To celebrate World Environment Day on June 5, “CityNews” spoke to some of the local businesses dedicated to providing a quality service with a focus on being environment-friendly.

Whether it’s garden maintenance, safe recycling or a general house clean, there are plenty of businesses throughout Canberra who have a green, future-friendly approach.

To celebrate World Environment Day on June 5, “CityNews” spoke to some of the businesses dedicated to providing a quality service with a focus on being environment-friendly.

Creating safe metal recycling solutions

ACCESS Metal Recycling is part of the movement to produce green steel in Australia, says general manager Richard Iles.

“We’ve been operating for more than 25 years, with a new site now in Orange, NSW,” he says.

“Our mission is to take our clients’ scrap metal recovery problems and create safe, simple and sustainable scrap-metal recycling solutions.

“Access provides the widest range of services to people, to collect or assist them to get their scrap to us for recycling.

“With bins three to 30 cubic metres, flatbed trucks, tippers and excavators with grabs and magnets, when it comes to collecting scrap we do not use contractors, it is all done by Access people and equipment,” he says.

“The range of industries and the people we interact with drive our passion for the work we do.”

Richard says the steel his business collects goes straight back into Australian-run furnaces.

“There is a massive change in moving towards green steel manufacturing with an increase of recycled metal going into the mix,” he says.

“As time goes on the ratio of recycled metal into steel making will increase and to be part of that transition is challenging, and great to be part of.”

Access Metal Recycling, 15 Lithgow Street, Fyshwick. Call 6280 9920, or visit accessrecycling.com.au

Recycling wood into something beautiful

THOR’s Hammer grew out of Thor Diesendorf’s passion for making furniture with recycled timbers.

“Sustainability and hands-on making is at the centre of our business,” he says.

“We aim to show our respect for these timbers by designing products and pieces that are both practical and beautiful. We produce everything from building timbers to flooring and cladding, to furniture and joinery.

“Reducing waste is what we do. We take care with choosing materials and resources, as we do with sourcing timbers. This includes using natural sunflower-oil based finishes for coating, bio-based resin for filling nail holes, electric forklifts, and using a solar kiln for final drying.

“Our waste sawdust is turned into fire briquettes and offcuts are stacked on pallets and sold as firewood to minimise waste.”

Thor says he learnt to work with salvaged timber in the early ‘90s, while making furniture from recycled timber with Paul Lynzaat as his unofficial apprentice.

“Having made contact with the local demolition companies and doing a few salvage jobs, I saw how much good timber was going to waste,” he says.

“It is really important to us to be involved in the transition to a circular economy and a more sustainable society. We have been recognised for the Waste Minimisation and the Minister’s Award for Leadership in the 2023 ACT Climate Choice Awards.”

Thor’s Hammer, 10 Mildura Street, Griffith. Call 6282 9900, or visit thors.com.au

More awards for mechanical team

CAR Mechanical Services in Fisher has been recognised for Sustainable Small Business of the Year at the 2023 ACT Climate Choice Awards.

It follows on from their win in May where they were named National Champion Automotive Mechanical Repairs at the small business champion awards.

“The team has been working very hard and the award made up for times lost,” says director Raffy Sgroi.

“We think it’s because of the amount of work we do and how we look after our customers.

“We work hard, we’re truthful and understanding with the customers and we work to help a lot of communities.”

Raffy attributes the honesty of the team and the quality of the service to their win.

“Our most common feedback is about our honesty and reliability,” she says.

Husband and co-director, Charlie, says they put a lot of time and effort into keeping their customers happy.

“Even when we are flat out, we bend over backwards for our loyal customers who bring uncles, aunties and friends to us; we look after customers like family,” he says.

Charlie has worked in mechanics for more than 42 years, with “three or four years’” experience beforehand, in helping his dad repair their tractor, where his passion began.

“I’ve done it all my life; never had another job,” he says, and enjoys working alongside family still.

“My wife knows I know how to run a workshop and I know she knows how to do office work.”

Car Mechanical Services, Unit 2, 82 Kalgoorlie Crescent, Fisher. Call 6126 4111, or visit carmechanicalservices.com.au

Bringing garden value to family and property

GARDEN designer and horticulturist, Joel Black says a well laid-out garden adds to the enjoyment and value of a property.

“But a well laid out garden doesn’t always need expensive landscaping,” he says.

“There is so much that can be achieved with good advice, well selected plants and a little know-how.

“I focus specifically on soft landscaping because it is so flexible and adaptable, and can be implemented right away.”

Joel says autumn and winter are the perfect times to revitalise a garden.

“It gives us time to design and plan before everything starts growing in the springtime,” he says.

“I do this work because I know how much pleasure a garden can bring to a home and a family.

“Whether you are setting up to teach the kids about growing vegetables, or you want to sit with your morning coffee watching the birds in the trees, or you just want to hide from the neighbours behind a beautiful wall of green.”

Joel says he has structured the business to allow him to help people, from a simple one-off consultation to a full property garden design.

“I can help with establishing and maintaining plants, too,” he says.

“Sometimes this last step is missed by garden designers and landscapers, leaving a beautiful plan, but a client that is overwhelmed and doesn’t know how to care for the plants that then struggle and die.”

Joel Black Horticulture and Garden Design. Call 0409 832056, or visit joelstidygardens.com.au

Non-toxic cleaning with quality and integrity

THE three focus points of Totally Green Cleaning Solutions are carpet cleaning, upholstery cleaning and ground-level window cleaning, says owner Glenn Bignell.

“I tend to mainly do residential cleaning, and I started looking into environmentally friendly cleaning as a result of toxic chemicals in the cleaning industry having a negative effect on my health,” he says.

“I am using non-toxic, odourless and environmentally friendly cleaning products for a greener future and better health.

“Lots of small changes can have a big impact.”

Glenn says as a sole trader he has a direct connection with customers.

“Unlike big companies that tend to be disconnected from their customers, I like helping people and making a difference in their homes by providing old-fashioned customer service,” he says.

“For more than 10 years my business has been operating and evolving. Doing a lot of research and development has made me a better cleaner, which helps the health and safety of my clients, their homes and pets, and my long term health, too.”

Glenn says his mission statement is “to provide environmental cleaning solutions with both quality and integrity.”

Totally Green Cleaning Solutions. Call 0412 299284, or visit totallygreencleaning.net.au