April 2017

Tying up loose ends

A New South Wales initiative is looking at how to recycle thousands of tonnes of textile waste – potentially creating a whole new business model along the way. 

The key to creating sustainable solutions to environmental problems is to build strong business cases around them. That is the approach Tom Davies and his team at Edge Environment took when they were tasked with finding an industrial solution to divert waste from landfill through the New South Wales Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Circulate program.

By engaging 1,000 medium-to-large enterprises, Circulate aims to divert some 160,000 tonnes of waste to landfill between 2014 and 2017 and generate $21 million in additional income or savings for those involved. The program is part of the NSW EPA’s Waste Less, Recycle More initiative, which uses funds from the waste levy to drive behaviour change, infrastructure investment and innovation in new resource recovery solutions.

As a starting point for the project, Davies and his team analysed a range of NSW commercial and industrial waste audits to determine the most significant material streams coming out of the State. “We’ve been working with a lot of large corporates as part of the process and a common issue proved to be workwear,” he says – adding that large companies go through hundreds of tonnes of workwear every year. “So we started investigating textiles as a waste.”

Textile as a waste

As part of his initial research, Davies found that NSW generates about 153,000 tonnes of textile waste per year – the whole of Australia produces about 375,000 tonnes – and most of that is going directly to landfill. Of that textile waste, a massive 64 per cent is corporate workwear, a ratio too big to ignore, as Davies points out: “You need to find a starting point.

“To us, it quickly became clear that point had to be corporate workwear – it’s a huge volume of manmade bres that could be turned into new products.”

Davies points to the iconic Australia Post organisation as an example for smart bre-recycling: “Australia Post had 200 tonnes of textiles as redundant stock that it had accumulated over two years, as it’s constantly evolving its uniforms. To address the problem, they teamed up with Dunlop and turned the waste into carpet underlay.”

While highly effective, the solution was a one-off only, Davies says: “What we were looking for was a long-term, self-sustaining solution. We roughly knew the breakdown of those materials, so it was obvious it was all valuable stuff that was ending up in landfill,” he explains.

Read the full story on page 26 of Issue 10. 

New directors for Sustainability Victoria

Three new Directors have been appointed to join the Sustainability Victoria executive leadership team.

Stan Krpan, Chief Executive Officer at Sustainability Victoria, welcomed the appointment of Katie Pahlow as Director of Communications and Marketing; Warren Overton as Director of Business and Built Environment; and Stephanie Ziersch as Director of Communities and Climate Change.

The new directors will lead the organisation through the next phase of the delivery of the SV2020 strategy – which focuses on working with the Victorian community to take action on climate change, energy, materials efficiency and waste.

“I’m pleased to announce that we have now filled these three important roles in our executive leadership team and continue to deliver our SV2020 strategy,” Mr Krpan said.

“We recognised that in order to maximise our impact and reach our communications and engagement functions, this required executive leadership.

“With a new structure in place, we can focus on the needs of key stakeholder groups, deliver new programs in climate change and energy, and maintain our leadership in statewide waste and resource recovery.

“We have also combined our waste planning and programs divisions which will be led by Jonathan Leake as Director. This new integrated division will focus on implementing the strategic direction of the SWRRIP and Victoria’s resource recovery strategies,” Mr Krpan said.

Carl Muller will continue in his role as Director of Corporate Services.

Katie Pahlow joins the team with a background in community engagement for the Governor of Victoria. Prior to that, Ms Pahlow served as Director of Communications at Zoos Victoria, bringing executive leadership on behaviour change campaigns, integrated marketing, brand building and customer focus. Her ‘Don’t Palm Us Off’ campaign about orangutans and the palm oil industry won the 2011 Banksia Award. Ms Pahlow has qualifications in zoology science and education.

Warren Overton leaves behind his role as Chief Executive Officer at the Australian Glass and Glazing Association where he played a key role in helping to develop the Green Star rating tool. He has extensive experience in government and consulting, and has delivered multi-million dollar sustainability programs at ANU. Mr Overton has qualifications in geological science and project management.

Stephanie Ziersch joins the team after previously working at the Department of Water, Environment and Natural Resources in South Australia where she served as Director of Climate Change Projects. She brings 20 years of experience in senior climate change leadership including developing South Australia’s Climate Adaptation Plan, low carbon strategy and stakeholder engagement. Ms Ziersch has qualifications in law, international law, and international relations.

Pictured: Stan Krpan, Chief Executive Officer at Sustainability Victoria.

Australian Landfill & Transfer Stations Awards announced

The Waste Management Association of Australia (WMAA) has announced the winners of the 2017 National Landfill & Transfer Stations Innovation and Excellence Awards.

The awards showcase best practice in landfill and transfer stations, with the aim of commending exceptional sites.

The awards include the Transfer Stations Excellence Award, the Landfill Excellence Award and the Innovation Award.

In the area of Transfer Stations Excellence, Townsville Waste Services took the top spot for their Magnetic Island Transfer Station.

Located eight kilometres offshore from Townsville and within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage area, Magnetic Island’s transfer station was designed to receive a range of domestic, organic and commercial waste for sorting and categorisation.

The construction of the transfer station has allowed the Picnic Bay Landfill to be closed at the public since March 7, 2016.

In the area of Landfill Excellence, Dulverton Waste Management (DWM) proved victorious. DWM is located near Latrobe in Tasmania’s north-west. The landfill, with a life of 70-plus years, has a detailed aftercare plan.

The DWM landfill was the region’s first to operate a landfill gas system to extract methane and assist in annual carbon abatement of approximately 10,000 tonnes CO2-e.

It also incorporates Tasmania’s largest compost facility, diverting more than 29 per cent of waste into high-quality compost certified to the voluntary Australian Standard for Composts, Soil Conditioners and Mulches.

Queensland’s Toowoomba Regional Council Waste service won the award for Innovation, after developing an automated facility which slowly reduced the time required for staff to manage the facility.

Systems integrated into Greater Toowoomba’s Waste Management Facility include electronic gates, digital CCTV, security and building management systems.

 

Parkes Water Treatment Facility underway in NSW

Works have commenced on a new water treatment and recycling plant in the New South Wales town of Parkes.

Federal Member for Riverina Michael McCormack said the facility will provide Parkes with access to recycled water which will benefit about 30,000 people per year.

“Once complete, the recycled water will have several uses including the watering of parks and gardens, and certain industry and farmland applications,” Mr McCormack said.

Minister for Regional Development Fiona Nash said the new Wastewater Treatment Plant and Recycled Water Scheme would ensure Parkes will have a sustainable future.

“Coming from regional NSW myself, I know how important it is to have a secure and reliable water source, and this facility will help Parkes and the surrounding region during times of drought,” Minister Nash said.

“The new Parkes Advanced Recycled Water Facility will underpin a new recycled water scheme for Parkes, strengthening water security for the Shire and bringing water recycling activities up to current regulatory and industry best practice standards,” Parkes Shire Council Mayor Ken Keith said.

“The project will provide advanced disinfection of the high grade effluent from the new sewage treatment plant next door, to supply vastly superior water quality to customers on the existing effluent reuse scheme, and also allow recycled water to be used to irrigate sports grounds and parks around the town.”

This project is jointly funded between the Federal Government and Parkes Shire Council.

battery waste

South Australian recycler plans to take on e-waste

South Australian Port Pirie based recycler Nyrstar could become Australia’s first e-waste recycling facility.

Nyrstar will soon accept a range of electronic products, including printed computer circuit boards, cathode ray tubes, mobile phones and related devices.

It will also accept photovoltaic cells from roof solar panels, alkaline batteries and potentially other batteries such as lead acid and nickel cadmium.

Currently e-waste generated in Australia is either landfilled or exported.

If sent offshore, it can end up in countries without stringent environmental or health and safety regulations, leading to environmental contamination and hazards for workers recovering e waste components.

The waste and resource recovery industry employs up to 5,000 South Australians. The sector turns over $1 billion each year and contributes more than $500 million to Gross State Product.

South Australia is the only state in Australia that has legislated to ban e-waste from landfill.

The state has also implemented Container Deposit Legislation and a ban on single-use plastic bags.

“While waste and materials management is a key environment issue, it presents an opportunity to contribute to the State’s economic growth and competitive advantage,” said Regional Development Minister Geoff Brock.

“The planned expansion of facilities like Nyrstar mean that we can recapture valuable resources that would otherwise have been sent offshore or landfilled, and create jobs here in South Australia.”

“The transformation of the Nyrstar Port Pirie smelter to a multi-metals processing and recovery facility will also provide the technology to process e-waste, including printed circuit boards, television screens, mobile phones and alkaline batteries,” said Nyrstar Vice President, Metals Refining, Bertus de Villiers.

“Featuring proven state-of-the-art technology available in Europe, Asia and North America, the site will be Australia’s first e-waste treatment facility, helping to reduce landfill and recover valuable metal to reuse in consumer products,” Mr de Villiers added.

“The expected treatment rates of e-waste from 2018 is expected to be less than 3000 tonnes per annum, increasing to more than 20,000 tonnes per annum as the facility ramps up, with a recovery of 98 per cent of metal content.”

Grants worth $1.3 million offered to councils

Applications for grants worth up to $1.3 million have commenced for local councils across NSW to introduce and enhance kerbside organic bin collection services.

For the first time, councils will also be able to apply for funding to trial organics collection services in apartment buildings.

The grants are being delivered through a partnership between the NSW Environmental Protection Agency and the NSW Environmental Trust.

EPA Unit Head Organics, Amanda Kane said the grants provided local councils with an opportunity to cover the costs of upfront infrastructure like bins and kitchen caddies to introduce food and garden waste collections to residents.

“These grants provide the chance to make a real difference when it comes to diverting food and garden waste from landfill.

“Previous projects have provided new or improved green lid kerbside collection services to 500,000 more homes in NSW to transform an estimated 100,000 tonnes of waste into high quality compost each year.

“Apartment buildings pose a unique set of challenges such as lack of space for bins, so we are excited to offer funding to councils who want to find solutions,” Ms Kane said.

NSW Environmental Trust Director Peter Dixon said that the trust was pleased to offer the first of three new rounds of funding for organics collections under the Waste Less, Recycle More Extension.

“There is $10 million in grants available over three rounds under this program, in addition to the $16.9 million already allocated.”

Applications close on 18 May 2017.

For more information on the organics collections grants and webinar visit the EPA website.

Gorgon waste tender up for grabs

A major waste management contract will be determined with energy company Chevron, based in Western Australia’s Barrow Island, for the company’s Gorgon LNG project.

Last week, chemical waste management company Toxfree announced its contract on the island with the US oil and gas company would cease at the end of June.

Toxfree said it would continue to provide services to Chevron’s other Australian operations under its Master Contractor Services Contract. The company also noted its industrial services on the Wheatstone LNG project with Bechtel would not be affected by Chevron’s decision.

“Toxfree can inform shareholders that Toxfree’s estimated contribution from Barrow Island services in financial year 2018 based on Toxfree’s assessment of the waste volumes was expected to be between $1-$2 million in EBITDA,” the company said in a statement.

However Toxfree said it was confident of improved earnings in full-year 2018 as it recently won contracts with Inpex in Darwin for its Ichthys LNG project, GLNG in the Surat Basin in Queensland and an expanded scope of work for FMG’s waste services in the Pilbara.

The company said new technologies in waste treatment and an organisational review of its business would also improve productivity and reduce costs.

Lincom Group announces distribution agreement

Lincom Group have entered into a partnership with Poland-based manufacturers Pronar.

As part of the agreement, Lincom Group’s recycling range will now include Pronar’s Mobile Trommel Screens and Slow Speed Shredders.

Pronar specialises in the manufacture and sale of equipment for agriculture, municipal services and transportation industry.

Lincom Group said the MPB-series are versatile and can effectively separate the waste, soil, gravel, wood chips and wood waste, rubble, coal, compost into components of different sizes.

The series of MRW Slow Speed Shredders includes: 2.85 and 2.1010 and the features include:

  • Solid and powerful construction allowing pre-processing of all kinds of materials including municipal and waste, tree stumps, pallets etc
  • Various types of chassis – wheels or tracks for mobile machine and hook lift adapted static version (MRW 2.85)
  • Easy operation – standard remote control and touch screen
  • Diverse application sizes – different types of shafts and breaker bars
  • Engine power range – 400 to 760HP allowing it to cope with toughest shredded material
  • Most models from Pronar recycling equipment are available with diesel or electric motors.

The series of MRW Slow Speed Shredders includes: 2.85 and 2.1010 and according to Lincom, the key features include:

  • Solid and powerful construction allowing pre-processing of all kinds of materials including municipal and waste, tree stumps, pallets etc
  • Various types of chassis – wheels or tracks for mobile machine and hook lift adapted static version (MRW 2.85)
  • Easy operation thanks to standard remote control and touchscreen
  • Diverse application sizes – thanks to different types of shafts and breaker bars
  • Engine power range – 400 to 760HP allowing to cope with toughest shredded material, most models from Pronar recycling equipment are available with diesel or electric motors.

Pronar employs more than 2000 professionals, owns seven factories and in addition to machine manufacturing is a major player worldwide among the producers of wheels, pneumatic and hydraulic systems, axles, steel profiles and plastic components.