| Measure and improve your environmental performance |
| Environmental audits are the internationally accepted means for reviewing industry environmental performance and initiating better management. The development and field testing of the Nursery Environmental Self-Audit (NESA) has provided the means for assessing environmental performance at both the individual nursery and industry level. Preliminary results indicate a number of potential areas for improvement. |
Why self-audit?
A self-audit is no more than a checklist of questions that allow you to assess how you are performing as an environmental manager. For example, does your nursery:
- allow runoff to leave the nursery untreated?
- employ staff who have completed the chemical users course?
- send bulk bins of waste to the tip?
- attract complaints from neighbours?
Regulatory agencies prefer improvements in environmental performance to be initiated by industry, rather than enforcement by government. A self-audit is a simple tool to begin the process of improvement. It is a way of evaluating nursery environmental performance against 'industry best practice' to meet the challenge of improving environmental performance.
| Lending institutions are increasingly seeking environmental audits of nurseries prior to granting loans for acquisition or expansion. A backlog of environmental problems may interfere with business plans for your nursery. |
Field testing of NESA
A total of 12 nurseries from as far afield as Cairns, Melbourne and Mildura participated in a recent self-assessment of their environmental performance. Environmental performance was assessed in 2 ways:
- how well 'best practice' standards were being met
- whether the nursery manager was aware of site problems and whether an environmental 'action plan' was underway
| The Australian Nursery Industry Research and Development Plan identifies 'Environmental Accountability' as one of six key activity areas within the framework of improved profitability.
The Industry seeks to build on its current image through responsible waste management, safe storage, handling and use of chemicals, together with sustainable use of resources such as water, energy, soil and land. In addition, the Industry seeks to prevent off-site environmental damage from runoff or disease. |
Are there problems?
There are some areas where substantial improvements in environmental management can be made.
Environmental complaints
Many nurseries interviewed had received some environmental complaints from neighbours, usually regarding noise, runoff or the use of pesticides.
Due diligence
The onus is on nursery managers to be diligent in environmental issues and to properly instruct all employees in such matters. Written 'environmental operating guidelines' are especially important in the handling and use of pesticides.
Pesticide records
Some record of pesticide use was kept by the majority of nursery managers. Few kept comprehensive records or made use of the records to monitor progress towards improving environmental performance through a lowering of pesticide use.
Pesticide handling facilities
Pesticide storage was generally in lockable steel cupboards and mixing carried out on concrete. However, there were generally no sump traps to catch accidental spills.
Runoff management
Research has shown that some nutrients, dis-infectants and pesticides may find their way into local waterways if runoff and drainage are not intercepted and treated. Most growers are moving towards water recycling and better irrigation and fertiliser management systems.
Weeds
Noxious or nuisance plants listed by certain authorities as 'weeds' were grown by some nurseries. Local nursery operators and NIAs will need to work with local authorities to decide whether certain ornamentals that constitute potential weeds should or should not be grown.
Solid Waste
The Federal Government has set an objective of 50% reduction in waste to landfill by the year 2000. Most nurseries reuse pots where possible but the majority of other plastic, green waste and unwanted potting mix ends up going to landfill or being dumped elsewhere.
| Lance Carr of Mountain Range Nursery reports that he recently had a visit from a Wollongong Council Environmental Inspector to assess Lance's nursery's operation. This involved a detailed inspection, discussion about some on site environmental issues and a follow up letter listing 'work to be done'.
The letter requested, amongst other things, that Lance send to Council a plan outlining how he intended to address runoff control, including ponds and nutrient removal. Council was exercising powers under Section 608 of the Local Government Act which empowered it to also invoice Lance for $100 for the 'external' audit. |
How to use NESA
NESA comes in 2 formats - a '5 minute rapid appraisal version (Table 1) as well as a full environmental audit format available through HRDC as part of the final report for project NY97004 (see Further reading).
The '5 minute' self-audit version is adequate to highlight the major areas for improvement in environmental management. The full version, which takes several hours to complete, is mainly for larger nurseries or those under serious pressure to improve their environmental performance.
Step 2 is to develop an 'action plan' to tackle problems over time according to the severity of your problems and budgetary constraints. Some of the detail contained in the full NESA can assist here.
Step 3 is to implement your action plan using information such as that listed under 'Further reading'. An awareness of the latest 'best practice' information and community expectations is essential.
Step 4 is to reassess your businesses environmental performance in light of the changes.
A simple way of determining if an environmental self-audit has relevance to your nursery operation is to answer the questions in Table 1. If the nursery scores well, consider yourself on the way to being a good environmental manager. Low or moderate scores indicate that your business may benefit from using NESA to develop an 'environmental action plan and timetable' to improve environmental performance.
What changes might be required?
It is important that we realise that many of the necessary changes will be simple and involve the application of some common sense. Good environmental management will in many instances make good business sense and shouldn't simply be an added burden.
For instance, if your current pesticide storage cabinet is adequate except there is no provision to catch leaking chemical, first look for a simple solution. Just think about how the cabinet can be modified to catch the volume of chemical that would be lost if the biggest container sprung a leak. Maybe a simple metal tray would do the trick.
An example of due dilligence is the adequate training of staff who handle pesticides by putting them through the 'National Farm Chemical Users Training Program'. Many operators have reported savings in chemical use and increased effectiveness of control programs after doing this course.
If your site is too steep or too crowded to build large detention ponds for runoff water, consider ways to reduce the volume of runoff water. Most local authorities are happy to allow runoff from roofs and carparks straight into the stormwater system without treatment.
By identifying your weakest areas and addressing them logically and sensibly you'll be well prepared to face external scrutiny.
Do other industries audit?
The cotton, sugar and mushroom industries have all conducted industry-wide environmental reviews. All have identified areas requiring action at both the industry and individual producer level.
While the nursery industry by its very nature is much less likely to have significant environmental impacts than many other industries, significant improvements still need to be made.
| The bottom line Leo Koelewyn of Coolwyn Conifers at Monbulk Victoria considers having an 'action plan' to be the most important aspect. Having the 'right attitude' to environmental matters will see a gradual improvement in environmental performance over time. 'Obviously major problems need to be targeted urgently', Leo said. |
| Table 1: 5 minute Nursery Environmental Self-Audit |
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| Issue | Question | Yes | No | |
| 1. | Site suitability | Is your nursery located on an easily managed, gently sloping site with little soil erosion? | ||
| 2. | Does your nursery site have plenty of room to accommodate runoff detention basins, water storages, vegetated buffers, waste management areas etc? | |||
| 3. | Are your neighbours happy (i.e. no complaints) about noise, spraying, odours etc coming from the nursery? | |||
| 4. | Is your nursery well screened from neighbours by a landscaped buffer? | |||
| 5. | Water management | Do growing areas have a water resistant barrier (eg plastic or compacted base) to prevent pot leachate (containing fertiliser etc) entering the soil? | ||
| 6. | Is irrigation runoff and first flush stormwater collected, treated to remove contaminants and either reused or appropriately discharged? | |||
| 7. | Is your water and fertiliser consumption per unit of production declining with better water and fertiliser management? | |||
| 8. | Do you have a modern efficient irrigation system that is regularly monitored for application rates and water uniformity? | |||
| 9. | Pesticides | Are pesticides stored in a locked fire resistant and well ventilated enclosure? | ||
| 10. | Are clearly written instructions on mixing and handling procedures displayed in the chemical store? | |||
| 11. | Is your pesticides mixing area concreted and fitted with a sump to catch pesticide spills? | |||
| 12. | Are pesticides mixed and applied only by staff accredited by the 'Farm Chemical User Training Program'? | |||
| 13. | Is the washdown area for spray equipment on a grassed area well away from drainage lines? | |||
| 14. | Do you keep detailed records of all pesticide applications which are signed by the operator? | |||
| 15. | Waste management | Is green waste mulched and used appropriately rather than being sent to landfill? | ||
| 16. | Is used potting mix recycled responsibly (eg on garden beds) rather than being dumped? | |||
| 17. | Are used pots washed, disinfected and reused rather than being discarded? | |||
| 18. | Training | Do new staff receive formal instruction on environmental (and other) best practice? | ||
| 19. | Are staff encouraged to attend training courses (e.g. IPM, WATERWORKS) relevant to better environmental management? | |||
| 20. | Weeds | Have you checked to ensure you are not selling potential weeds into problem areas? | ||
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TOTAL
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| Action Plan: Mark five issues above where an 'action plan' would assist in improving the environmental performance of your nursery. | ||||
Acknowledgements
A special thanks to the twelve co-operating nurseries for 'trialing' NESA. These people included Virginia Brunton, Beth Cooling and Brent Harris, Warwick Keegan, Alex Jakimoff, Leo Koelewyn, Clive Larkman, Andrew Mathews, Ray Parker, Peter and Ann Radke, Peter Smith, Gerry Vickers and Graeme Wilkinson.
The project has been funded by the pot levy and HRDC. This paper was prepared by Bob Smith, Environmental Auditor, 1 Brown Ave, Alstonville NSW 2477.
Further reading
National farm chemical user training program reference manual, 3rd Edition, (manual), (1994), The NSW Management Committee: Farm Chemical User Training Program Rural Training Council of NSW.
NIASA best practice guidelines for the Nursery Industry Accreditation Scheme, Australia (NIASA), (book), (1997), Nursery Industry Association of Australia.
Nursery environmental self-audit (NESA), (book in press), Smith, RJ., HRDC Project #NY97004 final report. Phone: 02 9418 2200.
Nursery industry water management: best practice guidelines, Australia 1997, Nursery Industry Association of Australia. Phone 02 9876 5200
