The organics recycling industry has celebrated its industry achievements over the past year in NSW.
The Australian Organics Recycling Association (AORA) event was held at the Novotel Parramatta and attended by more than 70 representatives from organic processors, to industry suppliers, state and local governments.
The event was hosted by MC Tony Emery (Soilco) who announced the winners with the assistance of David Bonser (Amiterre Ag and AORA NSW Chair), Christopher Malan (Komptech), Jessica Hurst (Hitachi Construction Machinery Australia), Rob Niccol (ANL) and Peter Wadewitz (Peats Soil and AORA Chair). NSW Government member of the legislative council Paul Green was also invited to share his views on the growing industry.
Peter Wadewitz, Chair of the Australian Organics Recycling Association said it was wonderful to see such great companies performing so well and leading the way at a time when food waste around Australia is such a hot topic.
The 2018 AORA NSW Award for “Outstanding local government initiative in organics collection or processing or marketing” went to Bega Valley Shire Council.
The council was nominated by Sean Hayes from C-Wise, who also accepted on behalf of the council, and the AORA judges agreed that the team at Bega Valley Shire Council should be congratulated on their community centric approach to composting and their recent introduction of a FOGO collection and processing service.
The 2018 AORA NSW Award for “Outstanding Contribution to industry development” was awarded to Duncan Le Good.
Mr Le Good was nominated by Angus Johnston and the judges agreed unanimously that he had made a large contribution to the industry and the association over many years, and particularly over the last two years. He sits on the AORA Board representing NSW and is the deputy chair of the NSW Branch. Within SUEZ he is a strong voice for active participation in the association and industry cooperation more broadly. With Tony Emery stepping down from the NSW Chair and Paul Coffey’s departure from board and management of the association, Duncan has stepped up and influenced others to make big contributions to industry development too. .
The judges found there was no clear winner for the AORA NSW Award for “compost user demonstrating innovation and advocacy in agricultural markets” this year.
The 2018 AORA NSW Award for “compost user demonstrating innovation and advocacy in amenity markets” went to Penelope Smith.
Ms Smith was nominated by Duncan Le Good and the judges agreed that she had been a critical member of The Hills Bark Blower team working tirelessly to promote and raise standards specifically in the area of custom mixes for unique applications. As a horticulturist and marketing specialist, she has applied her knowledge and advocacy successfully to the development and promotion of mixes for roof top gardens, green walls and specialist erosion control (compost blankets). She has also been successful in receiving grants from both rounds of WLRM Organics Marketing Grants Scheme.
The 2018 AORA NSW Award for “Rising Star for outstanding operations or sales team member showing leadership and commitment to a processing members business” was awarded to Gunther Neumann.
Gunther was also nominated by Duncan Le Good and the judges agreed that Gunther oversaw the successful construction and commissioning of the REMONDIS Lake Macquarie Organics Resource Recovery Facility – a new state of the art composting facility at Awaba – which now offers residents and businesses a food and garden waste collection and recycling solution unique in the Hunter. A serial award winner – Gunther was also named Young Business Executive of the Year (Age 18-35) at the Lake Macquarie Business Excellence Awards earlier this year.
Following the official awards presentation, AORA NSW presented a Certificate of Appreciation for “Exemplary and Meritorious Service to the recycled organics industry in New South Wales” to Annie Kavanagh, Senior Projects Officer in the Organics Unit at EPA NSW on the eve of her retirement later this month.
Peter Wadewitz, National Chair of AORA closed the ceremony with the induction of Paul Coffey as the inaugural Life Member of the Association for outstanding service to the Organics Recycling Industry and the Association.
Pictured: Penelope Smith and Duncan Le Good.