1. Industry Improvement Project
2. Regional Energy Efficiency Program
3. Green Advantage for Small Business
4. Switched on Business - City of Gosnells
5. Enhancing Trade Skills

Light Industry Precinct Improvement Project

The project investigated the environmental attitudes and practices of business owners-managers in the industrial estates within Maddington-Kenwick and Cockburn in regard to waste, water management and an energy component.
In collaboration with the Cities of Gosnells and Cockburn this project  trailled a range of strategies to encourage and facilitate the adoption of Best Management Practices (BMPs) in over 460 SMEs. These strategies have included onsite environmental/resource efficiency assessments, followed by specially tailored assistance and support for the businesses; including specific educational material, trialling of recycling facilities and individualised reports to advise businesses on ways to reduce their resource use, mainly waste stream issues and pollutants but value added  with  the addition of energy and water efficiency.
This approach was also used for similar projects run in regional Western Australia as well as in Melbourne.

Data were collected to provide baseline information of the level of business interest in the environment, waste and water pollution/ management practices in these industrial areas. After analysis data an intervention program was implemented by. The intervention program included the following:

• Individual waste management advice for business;
• Developing links between business operators and recycling contractors;
• Provision of recycling bins and communal paper and cardboard bins via local government authorities and recyclers into industrial areas; 
• Promotion of local businesses that offered recycling services and new recycling facilities that became available during the project ;
• Legal compliance advise to the local business community;
• The creation of a stakeholder partnership between PRNRM, local government, recycling contractors and business community and
• The development and distribution of a regular newsletter to local business community.

To view the Report for this project, click here.

The West Australian Office of Energy - Regional Energy Efficiency Program

This program is designed to help businesses save energy in areas outside of Western Australia's main South West electricity grid. The Office of Energy offered Regional Businesses with the opportunity to have a free energy assessment conducted on their operations. Participating businesses received a Report outlining where energy is being used in their business as well as recommendations on where energy use could be improved.

Green Advantage for Small Business - Edith Cowan University (Small to Medium Enterprise Research Centre)

Development of the Business Health Checklist; running workshops and conducting on‐site energy assessments of businesses, water and waste assessments for (SMEs) in conjunction with Edith Cowan University's Small to Medium Enterprise Research Centre.
To download a copy of a Business Health Checklist, click here.

Switched on Business - City of Gosnells

Following on from the Light Industry Improvement Project in Maddington, the City of Gosnells, through their Switched on Business Program, engaged energy assessors from Perth Region NRM to conduct energy audits of businesses.

Enhancing Trade Skills

Assessment of the light industry sector has identified a clear need for better environmental knowledge and skills. A base level environmental module was developed through a consultancy and trialled by the Industrial Training Institute (based in Kwinana). This training organisation further supported this initiative by taking steps to demonstrate best environmental practice and resource efficiency within their training facilities.

This initiative was well received by students with positive feedback on its content and delivery. However Nationally Accredited training courses have since been developed and adopted.