This Week in the Market – 20 October 2020
| Edition 285 View this email in your browser |
 |
| In this week’s Market News: – Fitted face masks must be worn at all times – Amazing recycling rate achieved – Get involved in social media Market News Outstanding recycling results for another year  The Melbourne Market community has achieved another fantastic recycling result for the 2019-20 financial year, with an amazing 98% recycling rate. We believe our recycling rate is the highest of any wholesale market in the world, and that is an achievement we can all be proud of. So after separating your waste, what makes up the 98% of recycled waste, and where does it all end up? Food recovery As part of the market’s food recovery program, 218,750 kg of fresh produce was donated to Foodbank last financial year, helping to feed vulnerable Victorians. This is an amazing result, and with FareShare joining the market community a few months ago as another food recovery provider, we aim to get this figure even higher next year! Animals 2% of market waste was fed to animals, either to livestock at local farms or the Melbourne Zoo. Organic Last financial year 33% of market waste, which equates to 1,016,780 kgs, was transported to the Yarra Valley Water, Waste to Energy facility. Our partnership with Yarra Valley Water sees discarded Melbourne Market produce converted into biogas which is used to generate electricity, saving tonnes of produce from landfill. You can learn more about how this process works by viewing the video below. Cardboard Another 33% of waste generated at the market is from cardboard products. This cardboard is converted into a range of products including packaging, industrial paper, tissues, newspaper, insulation, kitty litter and even egg cartons. Wood To reduce wood to landfill, an additional 12 pine pallet collection and re-use points were added to the market site last year. When pine pallets become damaged and are no longer usable they are recycled and either made into new plain pallets or are transformed into mulch for use in chicken beds or gardens. Polystyrene and Plastic Polystyrene and plastic waste each accounted for 4% of recycling respectively. This waste is recycled into a huge variety of items including fleeces, sleeping bags, pens, carpet, plastic furniture, electronic goods and even picture frames. Landfill And finally, just 2% of market waste went to landfill, which is down from 3% the year prior, and something we strive to improve on each year. The Melbourne Market’s recycling results are an amazing achievement considering, just over 5 years ago approximately 70% of market waste went to landfill. Thank you to the entire market community for doing your part in helping reduce our environmental impact. If you want to know more about recycling and how separating your waste is not only good for the environment but saves you money, go to melbournemarkets.com.au/recycling/. See what happens to organic waste after it leaves the Melbourne Market. Latest Coronavirus (COVID-19) information Market users are reminded that they must continue to follow COVID rules at all times. As of 11 October, updated face-covering rules came into effect in Victoria. All Victorians must wear a fitted face mask when they leave home, no matter where they live, and these rules apply when you are at the Melbourne Market. As directed by the Chief Health Officer (CHO), face shields, bandanas, and scarves are no longer considered a sufficient face covering and cannot be worn on their own. There have been questions around the use of snoods, buffs and gaiters as face coverings at the Melbourne Market. After reviewing the CHO directions, the MMA is implementing a directive under its authority, where snoods, buffs or gaiters cannot be worn at the Melbourne Market, regardless if they are fitted or loose. This expanded rule is to ensure the safety of the Market community and to provide clarity and enforceable directions concerning face coverings. Further information about the changes to face-covering rules, including an in-depth list of frequently asked questions can be found on the DHHS website at, dhhs.vic.gov.au/face-masks-vic-covid-19.  Detailed information regarding the impacts of COVID on Market operations can be found on our website at www.melbournemarket.com.au/melbourne-market-coronavirus-covid-19-response/. Additional warehousing opportunities at the market  Last week the MMA opened expressions of interest for the potential release of a further 44,000 m2 of on-site warehousing, office / commercial spaces and showroom opportunities at the Melbourne Market site. These new developments are planned to sit across six separate facilities located on the northern and eastern Market boundaries. With sufficient interest, it is planned that the developments could be completed and ready for leasing and occupation by March 2022. Expressions of interest for the new warehousing and commercial office opportunities are open to existing tenants, market business’ and other allied business’ until 30 October 2020. To find out more, including downloading an information pack and submitting your expression of interest, visit melbournemarkets.com.au/eoi-warehousing-opportunities-at-melbourne-market/. Register your interest in warehousing and commercial opportunities Public Holidays – Market closed  The Market will be closed on Friday 23 October for the AFL grand final public holiday and on Tuesday 3 November for the Melbourne Cup public holiday. If your parking permit only allows access on a day that falls on a public holiday, and you would like to come to the market on an alternative adjacent day, you will not be charged for parking and can enter the market. However, your regular bay may not be available. Please see a Market Relations Officer on arrival for instruction. Business continuity plans: How to continue trading during disasters and interruptions  Melbourne’s North Food Group and Resilient Services invite you to a webinar on why and how to build a business continuity plan so you can continue trading during impactful events. A business continuity plan is a set of measures that provide businesses with methods to maintain trading and delivery during disasters and interruptions. Disasters include COVID-19, bushfires and storms; while interruptions can include IT system loss, absence of key staff, and suppliers not delivering.Click here to learn more about this free webinar.  ‘Spring Fresh’ campaign off and running The latest A better choice! campaign, ‘Spring Fresh’ is live across Australia with radio advertisements continuing across Melbourne stations. The radio component of the campaign is made up of both traditional ads as well as live reads from popular presenters. Hear the ads for yourself by clicking on the links below. Live reads NOVA FM – Chrissy, Sam and Browny NOVA FM – Kate Tim and Joel Traditional radio ad Various stations There is still a limited amount of free point-of-sale merchandise for retailers to collect, but you’ll have to get in quick. Pick up yours from Gate 1, Art & Style, or the Customer Service Centre. New murals Have you spotted the latest A better choice! themed murals on the trading floor? These fun fruit and veg themed images certainly brighten up our market walls.   A Better Choice feedback Do you have feedback or questions about the A Better Choice program? We’d love to hear from you, send an email to abetterchoice@melbournemarket.com.au. Get involved in social media  We’re always looking for more content to share on our social media channels, and there are no better voices to represent the industry than the greengrocers, growers and wholesalers of the Melbourne Market. Please contact lauren.kitchener@melbournemarket.com.au if you would like to feature in our social media content or feel free tag us in your own Facebook and Instagram posts for re-sharing. Industry News Changes to the Food and Grocery Code On 3 October 2020, changes were made to the Food and Grocery Code – a voluntary code that governs certain conduct by grocery retailers and wholesalers in their dealings with suppliers. Retailers and wholesalers that are bound by the Code will be updating their processes and their grocery supply agreements as necessary to comply with the Code. Click here to find out more about the changes. Melbourne Market Job Board  Do you have a vacancy to fill in your business? Email submissions@melbournemarket.com.au for the position to be placed on our new online job board. View full online job board Ask the MMA If you’ve got a question for the MMA email it to: submissions@melbournemarket.com.au. Follow us  |