MCEC - Ikon Services Australia
LOCATION Melbourne Convention Exhibition Centre (MCEC) Victoria, Australia
INSTALL DATE April 2020
INDUSTRY Hospitality and Events
Background and Objective
Located in the centre of Melbourne, Melbourne Convention Exhibition Centre encompasses an area of 70,000 sqm, including 39,000 sqm of event space, three self-contained theaters for conferences/concerts, and 63 meeting rooms. From 2018-19, MCEC hosted 1,124 events, attracting 950,000 delegates, and contributing an estimated $1.1 billion to the Victorian economy.
Continually working to find innovative ways to improve its sustainability performance and the Centre’s environmental footprint,
waste management company, IKON Services Australia sought an alternative to sending food waste to landfill.
The Green Solution
IKON Services Australia identified that the Centre was using a costly and ineffective means of managing its organic waste. Food waste was loaded into a compacter in a cool room, which was refrigerated twentyfour hours a day, seven days a week to minimise odours.
A WasteMaster system was trialled for ten months from April 2019 and a new WasteMaster 1000 was purchased by IKON Services Australian and permanently installed in April 2020.
Positive Outcomes
43 tonnes of food waste have been diverted from landfill since installation of the trial unit, between April 2019 and February 2020.
17.5 tonnes of repurposed residue sent to anaerobic digestion to create green electricity.
4% CO2-eq reduction in greenhouse gas generation compared with landfill disposal.
Education of other suppliers and the community about the negative impacts of food waste and the benefits of diversion from landfill.
Quantifiable environmental impact improvements for wider communication and reporting.
43 tonnes of food waste have been diverted from landfill since installation of the trial unit, between April 2019 and February 2020.
Why WasteMaster?
Food waste repurposed for beneficial use.
Prevention of greenhouse gas generation due to diversion of food waste from landfill.
Organic waste converted on site, reducing CO2 emissions from transport.
Reduction in general waste transport costs and power costs for the cool room
No additives, microbes or water required for the conversion process.
Residue from conversion retains its calorific value to produce green energy and other resources.
Local, responsive support including remote management.
Waste data generation for monthly reporting.
“At Ikon Services we pride ourselves on providing our clients with advanced solutions that improve their environmental
credentials when it comes to waste management. Solutions that will help them achieve their sustainability goals by diverting
organics from landfill, reducing their green-house gas footprint and driving down costs. The WasteMaster has been effective
in achieving this at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre with proven and consistent results.”
Jamie McGuinness, Contract Manager – MCEC, IKON Services Australia