February 2018

Winner of Green Industries SA Women in Waste Award announced

Waste consultant Kat Heinrich has won the annual Green Industries SA Women in Waste Award for her contributions to SA’s waste industry.

Ms Heinrich, a senior consultant for Rawtec, has delivered a range of projects to help with resource efficiency, disaster waste management, state waste accounting and waste infrastructure planning.

The award, established in memory of Pam Keating, includes $5000 to assist with travel, accommodation and conference costs, and mentoring from a senior woman executive in the industry.

SA Environment Minister Ian Hunter said he was delighted to present the award to Ms Heinrich.

“Kat’s new project will address the global issue of food waste by investigating best-practices in Denmark, the United Kingdom, France, Italy and the United States and using this research to drive a step change in food waste reduction and recovery in SA,” Mr Hunter said.

“Congratulations to Kat for her dedication and vision to further SA’s reputation as leader in recycling and resource recovery.”

Ms Heinrich has recently started a blog to share best practices in food waste management from cities globally.

“I am passionate about addressing food waste, which is a significant issue globally, and through this award aim to stimulate a step-wise change in SA,” she said.

“While SA leads the country in waste and resource recovery practices, food waste particularly in the household stream, remains a significant challenge and opportunity for the state.

“Addressing food waste is an important step in transitioning SA to a more circular economy through compost production or other beneficial interventions.”

She said the project will identify potential initiatives that may help SA to take this next step to reduce food waste.

The Tasmanian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) is considering a proposal for an organics processing facility at Mowbray in Launceston.

Organics market development grants open: EPA NSW

NSW businesses, councils, agricultural associations and project communicators can now apply for the second round of grants to promote the benefits of compost into new markets.

Grants worth up to $300,000 are available to provide funding for projects that will build markets for compost made from household food and garden waste, including material collected from kerbside bins.

Example projects that are eligible for funding include showcasing compost benefits to farmers, demonstrating benefits to soil health, or improving market confidence by promoting the high standard of modern compost quality.

Previous rounds of grants have already funded projects that have demonstrated how compost builds resilient turf on sporting fields and improves soil health on farms in Sydney and the Riverina.

EPA Unit Head Organics Amanda Kane said the grants gave business, councils and agricultural associations the chance to deliver projects that could make a real difference when it came to organic waste.

“From saving good food from being wasted and addressing food insecurity in our state, to increasing NSW capacity to process more collected green waste, we’re tackling organics waste from every angle,” Ms Kane said.

“This funding is helping to build strong, viable markets for a quality recycled product and supports other programs to increase supply through more collections and infrastructure to build the capacity of the industry in NSW to process more.”

The grants are being delivered through the NSW EPA’s Waste Less Recycle More initiative.

Applications close 28 March, 2018.

Updated load restraint guide now available

The National Transport Commission (NTC) has released an updated load restraint guide, with a complementary guide for light vehicle operators.

NTC Chief Executive, Paul Retter, said the updated Load Restraint Guide 2018 provides practical advice on how to safely transport a load.

“If you’re involved in packing, loading, moving or unloading any type of vehicle, you are responsible for complying with load restraint laws.

“Restraining your load is not complex, but it does require training and knowledge. This guide will help you to know how to restrain your load safely through practical guidance material, including diagrams, in a user-friendly style allowing you to find the information you need quickly,” he said.

The guide includes information on understanding the characteristics of the load in order to choose a suitable vehicle, as well as equipment and restraint systems which meet the performance standards legally required by law.

“The guide is an invaluable resource to ensure you are restraining loads correctly to prevent incidents that can cause death or injury, as well as damage to your business’ reputation and finances.

“We encourage everyone who is involved in restraining loads to read the guide and keep it handy as a reference,” said Retter.

This is the first time a version focusing on light vehicles has also been available, specifically for vehicles under 4.5 tonnes.

NWRIC warns recycling contracts could face default

The National Waste and Recycling Industry Council (NWRIC) have warned that without urgent action to address market changes, Australian recycling contracts could face default.

It follows the controversial move by the Chinese government to reduce the imports of 24 categories of solid waste.

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The Chinese National Sword initiative, a continuation of its Green Fence program, has also tightened standards on import contamination by limiting which businesses can obtain scrap import licenses. The NWRC explained this means lower contamination levels and fewer import licenses issued.

Following their latest meeting, the NWRIC believe that without significant changes to the current market, kerbside and commercial recycling contracts could be cancelled.

Re-negotiating contracts between local governments and recycling providers, increasing stockpiling allowances where environmentally safe, and assistance from the Federal Government were identified as strategies to help the current market.

The best long-term solution to the problem is reinvigorating local re-manufacturing capacity, according to NWRIC.

Recycling market shortfalls can lead to large stockpiles of papers and plastics, which could lead to a fire hazard.

“The NWRIC is urging all customers, including local government and commercial waste generators, to meet with their recycling supplier to plan for these sudden and unforeseen changes,” said Chairman of the NWRIC, Phil Richards.

Waste Contractors and Recyclers Association of NSW Executive Director, Tony Khoury said that thoroughly checking firefighting and emergency equipment is vitally important.

“In relation to unprocessed stockpiles or bales of stored sorted material, please ensure that you comply with your Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and development approval requirements,” Mr Khoury said.

“If you are approaching your authorised, lawful stock pile limits, please consider your options (negotiate with EPA, find alternate drop-off facilities, talk to your council or commercial clients).”

According to Mr Khoury, there is at least one fire per week at NSW waste facilities which account for up to 10 per cent of firefighter’s work time.

 

Old tyres used to make footpaths that help water trees

New research from the University of Melbourne and Tasmanian company Merlin Site Services has found a way of recycling old tyres and using them to create urban paving that can provide water to nearby trees.

It follows a recent trial of the system at the University of Melbourne Campus which involved four different pavement recipes for different uses (footpaths, bike paths, carparks and low-volume traffic roads).

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The materials allow rainwater to soak down between the pavements, which will then be able to provide water for nearby trees.

The Tyre Stewardship Association funded research project is now investigating how viable using waste tyre products for footpaths is, and if it can even help irrigation and storm water management in urban areas.

Research will involve both laboratory and field testing through a pilot installation program to encourage the construction industry and local governments to use tyre-derived products.

Currently, 51 million used tyres are discarded each year, but only only five per cent are recycled locally.

According to TSA Market Development, Manager Liam O’Keefe, the aim of TSA investment in this research is to support the use of a very high percentage of TDP (up to 60 per cent) in permeable pavement products, providing another opportunity for sustainable management of end-of-life tyres to deliver new products and new jobs.

Speakers revealed for Vinyl Council of Australia conference

New insights and information about the future of the vinyl industry are set to be shared by over 30 expert speakers from across the globe at PVC AUS 2018.

Organised about the Vinyl Council of Australia, the event will discuss the latest technical, market and sustainability trends.

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Sustainability and recycling are key themes of the conference, with talks on the developments in the European PVC industry, discussions of the issue of legacy substances, and the research of an effective recycling system.

The technological advances in both processing and machinery will be explored, and how this will allow for growth in the market for PVC windows and handle future challenges.

Senior Director at IHS Chemical Eddie Kok will be providing analysis on the pricing, supply/demand dynamics and whether supply will tighten within the next five years.

“Our second conference, PVC AUS 2018: Shaping the Future provides an unmatched opportunity for council members and their stakeholders to learn about industry trends and developments specific to the manufacturing, use and re-use of vinyl,” Vinyl Council Chief Executive Sophi MacMillan said.

“It’s the only event designed to shape the future of the vinyl industry in the region.”

The event is sponsored and supported by Gernier Extrusions GmbH, Krauss-Maffei Berstorff, and machinery manufacturer Plasmec.

PVC AUS 2018 runs from the 13-15 March 2018 at the Amora Hotel Jamison, Sydney.

SA Government’s response to China waste ban

The SA Government has allocated $300,000 in grant funding to recycling businesses, in a bid to strengthen the local market.

It follows the recent Chinese international waste bans, which saw a crackdown on imports of 24 different types of solid waste from Japan, USA, Australia and other source countries.

China’s National Sword Program and import restrictions have impacted the South Australian recycling industry that relied on exporting material such as scrap plastics, metals, paper, cardboard and textiles overseas.

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The Recycling Market Development Grants Programme, funded through statutory body Green Industries SA, aims to assist businesses to invest in activities that will overcome market barriers to accepting products with recycled-content.

Sustainability, Environment and Conservation Minister Ian Hunter said the grants are a timely aid to bolstering SA recycling businesses.

“Strengthening the local market and secondary re-manufacturing industry will also develop our economy and act as a buffer against the risks associated with selling into overseas commodity markets,” he said.

“Equally important is the need to improve market confidence in using recycled-material products as a viable option so eligible activities for funding include those which validate the quality and performance of local recycled materials or recycled-content products and develop new or expand existing markets for such products.”

Examples of activities that are eligible for the grant include testing product quality to improve the local market’s confidence in recycled products, and developing or expanding existing markets for them.

 

WA community waste management grants help grassroots action

Western Australian community groups can now apply for grants to help reduce the impact of waste on the environment.

The Community Grants Scheme offers $250,000 to share between not-for-profit organisations and community groups.

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Funding will go towards helping these groups encourage communities to reuse, recycle, recover, dispose, and avoid the creation of waste.

The scheme support projects that will help WA achieve its waste strategy targets of diverting 65 per cent of municipal solid waste away from landfill in Perth and 50 per cent in major regional centres by 2020.

Previous projects include Edith Cowan University’s ReFood app that connects leftover food from cafes and shops with organisations that redistribute the food, and Blackwood Youth Action, that makes reusable plastic shopping bags for people to borrow to reduce waste.

Western Australian Environment Minister Stephen Dawson said the grants help to recognise the work of community groups that are committed to reducing waste, boosting environment and protecting the environment.

“Initiatives funded by CGS can increase awareness and education on waste avoidance, reusing resources and recycling,” he said.

“Effective waste management is everyone’s responsibility.

“I encourage community groups to apply for a grant to help reduce the waste we generate and recycle more.”

Applications for funding close at 12pm on Friday, March 16, 2018.