circular economy group

Waste Management Association of Australia QLD outlines priorities

The Waste Management Association of Australia’s Queensland branch (WMAA) has produced its policy priorities for the state government to consider ahead of the election.

The 2017 Queensland state election will be held on 25 November 2017, and WMAA made a series of recommendations in a statement last week, with a focus on adhering to the waste hierarchy and supporting a circular economy.

In the statement, WMAA described Queensland as one of the largest generators and poorest diverters of waste from landfill. The absence of a comprehensive strategy has resulted in Queensland maintaining a ‘take, make, and dispose’ approach to waste and resource recovery, WMAA argued.

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“There is a real opportunity for Queensland to introduce policy settings that will support the return of materials back to the economy instead of to landfill,” said Gayle Sloan, WMAA CEO.

“The current linear approach adversely impacts Queensland in making it difficult for resource recovery industries to invest, depriving Queensland of the opportunity to create new jobs.”

WMAA Queensland outlined a number of key policy positions, including to comprehensively review the state’s Waste Avoidance and Resource Productivity Strategy 2014, and implement a strategy that supports the waste hierarchy. The Queensland branch also called to develop a comprehensive waste and resource recovery infrastructure strategy.

Among the recommendations was a call for a “reinvestment into landfill levy” from the government to avoid the unnecessary transportation of waste.

The statement called on the government to mandate sustainable state and local government procurement policies which prioritises the purchase of goods with recycled content.

In the area of landfilling, WMAA called for the development and implementation of best practice guidelines. It also recommended more opportunities for food waste and green waste recycling from the municipal solid waste stream through financial assistance to councils and a host of other measures.

Read the full statement on WMAA’s website.

 

 

SA Water completes $11.4 million wastewater network upgrade

SA Water has completed an $11.4 million capacity upgrade of the wastewater network that services the majority of the Adelaide CBD and the city’s south-eastern suburbs.

Works on the Western Adelaide Wastewater Network involved the installation of a new 2.5 kilometre pipeline from West Terrace, through the Adelaide Park Lands, connecting into an existing sewer main at the North Adelaide Golf Course on War Memorial Drive.

The project is a finalist in this year’s Australian Water Association’s (AWA) South Australian Water Awards in the ‘Infrastructure Project Innovation’ category, due to the complexity of the engineering and its emphasis on delivering in a socially sustainable way.

Careful planning was undertaken to limit and continually monitor the impacts of construction on the Adelaide Park Lands environment, community, sites of Aboriginal significance and historical relics.

The upgrade supports expected local growth in urban development and residential population by transporting increased sewage flows and helping reduce the potential for operational or odour issues that could occur if the existing infrastructure couldn’t meet demand.

One of the existing sewer mains, which the new pipe was connected into under West Terrace, is a original oval-shaped sewer main from the 1860s.

The AWA South Australian Water Awards will be presented on Friday, 17 November 2017.

“This part of the sewer system supports an area that is fast becoming a development hub, and this upgrade was imperative in order to maintain a reliable and resilient network,” said Water and the River Murray Minister Ian Hunter.

“During all stages of this project, SA Water and its contractors made a concerted effort to give consideration to minimising impacts on the surrounding area and people.”

Chatswood Chase’s new materials recovery facility

Sydney shopping centre Chatswood Chase has launched a “first-of-its-kind” recycling system which will reduce its waste to landfill by an additional 695 tonnes.

With a zero waste target, the reduction in waste is equivalent to 15,500 household wheelie bins of waste.

Justin Mills, Executive General Manager, Vicinity Shopping Centres, said this was the first recycling system of its kind at an Australian shopping centre.

“The Materials Recovery Facility makes great business sense and is a win for the community,” Mr Mills said.

The Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) system starts in-centre, engaging retailers to use specific bins for different items such as paper, plastic, organics. The rubbish is then taken to the waste dock where it is sorted, bundled and processed accordingly on-site.

Chatswood Chase has launched the MRF during Recycle Week, in partnership with disability service provider House with No Steps.

“We have created seven new jobs, six of which help create meaningful employment for people living with disabilities while also diverting 92 per cent of waste away from landfill.”

The MRF is just one part of Vicinity’s overall sustainability strategy which acknowledges that shopping centres are the centrepiece of our communities and an important contributor to establishing smart and sustainable destinations.

 

recycling Victoria

National Recycling Week reflects on historical efforts

Planet Ark has encouraged residents and businesses to help close the loop by purchasing products that contain recycled content.

It comes amid this year’s National Recycling Week (13 – 19 November), which aims to highlight what happens to materials once they have been recycled and how everyone plays a role.

In the 20 years to 2015, Australia’s population increased by 28 per cent and waste levels grew by 170 per cent.

Currently the Australian manufacturing economy is predominantly linear, which can be summarised as ‘take, make, use and dispose’. Planet Ark argues this is not sustainable. A circular economy on the other hand, replaces ‘dispose’ with ‘recycle, reuse and repurpose’ and keeps important materials from being wasted in landfill.

“Since the introduction of kerbside recycling in the 80s and 90s Australians have really embraced recycling.

“But to truly close the recycling loop, and keep valuable resources like plastic, metal and paper in circulation and out of landfills, we need to buy back the products that have been made from our recycling,” said Ryan Collins, Planet Ark’s Recycling Programs Manager.

New research from Planet Ark’s new guide What Goes Around: Why Buying Recycled Matters shows 88 per cent of Australians already purchase products that contain recycled materials, and 70 per cent said they would be more likely to purchase products and/or packaging if they contained recycled materials.

Most Australians also have high awareness of some products that can be made with recycled materials including office paper (83 per cent), toilet tissue (75 per cent) and paper towels (78 per cent).

However, the new research also shows there is less awareness about other products that can be made using recycled materials, such as road surfaces, printer cartridges, paving and carpet underlay.

“We’re actually surrounded by products made from our recycling, and people may be surprised by some of the recycled products out there, like wallets and purses made from tyre inner tubes and surfboard fins made from ocean plastic.”

“Also, inspiring discoveries from research and development projects are finding more and more ways to utilise waste, so the list of products made from recycled materials will continue to grow,” Mr Collins said.

Some of those research and development innovations include using the unique qualities of problem waste, like tyres, to create synthetic hockey or soccer pitches. Green steel is another potential recyclable material, which reduces electricity consumption and delivers productivity improvements.

Other inspiring stories include research into new uses for glass, which can be used in road bases and construction.

“When consumers and businesses purchase products that are made from recycled materials, they create a demand for recycling, which supports Australian industry, allows new recycled manufacturing opportunities to flourish and creates jobs.

“As well as being good for the environment, the financial benefits of this closed loop cycle are significant.”

 

 

Next step in automated vehicle regulation approved

Australian transport ministers have approved two key automated vehicle reforms as part of a roadmap of reform to support commercial deployment.

National Transport Commission (NTC) Chief Executive, Paul Retter, has said ministers endorsed new national enforcement guidelines and agreed to progress the development of a safety assurance system at the Transport and Infrastructure Council meeting on 10 November.

“Ministers have agreed to a goal of having an end-to-end regulatory system in place by 2020 to support the safe, commercial deployment of automated vehicles at all levels of automation. This is an important milestone towards that goal,” Mr Retter said.

“Australia is one of the first countries to make this bold commitment to 2020. We want to give certainty to manufacturers by ensuring our regulatory system is flexible and responsive to encourage innovation.”

The National Enforcement Guidelines reportedly provide guidance to police for applying the road rules to automated vehicles.

“These guidelines provide clarity around who is in control of a vehicle at different levels of automation,” Mr Retter said.

“They confirm that a human driver is responsible for the driving task when conditional automation is engaged.

“They also determine that having hands on the wheel is no longer an indicator of having proper control when conditional automation is safely engaged,” he said.

Clean up of Coolaroo fire site complete

The clean-up efforts at SKM Recycling plant in Coolaroo concluded in late October after more than 30,000 tonnes of fire-impacted waste was removed, the Victorian Government reported.

At the height of the fire in July, the Metropolitan Fire Brigade had about 50 appliances and 140 firefighters on scene working with emergency services partners.

Firefighting efforts were led by the Metropolitan Fire Brigade, with crews from Country Fire Authority, the Australian Capital Territory, South Australia and New South Wales all lending a hand.

It is estimated that 140 million litres of contaminated water were pumped out of nearby Merlynston Creek and directed to the sewer system by Melbourne Water.

Following the fire, a joint Victorian Government taskforce was set up to target key recycling sites that require extra management measures to ensure community safety.

The taskforce is currently auditing recycling facilities across Victoria to identify and prioritise sites that require action to better protect the community.

To assist the taskforce, the Victorian Government established an interim Waste Management Policy to improve safety standards at Victorian waste and resource recovery facilities.

On Tuesday 17 October, the Environment Protection Bill 2017 to clarify the Environment Protection Authority’s (EPA’s) role and strengthen its governance also passed the senate.

Toxfree provides market update at UBS Australasia Conference 2017

Toxfree has provided an update across its target markets: industrial, resources, infrastructure and health and technical.

In a public presentation to the UBS Australasia Conference 2017, Steve Gostlow, Toxfree Managing Director, highlighted Toxfree’s target market as valued at $4.6 billion in 2016.

Toxfree’s total market was valued at $15.8 billion and also includes: commercial and government, households and the construction industry.

The company’s growth has been aided by strategic acquisitions, organic growth and investment, allowing it to diversify. It now boasts 1,564 employees in 81 operating locations and 895 vehicles.

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Some of the key growth drivers behind its growth in the health sector including an ageing population, advances in medical treatments, new waste streams and increased regulation.

In the infrastructure sector, population and metropolitan growth and increased government infrastructure expenditure has helped boost this area.

The industrial sector has meanwhile seen additional demand through increased landfill costs, product stewardship schemes and increased regulations. Civil infrastructure in Victoria and NSW continues to drive strong utilisation and earnings.

The resources sector has seen growth in LNG, iron ore and coal production, a greater focus on productivity and increased safety and environmental responsibilities.

Notable acquisitions over the years include Daniels Health, which covers the medical sector. Daniels Health continues to meet Toxfree’s financial expectations, up 13 per cent on the same time last year. The acquisition of Wanless also helped it with its Queensland expansion.

Toxfree has grown its e-waste recovery base through its HazPak systems and BluBox technologies , which allows it to safely handle hazardous waste.

The company forecasts the second half of FY18 to be stronger than the first, as existing contracts gain momentum in Darwin and soil remediation projects commence. New contracts with Inpex, FMG, Rusca Environmental Services (Shell Prelude) are also expected to gain momentum in the second half. The expansion of total waste management services to Daniels customers is also underway in Sydney and Melbourne.

 

Yarra Valley Water wins Banksia Sustainability Award

Yarra Valley Water has been awarded the Banksia Sustainability Award for its waste to energy project, in the category of Leadership in the Circular Economy Award.

The category recognises approaches that allow the Australian economy to develop within the limits of nature, while eliminating waste.

The waste to energy facility, located in Melbourne’s north, converts commercial organic waste into a renewable and sustainable source of energy.

The recycling facility reduces landfill, cuts greenhouse emissions and produces enough renewable energy to pay for itself and more. The facility converts organic waste such as food scraps, which would otherwise be bound for landfill, into renewable energy.

The amount of energy produced is the equivalent of about 25 per cent of Yarra Valley Water’s overall energy requirements and powers the adjacent sewage treatment plant, with surplus electricity exported to the grid.

“I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved; a great deal of work, planning and strategic thinking went into making this facility a reality. The water industry is directly impacted by climate change and has a responsibility to lead the way and do something about it,” said Pat McCafferty, Managing Director, Yarra Valley Water.

“The success of this facility really is a testament to the culture at our organisation which does not shy away from challenges. We are not afraid to look at the bigger picture to ask what else can we do to add value to our community. This way of thinking is what led to us becoming the first water utility in the world to commit to the UN Global Compact and the Sustainable Development Goals, and to create a facility such as this.”

In a statement, the judges of the award said the facility was not looking only at waste treatment and energy production, but other potential applications within the Victoria waste stream.

“Yarra Valley have done a fantastic job at creating a unique solution taking an existing methodology and adapting it for local conditions. It demonstrates excellent future prospects by achieving 100 per cent of their own power from a yet to be commissioned plant,” they said.

Green Industries SA Women in Waste Award nominations open

Nominations are now open to recognise the contributions of emerging and established women leaders in the waste management and circular economy sector.

The recipient of the second annual Green Industries SA Women in Waste Award will receive up to $5000 to help toward a project inspiring innovation and practical new ideas in the sector, as well as mentoring from a senior woman executive also working in that field. The $5000 will also help assist with travel, accommodation and conference costs.

The Green Industries SA Women in Waste Award was established in memory of Pam Keating, a noted environmentalist and waste management expert who passionately believed in the importance of reducing waste and its impact on the environment.

South Australian Environment Minister Ian Hunter said the award encourages talented South Australian woman to undertake a project which will inspire innovation and practical ideas in the areas of waste management and the circular economy.

“South Australia’s reputation for leadership in the waste management and related sectors is based on the vision, persistence and passion of game changers willing to step out of their comfort zone and to advocate for our clean and green environment,” he said.

Inaugural 2016 Award winner Fiona Jenkins said it was an honour to be encouraged to pursue her research into kerbside recycling in the world’s top recycling cities.

“My project uncovered the secrets to lifting our household recycling rates from 50 per cent to up to 80 per cent, using variations on the three-bin system we have now,” she said.

“I’ll be looking back on lessons learnt from my study tour – which included Portland, Oregon and Flanders in Belgium – for the next 20 years.

The support of my employer, the City of Charles Sturt, reinforced the professional growth I would experience through this program.”

Applications close on 15 December 2017.

For more information, visit Green Industries SA.