Yarra Trams has now opened its fourth greendepot® at Brunswick Tram Depot.
The latest greendepot® will help Yarra Trams to reduce its impact on the environment and spread the green message amongst staff.
Yarra Trams has already implemented the greendepot® program at its East Preston, Malvern and Glenhuntly depots, saving a combined 4.09 million litres of water each year.
Brunswick Depot’s water conservation and harvesting measures will involve a further 2.5 million litres of water annually.
Rainwater harvested from the depot roof will be used to wash Melbourne’s iconic trams. A raingarden with native and exotic plants, uses recycled tram sand to filter contaminants from runoff and reduce stormwater pollution.
A range of green initiatives has been introduced at Brunswick Depot including:
· Installation of six rainwater tanks - stored rainwater for washing trams
· Waterless urinals and water saving toilet cisterns
· Installation of flow restrictors on all taps and showerheads – reducing the flow rate from approximately 32 litres per minute to four litres per minute
· Fully segregated waste disposal focuses on recycling and waste minimisation
· Tram sand collected and recycled
· Raingarden using recycled tram sand to filter contaminants from the car park
· A worm farm to reduce food waste
· Rezoning lights in the running shed and reconfiguring light switches across the depot to reduce energy consumption
· Staff environmental awareness program
Yarra Trams has partnered with Moreland Energy Foundation to consult on energy saving measures at the depot and to promote behavioural change amongst staff. As a result Moreland Energy Foundation has made Yarra Trams a ‘Zero Carbon Moreland Business Ambassador’.
