Azmeb HVSTs take flight in SA and WA

In South Australia, Adelaide’s Bettatrans recently invested in Azmeb High Volume Side Tippers (HVSTs) to work on a new contract with Visy, moving waste from a transfer station in the suburbs to a plant in a major industrial area for processing.

The units feature hinged upper bodies which effectively double their volumetric capacity with little increase in tare weight, in a design that Bettatrans Director, Chris Cunningham, says enables a truck to pull in to a site, unload and leave in one minute. “[Our customers] are always after the dollar, like every big company. You just have to be on your toes, be the most efficient operator, with the most fuel-efficient set-up,” he says.

Just like the rest of the trucking industry, the waste management sector has a pronounced focus on finding efficiency improvements – a search that recently led two waste specialists to Azmeb’s High Volume Side Tipper model.

The quest for productivity and efficiency is a constant trend across Australia’s commercial road transport industry, and the booming waste transport sector is no different. In a constant effort to get the job done in a more efficient manner, waste specialists are working to improve their processes and equipment. For some, this has meant making the switch from moving floor trailers to side tippers.

 

Victorian Waste Management Association elects new president

Long-serving executive member Chris Ryan has been elected as President of the Victorian Waste Management Association (VWMA).

The VWMA is a division of the Victorian Transport Association (VTA), and represents the waste and recycling sectors of the industry in Victoria.

“I am honoured to have once again been elected to serve as President of the VWMA and look forward to working with the Executive and Executive Officer Andrew Tytherleigh to advance the interests of our industry and our members,” said Mr Ryan, who previously served as President in 2013-14.

“On behalf of the Council I wish to thank our outgoing President Tim Watts, who worked tirelessly for two years in the role. Working in regional Victoria meant Tim travelled extensively over his Presidency, and we deeply appreciate his commitment and dedication,” he said.

Mr Ryan is a long-serving member of the VWMA Executive and is Victorian State Manager for Kartaway, a role he has occupied for close to two years. Prior to that he was Victorian Operations Manager with Kartaway.

The VWMA AGM also re-elected Bruce Cunningham (Waste 2 Water), Adrien Scott (Solo Resource Recovery), Tim Isherwood (National Resource Recovery), Ken Dickens (Corio Waste Management), Graham Lenthal (Veolia), Paul Smith (KS Group) and James Whelan (Kartaway). They join current members, Matthew Whelan (Citywide) and Past President Tim Watts (Ellwaste).

Andrew Swann from Eastern Liquid (KS Group) was welcomed to the Executive as its newest member.

Photo: VTA President, Cameron Dunn (right), congratulating VWMA President, Chris Ryan, on his recent election.

E-waste recycling

Growth of big data influences solid waste industry

The solid waste industry has reached the point where gathering data from its mobile operations is relatively inexpensive and systems are reliable.

US-based publication Waste360 spoke to waste management company Kessler Consulting Inc about the shift.

“I think as an industry we are only just now scratching the surface on the use of big data for solid waste management and the possibilities are only limited by our own creativity,” said Don Ross, director of operations for Kessler Consulting Inc. based in Tampa, Fla.

Ross says the best example of data changing the industry is the use of route optimisation.

“Route optimization has provided greater and faster visibility to improving the utilization of our assets,” he says. “Collection represents the largest component of operating costs and optimisation results in more productive collection routes and subsequently the need for fewer vehicles. I expect other emerging technologies to offer similar opportunities for improvement.”

Amity Lumper, co-president of Cascadia Consulting Group based in Seattle, Wash, told Waste360 big data provides a more granular understanding of operations and assets, in addition to equipping the industry to better adapt in real-time and prepare for future needs.

“Smart waste technologies are taking off,” Lumper says. “We’re particularly excited about sensors, robotics, apps, machine learning, automation, and on-board computing systems. According to Navigant Research, the global market for smart waste collection technology is projected to grow by a compound growth rate 16 percent between 2016 and 2025.”

Ross says the “connected” truck is also a big key today. Bin sensors that determine fullness are being deployed now and roll-off compactors have been self-dialing dispatch offices for years indicating they are ready for pickup.

“What we do with this data is where things get interesting,” he says.

Contract Resources to build oil and gas waste facility

A $20 million oil and gas waste processing facility will be built in Western Australia’s city of Karratha in the Pilbara region.

The West Australian reported Contract Resources, owned by Bapcor, will build the plant to process and recycle waste by-products which are removed from the oil and gas production stream.

In an Australian-first, the plant will be built using world-leading technology from Econ Industries of Germany.

It will have the capacity to process up to 2000 tonnes of waste a year.

Contract Resources chief executive Ivor Ferguson told The West Australian the process involved extracting heavy metals and oils, which were then recycled.

The remaining purified waste was disposed of at a normal landfill site.

Mr Ferguson said the plant, to be operating by early next year, offered a viable solution for producers who now put most of their hazardous waste in long-term storage.

“Contract Resources was well placed to provide the waste services, having undertaken industrial services, including decontamination of oil and gas equipment, for many years,” he said.

The plant will employ about 20 people when fully operational.

Cleanaway establishes new market

Waste management company Cleanaway has been awarded a 10-year collection contract to New South Wales’ mid north coastal region of Kempsey Shire.

The Macleay Argus reported the Council’s contract, which comes into effect on July 1st, will see the company establish a local base in the Macleay valley, including a new truck depot and customer service call centre.

According to council, the new business will benefit a number of other local businesses, including Scotts Hydraulics, C&G Electrics, Randalls Business Equipment and Beaurepaires.

Cleanaway’s fleet of garbage trucks will be serviced by local business, Mavin Truck Centre in South Kempsey.

Dean Mavin, dealer principle at Mavin Truck Centre, said the service agreement with Cleanaway to provide maintenance, servicing and urgent repairs would allow the business to look at taking on new employees and training up staff.

“This contract has provided the business confidence to look at possible expansion, an opportunity to upskill our existing team, and a chance to take on new apprentices,” Mr Mavin said.

“We’re thrilled to play an important role in servicing the garbage trucks to minimise downtime and disruption, and keep our local waste management services running smoothly.”

Council’s general manager, David Rawlings, said Cleanaway was also looking to establish a call centre in Kempsey before the start of the new waste contract.

He said the calls centre would be staffed by Macleay locals who will take the pressure off of council’s call centre.

Michael Biagi, NSW regional manager of Cleanaway, said the company is committed to working with the local communities in which it operates.

Nedlands Waste Minimisation Strategy ‘on track’

The City of Nedlands is on track to divert 65 per cent of all waste from landfill by 2020, after its latest Waste Minimisation Strategy was approved by Council.

CUA1
City of Nedlands Mayor Max Hipkins, second from left, with Year 6 Dalkeith Primary School students Eloise O’Clery, Max Yee and Sophie Laurance at Nedlands foreshore for Clean Up Australia Day activities.

It follows a 10-week community consultation period that found people were mainly supportive of the strategy with only very minor amendments suggested.

The Waste Minimisation Strategy 2017-2020 will guide the City, with the support of the community, in its efforts improve the diversion of waste over the next four years. 

Methods of improving waste diversion will focus on:

  • Exploring the practicality of co-mingling food scraps with green waste.
  • Combinations of waste bins and collection processes.
  • Recycling construction and demolition waste.
  • Working with schools through education and information.
  • Reducing the amount of the illegal dumping.
  • Researching new technologies that could produce energy from waste.
  • Enhancing the management of commercial waste.

City of Nedlands Mayor Max Hipkins said the strategy would help to provide an integrated approach to waste prevention.

“We will be working with the community, industry and other local governments to develop common ground on waste management, wherever practical,” he said. 

“The City has already hit the ground running with a 91 per cent recovery from verge collections under its latest contract, compared to the previous best of 51 per cent.

“For the strategy to succeed, it will be important for the City and community to work together to ensure waste materials are thought of in terms of a resource to be recovered, reused and recycled wherever possible.”

Mayor Hipkins thanked the community for their responses and said they would be included as part of the strategy’s implementation.

Read the original profile piece here.

City of Swan recycles mattresses for disadvantaged

Western Australia’s City of Swan is assisting the disadvantaged by transforming unwanted rubbish into beds.

The Advocate reported the initiative is being led by the City’s contractor Spider Waste, and involves collecting unwanted and discarded mattresses and recycling and repurposing them.

Used mattresses that are salvageable and of an appropriate standard are steam cleaned, packed into sea containers and sent to central towns for distribution to remote communities.

Spider Waste owner Rob Santoro told The Advocate he began sending the re-useable mattresses to communities in need last year, sending around 90 at a time.

He said the initiative had both environmental and social benefits.

“I can’t really see the send in stripping them down if they can be used by people who really need them,” he said.

“We also include a few other items like bicycles in the sea containers and it’s all been really well received by the communities.”

Over the past two years, more than 180 tonnes of mattresses were disposed of in the City of Swan, which have been diverted from landfill and recycled.

Mattresses which are not able to be reused, are taken apart, with metal components sold as scrap.

The foam is turned into carpet underlay, and timber and pocket springs used to make dog beds.

Mayor Mick Wainwright told The Advocate the recycling process had also created jobs for people with disabilities.

“The average mattress takes up almost a square metre of space in landfill,” he said.

“Most mattresses contain about 12.5kg of steel, 2kg if wood and 1.5kg of foam, all of which can be recycled.

 

Toxfree releases first half financial year results

Fleet-owning waste and recycling firm Toxfree has released its first half financial year results, citing an expected growth in the industrial, resources, health and infrastructure sectors.

In its report, the company noted those companies were expected to grow at a higher rate than the rest of the market, alongside a requirement for specialised technologies, intellectual property and operating licences providing high barriers to entry.

By 2021, the company said the total market is expected to grow by 12 per cent to $17.7Bn, with Toxfree’s target segments anticipated to grow at a higher rate of 15 per cent due to a number of market, environmental and regulatory drivers.

The report explains growth in the health waste sector continues to increase due to an ageing population and increased spending, while increased cost and regulation of landfill is driving the industrial waste sector.

Growth in liquified natural gas, iron ore and coal was attributed to the predicted increase in resources, while population and metropolitan growth will lead to increase government spending in infrastructure.

“Toxfree’s objective is to grow our market share from 11 per cent currently to 17 per cent by 2021 by focusing on our four target markets and moving to a leaders leadership position in each one,” the company wrote.

The areas included the industrial, resources, health and infrastructure waste sectors, construction, municipal and commercial and government waste.

The firm recorded a net profit down 54 per cent to $5.9 million, with much of the reduction related to costs involved in purchasing Worth Recycling and Daniels Health Australia.

Global industrial shredder market projected to decline

The global industrial shredder market is projected to drop from US$840 million (A$1.1 billion) to US$810 million (A$1.06 billion) by 2021, according to London-based research company, Technavio.

The company released its market outlook for 2017-2021, which provides a detailed industry analysis based on products, including iron and steel and aluminum, copper, and non-ferrous metals.

It covers products based in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Africa and the the Asia-Pacific Region.

Despite challenging economic conditions ahead, growing sales of electrical vehicles will be a key growth driver for the segment, the company found. “The adoption of electric vehicles has increased due to advances in technology and government incentives on these vehicles,” explained Lead Analyst, Gaurav Mohindru.

“Western Europe is witnessing an explosive growth of the electric vehicle market, with manufacturers expanding their factory floors to meet the increasing demand.”

Mr Mohindru added many electric vehicle manufacturers are thus heavily investing in expanding and improving their manufacturing capabilities – a development that is expected to boost the demand for shredding machines, thereby driving market growth.

Also driving sales will be the mining and nuclear waste sectors, Technavio found.

The top three emerging trends driving the global industrial shredder machine market according to Technavio heavy industry research analysts are:

  • The growing sales of electric vehicles
  • The evolution of waste management techniques to suit low-grade ores
  • Stringent nuclear reactor regulations following the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in 2011
A photo of recycled organics compost product with glass and plastic contaminants at a Treasure Wine Estates vineyard

Council officers receive illegal dumping training

Council enforcement officers across Victoria participated in training last week to help them tackle littering and illegal dumping in their municipalities and regions.

Led by Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) and Sustainability Victoria, the training aimed to help local government, Parks Victoria and other land managers act against individuals and companies who illegally dump rubbish in local parks, reserves, alleyways and streets.

Under section 45 of the Environment Protection Act 1970 (EP Act), authorised litter enforcement officers have powers to investigate, remedy and sanction individuals and companies who litter.

EPA Chief Executive Officer Nial Finegan said littering and illegal dumping is a significant issue for communities throughout Victoria – impacting the environment as well as the aesthetic enjoyment of public places.

“Littering and the illegal dumping of household items such as mattresses and unwanted e-waste shows a complete disregard for our environment and our community,” Mr Finegan said.

“Local councils and other land managers play a vital role in enforcing litter and illegal dumping laws. Helping council officers understand the tools available and when to use them will help us more effectively enforce the law and deter this behaviour.”

Running over two days, courses covered EP Act offences and penalties, evidence gathering, surveillance and integrated preventative approaches to managing litter. Participating councils include Ararat, Hepburn, Hume, Darebin, Golden Plains, Macedon Ranges, Surf Coast and Whittlesea.

Sustainability Victoria CEO Stan Krpan said illegal dumping had been identified as one of Victoria’s top 5 litter issues through Victoria’s Litter Report Card.

“This is a broad and serious issue which affects all local government areas across Victoria.

“Through a mix of training, effective engagement, education programs and enforcement, local governments will have the necessary tools to act on illegal dumping and littering and create a cleaner environment for their community,” Mr Krpan said.

EPA also has an Illegal Dumping Strikeforce dedicated to reducing the dumping of large scale industrial waste such as construction and demolition materials and waste tyres.