Sydney Railway Square YHA

Sustainability Practices at Railway Square YHA

Railway Square YHA is committed to reducing its environmental footprint and being a responsible community member through a mix of conservation and sustainable practices and services.  Initiatives include:

Water saving measures:

• Our rain water tank is used to flush 50% of the toilets in our common bathrooms
• Signage throughout the Hostel promoting water & energy conservation

Energy/Greenhouse Gas Reduction:

• Solar boosted – natural gas Hot water System
• LED lights throughout the Hostel
• Timer lights where appropriate
• Bike storing, repairing facilities (free use of tools and workshop stand)
• Free City Bike Maps
• Signage throughout the Hostel promoting water & energy conservation 

Waste Minimisation:

• Recyclable, wooden room cards (bye, plastic!)
• E-waste collection point on site (Mobilemuster Australia)
• Light Bulbs collection/recycling on site (CMA Ecocycle)
• Co-Mingled recycling system in use  (paper, glass, plastics, aluminium)
• Keep Cup sold through our Café
• Bottled water is no longer sold on premises
• Durable plastic bottles sold through our vending machine
• See also Community for our engagement with local business and our participation in the return and earn scheme
• Jam jars recycled into drinking cups in our Café
• Sun deck chairs from REPLAS (made from 100% Post-Consumer recycled plastics)
• Dining tables timber tops from recycled fencing posts
• Vertical garden wall made from recycled railway luggage racks
• Herb garden on site (currently lemon grass, thyme, basil & chilli)
• Kitchen signage reminding guests of what is actually in season in Sydney (fruit & vegetables)

Social Sustainability

• WGAC toilet paper
• Partnership with CitizenBlue for the collection and handling recycling of all our PET and glass bottles. 
• Fundraising collection point for Sea Shepherd Australia
• Guests are greeted in the foyer by a large indigenous painting by Liddy Napanangka Walker sourced from Kate Owen Gallery, Rozelle
• Most art on site sourced locally to support and encourage local talent (Murals by Beastman, Mulga, Anthony Malouf). Corridor prints by Blue Dog Newtown.
• Photography by Aquabumps Bondi Beach