Raffy’s award-winning instinct for waste avoidance

For Raffy, growing up in an Italian household meant ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ was just part of normal life. Whether it was hand-me-down clothing or repurposed ice-cream containers, nothing went to waste.

Now, these ingrained habits of waste avoidance are helping her stay at the forefront of sustainable business practises.

Her pioneering efforts were recognised in 2023 at the Climate Choices Business Awards. Her business, Car Mechanical Services, was named Sustainable Small Business of the Year.

The challenge

“I grew up in a culture where you'd always ask, ‘if you’ve got something that does the job, is it necessary to get a new one?’, says Raffy, founder and sole director of Car Mechanical Services.

“Now that I work in the automotive industry, any wastage that I see raises this concern for me – ‘is it really necessary?’

“We use lots of oil and products that can’t go in the recycling. You used to be able to dispose of small quantities of used oil filters and other car maintenance products and parts at Mugga Lane, but this service is no longer offered.

“Now, I am wondering where car enthusiasts or repairers in residential areas are actually disposing of used oil filters and engine oil. No doubt some are throwing this contaminated waste in the skip, but we can do better than that.

The action

“Waste consumables like engine oil and other spare parts, such as oil filters, can be 100% recyclable if disposed of correctly using a specialized collection company. I am working to create a local collection centre for this kind of waste.

“We currently pay a company to take our used oil filters to Sydney for recycling. The oil filters go on to be reprocessed into next life products like household appliances and storage tins.

“We have switched from buying oil in 5-litre bottles to buying it in bulk. It costs a lot up front, but in the end you save. You save on the cost of the product, which is cheaper in bulk, but you also save on wastage. When you’re using bottles there’s always a little bit left over that gets thrown out with the bottle.

“Friday night at the workshop is pizza night – we all get together over some pizza and dismantle air filters. The hard plastic frames can be recycled and we reuse the filter fabric as rags and to mop up spillages.

“We’re looking into offering clients reusable air filters now, which will be a saving. Although we might need to find a new focus for Friday pizza night! If I can reduce the wastage from disposable air filters, I’ll save money as I won't have to pay for as many waste collections. Also, by having reusable components, I won’t need to keep as much stock. That means less cash is tied up in stock, which will also make my insurance cheaper," Raffy says.

The bulk oil, oil filters and air filters are just a couple of examples of what Raffy is doing. Car Mechanical Services has

• upgraded to more efficient lighting,
• done away with disposable paper towels,
• switched to sustainable cleaning products, and
• introduced ‘oil on tap’ where clients can come in and refill their containers at cost price.

“We’ve also restructured our workshop to be EV-ready, including making electrical bays for the guys to work on. We invested $35,000 in training courses for our staff to increase their knowledge of EV mechanics and safety guidelines," says Raffy.

The benefit

“We are very proud of what we have achieved and seeing the numbers is amazing. From December 2021 to December 2022, we used 6,500 LT of engine oil. Bulk buying saved us 1,300 5LT plastic bottles. Can you believe that?! 1300 bottles.

“We’re saving money by choosing more sustainable products and business practises. I say to my mechanics ‘that $2000 that I’m saving means a bigger Christmas party for you guys’.

“Winning a Climate Choices Business Award was testament to ‘we are on the right path’. It’s a lot of hard work, time and commitment, but it pays off – and the recognition pushes you to do even more!”

For other businesses who are thinking about investing in sustainable business decisions, Raffy says “clients these days don’t just choose because you say you’re the best. People are choosing you because you’re doing something different and you’re doing something that aligns with their values.

“You might not see the savings straight away but, if you look at the bigger picture, in a matter of 2-3 years you will start to enjoy the fruits of your labour."