The workshops are designed to increase the awareness of businesses to the impacts of their operations on the environment. They also highlight the benefits, both environmental and financial, that can result from implementing pollution prevention and Cleaner Production measures. The current format of the project begins with selection of a suitable suburb where businesses are advised of the project by letter, door knocking and local press. A one-hour introductory information session is held in the nominated suburb to build interest in the project and demonstrate the economic and environmental benefits to be gained by participating. Following this session interested businesses attend a series of three, two-hour workshops and are led through a simple life cycle model with which they can measure their own operations.
All sessions are free of charge.
Numbers attending workshops are limited to a maximum of 15 to ensure all participants have the chance to explore and discuss their own situations. Feedback is then sought six to eight weeks later to record and measure pollution prevention initiatives implemented as a result of the workshops. In the six months to the end of 1998 a total of 85 people representing 67 businesses attended the workshops. Of those businesses attending 23 have reported a predicted cost benefit from changes made to work practices. A further 35 reported an environmental or other benefit as an outcome from the attending the course.