recycling and reusing wherever possible for all its staff, contractors and subcontractors.

Sustainability is entrenched in A.G. Coombs’ values

In line with A.G. Coombs Group’s values of continuously adding value and being a good corporate citizen, the A.G. Coombs ACT team , led by Michael Burns, has been participating in the ACT Sustainable Business Program’s Waste Minimisation Accreditation scheme since 2018.

The office recently secured its sixth consecutive accreditation and is proud of the difference it is making not only in its own operations, but in the services it provides to A.G. Coombs clients on a daily basis.

All A.G. Coombs ACT staff, contractors and subcontractors receive waste minimisation training during their induction to ensure that the company’s waste management plan and circular economy initiatives are adhered to and followed on every site. All staff understand the importance of recycling and reusing, and the program is considered a fundamental ‘business as usual’ process rather than a chore – part of their introduction to working with A.G. Coombs in the ACT.

Waste minimisation processes at every client site

Each year, an appointed external auditor from the Sustainable Business Program visits the ACT office to conduct a thorough audit of waste minimisation processes which include recycling of all packaging, separation of different recyclable groups, composting of organic waste and appropriate disposal of hard waste. Keeping organic waste out of landfill has a large impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and while it comprises only 6% of A.G. Coombs’ total waste by volume, it accounts for over 20% of its total greenhouse gas savings.

The auditor also visits client sites to observe waste minimisation practices in the field and provides the business with a scorecard of its achievement, and if necessary, areas of potential improvement.

Helping our clients achieve their sustainability goals

“When our team members implement our accredited waste minimisation plan on site, it is largely invisible. But the fact that our clients might not see the benefit directly, is in itself is a positive advantage. We take care of everything to make sure that materials are responsibly recycled and taken away – whether that is our electricians recycling light fittings or our technicians disposing of refrigerant and oil through the proper channels,” commented Michael Burns, Group Business Manager NSW/ACT.

“As leading building services providers in the ACT area, having the right accreditation and systems in place gives our clients the extra peace of mind that all work conducted on their sites meets accredited standards for environmental sustainability,” he added.

For more information about this and other ways that A.G. Coombs works sustainably to reduce its impact on the environment, please explore our website.