May 2018

The Bundaberg Protocol: Queensland’s response to recycling

Queensland industry stakeholders have released a five-point action plan in response to the impact of the global recycling challenge on the state, including greater risk sharing provisions for council contracts and more recycled content in public policy and purchasing.

The Waste Recycling Industry Association of Queensland (WRIQ) hosted the Queensland Secondary Resources Forum in late April, in Bundaberg, to address issues impacting kerbside recycling and international challenges.

The forum aimed to discuss the Chinese Government’s decision to restrict the amount of waste being imported and how it effects Queensland domestic recycling capabilities.

All actions must be reported against in October 2018.

The five point plan includes education and awareness, collection, procurement, contracting and regulation. It places the onus of responsibility on the various stakeholders involved in reform to take action.

Education and awareness aims to be established through improved standardised community education to inform approved items for kerbside recycling bins. A Working Group will be convened by 30 May, 2018 to develop an education program project scope for councils. This will be facilitated by local government representatives, state government, the Product Stewardship Council, WRIQ and the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation.

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The plan also includes a focus on collection, with a plan to trial two local government kerbside collection systems and monitor the reduction of contaminants. Bundaberg Regional Council will trial the removal of flexible plastics and all non-bottle plastics from its kerbside bins. Ipswich City Council will trial the removal of all glass items from its kerbside bins. Project plans for each will be established in May, 2018.

In terms of procurement, the manifesto recommends the Queensland Government’s procurement policy be amended to mandate the use of recycled content in public policy and purchasing, with a preferred weighting to Queensland generated recycled product. Products to be promoted include recycled glass for reuse in infrastructure, plastic for feedstock in manufactured public infrastructure, paper and cardboard for reuse and organics for street scapes, landscapes and other composting activities. This will be facilitated by WRIQ working with the state government.

Contracting in the plan comprises separating recyclables processing and recyclables collection contracts, the inclusion of risk sharing provisions with commodity prices and contamination between councils and contractors, and some other measures. This will be facilitated by the state government’s Department of Environment and Science (DES) with support from WRIQ and the Local Government Association of Queensland. The action plan requests DES to assist by convening a local government and industry working group to scope and redesign a new contract framework (and model contract) for kerbside recyclables collection and processing in Queensland.

Regulation focuses on using existing provisions in the Waste Recycling Reduction Act – Chapter 4 Management of Priority and other products provisions. The manifesto argues the Queensland Government should prepare notices of intent for the introduction of priority product statements on materials which include non-CRS glass item, non-bottle plastics and textiles. Australian standards be amended to allow for/encourage recycled content to be used in product manufacture. The action plan requests DES to issue a directive to the relevant industry organisations for glass, plastics and textile manufacturers placing product in Queensland. It asks them to call for the introduction of voluntary stewardship programs for their products and seek their future commitments by October, 2018.

The news followed with recent commitments by state and territory environment ministers regarding recycled packaging.

 

ACCC proposes to re-authorise Tyre Stewardship Scheme

The ACCC is proposing to grant authorisation for Tyre Stewardship Australia (TSA) to continue its revised Tyre Stewardship Scheme for a further six years.

The scheme aims to increase the recycling of tyres and the use of products made from recycled tyres in Australia. The Australian, Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has decided to grant interim authorisation to allow TSA to continue to run the scheme (as authorised by the ACCC in 2013) while the ACCC finalises its assessment of the revised scheme.

TSA was formed in 2014 after the Australian Tyre Industry Council applied to the ACCC to establish a national Tyre Stewardship Scheme. The ACCC authorised the move in 2013 and agreed that it would be administered by a new association, known as Tyre Stewardship Australia. In January 2014, the association officially formed.

The scheme is funded through a levy of 25 cents per equivalent passenger units (standard passenger car tyres, known as EPUs) on the importation of new tyres by voluntary member companies of the scheme.

Since 2013, TSA has directed $3 million of funds from the levy into market research for the development of new products made from recycled tyres.

“We believe the scheme is likely to result in a public benefit by reducing the number of tyres disposed of in landfill, illegally dumped, or exported overseas to be burned unsustainably for fuel,” ACCC Commissioner Roger Featherston said.

“Used tyres can be reprocessed in Australia to create useful products such as soft-fall playground mats, industrial flooring, and brake pads.”

TSA is currently developing more rigorous accreditation and monitoring of industry participants, and a verification process to track the destination of tyres exported overseas.

“We’re satisfied the voluntary scheme is unlikely to result in any significant public detriment because the industry levy, at 25 cents per tyre, represents a very small portion of the total retail price of tyres. We also note that participants of the scheme are not prohibited from dealing with non-accredited businesses in certain circumstances.”

Mr Featherston said the ACCC expected TSA to continue working with stakeholders in the tyre supply chain and government to make further improvements, including expanding its membership.

Dale Gilson, TSA Chief Executive Officer, said TSA were pleased with the ACCC draft determination on, and interim authorisation of, the continuation of the Tyre Product Stewardship Scheme.

“It recognises the value the Tyre Product Stewardship Scheme has been able to deliver, and the work that has been done to set-up future improvements in the sustainable management of end-of-life tyres. We have welcomed and valued the input from the many interested parties and, following the feedback period for the draft determination, look forward to progressing TSA’s objectives in the future,” Mr Gilson said.

IVECO’s Personalised Maintenance Contracts

Managing a fleet of vehicles can be a balancing act, especially when it comes to maintenance. IVECO’s Elements packages cover a range of options, from routine scheduled servicing through to total maintenance and repair. Whether you are an individual owner operator or the owner of a large fleet, Elements is suitable.

The Elements packages allow fleet operators to budget for costs in advance, avoiding unforeseen outlays by delivering a range of tailored packages designed to maximise vehicle uptime. It aims to provide operators with the flexibility to develop a maintenance regime best suited to their application. For a fixed monthly fee, operators know that their van or truck maintenance is taken care of.

Personalised maintenance contract packages are available across the full range of IVECO vans and trucks and over the past 12 months, the program has been reviewed and adjusted with the goal of providing customers with even greater value. There’s also the peace of mind of knowing that servicing and repairs are being carried out by IVECO-trained technicians to exacting manufacturer standards using IVECO genuine parts.

According to IVECO, here are the top reasons to consider its personalised maintenance contracts:

1.      Individually tailored packages to best suit your application and requirements

2.     Competitively-priced monthly fee

3.     Better control of customer balance sheets via known service costs

4.     Work undertaken by skilled factory-trained technicians

5.     Use of IVECO genuine parts to maintain resale value

6.     Better cash flow and budget control

7.      Customers can concentrate on their core business leaving servicing to the experts at IVECO

8.     Added convenience and peace of mind

9.     The flexibility to use one of IVECO’s 60 dealerships or parts and service outlets nationwide.

www.iveco.com.au

Changing our view on waste

Newly-appointed Victorian Waste Management Association executive officer Mark Smith discusses National Sword, his past research and the state of recycling in Victoria. 

Read More

EPA Victoria welcomes illegal dumping budget funds

Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Victoria has welcomed the Victorian Government’s budget announcement of $9.1 million over four years to continue the work of its Illegal Dumping Strikeforce.

The budget also included $19.9 million in what the Victorian Government said in its budget papers will strengthen the EPA and ensure it’s working to help protect the state’s environment.

In other environmental areas, the budget contained $1.2 million for an air quality strategy, and other funds for Parks Victoria and climate change. The budget papers state that $14.5 million will be provided for funding to councils and the recycling industry to ensure the continuing kerbside collection of household recyclable waste, which appears to be a continuation of the funds announced in February.

EPA Chief Executive Officer Nial Finegan said the $9.1 million investment would enable EPA to continue tackling illegal waste disposal through targeted investigations, compliance activities, intelligence gathering and public information campaigns.

“Illegal dumping has significant impacts on human health and the environment, and costs Victorians around $30 million a year in clean up costs and lost landfill levy revenue,” Mr Finegan said.

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“The continued program will allow us to build on the knowledge and expertise gathered so far, increase our focus on prevention, and disrupt the business of illegitimate dumping through behaviour change and public information.”

The strikeforce program has been targeting the illegal dumping of construction and demolition waste, skip bin loads and waste tyres.

“Illegal dumping creates an eyesore and can contaminate the soil and nearby waterways, and the cost of the clean up is too often left to the community or landholders,” Mr Finegan said.

“Two thirds of EPA’s prosecutions every year are for illegal waste dumping, and over the last two financial years, EPA’s Illegal Dumping Strikeforce has inspected hundreds of sites for illegal dumping and issued more than 170 clean up notices.”

EPA’s clean up notices are legally enforceable orders to remove dumped waste for proper disposal, and EPA fines start in the thousands of dollars and can go as high as hundreds of thousands if the case goes to court.

 

 

Queensland councils vote for zero waste to landfill by 2028

Queensland councils have committed to a zero waste to landfill strategy by the year 2028 – underpinned by waste to energy.

A meeting of the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) last Friday, 16 elected member policy executives voted on the action, on behalf of all 77 councils.

In Brisbane, LGAQ President, Cr Mark Jamieson said councils are committed to ensuring Queensland is a world leader in waste management.

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“We support the state government’s recent commitment to consider zero waste and waste to energy strategies. Our aim is to eventually close landfills altogether,” he said.

The resolution comes as environment ministers met last week to address the recycling crisis facing Australia, in the wake of China’s crackdown on accepting foreign waste.

LGAQ Policy Executive members today voted to support the following:

  • Queensland councils commit to making Queensland a global leader in creating a circular economy for waste management that will be good for generations to come.
  • Queensland councils commit to a zero waste to landfill target by 2028 for Queensland, underpinned by nation-leading waste to energy solutions.
  • Queensland councils oppose a waste levy on domestic/municipal solid waste.
  • Queensland councils do not support the expansion of the local government areas subject to the levy applied in 2011/12.
  • Queensland councils support all waste levy proceeds going to either councils for zero waste, waste to energy, or circular economy initiatives, or to the recycling industry to directly target problem waste streams.

City of Swan recognised for waste management

The City of Swan in WA has been recognised for its efficient delivery of waste management and other essential services.

A major survey of local governments has found the City of Swan’s waste management cost per resident was less than the WA and national average.

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Residents living in the area were also fond to dump 14 per cent less rubbish than the average council in WA.

Data was collected from 133 participating councils throughout Australia and New Zealand.

The results were published in the Australasian LG Performance Excellence Program 2017 by PwC Australia and Local Government Professionals NSW.

The survey found the cost per tonne of actual waste collected per 10,000 residents $265, nearly 32% below the average rate of $389.

The City of Swan has been identifying ways in which it can reduce waste, and has diverted more than 180 mattresses from landfill, and operates its own waste collection service using shared resources, labour and plant between the various waste services.

City of Swan Mayor David Lucas said he is proud of the city’s performance.

“Waste management has become a global issue and I’m really pleased with how the city performed in this major survey,” he said.

“We will continue our efforts to improve this service and encourage responsible waste management and recycling throughout the city.”

Swan Valley/Gidgegannup Ward Councillor Rod Henderson congratulated residents on their role in contributing to the city’s performance in the survey.

“The city collected less waste compared to other WA councils and credit must go to residents for their role in achieving this.”

WA exempts waste levy to promote recycling

The WA Government has amended regulations to ensure sites that accept only clean fill and uncontaminated fill, that meet environmental and health threshold after testing, are not licensed as landfill premises or liable for the waste levy.

The changes have been made to promote recycling, increase diversion from landfill and provide certainty for development, according to the WA Government.

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The amendments to the Environmental Protection Amendment Regulations 2018 and the Landfill Waste Classification and Waste Definitions 1996 (as amended 2018) were undertaken by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) in consultation with experts, industry and the community.

Definitions of clean fill and uncontaminated fill have been amended to The Landfill Waste Classification and Waste Definitions 1996 and include threshold limits for physical and chemical contaminants.

“The Environmental Protection Amendment Regulations 2018 gazetted today ensure that clean fill and uncontaminated fill can be used without being licensed as landfill premises or being liable for the waste levy,” WA Environment Minister Stephen Dawson said.

“This decision provides certainty, minimises regulation and promotes recycling of materials that would otherwise be waste.

“This is a win for business, a win for the waste industry and a win for the environment,” he said.

The consultation summary report, submissions and the Landfill Waste Classification and Waste Definitions 1996 (as amended 2018) are available on Department of Water and Environmental Regulation’s website.