The Minns Labor Government is cutting waste, to save taxpayers millions and give surplus office equipment a second life across NSW communities.
New guidelines introduced by the Government will help recycle and reuse office furniture and technology across government buildings reducing landfill, supporting local organisations and cutting the more than $70 million spent each year refitting government offices.
Schools, TAFE NSW campuses, local Men's Sheds and the NSW State Emergency Service are already benefiting, with surplus desks, chairs and equipment being redirected to communities instead of dumped in landfill.
Property and Development NSW (PDNSW), in partnership with the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), has developed the new Guide to Circularity in Office Fitouts.
The guide provides practical advice and real-world case studies showing how government agencies can reuse furniture and ICT equipment to lower costs, cut waste and reduce emissions.
Early results are already delivering major savings and environmental benefits, including:
- More than 14,000 pieces of surplus equipment from a 2024 statewide response to the Varroa Mite threat were reassigned to public schools and TAFE NSW campuses - saving more than $125,000.
- A workplace refurbishment in Dubbo diverted 2.3 tonnes of waste from landfill by donating furniture to the Royal Flying Doctor Service, NSW SES, Dubbo Men's Shed, schools and local not-for-profits.
- The reuse of 350 furniture items from the Maitland Workplace Hub saved $40,000 in purchase and disposal costs, while avoiding around 24 tonnes of carbon emissions.
As one of Australia's largest landlords and tenants, PDNSW manages around 955,000 square metres of government office space across NSW and is leading the shift toward smarter, more sustainable workplaces.
The agency has also launched an online marketplace through buy.nsw.gov.au - similar to Facebook Marketplace - allowing agencies to list and claim surplus office furniture and equipment instead of buying new stock.
Since 2023, 44 government agencies have used the platform to save around $1.3 million, avoid 100 tonnes of landfill waste and cut approximately 210 tonnes of carbon emissions.
PDNSW is already applying the new circular economy principles in office fitouts across the state, helping the agency achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions in 2024/25 - the equivalent of taking more than 2,500 cars off the road each year. View the new framework: Guide to Circularity in Office Fitouts
Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said:
"Property and Development NSW is driving change in office sustainability and circularity by encouraging agencies to reuse, repair and refurbish before buying new.
"By rethinking how we design and furnish offices, we're creating spaces that are flexible, future-ready, budget-friendly and far less wasteful."
Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure Property, Workplace and Development Deputy Secretary Leon Walker said:
"Property and Development NSW has achieved net zero 25 years ahead of the NSW Government's mandated target date of 2050 using a range of initiatives including circular office design, solar panels on roofs, energy-efficient lighting, use of smart batteries, and converting gas heating to more efficient electric water and space heating.
"PDNSW is working to identify further emission reductions using tools like AI and Internet of Things (IoT), reducing reliance on gas and grid electricity, and targeting emissions from refrigerant gases used to cool and heat buildings and other sources like waste, water and third-party activities."
