Charles Darwin University researchers tackle remote waste

A first-of-its-kind study could help remote areas manage waste and embrace a circular economy.

The Charles Darwin University (CDU) study, led by Dr Deepika Mathur, examined landfill sites for five communities in the West Arnhem Region. The results provide a roadmap to help Northern Territory regional councils and communities navigate best practice waste management.

Distance has caused high transport costs which means goods arrive, but sometimes never leave remote areas. Piles of legacy waste containing scrap metal, car bodies, white goods, construction waste, tyres, car batteries and oils have remained at some sites for 100 years.

Dr Mathur, Senior Research Fellow at the CDU Northern institute in Alice Springs, said the landfill sites examined as part of the study were well maintained with neatly sorted stockpiles, but regional councils generally have no rate-paying base to fund further waste management.

“This means remote communities find it particularly difficult to participate in the circular economy, mainly due to the high cost of transporting waste,” Mathur said.

Research by Mathur and co-researcher Ellie Norris, PhD student at CDU in Alice Springs, has helped identify a range of possible solutions.

Frameworks for estimating waste removal costs have been developed. Norris said these frameworks help West Arnhem Regional Council (WARC) and other regional councils budget and prioritise the removal of waste streams from remote communities.

“The study showed regional councils, such as WARC, can implement supply chains for removing priority wastes, such as cardboard, container deposit schemes (CDS) and construction waste, and remove listed waste and scrap metal on a regular basis,” Norris said.

“Partnering with logistics companies to capitalise on back-loading opportunities can also help reduce the high cost of transporting waste.”

For more information, visit www.cdu.eu.au