January 2018

Evian pledges 100 per cent recycled plastic by 2025

Evian, a subsidiary of Danone, has vowed through its parent company to develop all its plastic bottles from 100 per cent recycled plastic by 2025.

The company joins other corporations in having recently set recycling targets, including Coca-Cola and McDonalds. 

Evian currently develops its plastic bottles from 25 per cent recycling material.

The company will work with Loop Industries, which has produced a new system to transform all types of PET plastic into commercial-grade plastic.

Evian plans to invest an undisclosed sum of money to meet this target.

“We want to adopt a circular model where 100 percent of our plastic bottles will become bottles again. This will enable plastic to evolve from potential waste to become a valuable resource,” Evian global brand director Patricia Oliva told Reuters.

Under the current system Evian is using, PET can’t be recycled more than three times. Loop’s technology will ensure the plastic remains the same quality, allowing for multiple reuse.

 

AMCS Wastedge Weighbridge Module

AMCS Wastedge has launched the first of a number of new modules for its Wastedge software with the release of its Wastedge Weighbridge Module.

The module aims to provide fleet operators with a range of options to capture their vehicle weight data. The weighbridge module can use Wi-Fi, serial (RS-232) or Ethernet network connection, so that the application can connect to the scale for automated weights captured against registered vehicles or one-time visit public vehicles. Support for tare weights of known vehicles – the weight of an empty vehicle – is included in the system.

A number of the most common weighbridge protocols used in Australia are supported as standard with the solution. With the module, users can process environmental protection authority levies or extra charges for tyres, mattresses and special material rates per customer or hauler with a range of pricing options. Weight field selection is automated based on regular vehicle or related waste-type transaction defaults. It supports weight measurements such as gross in or gross out to support typical transfer station operations.

The weighbridge module is available to use with the latest 8.4 release of Wastedge. The weighbridge gatehouse software module runs as a fully standalone solution on any Windows computer, whether it is a stand-alone desktop computer at the weighbridge office, or any Windows tablet.

The weighbridge module can also accumulate material movement summaries per waste or recycle stream into site totals and diversion percentages. The module supports account customers, haulers and outbound deliveries and cash on delivery receipts.

Further features to come onstream with the solution will be integrated EFTPOS payments for users who need to take payments on the weighbridges.

The module marks the first in a number of new features due for release in the Wastedge software platform in the coming months.

amcsgroup.com

Scaling up the circular economy

How progressive is Australia compared with the rest of the world when it comes to actioning circular economy principles? Waste Management Review investigates.
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Mark Smith appointed VWMA executive officer

The Victorian Waste Management Association has appointed sustainability expert Mark Smith as its new executive officer.

Mr Smith has more than 14 years’ experience across the private and public sectors. He has held previous roles at the Environmental Protection Authority Victoria, Sustainability Victoria, Toyota and VicRoads.

He has a Bachelor of Applied Science, and with significant experience working with legislators, regulators, various statutory authorities and research institutions.

“I’m confident he will make a valuable and effective contribution to advocacy work by the VWMA and VTA on behalf of members,” said Peter Anderson, VWMA Chief Executive Officer.

“I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate and thank Andrew Tytherleigh for his many contributions to the VWMA and the broader waste management industry over many years. We wish him every success in the next chapter of his personal and professional life,” Mr Anderson added.

 

Coca-Cola announces World Without Waste vision

Coca-Cola has announced a goal to collect and recycle the equivalent of every bottle or can it sells globally by 2030.

The plan will be executed by the company in collaboration with its global network of bottling partners, part of a plan called “World Without Waste”.

It will hone in on the entire packaging lifecycle – from how bottles and cans are designed and made, to how they’re recycled and repurposed.

“Consumers around the world care about our planet. They want and expect companies like ours to be leaders and help make a litter-free world possible,” said James Quincey, president and CEO, The Coca-Cola Company.

“Through our ‘World Without Waste’ vision, we are investing in our planet and in in our packaging to help make the world’s packaging problem a thing of the past.”

Mr Quincey, who heads to Davos, Switzerland next week for the World Economic Forum annual meeting, said the company will continue to focus on developing 100-percent recyclable packaging and reducing the amount of plastic in its bottles.

Coca-Cola is not the only company with sustainable packaging goals. McDonald’s has set a 2025 target for 100 per cent of its guest packaging to come from renewable, recycled or certified sources. As of 2017, 50 per cent of McDonald’s guest packaging has come from renewable, recycled or certified sources. In 2018, McDonalds plans to eliminate foam packaging from its global system.

circular economy group

Chairperson appointed to EPA Victoria Board

In December, Cheryl Batagol was appointed Chairperson of the new Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA Victoria) Governing Board.

Ms Batagol has been Chair of the EPA, under the current governing structure, since 2009 and brings more than 40 years’ experience in waste management, water and environment sectors to the position.

Ms Batagol’s two-year appointment will take effect from 1 July 2018 when the new Governing Board commences and the new Environment Protection Act 2017 comes into effect.

The board will introduce five to nine members to oversee the authority and include people with a wide variety of skills.

The board will lead EPA Victoria through a period of transition and continue the work of the Victorian Government to implement its response to the Independent Inquiry into the EPA.

Recruitment for the remaining board members is currently underway, with more announcements to come this year.

The Victorian Government has invested $162.5 million over five years to reform and improve environment protection in the state.

WA Government to hold plastic bag ban workshops

The Western Australian Government will hold workshops to prepare retailers and consumers for the state’s upcoming ban on singe-use plastic bags, Environment Minister Stephen Dawson has announced.

The ban, which was announced last year, means retailers and suppliers will not be able provide single-use plastic bags for consumers to use after July 1 this year.

The workshops, which will be held in metropolitan and regional WA, are designed to ready residents for the ban.

“These workshops provide an opportunity for people to ask questions and share information on how the ban will work on a day-to-day basis,” Mr Dawson said.

“The government’s plastic bag ban is widely supported by the community and industry. Now you can help us make it work.”

West Australian retailers are being encouraged by the government to stop ordering single-use plastic bags in the lead up to the ban, while consumers are being advised to start bringing reusable bags for their shopping.

Workshops in the metropolitan region will be held across Perth, Connolly, Stirling, Armadale, Fremantle, Midland and Mandurah and in regional centres through Karratha, Kalgoorlie, Bunbury, Narrogin, Albany, Geraldton, Broome and Port Hedland.

More information about the government’s workshops can be found here.

Tyrecycle joins MEGATRANS2018

Australian tyre recycler and manufacturer of tyre-derived products, Tyrecycle, is set to showcase its unique service offerings at MEGATRANS2018 this coming May.

Tyrecycle specialises in recycling end-of-life tyres for use as products such as crumb rubber, which is being increasingly used in pavement construction and infrastructure projects.

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The company joins the growing list of businesses exhibiting at MEGATRANS2018, which aims to bring together leaders and stakeholders in the wider Australian and international supply chain, including those in the transport, logistics, warehousing solutions, materials handling and infrastructure sectors.

To join Tyrecycle and other leading businesses at MEGATRANS2018, contact Eva Merkel: P 03 9690 8766 E eva.merkel@primecreative.com.au 

MEGATRANS2018 is an official media partner of Waste Management Review.

WA Government seeks opinion on waste strategy

Western Australians are being urged have their say on the state’s new waste strategy.

WA Environment Minister Stephen Dawson called on the community, industry and local governments to participate in a series of workshops being held throughout WA in February as part of the strategy’s consultation process.

The workshops will launch in Perth on February 1, 2018 with subsequent sessions in Albany, Bunbury, Kalgoorlie, Port Hedland and Geraldton. There will be three workshops in Perth.

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The consultation paper, which is open for public comment, looks at opportunities to improve Western Australia’s waste and recycling performance which the government said is lagging behind that of other Australian states.

In 2014-15, on average each Western Australian generated 2623 kilograms of waste – the second highest rate of waste generation in Australia per capita and 17 per cent above the average of other states and territories.

The new targets proposed by the strategy will bring Western Australia’s waste and recycling performance in line with other Australian jurisdictions.

For more information and to register for a workshop go to the Waste Authority’s website.

Environment Minister Stephen Dawson said reducing the amount of waste to landfill can generate significant economic opportunities for the Western Australian community.

“For every 10,000 tonnes of waste recycled, 9.2 full time equivalent jobs are created compared to only 2.8 jobs when waste is landfilled,” he said.

“We want to engage widely with the community, industry and local governments to help make Western Australia a sustainable low-waste society which values and protects people’s health and the environment.”

“These workshops provide an opportunity for all of us to work together to achieve greater environmental outcomes, create employment and build businesses.”

recycle hub

CMA Ecocycle’s battery recycling program

More than 90 per cent of dead batteries, which equates to hundreds of thousands a year, are ending up in landfill, according to CMA Ecocycle. The material only adds to Australia’s waste problem and increases the risk of toxic chemicals polluting the environment. It’s also a waste of valuable and reusable resources.

CMA Ecocycle recycles all types of batteries, including lead acid, alkaline batteries, AA, AAA, C&D, nickel cadmium, nickel metal hydride and lithium ion and button cell. The organisation is able to safely recover mercury, lead, silver, nickel, cadmium, steel and plastic.

For businesses generating larger volumes of battery waste, including enough to fill a two-litre container each year, the organisation offers a tailor-made solution to suit the battery waste stream. For smaller cell-type and button batteries, this may include a large collection bucket. Other options are available as required for larger batteries such as car batteries.

In the case of battery collection buckets, a single charge covers delivery, pickup and recycling costs. Bins are charged according to bin capacity (additional charges may apply outside metropolitan area), minus any payment for the scrap value of the batteries. In the case of car batteries, businesses may end up with cash in hand.

CMA Ecocycle delivers the empty collection buckets or bins to a business’ door, ready to start collecting their batteries for recycling. Once the buckets or bins are full, CMA Ecocycle can be called to arrange pickup.

cmaecocycle.net