INSIDE WASTE June/July 2018

Official Publication of the

ISSUE 84 | JUNE/JULY 2018

www.insidewaste.com.au Have you met Daisy? Daisy is Apple’s latest innovation in material recovery and can disable iPhones to recover materials traditional recyclers cannot. In this issue, we look at the value of robots in industrialising recycling processes.

INSIDE 18 Getting to the root of the issue 26 Honouring the changemakers 30 Industrialising processes

Lacking details

Councils expect to take million-dollar hit

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ISSN 1837-5618

CHINA’S decision to restrict the imports of 24 categories of waste has caused commodity prices to plunge, leaving some private operators having to pay for recyclables to be collected.

Many have been in discussions with local governments around contracts, solutions, and price increases and more information has emerged on just how much these increases will be.

In South Australia, a Local Government Association of SAcommissioned report has unveiled that the impact of China’s National Sword policy on the state’s recycling sector could be as high as $8.8 million, a figure based on a $63 per tonne increase in the cost of processing recycled materials.

LGA SA, along with state industry groups, is calling on the government to release some of the funds sitting in the Green Industry Fund to manage increased costs. But as a start, the association wants the government to freeze further landfill levy increases.

Over in Queensland, Local Government Association of Queensland told a Senate inquiry into Australia’s waste and recycling industry that at least 10 councils are bracing themselves for a $7 million hit in 2018-19 and fear that kerbside services are under duress.

However, LGAQ told the inquiry that the true cost may in fact be higher as contractors could impose higher charges whilst materials are rejected due to high contamination levels,

pointing to regional councils as the ones that will struggle the most. Like its counterpart in SA, the association is calling on the state government to roll out an emergency assistance package.

Turning to WA, where Cleanaway has been vocal about local governments needing to agree to higher fees or risk sending recyclables to landfill, the state government has set up a waste taskforce which will provide advice directly to the Minister for Environment. However, no assistance package has been announced... yet.

To date, only Victoria and NSW have offered multimillion-dollar rescue packages though these states are now facing questions and challenges of their own with these initiatives.

THE country’s state and federal Environment Ministers met in April to discuss ways to sustainably manage recycled waste following the roll-out of China’s National Sword Policy on January 1. Despite the gravity of the situation, the Ministers’ statement following the meeting was rather lacking, with few details around next steps.

While it should be acknowledged that for the first time, the waste and resource recovery sector is on the minds and in the agendas of our Environment Ministers, and the collaboration and cohesiveness seen in this instance has never happened before, there was an opportunity to do so much more than make motherhood statements such as “Ministers agreed to increase our recycling capacity” and “Ministers agreed to encourage waste reduction strategies through greater consumer awareness, education, and with industry leadership.” Funding or plans to drive these commitments were not even discussed.

On a positive note, the Ministers agreed to update the 2009 Waste Strategy by the end of the year and this strategy will include circular economy principles. Waste to energy was also on the table, with Ministers agreeing to explore advanced waste to energy and waste to biofuels projects as part of a broader suite of industry growth initiatives.

The Ministers have endorsed a target of 100% of Australian packaging being recyclable, compostable or reusable by 2025 or earlier, and they have tasked APCO with delivering that target.

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Editor’s Note // Official Publication of the

5,083

Senior Editor: Jacqueline Ong (jacqueline.ong@mayfam.net)

Don’t stop moving THE narrative is changing as days go by and we are not out of the woods yet. There is still much work to be done to regain stable footing and secure a sustainable long-term future.

Local governments are getting a sense of how much more recycling will cost in the next 12 months and unless they are willing to negotiate these increases with their contractors and come to terms with the true cost of processing, which has for years been “subsidised” by industry because of high commodity prices, contractors may be forced to stop collecting or look to landfilling.

Victoria and NSW have offered multi-million-dollar rescue packages to alleviate some pressure in the interim though there are now questions and criticism about their exclusivity (former) and source (latter - i.e. is this new money?). The offer of money sounds promising but in reality, it doesn’t seem

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to have done a whole lot of good and the disconnect between government and industry appears to be widening.

Some industry experts assert that states and territories need to look at the source of the issue(s), be it planning or contracts, and fix them first instead of simply throwing money at a problem with no further thought given to the systemic issues in the sector. Because for now, a lot of these “rescue” and “transition” packages appear tokenistic and are little more than band aid solutions. More on page 18.

While times are challenging, many in the sector haven’t stopped innovating and building capacity.

Machine manufacturers may find themselves in a desirable position if they have solutions that can adequately meet changing domestic and international demands.

The one rhetorical question Inside Waste has been asked multiple times over the last few weeks is, “why haven’t we

industrialised recycling processes?” MRFs operators, who are by far one of the worst hit in the sector, could benefit from turning to robots which manufacturers say are a cost-effective solution in the long-term and bring about improvements around quality, productivity, and safety.

More on page 30.

It is this innovative, forward-thinking mindset, even in difficult times, that Inside Waste is passionate about championing and we will be embarking on a year-long proactive campaign to recognise excellent and innovative activities, operations, and personalities in the waste and resource recovery sector. As such, we will be launching the annual Inside Waste awards shortly to celebrate the industry’s leaders.

More on page 26.

And still on innovation, look out for the August/September edition as it will bring you the latest and greatest from IFAT in Munich.

Journalists: Jan Arreza (jan.arreza@mayfam.net) Patrick Lau (patrick@mayfam.net) Advertising: Alastair Bryers (alastair.bryers@mayfam.net or 0431 730 886) Marketing and Customer Support: Benjamin May (ben.may@mayfam.net) Creative Director, Patterntwo Creative Studio: Toni Middendorf Subscriptions: subscriptions@mayfam.net Published by Mayfam Media Phone: 0400 868 456 Web: www.insidewaste.com.au Publisher: Ross May (ross@mayfam.net) COPYRIGHT WARNING All editorial copy and some advertisements in this publication are subject to copyright and cannot be reproduced in any form without the written authorisation of the managing editor.

Offenders will be prosecuted.

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Profile | Andrew Quinn Andrew Quinn is SLR Consulting’s technical director, appointed in April. One of his many tasks is to build the firm’s expanding waste management team.

What was your first job in the sector and what attracted you to it?

In 1991 I was hired by Bicky Rixon, who was then head of the NSW government’s Recycling Advisory Unit, to write the report for a project they had just completed to install office recycling at two Telecom (Telstra) buildings in Sydney. I was told it might take couple of days, three years later I was still there. I think what attracted me was that it was an industry where you could make a difference in the world.

Favourite part of your job?

Working with young consultants and seeing them develop in their careers.

I am constantly impressed by how smart and talented and enthusiastic they are.

What are some of your achievements that you are most proud of?

Every time I see colour-coded public place recycling bins I think back to the very early work I was involved in at the Recycling Advisory Unit where we researched and developed successful models for public place and public event recycling and formalised the colour-coding system for bins that is now so common and is the Australian Standard.

How do you think the sector will evolve/change in the next 12 months?

I would like to think that the current recycling crisis will result in longer-term more sustainable solutions for resource recovery but it’s not the first crisis of its type in the waste industry and it seems we did not learn from those previous. The current crisis will not be solved quickly but hopefully it will turn the good ship waste management in a more sustainable direction.

Vic prepares for e-waste to landfill ban VICTORIA’S e-waste to landfill ban will begin on July 1, 2019 and to ensure the state is equipped to manage increasing volumes of materials, the government has embarked on an upgrade program of collection and storage facilities.

The upgrades will ensure 98% of Victorians in metropolitan areas will be within a 20-minute drive of an e-waste disposal point, and 98% of Victorians in regional areas will be within a 30-minute drive of an e-waste disposal point.

To facilitate the upgrades, Minister for Environment Lily D’Ambrosio announced a $16.5 million funding package. She also noted that starting the ban mid next year will allow extra time for new infrastructure to be in place, for the state-wide education program to reach more people, and for those managing e-waste, particularly councils, to prepare for the new arrangements.

The funding program will include: • $15 million in grants to help councils and state government entities upgrade infrastructure to collect e-waste at more than 130 sites; and • a $1.4 million awareness campaign to educate Victorians about what e-waste is, how it should be managed, and the environmental and economic benefits of reusing, donating, repairing or recycling the material.

D’Ambrosio made the announcement at the launch of Australia’s first lithium handheld battery recycling facility at New Gisbourne, north of Melbourne.

The $2 million Envirostream Australia facility aims to develop home-grown processing capabilities, managing a material stream - lithium batteries - that had previously been sent overseas for recycling.

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Profile | IX Inside Waste is launching IX, a new online service that will connect buyers and sellers in the waste community.

Why launch a lead generation service for the waste and resource recovery sector?

Recently, major online search directories like Google and Bing have experienced a severe, and in some cases, not unexpected decline. As these services have expanded, their actual usability has crumbled. Inside Waste’s new service IX wants to turn the way industry searches for products and services on its head. Committing to building a strong and direct connection between those customers and service and/or equipment providers - a commitment major directories aren’t able to match.

Why list your business with IX? Involving your business with this new service is valuable. It has been created to connect buyers and sellers, whilst providing buyers with the knowledge to make the best choice for their business and creating new sales leads for sellers.

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Key advantages for the sector?

The main advantage for the sector is that this new service will create a continuously available network that will link together the products and services that the sector requires. This will create a unique opportunity to connect the industry across Australia.

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Tox Free takeover given green light THE Australian Competition and Consumer Commission will not oppose Cleanaway’s proposed acquisition of Tox Free, despite acknowledging that it would lessen competition in some waste streams.

“This was a complex matter for the ACCC. We consulted extensively with over 70 interested parties including customers, competitors, regulators and industry bodies. There was a mix of views on the competitive impacts, with some expecting little change, and others highlighting concerns,” ACCC Commissioner Roger Featherston said.

The ACCC’s investigation focused on waste streams and regions where the parties’ operations overlap, and the competitive implications of Cleanaway’s overall growth and increased vertical integration.

“Although there may be a lessening of competition in some waste streams, such as hazardous waste collection and processing, and used lubricating oil collection, we considered that, in this case, the proposed acquisition is unlikely to meet the threshold of a substantial lessening of competition,” Featherston said.

“We concluded that the threat of customers switching to competitors would constrain Cleanaway from increasing prices or decreasing service levels to a significant extent in any waste stream or geographic area.

The ACCC also noted the growing consolidation in the waste industry and any future merger or acquisition involving any large suppliers of waste management services will be closely investigated.

On April 19, Council notified residents of its intent to landfill recyclables, pointing to China’s National Sword policy as the main reason as recycling contractors had informed the city of an increase in costs. It was later revealed that the city’s kerbside collections had already been going to landfill for a month.

Unsurprisingly, Council’s original decision caused uproar across the sector and the community, prompting Council to rethink its move.

In reversing the decision, Ipswich

Mayor Andrew Antoniolli actually commended Council for “being upfront with the people of Ipswich” and for proudly sparking a national debate on council waste management practice.

He said Council’s move “brought the recycling crisis into the public eye” as the issue had been “kept hush”.

In order to deal with recyclables, Council will now seek a short-term recycling contractor. It will also run an education campaign to deal with contamination, which the Mayor said is the issue, not cost.

Ipswich agrees to rethink contract AFTER causing quite a stir in mid-April, Ipswich City Council in South East Queensland has backflipped on its

decision to send recyclables to landfill, agreeing to organise a short-term contractor to take the city’s recycling.

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// News

NSW C&D update THE NSW EPA has provided an update on proposed legislative reforms to the minimum standards for managing construction and demolition waste and other miscellaneous waste.

Consultation on the draft Regulation and Standards for Managing Construction Waste in NSW closed on December 12 and the EPA said it received approximately 50 detailed written submissions from a variety of stakeholders raising a range of complex issues and concerns with the potential impacts of the changes.

The EPA has carefully considered the submissions and is currently reviewing the draft Regulation and Standards to ensure that these issues and concerns are appropriately addressed so that the changes achieve their intended outcomes while minimising adverse impacts for stakeholders and the environment.

Timeframe The EPA said it cannot set a

firm date for the changes to be legislated and a number of steps are first required: • a Better Regulation Statement must be prepared outlining the case for legislative reform; • advice on legal and regulatory implications of issues raised during consultation must be obtained; • proposed changes to the Regulation and Standards must be finalised to enable legislative re-drafting; • the proposed changes must be reviewed and the Regulation re-drafted by the government’s Parliamentary Counsel’s Office; • the final package is presented to the Minister for the Environment for her consideration and decision; and • the Governor, on advice from the Executive Council, makes (or declines to make) the Regulation.

At this stage, it is anticipated the Regulation will be made in June 2018.

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ACT CDS - details released; Re.Group gets involved ACT will soon join the CDS club, announcing that it will roll out its container deposit scheme on June 30 with social enterprises across Canberra coming on board as key container collection points. Re.Group’s Re.Turn-It will play a key role in the scheme’s delivery.

Canberrans will be able to participate in the territory’s scheme by returning eligible, empty beverage containers to registered collection points for a 10-cent refund.

“We have always said we would introduce a scheme as quickly as possible to align with NSW, however we want to make sure we take our time to get it right,” Minister for Transport and City Services Meegan Fitzharris said.

“Contract agreements have now been signed between the Territory and the appointed scheme coordinator, Exchange for Change (ACT) and network operator Re.Turn-It.” The ACT’s CDS will use a face-to-face service delivery model, engaging

social enterprise locations and charity shopfronts as express collection points.

It will also have bulk depots that will accept larger quantities of containers.

To ensure industry is supported through this process, the government has legislated that beverage manufacturers will have up to two years before they have to introduce ACT-specific refund marking on their containers.

Network operator Re.Turn-It will be responsible for establishing a series of collection points and said formats will include depots where containers are counted on the spot so that customers can get an immediate cash refund, as well as express collection points where customers can drop off bags of containers and have the associated refund amounts automatically credited to their account within a few days.

Re.Turn-It will also investigate the use of reverse vending machines at some sites in the ACT.

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Another bump in the road for TNG Artist impression of TNG.

IN early April, the NSW parliamentary inquiry report into energy from waste technology recommended that Dial A Dump Industries’ The Next Generation EfW plant not be approved. A week later, this sentiment was echoed by the NSW Department of Planning.

The Department recommended that the Eastern Creek facility be refused, saying it assessed the application “on its merits and in accordance with relevant NSW policies and the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979,” adding the refusal was based on advice received from independent experts and government agencies, including the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and Health NSW.

NSW Health has advised it is unable to support the proposal in its current form while the EPA has advised the proposal is inconsistent with the NSW Energy from Waste Policy Statement (2015). Concerns raised throughout the public exhibition period centred on the proposal’s impacts on local air quality, the risk to human health and the proposed facility’s proximity to residential houses.

Ultimately, reasons cited by the Department for refusal include: • the development is inconsistent with key requirements of the NSW Energy from Waste Policy Statement (EPA 2015); • the impacts to air quality and risk to

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human health are unknown; • the Applicant has not adequately justified the scale of the facility; • the development has the potential to result in waste being used for energy recovery rather than higher order resource recovery outcomes directly contravening the overarching principles of waste avoidance and recovery enshrined in the waste hierarchy; • the development is inconsistent with state and regional strategic planning for waste infrastructure needs; • the development is not supported by the local community, local councils, special interest groups and local businesses; • the Applicant has not obtained community acceptance for the proposal; and • the development is not in the public interest.

The planning process for DADI’s TNG facility has come quite a long way, with the company having already spent millions on the project and scaling back its original proposal of treating 1.35 million tonnes of residual waste per year to 552,000 tonnes per year.

DADI CEO Ian Malouf has also asserted

time and again that the plant will not treat everything that comes along.

“There are 140 million reasons why we won’t put the wrong things in this plant because we won’t get the levy off if we do. If we don’t respect the 75% recycling ratio for C&D and the 50% recycling ratio for C&I, which is part of policy, we won’t get the levy back,” Malouf previously told Inside Waste.

Malouf has vowed to fight on, maintaining that rigorous assessments of EfW proposals will work in the technology’s favour and pointing to hundreds of facilities around the world built by HZI, DADI’s nominated technology supplier, that are operating safely and successfully.

His confidence in the facility and technology has also been shown in him welcoming further scrutiny to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all involved.

It is not over yet as consent rests with the Independent Planning Commission which will assess the project and conduct further public hearings. A determination is expected to be made within three months of receiving the Department’s assessment.

Vic EPA suspends landfill licence THE Victorian EPA has suspended a Brooklyn landfill licence due to the operator’s inability to meet its licence obligations.

The landfill site in Bunting Road, 10km from the CBD, is run by Western Land Reclamation (WLR), the licence holder, and Sunshine Groupe. The landfill is licenced to receive Category C low level contaminated materials and Category C asbestos, as well as inert commercial and industrial waste.

On March 27, the EPA issued WLR with a notice asking them to show cause why their licence should not be suspended. The notice related to noncompliance matters including the filling of landfill cells above permitted height, failure to adequately rehabilitate the landfill cells and allowing emissions of dust and odour to escape the boundaries of the site.

WLR failed to provide evidence adequately supporting that it had achieved compliance or with a plan as to how it would be achieved. This left EPA with no option but to suspend their Brooklyn licence, preventing the acceptance of further waste at the site until further notice.

“Suspending the licence will give WLR the time to adequately address the issues that EPA has raised with them and return the site to an appropriate environmental standard and condition, once this has been achieved EPA can then allow a return to normal operations,” said EPA CEO Nial Finegan.

The latest action follows nearly two decades of action by EPA to enforce regulations at the site.

Daily news updates at www.insidewaste.com.au

// News

WtE policy and food waste programs amongst ACT’s immediate priorities THE ACT has some ambitious goals, including a 90% landfill diversion target by 2025 and a carbon-neutral waste sector by 2025. It has developed a roadmap now out for public consultation.

Minister for City Services Meegan Fitzharris acknowledged that the Territory’s resource recovery rate has plateaued at 70% over the last 10 years and said as it stands, the waste sector, with its current management practices, is unlikely to be carbon neutral by 2025.

Thus, what the ACT needs is a “step change”, she said, adding that this was recognised as early as 2015.

“It was understood at the time that any large-scale waste infrastructure options for the Territory needed to be considered carefully, as the facilities were likely to operate on multi-decadal timeframes,” Fitzharris said.

“As a result, the Waste Feasibility Study was funded through the 2015-16 Budget with $2.8 million over two years.”

The Waste Feasibility Study has given the ACT government a better understanding of local and national waste management systems, their

sensitivities, and areas for improvement.

It has also put forward recommendations in the roadmap to aid the design of a framework that could drive change over the next five years.

Based on expert analysis, it is estimated that the ACT would achieve a diversion rate of over 85% once all initiatives are successfully implemented.

Group one The set of recommendations have been placed in two groups, with group one focusing on diverting organics from landfill, industry development and support, and energy from waste.

To divert organics from landfill, the road map recommends undertaking a food waste reduction and recovery social marketing and education campaign for households and businesses and provide ongoing participation and support to the national food waste initiatives.

But what it exciting is that the roadmap also proposes the implementation of a FOGO collection service aligned with the existing green bin services as well as establishing a food and garden organics processing facility.

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Immediate first steps that would commence in 2018-19 include: • implementing two major education programs focused on food waste reduction and improved recycling; and • identifying a composting site to process FOGO. Turning to industry development and support, it was acknowledged that market development for materials currently sent to landfill needed to be identified and facilitated. Government buy-back schemes for recycled products through procurement commitments was another priority.

The roadmap also proposed designing modified service contracts for existing services - such as glass fines and gypsum and repair and dismantle including e-waste and mattresses to drive recovery of these materials.

C&I services should also be modified to allow source separated waste for improved processing. For businesses, the roadmap suggested establishing an improved advisory service to encourage and support landfill diversion.

Immediate first steps include providing market identification, supportive government procurement and

new contracts for specific waste streams.

Energy from waste is an area of interest in the ACT and the first step (2018-2019) is to develop a waste to energy policy for the Territory. A first stage project would be to investigate the establishment of a processed engineered fuel (PEF) facility.

Group two Unlike group one, the recommendations here are more general initiatives - continuing the implementation of regulatory reforms and exploring product stewardship programs for problem waste, to name a few - and it is suggested that these be implemented to facilitate integration with existing waste management operations.

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NORTHERN Adelaide Waste Management Authority (NAWMA) has struck a three-year deal that will create a domestic market for recycled paper while returning to pre-China prices.

NAWMA is the local government regional subsidiary of the Cities of Salisbury and Playford, and the Town of Gawler. It also provides waste management services to client councils including Barossa, Barunga West, Clare/ Gilbert Valley, Copper Coast, Goyder Regional, Light Regional, Mallala, and Yorke Peninsula.

At present, NAWMA collects about 120,000 yellow-top bins a fortnight, with half the contents being paper or cardboard and the rest plastic, glass, aluminium, metal and waste materials.

Like much of the rest of the country, NAWMA has relied on overseas markets, exporting paper collected from residents’ yellow bins for pulping and turning into new products. Its glass, aluminium, metals, and much of the plastics however, are sent to domestic markets.

And like many other councils across Australia, NAWMA was beginning to feel the impacts of China’s National Sword policy. It knew it needed to find diversified and emerging markets but went one step further by evaluating its

current supply chain.

“I believe we need to recalibrate as an industry. We can’t keep relying on the same supply chains, but we should be finding new markets,” NAWMA CEO Adam Faulkner told Inside Waste.

And it appears that NAWMA has done just that, striking an agreement with an Australian paper manufacturer that will process paper into Advertiser newspapers.

The arrangement will commence in September, creating two full-time jobs at NAWMA’s MRF in Edinburgh, north of Adelaide. The move was not without risk though.

“On our part, we’ve had to make a few modifications and upgrades to the facility that came up to around $600,000. That was our risk to bear but the reward... return on investment will be less than a year and we’re going back to industry norm in terms of prices,” Faulkner said.

“NAWMA carried this out on behalf our member councils and yes, we did have a competitive advantage in that we own the facility and that gives us some flexibility. But this should open doors for other SA councils, giving them new avenues for their paper. And if this [arrangement] works, we can start to look at other products.”

WA state government makes reg changes for landfills IN an effort to support recycling and minimise unnecessary regulation, the WA state government has amended regulations to ensure sites that accept only clean fill and uncontaminated fill, which meet environmental and health thresholds after testing, are not licensed as landfill premises or liable for the waste levy.

The use of clean fill and uncontaminated fill will promote recycling, increase diversion from landfill, provide certainty for development and reduce costs - further boosting the state’s economy.

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

The Landfill Waste Classification and Waste Definitions 1996 contain an amended definition of clean fill and a new definition for uncontaminated fill, including threshold limits for physical and chemical contaminants.

Daily news updates at www.insidewaste.com.au

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News //

City of Swan recognised for waste management achievements A major survey of local governments believe will be on target to make the has recognised the City of Swan for its city around $400,000 over a financial extremely efficient delivery of essential year. The facility is open to the public services, especially in the space of and accepts things like tyres, batteries waste management. and scrap metal, amongst other waste The City’s waste management cost per streams,” Mayor David Lucas said. resident was found to be less than the “We also realised that putting waste state and national average. Residents back into landfill is not the correct living in the City of Swan were shown way to go about things, so we have to dump almost 14% less rubbish than introduced a lot of new strategies such the average council in WA. as our mattress recycling program.

Additionally, in the last three years, “Obviously in the last few months more than 180 tonnes of mattresses China’s introduced a ban on recycling, have been diverted from landfill and but our approach to recycling is either restored and reused, or broken completely independent of what China’s down into components for recycling. policy is because we can’t control what The City operates its own waste they do, we can only control what we collection service, effectively using do, and the city is constantly working shared resources, labour and plant to improve all services.” between the various waste services.

Lucas said careful and correct planning “We have established places like the is the key to managing the sector in light BullsbrookInside recycling facility, 1which we 10:32:52 of AM China’s National Sword policy, as well Waste 215x150.pdf 4/05/2018

as their increasing population.

“As a member of the Eastern Metropolitan Regional Council, we’ve agreed to enter into a contract with an outside provider who are going through the due diligence now to provide a waste-to-energy facility, which will be built well outside the city’s boundaries,” Lucas said.

“We are hopeful that in the future most of our recycling will be able to be turned into energy by burning it in a special high temperature combustion incinerator with very low emissions.”

Extensive education programs such as worm farming and responsible home recycling have been implemented, particularly by the City’s large rural and semi-rural properties, which help tremendously in reducing waste volumes.

“We are working hard at further educating our residents on waste

recycling, because a lot of recyclable materials can’t be recycled due to the cross contamination of non-recyclable goods for example,” Lucas said.

“We are very much in tune with providing the best services for all of our residents, ratepayers and businesses and we’re very proud of our waste management team and all of the good work that the city does.

“The City of Swan wants to stay at the forefront of being recognised for its efficiency in not only waste management, but also all types of local government issues.”

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

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

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Daily news updates at www.insidewaste.com.au

I’M PROUD

TO HAVE SUPPORTED AN AUSTRALIAN MANUFACTURER.

“I’ve been using Iveco ACCOs for 15 years and I reckon they’re one of the best trucks you can get.

They do everything I ask of them and don’t cost much to run – they’re reliable, don’t give me grief and have never broken down. Another great thing about the ACCO is that it’s Australian-made.”

It’s a decision all of us here at KADS Hire are pretty proud of.”

Don Emtsis, Proprietor – KADS Plant Hire

THAT’S COMMITMENT. THAT’S AUSTRALIAN JOBS. THAT’S IVECO. www.iveco.com.au/manufacturing

Equipment News //

JCB launches 3-in-1 telehandler JCB Construction Equipment Australia (CEA) is bringing the smallest telehandler in the JCB range to Australian shores.

The 516-40 combines the features of a skid steer, a wheel loader and forklift into one compact telehandler package.

“This small telehandler achieves its extraordinary versatility because of JCB’s revolutionary offset single-spine chassis. Core strength of the machine is under the boom, while the chassis wraps around the cab, meaning the cab can be mounted lower than normal,” JCB CEA national product manager for

telehandlers, Anthony Lockwood, said.

“This means the whole machine sits lower at 1.8m for improved manoeuvrability and easier, safer cab access. Another plus is that we haven’t had to reduce the cab size or performance to achieve these benefits for the operator.”

The 516-40 comes with a Tier 3-compliant JCB Diesel by Kohler engine, producing 130Nm of torque at just 1600rpm. A joystick-mounted shuttle switch offers fast and easy directional control, and the single auxiliary service allows you to operate attachments that

require hydraulic power.

“For ultimate traction in soft muddy areas, the 516-40 comes equipped with four-wheel-drive as standard, while a wide range of tyre options helps operators to work in many different environments,” Lockwood said.

“Operators can raise 1600kg

throughout the lift arc of the boom, up to the full height of 4m. There’s also a 1000kg lift capacity at 2m forward reach, making it easy and safe to load or unload trucks of brick or other heavy, packed materials.”

More: www.jcbcea.com.au or 1300 522 232

TOMRA unveils laser object detection system

New Ecostar arriving soon ECOSTAR is taking technology to the next level with its latest screen that will soon land on our shores.

Distributed through CSS Equipment, the Ecostar Hextra is a full mobile anti-wrapping screen that is suitable for all types of waste materials.

The Hextra 3F unit is fitted with new state-of-the-art Smart Feeding Hopper with dosing screw and three fraction variable size with the touch of the screen.

CSS Equipment says the Hextra 3F will “change the way you look at screening compost and also other waste materials. Say goodbye to bogging down of the rotating discs from wrapping materials.”

The Hextra can also be operated in a loop system with the Hammel VB 950 DK to guarantee a final size end piece, whether it is wood waste, green waste or other types of waste materials.

The demo unit will arrive in Australia mid to end of May. More: www.cssequipment.com.au or 1800 644 978

TOMRA Sorting has launched a new Laser Object Detection (LOD) system, which it says when used in combination with AUTOSORT and FINDER, will allow waste and scrap recycling operators to reach final product purity levels "never before possible".

The system features TOMRA's laser technology that sorts based on the feed material's spectral and spatial characteristics, with the LOD being able to detect material that near infrared technology (NIR) is incapable of identifying.

"NIR technology cannot detect items such as black plastic and rubber, glass, and other waste items," explained Carlos Manchado Atienza, regional director, Americas for TOMRA Sorting, Inc. LOD gives recycling facilities a low energy, cost-effective solution for meeting tough customer purity requirements. The new TOMRA sorting system boosts final product purity by as much as 4% without sacrificing circuit productivity. Its modular design enables the

Enter the SamurAI MACHINEX launched its new sorting robot, the SamurAI at the recent Waste Expo in Las Vegas and presented the machine at IFAT in Munich.

Featuring a unique four articulations robot, this machine employs artificial intelligence technology to identify materials for an accurate, positive product recovery or a precise quality control function. The AI operates according to a pre-determined order 16

INSIDEWASTE JUNE/JULY 2018

flexible LOD system to be added onto the same platform as existing latest generation TOMRA sorting equipment. Alternatively, it can be added to the circuit as its own standalone sorting stage.

Developed for simple and fast installation and programming into existing plants, the LOD is mechanically mounted to a platform.

Unlike other systems, this arrangement allows for both large and small feed material to pass under the laser without blockage.

"LOD is the perfect complement to existing TOMRA equipment within a circuit to give purity levels a boost to meet ever-tightening final product purity requirements such as the China National Sword standard," commented Ralph Uepping, technical director of recycling at TOMRA Sorting.

"Increasing product purity levels expands market potential and increases the profit potential for customers."

More: www.tomra.com/recycling

of task hierarchy to maximise financial return while continually improving and learning from operating experience to assure maximum recognition efficiency.

Compared to a human sorter, which achieves an average of 35 picks per minute, the SamurAI is able double this by reaching 70 picks per minute.

The SamurAI has been designed to accommodate sorting conveyors of widths up to 48 inches while offering a modular design for multiple robot configurations.

Over recent years Machinex has developed equipment such as ballistic separators and optical sorters for integration into both new and existing sorting facilities to achieve high recovery and purity levels. The SamurAI comes in support to enhance the automation and performance of the complete plant in order to reach the strict quality standards of local and export markets and divert more material from landfill.

More: www.machinextechnologies.com

Daily news updates at www.insidewaste.com.au

news

Waste Management Association of Australia: Suite 4.08 | 10 Century Circuit | Baulkham Hills NSW 2135 | t: 02 8746 5000 | e: info@wmaa.asn.au | w: www.wmaa.asn.au

From the CEO’s desk As of Saturday 12 May 2018, we are now at three (3) states that have stepped in, in some way or another to assist industry with responding to China’s National Sword. Whilst industry is thankful that governments, to differing degrees, are listening to the challenges faced, I would submit that we are not seeing as yet the level of investment and support that is genuinely required to make the changes necessary to transition industry and Australia to genuinely capitalise on the opportunity that Australia has been presented with.

Absolutely WMAA welcomes the recent announcement of the Marshall Liberal Government of South Australia, joining NSW and Victoria, with a $12.4 million support package for the recycling industry. All these states are absolutely helping with addressing the short term challenges that we are facing. However we still have a number of states that have not responded in real terms, nor have we seen a clear agreed vision at a national level been achieved, which is necessary for the future transition.

The waste and resource recovery industry genuinely appreciates that Ministers have been listening and are proposing to pull some of the policy levers needed to assist with transitioning the management of waste and resource recovery in Australia towards a sustainable “circular economy” solution. It is extremely pleasing that the National Waste Strategy will be updated by the end of this year, and WMAA looks forward to actively participating in this. We also look forward to our industry remaining at the top of the MEM agenda.

The Ministers endorsement of a target of 100 percent of Australian packaging being recyclable or reusable by 2025 is heartening, and we look forward to working with Government to develop meaningful targets from at least 2020 to ensure that this actually achieved. However what we really need is mandated content of recycled packaging and mandated green public procurement for all levels of governmentonly then will we really see the market development that Australia needs to decouple ourselves from the ebbs and flows of the global financial market, as only this step will begin to deliver local demand for recycled materials and help Australia reduce the sovereign risks associated with over-dependence on off-shore markets.

It is correct that the recycling industry is under pressure and Australia needs to act now to ensure that the Circular Economy is real, which means consumers, industry, government and generators of waste starting to work together and think a bit differently to use recycled material in as many products as possible that we make here. Government can not only assist in setting the correct regulatory settings but also showing leadership in procurement- both in what it buys and how it does sopreference must be given to recycled over virgin where it exists!

Whilst there was no new funding for recycling in the Federal Minister’s announcement, WMAA will continue to advocate loudly that government at all levels, need to start to spend what money they do have differently! It is our view that Ministers must go much further than simply advocating for increased use of recycled materials in the goods that government and industry buy, they must show leadership and start requiring government to buy recycled products themselves. Government, as probably the largest procurer of goods and services in Australia must show genuine leadership and commitment to this. With over 90% of the community supporting recycling and the purchase of recycled products by government, government needs to hold itself to account and if it does not prioritise the use of recycled material, to report to the community why it does not, this should be the norm going forward, not the exception.

The community has an expectation that governments at all levels will manage their resources, waste, financial or otherwise, responsibly. We always must see waste managed in accordance with the waste hierarchy and as close as possible to where it was produced; this is a real opportunity to create local jobs and investment in this essential sector. Again, we recognize that there is absolutely a role for waste to energy in the hierarchy, however it is an alternative to landfill and not recycling, we must keep commodities at their highest and best use for as long as possible. That is why we must keep them circulating and no longer be liner in what we do.

Which leads us to ENVIRO’18 which is fast approaching! WMAA is hosting the ENVIRO’18 Convention from the 13-14 June 2018 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Fortuitously (!) WMAA had started thinking about the need for such an event at the end of 2016, arguably with the knowledge that a continued reliance on trading commodities globally as opposed to utilising and growing Australia’s recycled manufacturing industry was not going to be sustainable long term. Then along came National Sword, which really brought this issue to the forefront of all of our minds.

Following the impact of the National Sword, Australia finds itself at a crossroad- keep doing what we were doing or build our own sustainable industries and go Circular like China, Europe and others. This is the opportune time for Australia to adapt its policies and thinking towards a Circular Economy.

ENVIRO’18 is an opportunity to bring together leaders from business, government and academia to learn from and discuss the experience of government and businesses overseas, to ensure that the transition to Circular is as seamless and well informed as possible. We all know that the current linear ‘make-take-waste’ approach is no longer viable and that we need to change the way we design, purchase, think, use, and produce the goods of today, in order that they can be the resources of tomorrow.

Hope to see you there to keep both the conversation and the action going! Please contact WMAA to register and get involved with the conversation in how Australia goes Circular, fast! You can register and view the programme at www.wmaa.asn.au Gayle Sloan Chief Executive Officer

Policy //

Getting to the root of the issue

By Jacqueline Ong NEVER has the waste and resource recovery sector had so much mainstream media coverage and political attention and for that, we have China’s National Sword policy to thank. It’s one of the positives that has come out of a particularly challenging situation people are talking about the industry and it is on the agenda of our state and federal governments. We also now have evidence and hard data showing that community wants recycling and are willing to pay for the service.

Much of the work moving forward will be done on a state and territory level and to date, many governments have put forward transition or rescue packages or are about to. Industry associations are also keeping the pressure on and in some cases, working together to drive the sector forward.

We turn our attention to three states - NSW, Victoria, and SA – in this issue. Multi-million dollar funding has been offered in NSW and Victoria while in SA, industry is calling on the government for a similar offering and at present, there is a $300,000 market development fund available. Each state also has a working group or recycling taskforce set up to deal with present issues and develop initiatives for the long-term. These are positive steps but they are not enough.

In what is becoming an increasingly noisy space (and with good reason), it is worth taking a step back to consider the systemic issues because to build a sustainable long-term industry, we need to get to the root of the problem and not just be consumed by the short-term factors or challenges, which in turn will lead (or arguably have led) to short-term, band aid solutions. What we want is a circular economy, not a circular conversation.

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A broken system IN NSW, the comments we hear every so often at industry events are, “the planning process needs to be fixed” and “why aren’t the planning guys in the room”.

Waste Management Association of Australia (WMAA) national president and NSW state branch president Garth Lamb told Inside Waste it’s all good and well that governments have developed rescue packages but cutting big cheques is not the be-all and end-all.

“NSW has plenty of money but just money alone isn’t going to solve these problems. One of the massive issues in NSW is planning constraints.

So even if you throw millions of dollars at someone, they can’t immediately go and deliver new infrastructure because the planning system is broken. It takes years and years.”

The failure of NSW’s planning system is the main reason why the state doesn’t have the ability to respond to challenges such as China’s import restrictions because planning issues have led to a lack of infrastructure and diversity in the market. And looking at the state’s future, there is real concern that investment will be driven out.

“We all know that we need more remanufacturing in Australia but why would you do that in NSW? Why wouldn’t you go to Queensland or SA where it’s much easier to get a new facility approved and people are actually going to welcome investment in new infrastructure and jobs? It is still going to be easier to transport to Queensland than to China so if we don’t make it easy to do business here, people are just going to pack up and move interstate,” Lamb warned.

There is no lack of research and information out there - case in point, NSW EPA’s infrastructure needs analysis released last year which identified a one million tonnes per annum shortfall in MSW processing. And we already know that there’s money in NSW. Yet, the gaps have not been filled.

“There is a big gap in leadership and often, we talk about waste and resource recovery being a shared responsibility but if we want the system to work, we need a level of oversight from the state government that says, these are the things that need to be done. Councils are a big part of that process but they tend to make individual decisions. Kimbriki

is a good example of this where the state government said there’s a million tonnes per annum shortfall in processing capacity, the local government has an approved site ready to tender that they’ve talked about for 10 years and then local government decided that the best thing was to just use existing infrastructure,” Lamb said.

“How did we let this happen where an individual local government can say bugger this, I don’t need this infrastructure in my backyard, let’s just send it out west. It’s symptomatic of what keeps happening. The private sector can’t invest millions on a facility on spec. Build it and they will come is neither bankable nor realistic… Private sector is stuck dealing with local government, waiting for multiple councils to do the same thing at the same time, and [local government] working in their own interest instead of the interest of the state. This is why the system is broken.”

WMAA identified this issue years ago and last year, developed a detailed paper around planning reform. The answer to the state’s issues, according to the association, is the development of a waste and resource recovery State Environment Planning Policy (SEPP) that will override all other planning instruments and prioritise the development of new infrastructure.

Daily news updates at www.insidewaste.com.au

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// Policy

Missing elements MOVING down the coast to Victoria, industry is scratching it head over the exclusiveness of the state government’s actions to date. For one, the recently announced $13 million funding package is not open to one and all but has been very much closed door, invite-only; largely for local government with little, if any, support for commercial waste generators.

Victorian Waste Management Association executive director Mark Smith said the association is taking on a holistic, system-wide view on the current issues and future of the sector but the same cannot be said of the state government, which he believes is too focused on maintaining kerbside collection to the point where there has been “complete neglect in relation to providing support to other components of the system.”

“The process focuses on a very specific problem at the moment and the downside of just focusing on, as an example, the future of recycling which is what the Victorian taskforce is looking at, is that we’re talking about fundamental changes and paradigms shifts - how the state is potentially going to recover plastics or other recyclables and then putting that back into the system through the manufacturing sector and the like. Yet, key organisations or representatives from those different components in the supply chain such as manufacturing are not in the room while we’re talking about some of these things. I’m a little bit concerned that what’s currently happening in Victoria is token and short-term,” Smith said, adding that he’s heard however, that manufacturers will be consulted moving forward, which is good news.

Like NSW, Victoria has also done a fair bit of research on infrastructure and processing capacity gaps and the government has big plans to expand the state’s waste and resource recovery network.

“We’re talking about billions of dollars of investment that’s needed in the next decade. A lot of that will come from the private sector but they have not been appropriately involved in the current issues,” Smith noted.

VWMA has been working with government and will continue to do so, recently writing to the minister to put forward the development of a white paper that will identify issues and challenges and then propose appropriate interventions and solutions for the state’s waste and resource recovery system, which Smith reiterated, is an interconnected network; an ecosystem, and one that includes kerbside collection, transport, consolidation, processing, recovery, landfill and

export. He also noted that the paper will also explore appropriate entry points for government to intervene, which is lacking at the moment in this space though it is clear when it comes to other essential services.

“The biggest challenge for this sector in Victoria is bringing those different parts of the system together and I’m hoping we’ll do this through the white paper that will look at communicating the interdependency of the Victorian waste and resource recovery sector. If one part isn’t working properly, it impacts the rest of the system,” Smith said.

“So, we want to segment the sector up, identify the risks, issues, and barriers that operators are currently experiencing and through this process also establish hopefully, a bit of an accord or agreement across the operators in Victoria.”

VWMA is seeking support from the government to develop the white paper, which Smith said can be finished in eight weeks with the right resources allocated to it.

“It’s something we can do on our own, but it would be great to do it with government partnership,” Smith said.

Smith is also encouraging all businesses to access the government’s assistance package.

Government support needed IN South Australia, its decades-old CDS has been a bit of a knight in shining armour, providing a reasonably significant income stream as paper begins to fall away. Today, a large volume of containers are still collected at kerbside, providing revenue to MRFs and of course, given it is a clean stream that is collected, the quality of glass is of a reasonable standard, further assisting the state through this challenging time.

At the moment, materials are still being processed in SA and contract discussions are ongoing behind the scene. WMAA SA/NT Branch president Mark Rawson said the association foretold the issues related to China’s National Sword policy a while back and held discussions with Green Industries SA, major recyclers, and local government in November. A working group was then formed in February involving these stakeholders and meetings are held fortnightly where the situation is discussed. Unlike its Victorian and NSW counterparts, SA does not have a rescue package yet, only a $300,000 market development program, but a transition initiative is said to be forthcoming and the working group is continuing to urge government to release some of the funds collected through the state’s landfill levy.

“We’ve written to the minister to request a transition support package, which has a quantum identifier for what we think is appropriate to support councils and processes in the interim while the market adjusts and future arrangements can be put in place,” Rawson said, adding that “it is important that community keeps seeing their materials being recycled.”

While the package will assist in the interim, Rawson wants the government to support and mandate local and state government procurement of recycled products to drive demand and supply.

“We’ve been explaining why this is important and here is a great example of how critical it is to make this happen. It’s about local jobs and local remanufacturing but it also protects you from some of these external commodity shocks,” Rawson said.

Daily news updates at www.insidewaste.com.au

“The argument might be that the market should just take care of itself but invariably, it needs some leadership from government to start the process to mandate a certain percentage of recycled content in all of our roads, all of our park benches, all of our paper or whatever the component is that you’re looking to remanufacture.

Let’s just create that demand and the market will establish and it won’t need that government support in the longer term. But it needs the support upfront.

“If you look at food organics recycling, the government initially supported it to establish the process.

There was a rebate of $30 per tonne to introduce food organics from commercial operators like your cafés, restaurants and supermarkets. Now, the government is no longer funding it but the efficiency is there. The waste collecting sector was able to overcome the initial hurdles around investment and capital and it now runs on its own and continues to grow.

“Our message is this, we’re working with government and we’re optimistic that SA can come out of this with a better system and process.”

JUNE/JULY 2018 INSIDEWASTE

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Policy //

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Getting it right National Waste and Recycling Industry Council convenor Max Spedding acknowledged the importance of states and territories developing taskforces and said that their success will be driven by a focused effort. He believes that initially, this focus should be on domestic kerbside recycling.

“The commercial situation is much more flexible because they are short-term contracts. Our opening position is that we should be trying to provide a seamless service to the householders of kerbside collection. That means kerbside collection services should continue on time and there should not be any interruptions. And the public should be urged to continue to recycle,” Spedding said.

What is equally important as well is that taskforces should not think that storage or stockpiling is the right way out of any problem. While this is already happening, it cannot be more than just a very short-term arrangement because in three months, the volumes will be enormous and other risks will follow from that such as fires.

Thirdly, Spedding is encouraging taskforces to target materials that can be processed and sold rather than looking at every stream.

“We need to look at what should be in the bin to keep the process running. We question whether glass should be in the bin as glass is one of the main contributors to the contamination of the end product- glass breakage is probably 20% of the material. So, we believe that each state should look at how it processes its glass,” Spedding said.

“This is where CDS is particularly important. If the state has a CDS, perhaps they shouldn’t have glass in the kerbside bin but if you do that, there has to be some alternative collection system.”

One of the areas that Spedding believes needs to be determined is that of community education and who should be responsible for that – a discussion that has

The narrative continues to change as days go by but it is important to acknowledge and deal with the underlying issues that each state has been grappling 215_150 2018-05-17T09:52:28+10:00 with for decades. These issues have

been bubbling on the surface but were effectively dealt with by the waste and resource recovery sector. It is unviable to continue ignoring them or leaving them to the sector to deal with and the call that

gone backwards and forwards over the years. Whether the state or local government or private operator takes responsibility for education, it needs to be agreed on sooner rather than later and it is not going to be simple case of assigning the task.

“There is a liability that comes with the education because if you have poor education, you’ll get high contamination. Who should pay for that contamination?

The responsibility for the contamination really depends on who is issuing the contract and it needs to flow back to council or the educator. And it’s not just a question of contamination but also for states with high landfill levies, like NSW or Sydney, who should pay the landfill levy on the contamination? This then brings a levy discussion into the debate,” Spedding noted.

many in the industry have put out there for years is that waste management is not just an essential service, it is a shared responsibility and with that comes shared risk and shared benefits.

Editor’s note: Inside Waste acknowledges that the discussions are ongoing. As such, all information in this article was accurate at time iw of press in mid-May.

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Operations //

Shifting the spotlight

By Dr Georgina Davis OVER the past five months, China’s National Sword policy has taken up much of our industry’s effort. There is, however, another issue that may not be front and centre of the industry’s discussions at the moment, although it should be.

Whether we verbalise this or not, studies have shown that energy is on the minds of all business directors.

According to the AICD Director Sentiment Index, 58% of Australian directors rate energy policy and pricing as the biggest issues of 2018, ahead of taxation reform and infrastructure development. These findings are mirrored by the World Economic Forum survey, where the largest risk identified

by Australian respondents was energy price shock, with two-thirds of executives identifying this as being one of their top five concerns.

Nowhere else in the world has there been so much focus on energy or, more specifically, energy price than in Australia. High energy prices are the number one issue Australian directors want federal and state governments to tackle - other sectors have been vocal about this - and the current and historical impasses and inaction of all political parties have undoubtedly held sensible policy, necessary regulatory reform, and energy innovation back.

Why should we care?

In June last year, Adelaide plastic recycling company, Plastics Granulating Services, announced it was shutting its doors as high power bills had crippled the business. The company was founded 38 years ago and had plans to expand.

Managing director Stephen Scherer noted at the time that the company’s monthly power bills had grown from $80,000 to $180,000 in 18 months; the main reason it had to be placed in liquidation.

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It is becoming impossible for companies like Scherer’s to absorb electricity price hikes (see fact box on page 23) while maintaining an appropriate profit margin. Additionally, electricity prices in Australia are higher than overseas jurisdictions, disadvantaging commodity exports on the global market and leaving some product exporters (including recycled commodities) heavily trade-exposed.

Electricity is not internationally tradable like the price of oil. We are already seeing trends of energyintensive industries moving offshore, reducing operations and workforce, or simply closing.

The long and short of it The market is changing substantially, and this is only the start. The pace of change in global commodity markets is increasing and the global material flow will continue to adapt.

Australian jurisdictions have a relatively slow and awkward strategy and regulatory development cycle, as do our European counterparts. But this is not the case of our Asian neighbours, (who are also our export destinations), where policy is lightning quick, nimble and highly progressive. The National Sword program is a perfect example of this.

We are implementing more and more initiatives to collect and separate increasing volumes of materials from our waste/resource streams at a time when global commodity markets are changing and, in some cases, becoming increasingly unstable.

More companies are starting to store materials hoping for an upturn, and in some cases, companies are investing more (technology and manpower, and associated electricity) into the sorting of recyclables, hoping to stay ahead of the increasing product quality specifications from China. Globally, everyone is storing materials and

improving quality - but both are only short-term solutions.

While there may be some adjustment to contamination limits for certain products in the future (but definitely not for mixed papers or plastics) as China determines her needs; her policies will continue to change quickly on the introduction of new technologies and her own local supply markets, essentially leaving at least some significant parts of our sorted recyclate materials without a long-term market.

There are already knee-jerk reactions to these changing market conditions globally. For example, an increase in the number of investigations into expanded energy from waste and solid fuel manufacture solutions.

On face value, in a country of unsustainable rising electricity costs and diminishing demand and markets for recovered/recyclable materials with a reasonable gross calorific value (low grade paper and card), energy from waste appears to be a viable solution.

However, my concern is that an illthought-out landfill tax or high tax rates, such as those seen in metro-Sydney, may incentivise energy from waste solutions in the short-term with inadequate consideration of other technologies.

I am not against energy from waste I believe that it is viable for particular waste streams and at appropriate scale, but these factors need careful consideration not to impact other material recovery solutions. If we are not careful, simply increasing thermal recovery can stifle innovation in alternative technologies and solutions.

I believe that the waste management and recycling sector should be doing more to partner with other sectors to build value-add capability, such as advanced energy from waste and renewable fuel manufacture amongst other applications - this area is nascent.

We need to do more to focus on

domestic and local manufacturing and remanufacturing opportunities, where possible, if we are to build a sustainable market for the increasing volumes of recycled material we are seeking to collect.

Over the past 10 years, we have seen many reprocessors and manufacturers leave Australia, from cardboard and paper manufacturing through to glass container manufacturers. One reason for their departure is that these businesses/ technologies have high energy intensity and input costs including, but not limited to electricity; the cost of which in Australia has become too high to keep them globally competitive.

Electricity is a key input in manufacturing and remanufacturing production processes. Many of these product manufacturing industries have been unable to pass their rising input costs on to downstream markets and have simply off-shored or ceased trading.

We need to start looking at a range of measures to drive local/domestic manufacturing including recycled product content specifications and mandatory content targets but only where safety and quality are not impaired. And, most importantly, we need to address rising, unsustainable electricity costs.

Unlike other sectors, the waste and recycling industry has been quiet on the subject of rising electricity costs even though it is an issue for us. We need to be putting pressure on governments (state and federal) to address the rising cost of electricity. Our sorting facilities and technologies depend on it, as do our ability to access viable domestic markets with our products.

Dr Georgina Davis is a Waste Management Association of Australia (WMAA) director and founder of the Waste to Opportunity Enterprise. Contact: georgina@wastetoopportunity.com

Daily news updates at www.insidewaste.com.au

// Operations

Reviewing prices IN 2017, a number of studies and reviews released data with regards to electricity prices in Australia; all of them concluding that electricity prices are unsustainable. However, to date, there has been no definitive action to deliver much needed price relief and/or apply downward pressure on electricity prices.

• The Energy Security Board: Retail electricity prices have increased by about 80–90% in real terms over the last decade, and in the last two years electricity costs have doubled, or in some cases trebled for business customers.

• The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission: Network costs were proportionally more significant in Queensland and NSW than other states and network revenue increased the most in Queensland and NSW, peaking respectively at 200% (in 2015) and 190% (in 2013) relative to 2006 revenues. Queensland and South Australian customers experienced a continuous increase in network costs from 2007-08 to 2014-15 while between 2015-16 and

2016-17, NEM spot prices increased by 60% in Queensland - the highest increase.

• The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission: Prices faced by most small businesses have risen between 80% and 90% in real terms in the past 10 years, when taking into account price rises announced in July 2017.

Prices were reasonably stable between 1990–91 and 2007–08 but have increased dramatically over the past ten years.

• Alviss Consulting: A report prepared for Energy Consumers Australia noted that a typical annual electricity bill for a SME ranges between $9500 in Victoria and $15,900 in South Australia.

Nationally, the average electricity bill for SMEs using 40,000kWh per year and paying the same rate all day (a single rate) has increased by 16% since April 2016.

• Grattan Institute: In 2018, the Institute’s report found that the network’s $90 billion Regulated Asset Base (RAB) was unsustainable - stating it is $20 billion or 22% too high. I (and others)

believe that the Grattan Institute’s figures are highly conservative - the RAB needs to be written down closer to 50% in some states.

The ACCC findings were published in its Preliminary Report into Retail Electricity and it is worth noting that in the publication, the effect that large generators have on the market was highlighted.

The report illustrated the Queensland government’s direction to state-owned Stanwell Corporation in June 2017 to offer more capacity in the NEM and alter its bidding strategies to put downwards pressure on wholesale prices. 37% of electricity dispatched in Queensland in 2016-17 was generated

by Stanwell Corporation. The intervention achieved immediate impacts in the market. Before the direction to Stanwell Corporation, futures contracts for the 2017-18 summer months in Queensland were trading at around $120 per MWh. Following the direction to Stanwell Corporation, those futures prices dropped to around $100 per MWh and have remained consistent since.

A fair price WHAT could a sustainable electricity price look like? Other sectors are demanding a commitment to a long-term sustainable price ceiling for electricity of eight cents per kw/h for the electrons (R) and eight cents for the supply (N). This is based on figures from the ACCC’s report, which noted that solar and wind cost around seven cents, and Australia’s chief scientist, Dr Alan Finkel’s independent review into the future security of the National Electricity Market Report, which put coal costs at around 3.1 cents. Network costs are around half of the total bill.

iw

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JUNE/JULY 2018 INSIDEWASTE

23

Metal recycling //

New scrap metal laws are they necessary?

By Jan Arreza IN a bid to clamp down on scrap metal businesses that have historically shown poor environmental and inadequate management practices, the NSW EPA released proposed minimum standards last year that it says, will help create a level playing field by requiring all scrap metal facilities to conduct their business in an environmentally friendly way. But one responsible scrap metal recycler says the proposed standards will do more harm than good.

To recap, if the standards are adopted, every site that stores or handles any scrap metal must comply with the Minimum Environmental Standards in Scrap Metal Industry (PMESSMI) - it will be an offence not to - and meet the following standards: • all scrap metal (including end-of-life vehicles and white goods) must be stored and dismantled/processed on hardstands under covered areas with appropriate drainage infrastructure; • clean and dirty water systems and areas must be separated (including bunding to separate them), and all dirty water is to be contained and treated on site; • liquids, spills and chemicals must be handled, stored and disposed of appropriately; • battery handling and storage areas are to be bunded, covered and on a hardstand; • all scrap metal sent to a hammermill and/or shredder, or for other processing either on-site or offsite, must be free of other waste (including waste tyres); • no burning of waste – mattresses or any other waste that contains metals must not be burnt to make metal more readily accessible, and all other types of waste must also not be burnt; • transporting, tipping, handling, processing and storing scrap metal at facilities must be carried out in a controlled and competent manner so noise and vibrations are minimised; and • all bunds must be constructed as per the consultation paper guidelines.

Many are familiar with Sell & Parker, an Australian owned and operated scrap metal recycling company that has been operating since 1966 with five locations in NSW, one in WA and another in the Northern Territory.

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On the proposed PMESSMI, Luke Parker says we don’t need new laws, we need to enforce the ones in existence.

Director Luke Parker told Inside Waste that the regulator’s proposal is “unworkable” and if implemented, will “destroy the scrap metal industry in NSW”.

For one, poor regulation and enforcement of the PMESSMI will likely be a major challenge. Additionally, Parker says the standards are focused on processes and methods and not outcomes, which are contrary to NSW government policy. There is also the cost in meeting these standards to think about, which he says will be “so large” that recycling will be deemed uneconomical in the state.

“They’ve been drafted without any consideration of costs of implementation or practicalities, and while I sympathise with the desire to improve environmental performance, I think the big issue isn’t that we need more laws, it’s that we simply need to enforce the laws that already exist,” Parker said.

“A general rule of environmental compliance across not just the scrap metal industry, but all sectors, is about enforcement, and one of my pet grievances is unless you are a licensed premise or you have a major environmental catastrophe, the EPA doesn’t want to know about you.

“The EPA knows that there are unlicensed premises out there that are polluting, but they don’t care that they are unlicensed.”

Parker says about 60% of NSW’s scrap metal is currently being handled through unlicensed facilities and because the EPA is presently only proactively addressing the environment

The EPA really needs to change the licensing rules and make sure that everyone is licensed so that there is one consistent authority looking after scrap metals and all the people involved with it. performance of licensed premises, the sites that are not doing the right thing will simply receive reactive interest, if any at all.

He adds that the PMESSMI proposes no change to the Appropriate Regulatory Authority regime for the metal recycling industry and will serve to further distort the playing field and increase jurisdiction shopping, i.e. small facilities will be set up in “friendly” councils, while large processing capacity will move interstate.

Moreover, the proposal, Parker says, is not necessary, as there are already plenty of laws in place that protect the environment. He points to the Protection of the Environment Operations (POEO) Act 1997 as an example of this, as every pollution incident addressed by the PMESSMI already breaches the POEO Act/ Regulations. There is however, a better way to level the playing field.

“The EPA really needs to change the licensing rules and make sure that everyone is licensed so that there is one consistent authority looking after scrap metals and all the people involved with it,” Parker said.

“And it’s not just scrap metal recycling yards, it’s also automotive recycling yards, it’s construction and demolition waste recycling yards - all of these facilities need to be consistently licensed.

“If that happens, then we’ve got the opportunity to raise the standards of environmental performance but as long as there is no consistency in the application of the rules, there’s going to be instances of massive environmental risks.

“If this went through as it is, all that would happen is the larger facilities that are already licensed would be subject to more stringent regulations by the EPA, while the other facilities that are unlicensed would continue as they are.

“That’s not levelling the playing field, that’s not dealing with the true risks in proportion to the risks, it’s just madness. They’ve got to look at what they are trying to do and what really is their aim here. If it is truly to try and protect the environment, they’ve got to really do it differently and take a different approach.

“To really improve environmental performance, the number one step has to be to make the application of rules and laws consistent across all jurisdictions, and the easiest way to do that is to give the EPA control, but my suspicion is they don’t want to do it because it’ll be too much work for them,” Parker concluded.

Parker also presented his views at a recent Australian Sustainable iw Business Group Seminar.

Daily news updates at www.insidewaste.com.au

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No-one said it was going to be easy

By Patrick Lau YOU already know that the waste and resource recovery sector in Australia is under enormous strain. But diamonds are formed under pressure, too. At Inside Waste, we recognise that in crisis lies opportunity. Over the past 12 months, we’ve heard stories of heartbreak, disgrace and defeat; we’ve seen the financial and environmental toll that bad-faith actors can wreak on the sector and the nation.

But we’ve also met outstanding change makers, matching the challenge of the times with new-fangled ideas and oldfashioned hard work. We’ve learned about efforts to collaborate and build Australian

waste management and resource recovery up to a new level of excellence. And we know there are champions of waste out there, driving the sector forward to meet modern Australia’s needs.

Now it’s time to put the spotlight on them.

A celebration of excellence and innovation This year, we’re launching an exciting year-long program to celebrate the absolute best of the best in Australian waste and resource recovery. We’re calling it the Inside Waste Waste and Resource Recycling Excellence Awards, or WaRREAs for short. And if you

consider yourself a WaRREA (geddit?) for the sector, we want you to step up and declare it.

We’re looking for the innovators; the instigators; the bursting-with-verve, ahead-of-the-curve magic-makers.

Those who break new targets, make new markets, build something different and change the way we think about waste and resource recovery. Those who take today’s impossible and show us tomorrow’s opportunity.

You can nominate others, too. If you know a person or organisation who: • is creating success with new ways of thinking; • has a positive impact on the sector;

• advocates for responsible waste management in Australian society; • is held up by their community as a champion of environmentally sustainable, safe workplaces; • has the ambition to be recognised as aiming for excellence, and the dedication to achieve it; and/or • who’s too busy building new approaches, technology and practices to nominate themselves...

Then we want to hear about them.

Find out more about the WaRREAs and the nomination process at www.insidewaste.com.au or contact Patrick Lau at patrick@mayfam.net

Who we want to champion Executive of the Year Our Executive of the Year will be the organisational leader who’s predicted future challenges, and made the hard decisions necessary to turn them into opportunities. This leader will have had significant influence on the finances and culture of their organisation. But most importantly, our Executive of the Year is someone who’s changing the way the nation thinks about waste and resource recovery by creating a healthier and wealthier Australia.

Operational excellence Our Operational Excellence Award will go to an individual or team who boasts exceptional performance under challenging conditions. They will have led novel initiatives that create bottom-line impacts, and top-of-class working conditions. If you’re a facility manager, logistics co-ordinator, equipment supervisor or other operational staff, then impress us with your new approaches and sustained excellence.

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Young Professional of the Year

Outstanding Local Government Area Awards

As we enter a new era for Australian waste management and resource recovery, it’s crucial to nurture the next generation of talent. We’re after exceptional professionals under 30, who impress colleagues and counterparts by bringing forward new ideas, and do the hard work necessary to get their projects functioning. If you know a developing individual in the sector who’s starting to show their shine, we want to hear from you.

Local government is the core of Australian waste management and resource recovery and have a big part to play in progressing the sector. But there are some who demonstrate leadership by investing in the future, setting themselves real challenges and finding new solutions. The two Outstanding Local Government Awards will go to a metro council (or association of councils), and a rural or regional council (or association).

Excellence in a Governance and Administrative Program Award Good waste management and resource recovery rely on toplevel co-ordination and support from government bodies working in the area. We’re looking for the best programs and campaigns from state or federal departments, agencies or other bodies: programs that deliver real change and positive outcomes for all stakeholders.

Outstanding Facility Awards It’s no secret that Australia has serious shortfalls in waste and resource recovery infrastructure, both in quality and quantity.

But we know there are some standout new facilities being rolled out across the country. The Outstanding Facility Awards will go to facilities commissioned in the past year, adding essential capacity or using novel approaches to tackle problematic streams. Two awards will be given; one to projects with budgets above $10 million, and one to projects with budgets below $10 million.

Circular Economy Award Escalating resource recovery is vital to minimise the environmental footprint, and maximise the economic potential, of Australia’s waste. This award will be given to a product or process making a significant contribution to Australia’s circular economy capacity, by turning a problem waste into a high-quality commodity with long-term economic viability.

We’re looking for those who can turn trash into treasure on a commercial scale.

2018 Consultants Review And did you think we forgot about you, dear consultants? Never! Our annual Consultants Review will also be part of Inside Waste’s awards campaign and as with previous years, readers will be invited to offer their perspectives on the performance and reputation of consulting firms servicing the waste and resource recovery sector. As with previous years, consulting firms will be ranked in six key service areas and in two categories - large consultancy and small consultancy.

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JUNE/JULY 2018 INSIDEWASTE

27

Legal //

China’s National Sword and your waste contracts

By Gavin Shapiro THE effect of China’s National Sword - banning the importation of most waste types from China - is being felt across the waste industry. The question that many are asking is, how does this affect my existing waste contracts?

And, what are my options now?

The problem is that most waste services contracts (especially municipal contracts) typically have five- to 10-year

terms. Combined with fees per tonne of waste that are usually fixed (except for CPI rise), recyclers are looking for ways to recoup their losses, or exit contracts.

In this article, we explain some of the key concepts in contracts that waste service providers and Councils need to be aware of in dealing with the fallout from China’s National Sword policy.

Change in Law “Change in law” clauses are generally

aimed at compensating a waste service provider for losses or increased costs suffered, when laws change. So, for example, when NSW introduced the “proximity principle” in late 2014, many recyclers claimed their increased costs for having to dispose of waste in NSW. With these clauses, the devil is in the detail of the drafting. For example: What laws are covered? Can the claim include changes to laws outside of the state, or even outside of Australia? Can it cover

Gavin Shapiro

losses suffered from market forces? Does it cover indirect losses and costs?

As each clause, and each contract is different, the answers to these questions will vary. While in some cases “change in law” clauses may cover losses suffered as a result of China’s National Sword, in many cases they will not. Service providers and Councils (and their lawyers) will need to examine such clauses closely to work out the answer.

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// Legal

Rise and fall Usually, waste contracts provide that unit rates (fees) rise and fall (increase and decrease) during the life of a contract.

However, in the vast majority of cases, the “rise and fall” allowed under these clauses is strictly limited to CPI, and therefore won’t apply to losses from China’s National Sword policy. In some rare cases, “rise and fall” clauses do extend more broadly than just CPI, and in these cases, it may be possible for service providers to mitigate some of these losses.

We have recently been asked to draft a number of bespoke “rise and fall” clauses to cover recyclable commodity market fluctuations. Given the state of the recycling industry, we see such bespoke clauses as being both one way to deal with China’s National Sword policy, and as becoming more commonly accepted in waste contracts as time goes on.

Force majeure “Force majeure” clauses are typically used where something highly unusual occurs, like a natural disaster, civil unrest, or an act of God. An important element is that the “force majeure” is not the fault of either party - it is out of their hands. Where this occurs, and a party is unable to perform their part of the contract, at no fault of their own, then a “force majeure” clause allows the party to temporarily suspend their obligations, without being penalised. If the “force majeure” continues, then usually the parties can terminate the contract.

If drafted sufficiently broadly (e.g. to cover any circumstances outside a party’s control), it may be possible for a “force majeure” clause to cover the fallout from China’s National Sword. However, in our experience, it is rare for “force majeure” clauses to be so broad. Therefore, it will only be the occasional case where “force majeure” clauses may come into play.

as if the contract is over (even if they have no right to), then they may have rescinded the contract. Sometimes, this can give the other party an entitlement to damages or allow the other party to terminate for cause.

Given that these concepts only relate to a contract ending, they are not useful in most cases. However, where parties are seeking to exit a contract due to China’s National Sword, then they will need to consider what is possible under such clauses, and what will happen if the contract is rescinded or terminated.

NSW’s container deposit scheme Parties, especially Councils, also need to keep the CDS in mind when renegotiating waste contracts (especially recycling contracts).

Under the CDS, MRFs stop receiving 10-cent refunds for containers collected in a Council’s area on December 1, 2018, unless: • the Council and MRF enter into a “Refund Sharing Agreement”; or • the Council notifies the EPA that it’s “fair and reasonable” without a Refund Sharing Agreement; or • the Council and MRF enter into a “Processing Agreement” - which is a recycling contract between a Council and MRF. If a Council and MRF agree to vary their existing recycling contract, then for the purposes of the CDS, they may have entered into a “Processing Agreement”. This means that in agreeing to any contract variation, the parties need to be very careful not to accidentally trigger the provisions of the CDS - otherwise, the Council may lose its chance at sharing in refunds.

Termination, rescission Most parties know that their contracts contain termination clauses, but don’t really understand what these mean in practice. “Termination” is where one party effectively ends the contract.

This can be because of a default by the other side (“for cause”), or, if the contract allows, for no reason at all (“for convenience”).

“Rescission” is slightly different.

Where one party refuses to comply with their obligations, and effectively acts

Gavin Shapiro is a partner at Hones Lawyers. He specialises in the waste industry, including waste contracts, waste legislation, EPA investigations and prosecutions, and operational issues. Gavin has advised federal, state and local governments on waste policy, legislation and issues. Contact: gshapiro@honeslawyer.somc.au iw or 02 9929 3031.

If none of the above clauses in your contract help deal with the impacts of China’s National Sword, then parties are always free to negotiate a variation to the contract. In complex circumstances such as these, a variation to the existing contract may be the best way to address all parties’ concerns.

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What should I do from here?

Every clause, and every contract is different. Parties will need to examine their contracts in detail, and obtain expert advice, as to how the various clauses work, and the best way forward.

If the recycling industry is to weather this storm, then Councils and service providers will not only need to reach agreement on the strict legal/ contractual aspects, but work together in a practical, open and cooperative manner for the benefit of the waste industry, and broader community.

Variations

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29

Technology //

Industrialising recycling processes

By Jacqueline Ong AS the sector, both globally and locally, continues to discuss its long-term future in light of a range of factors and challenges, including China’s National Sword policy, the impact of current commodity prices, building a circular economy and developing remanufacturing domestically, and even the “Amazon effect” where cardboard is moving from distribution centres to the residential stream with the growth of online shopping, machinery manufacturers may find themselves in an enviable position if they can come up with solutions to meet the world’s changing demands.

One area of particular interest is industrial robotics, which have existed for decades but have, to date, been largely used in homogenous or clean environments.

Driving tech in sorting and recycling Finnish company ZenRobotics has spent the last decade studying and commercialising artificial intelligence (AI) in robot control in heterogeneous (and as such, complex) environments in order to bring the advantages already experienced in manufacturing to the waste and resource recovery sector.

The US is currently ZenRobotics’ biggest market but the APAC region is picking up on the benefits of industrialising their recycling processes. In Australia, where ZenRobotics is represented by Robots in Waste, Sunshine Groupe is the first to invest in the system at its material recovery facility in Brooklyn, Victoria although Robots in Waste director Jim Duncan told Inside Waste that the pre-processing line is nearing the end of its test 30

INSIDEWASTE JUNE/JULY 2018

period which means the robot is ready but not being utilised yet.

When we think about using robotics in a MRF to sort and separate material streams, a number of benefits come to mind, including improved health and safety, higher yields and purity levels, higher efficiency - as a gauge, ZenRobotics’ Heavy Picker can make up to 2000 picks an hour compared to an average of a human’s 35 picks - and the ability to operate 24/7 (robots do not think in shifts).

ZenRobotics head of sales, Juha Mieskonen also pointed to a few key differences between using AI and optical sorters, which are fairly commonplace at existing facilities.

“AI is more versatile and it learns so you can use it for multiple applications, not only for the application that it was initially purchased for, and that makes it very cost-effective,” Mieskonen said.

“On a regular optical sorting machine, the boundaries are set by humans - you have a spectrometric camera and you set the upper level and the lower level, anything in between, let’s say PET plastics for example, falls into a certain category between a certain wavelength on the spectrometric camera and that’s pre-set. Whereas with AI, we do not set the boundaries but the software searches for those boundaries,” he explained.

“The robot already has a vast information base but if you want to teach it something completely new, you just show it a representative sample of materials you want to recover, and it learns from collecting data from the object. If it’s missing something or has confused some objects, then you show negative samples of objects that do not belong to this category. AI is able to learn on its own.”

Typically, an operator needs to show the robot’s scanning device 100 to 150 samples of a material they want picked

In April, ZenRobotics introduced a new addition the Fast Picker for light material. This machine was showcased at IFAT in May and Inside Waste will bring you the highlights from the show in the next edition.

It’s just working!

In Sweden, waste management company Carl F has been working with a ZRR. The Malmö-based company receives about 40,000 tonnes of C&D waste annually, of which 40% had previously ended up as combustible residual waste. But with the ZRR, this figure has dropped to 10%. And because of ZRR’s 24/7 operation and the feeding rate control, there’s no need to overfill the conveyor to maintain the yearly capacity.

“At the moment, with the robots, we are now recycling material that six months ago, we couldn’t do. Then, we had to burn it. At the moment, we’re actually recycling it,” Carl F’s Carl-Fredrik Jöhnsson said.

“To teach a robot, it took one weekend. Since the robot picks a little bit faster than we thought, it’s on for 24 hours but it’s not picking during the last hours of the night because there is no more material.

“This is the good part - that it’s just working. That was our main objective - to have a line where we put something here, and something else comes out in the end. And we wanted to do it on a more industrial basis, and with the robots, we can make that step.”

and this process takes “a few hours per fraction”. The ZenRobotics Robot or ZRR is able to pick a range of light and heavy objects of various shapes and sizes and currently, users sort materials such as wood, various grades of minerals, rigid plastics, and cardboard. And as the ZRR is equipped with a user interface, operators can control sorted fractions, purity, and throughput while reacting to changes in the waste stream, if and when they arise.

ZenRobotics has delivered systems to cater for a range of tonnages but said the smallest it’s developed processes between 15,000 and 20,000 tonnes of light materials a year.

Mieskonen is confident that AI is the way of the future and noted that already, customers with a ZRR have reaped the benefits.

“99% of our customers have entered new businesses and have the ability to receive other types of material that they didn’t before receive because they didn’t have the ability to sort it,” he said, adding that operators should

study their whole operation as a start to determine what it is they would like to achieve.

“To take the biggest advantage of the technology, you should think about how to achieve a low operating cost per tonne - the operator should be at a stage where they want to rethink their processes further. You should consider in terms of technical layouts, what you wish to recover, what businesses you might attract, why are you looking for new abilities and technologies to sort waste - that’s a big thing that customers are not thinking too much about before they go into the discussion of having more sophisticated sorting equipment.”

And it is certainly a discussion that should be had, if it hasn’t already started, because China’s import restrictions will ultimately drive technology in sorting and recycling businesses as the demand for purer products continues to grow.

“Many MRFs are forced to make higher qualities and this means the

Daily news updates at www.insidewaste.com.au

// Technology The Max-AI and NRT optical sorter in operation at Penn Waste’s MRF in Pennsylvannia.

The tip of the spear At the end of last year, Penn Waste completed a US$3.5 million (AU$4.67 million) retrofit of its MRF in Pennsylvannia, which included new optical sorting and AI technologies from BHS such as the Max-AI to provide automated quality control for PET, a colour separator to split the natural HDPE from the pigmented HDPE, and a recovery loop as the last step in the process.

Penn Waste’s Tim Horkay told Inside Waste the company has had a longstanding partnership with BHS, which he said: “has been the tip of the spear when it comes to developing new technologies that will improve MRF performance.”

With the upgrades, Penn Waste has been able to expand its plant capacity by 30%, allowing the company to expand its service geography to both commercial and residential customers.

“The purpose of the retrofit was to build a more flexible system designed to better handle the evolving material stream composition in the US,” Horkay said, adding “like most global recovery centres, the restrictive China policies have significantly impacted the way we did business. Penn Waste continues to be flexible and produce a group of products that are accepted into alternative domestic and global markets.” yields that they get are lower than they used to be, and you have a lot of rejects, which have great potential.

The rejects that now go to landfill or incineration or elsewhere... that’s another interesting flow which the robots can sort further in order to get more out of the material.”

A net plus for industry Another company that is in the AI business is Bulk Handling Systems (BHS).

Based in Oregon, US, the company has a long history of designing, engineering, manufacturing, installing, servicing, and supporting MRFs across the world.

Not only does BHS build conveyors, structures, and screening technology, it also owns NRT, an optical sorting company, NIHOT, and air technology company, and Zero Waste to Energy, which builds anaerobic digestion and sophisticated organic systems. It is this integrated way of operating that led to the development of Max AI. “We recognised labour as an increasing problem within the MRF

infrastructure and availability and cost were two important elements. You really can’t have such a significant part of your employee base turn over to the degree that people in that profession do,” CEO Steve Miller said.

“That, and the fact that we just don’t have reliable measurement systems of outputs, means our customers are flying blind a bit and our customers of the recyclable materials, they get what they get, and we’ve always shrugged our shoulders in the industry and said well, our input is variable and so you just take whatever we give you.”

This will no longer be the case moving forward and Miller said what China has done with its import restrictions is a net plus for the sector.

“While there’s a short-term problem, the biggest negative in the industry in the 30 years I’ve been in it, has been the advent of single stream recycling combined with the willingness of the mill buyers to take whatever’s given them. Now, there’s a correction and it’s led the paper mills and other consumers

Daily news updates at www.insidewaste.com.au

that are not in China to raise their standards, which I think is very good, and the whole industry is responding.

“Yes, there’s a short-term disruption but in my mind, it’s going to start resolving itself at the end of this year into next year and then everybody will forget about it and they will make better quality; consumers will enjoy better quality; and the cost to produce will be lower.”

For now, the biggest challenge is dealing with paper and cardboard as plastics - PET, HDPE, etc - has no lack of consumers and according to Miller, moving wash lines in MRFs for plastics “can be done pretty simply”.

“The same thing will happen for mixed paper but it’s going to take a bit longer and we know that many of those users are just putting pulping systems into other places. Then you have news and cardboard - with the former, the concern is the non-fibre and with the latter, it’s the unbleachables. The technology exists to remove that but because there is less newspaper in the market, a lot of MRF operators started mixed paper and are now worried about taking out cardboard because the price of mixed paper was high, and they would save on labour, but they can’t do that anymore.

“Then you have the change in supply of cardboard from the commercial sector and distribution centres -grocery chains, department stores - to the home... the so-called Amazon effect. Thus, you have a lot more pieces of cardboard that are generally smaller in size and so what technology do you use?”

BHS has a few solutions, including the ColorPlus, an optical sorter that uses colour (RGB) identification to get the cardboard pieces out of the waste stream, which Miller said is a more robust technology compared to near infrared (NIR).

Then, there is the Max AI Autonomous Quality Control, a robotic sorting solution that identifies materials in waste and recycling streams. Through deep learning technology, Max-AI employs both multi-layered neural networks and a vision system to see and identify objects similar to the way a person does. And in April, BHS unveiled the Max-AI Visual Identification System (VIS) that provides real-time material identification in recycling plants.

“It’s a sensing system without the robot attached and we’re able to do characterisations of materials with that. It’s one of the places that we hope to get to and we’re driving very quickly - an ability to provide online, real-time material characterisations so we can provide product certifications,” Miller said.

“We think it is very important to be able to tell customers what’s in a product especially when they start measuring to a tight specification like the 0.5% that China has implemented.”

BHS recently completed a sale of seven Max-AI units to a plastic processor in Melbourne and has an agreement for a unit that will result in BHS’ first MRF application in Australia.

Miller has several suggestions on how to combine BHS’ range of solutions - from the Max-AI to the ColorPlus to even its metal recycling solution, the NRT Spydir - to drive cost-effective operations at a MRF but his take on what will drive success is this: “I’ve long been an advocate for the industrialisation of recycling processes. I think that the real key to success is to capitalise the systems properly, run them longer, and you can do that because you’re not having to pay more people and staff. I’m always amazed that most of the industrial world runs 24/7 operations but not the iw MRF world.”

JUNE/JULY 2018 INSIDEWASTE

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Recycling //

The facility was designed to process more than 250,000 tonnes of recyclables each year.

Perth’s Super MRF - a year on

By Jan Arreza IT’S been a year since Cleanaway opened its Perth Super MRF (it does have a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?), one of the largest facilities of its kind in the southern hemisphere designed to process more than 250,000 tonnes of recyclables each year.

Cleanaway has a long MRF history, introducing the first facility to WA almost two decades ago. Its latest multi-million-dollar high tech plant is

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a step forward in infrastructure and technology and the company has said it can and will deliver some of the highest diversion rates in Australia.

And has it?

Reflecting on the last 12 months, Edward Hood, Cleanaway’s head of engineering says the journey was not without its challenges, more recently China’s National Sword policy and its impacts on MRFs around the country, but these have led to opportunities such as the chance to make improvements to the

technology and doing so has provided Cleanaway with a competitive advantage.

“We received the state-of-the-art facility a year ago and commissioning went smoothly. There were a couple of things that we needed to work out, which took a bit longer to do than expected - they were related to some of the new tech we were using, but we got those worked out in the end,” Hood told Inside Waste, adding that in the early days, there were challenges with the incoming contamination rates being

higher than Cleanaway had anticipated.

Today, Cleanaway is dealing with another challenge - the volume of plastic bags in the material stream.

“We recover about 10 tonnes [of plastic bags] a week - so we are looking at process modifications that will help us remove those bags and other types of film earlier in the process to raise our product quality,” Hood said.

Cleanaway will get help with this from the WA government when the plastic bag ban starts on July 1, 2018.

Daily news updates at www.insidewaste.com.au

// Recycling

Cleanaway’s Perth Super MRF was commissioned a year ago and is currently running at three quarters capacity.

“We also plan on increasing our education outreach, working more directly with our customers and the community to try and get everyone educated on what they’re putting into their recyclables, and ways that they could reduce the contamination rates.

Awareness is really the key to all of that,” Cleanaway project manager Richard James added.

Inside the Perth Super MRF In line disc screens are the core of the sorting process, screening out glass and producing clean paper and container streams. Glass breaker screens are employed early in the process to quickly break and remove the high volumes of

glass that are typically found in Australian single stream recyclables. The glass is then purified by two single drum air separators.

Optical sorters are employed in both recovery and quality control applications throughout the plant.

To achieve Cleanaway’s extremely high standards of over 97% recovery of plastic containers, whilst meeting purity rates in excess of 98.5%, six optical units target fibre and polymers to produce PET, HDPE and mixed plastics.

James said the MRF’s glass recovery process is a big plus as it focuses on reducing heavy contamination right away, producing good quality material to process further down the line.

“I don’t think the other MRFs are

Daily news updates at www.insidewaste.com.au

extracting other commodities like we do, such as film and rigid plastics and bulk metals for example,” he said.

“A lot of the other plants that I have been in really focus on removing large bits of trash, whereas this plant is also focused on removing what would otherwise be regarded as waste or contaminants and turning them into a commodity.”

The Super MRF, which is currently running at three quarters capacity, will play a significant role in increasing Perth’s diversion rate, while producing high quality products for years to come.

It also looks set to provide a solution to the challenges that have come out of China’s National Sword policy.

“Much of the commodities that we create can no longer go to China, they go to other buyers in Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand.

These markets are now saturated with material that can no longer go to China which has depressed commodity prices,” Hood said.

“China pays a higher premium for the higher quality material and it is our intent to meet the higher quality limits related to the China National Sword policy.

“We are making modifications to our processes, so we can get more of those commodities below the 0.5% contamination rate to get material iw back into China.”

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Legal //

PFAS National Environmental Management Plan: key take-home messages

By Jennifer Hughes THE PFAS National Environmental Management Plan (PFAS NEMP) was endorsed by Australia’s Environment Ministers on February 16, 2018.

PFASs (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are man-made chemicals that have been used in industry and consumer products worldwide since the 1950s.

They have been used in firefighting foams, non-stick cookware and stain resistant fabrics and carpets. They are highly resistant to heat, chemical and biological attack and as a result, they persist in the environment. They are also bio accumulative and ecologically toxic.

Due to their widespread application and persistence in the environment, PFAS occurs at low concentrations in

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soil, sediment, surface water, ground water, biota and waste, including solid waste and waste water in many locations across Australia.

There is increasing concern worldwide about the environmental and human health impacts of PFAS. There is currently considerable scientific uncertainty, however, about the impacts of PFAS on human health and the environment, about what safe levels of exposure might be, and even on appropriate (and reliable) analytical techniques. As a result, different regulators have taken different approaches and applied different numerical limits for PFAS contamination, concentration and exposure.

The intention of the PFAS NEMP is to attempt to align Australian regulators so that the same approaches and limits

are imposed for the same purposes across Australia.

NEMPs do not have statutory force on their own. They are broad framework setting instruments that outline agreed national objectives for protecting or managing particular aspects of the environment. Before a NEMP has any legal force in a particular state or territory, that jurisdiction must implement the NEMP via their own statutory or policy mechanisms.

As a result, the PFAS NEMP does not yet achieve the goal of aligning Australian regulators. At this stage, it has the status of a guidance document. It is expected, however, that most regulators will follow the major principles set out in the PFAS NEMP, as adapted according to local circumstances and emerging priorities.

The following matters addressed in the PFAS NEMP are of particular interest to members of the waste industry: • The PFAS NEMP contains a suite of nationally-agreed environmental guideline values that should be used to inform site investigations. Note, however, that the freshwater and marine water guideline values are interim values only.

• The PFAS NEMP addresses issues in relation to the transport of PFAS contaminated materials, including wastes, and states that such materials will be considered by the regulators to be Dangerous Goods Class 9. This means that the transport of such waste will generally be required to be tracked and transported in accordance with the requirements of the regulator and authorisation will generally be required for inter-state transport.

• The PFAS NEMP contains guidelines on storage and containment of PFAS-contaminated materials, which would apply to all storage, including in landfills. In particular, the PFAS NEMP states that stormwater management systems should not be relied upon for containment and that storage and containment systems (including those with a base and walls) should be impervious to the materials stored and managed and maintained to prevent any release of liquids and leachate. Where they are not impervious, leachate management systems should be included in the design. The integrity of the

Baker Mckenzie partner, Jennifer Hughes.

containment system will need to be maintained at all times and ongoing monitoring required to ensure no unacceptable off-site impacts.

• The PFAS NEMP contains guidelines as to when PFAS-contaminated materials will be considered suitable for reuse by the environmental regulators.

• Proposed landfill acceptance criteria for PFAS contaminated materials are set out in the PFAS NEMP, which states that the concentration limit for material to be accepted at a landfill should be capped at 50mg/ kg. These criteria will need to be separately implemented by each of the states and territories and may be altered in individual jurisdictions.

• The PFAS NEMP mentions the issue in relation to PFAS in trade waste water but notes that further work will need to be undertaken before criteria and guidance for water authorities and environmental regulators can be established. Our experience is that there is currently uncertainty between regulators as to the levels of PFAS/PFOA that must be achieved following waste water treatment.

• The PFAS NEMP discusses the circumstances under which notification of PFAS contamination should be made to the regulators but does no more than assert that environmental regulators should generally be notified if PFAS contamination is present and there is a potential adverse risk of harm to human health or the environment.

This assertion is not an accurate description of the legal obligation to notify regulators of contamination in all states.

Baker McKenzie would be happy to assist in relation to the application of the PFAS NEMP, or in relation to PFAS and waste more generally.

Jennifer Hughes is a partner in the Environmental Markets team at Baker McKenzie, Sydney. She has over 15 years’ experience advising on environmental and planning law. Contact: Jennifer.hughes@bakermckenzie.com iw

Daily news updates at www.insidewaste.com.au

// Landfill

PFAS NEMP needs more work

By Jan Arreza ON page 34, Baker McKenzie partner Jennifer Hughes details the take home messages for the waste and resource recovery sector from the PFAS National Environmental Management Plan (NEMP) endorsed by Australian Environment Ministers in February and in this article, we drill down on what the plan means for landfills.

In a nutshell, the PFAS NEMP proposes that the landfill acceptance criteria for PFAS contaminated be capped at a 50mg/kg concentration level. The plan also contains guidelines on storage and containment of PFAS-contaminated materials which would apply to all storage, including in landfills.

The Australian Landfill Owners Association (ALOA) welcomed the work by the Commonwealth Department of the Environment to control this emerging persistent organic pollutant but told Inside Waste closer consultation with industry is essential for the plan to succeed, noting a few issues with the current plan.

“The problem is that PFAS is persistent across a number of products that people consume and then throw away, which then ends up in our landfills,” said ALOA CEO, Colin Sweet.

“As a landfill, we don’t actually generate PFAS, but we do find PFAS in our leachate because of the PFAS that our customers bring to us in all sorts of different ways. From a landfill perspective, all the products that are manufactured, used and disposed of, end up in our landfills, and we have very little control over that because all the decisions are being made independent from the people involved with the disposal option of the landfill.

“And if the National Environmental Management Plan bans PFAS from water treatment plants for example, most landfills that discharge to sewer won’t have an alternative, and if you’re in a landfill and can’t dispose of your

leachate then you are pretty much out of business,” Sweet added.

“If that is the outcome that they are trying to achieve, they’ll achieve it, but I would be surprised if that is really the outcome that they want to achieve. At the moment, I’m just not quite sure that they fully understand the consequences if that particular part of the plan were enforced.”

ALOA also highlighted other gaps and areas that need to be further worked on, saying regulators need to be aware: • that if enforced, commercial landfill operators may reject PFAS contaminated materials, leaving no disposal option available; • that in regard to existing PFAS contamination in existing landfills, perverse environmental outcomes could result from making the disposal of landfill leachate to trade waste illegal; • of the additional remediation works which will be required at closed and capped landfills. In some cases, the additional remediation works will be unfunded; • that PFAS contamination could affect both recycling and waste to energy.

That is, PFAS-contaminated material may be unsuitable for both options – creating new landfill volume; and that new classification of waste due to PFAS contamination will put additional pressure on hazardous waste landfill cell capacity.

ALOA does support a national standard for landfills, as universal licensing will allow measurement of PFAS discharge on all active, putrescible landfills. But for this to work, all landfills must be subject to consistent and high quality environmental controls.

Industry also cautions against applying standards selectively to landfill facilities, as this may distort the market. Raising prices at licensed facilities may also cause waste to leak to lower quality landfills.

ALOA said landfill standards should

Daily news updates at www.insidewaste.com.au

be ‘blind’ to the size and owner of the facility - small and large, government and private landfills should be subject to the same standards.

“Success very much depends on how much of that National Plan is enforced across each of the states, and we’d like to think that the regulators and the individual states will talk to the landfill operators within a reasonable timeframe in order to speak about any alternative plans that can be brought

ALOA CEO Colin Sweet.

in,” Sweet said.

“The plan needs to be developed in consultation with the industry, so that the outcomes that they are trying to achieve are realistic and achievable,” Sweet said.

“We’ve already put our thoughts to them but we haven’t heard anything back from them at this stage. We’re always keen to work with government and with the regulator, because we can’t iw do it on our own.”

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Anniversary // WCRA’s certificate of registration, May 7, 1948. (Source: WCRA)

Raising a toast to an industry pioneer

By Jacqueline Ong THERE are too many noteworthy events of 1948 to count but two stand out from the crowd. For many Australians (and probably the English too, though they’d be far less ready to admit it) 1948 will be remembered as the year that The Invincibles, captained by Don Bradman, made their legendary tour that included 721 runs in one day, and they were the only side to tour England unbeaten. And in that same year, the much loved and respected Waste Contractors and Recyclers Association of NSW (WCRA) was founded.

Remembering the early days Three years had passed since World War II came to an end and as WCRA member ‘Wick’ Hanlon recounted 20 years on at an association convention in 1968: “[1948] was the time when most of us shed our uniforms after preventing the Japanese from stealing our lands, our homes, our heritage. The trade unions were becoming more active in their demands for better pay and conditions and it was necessary for us as employers to have a voice in such things.”

These increase in demands and activities took a dramatic turn in the summer of 1947-48.

“There was a series of strikes by sanitary contractors including Canley Vale, Cabramatta, Holroyd, Blacktown, Hornsby, and Sutherland,” WCRA executive director Tony Khoury told Inside Waste.

“The men on these contracts refused to work on Monday, February 9, 1948, unless they received a very considerable increase

in wages, over and above the industrial award. These men had been dissatisfied for some time that their grievances were not being properly addressed. Further, a delegation to the Mayor of Holroyd was advised on February 3, 1948, that the men claimed to be disadvantaged because they were not entitled to sick pay and/or extra pay for wet weather, nor allowance for clothing.”

To provide employers with a voice in the evolving industrial world, an application was lodged on April 30, 1948 under the Industrial Arbitration Act 1940-46 by George Coleman, P. Gilroy, and Clarrie Smith for registration of the “Garbage and Sanitary Contractors of NSW” as an Industrial Union of Employers. The aim of the organisation was to protect the interests of its members by setting contract prices that provided reasonable return on capital.

On May 7 that year, the Garbage and Sanitary Contractors Association of NSW was certified and registered.

Fast forward a few years and the association had much on its plate.

It was the booming 1950s, with new housing being developed in previously rural areas and much of Sydney was yet to be connected to the sewerage system. These developing areas were also in need of waste collection services, provided largely by the association’s members.

A rose by any other Over the years, the association has changed its name a few times, moving first to the Waste Disposal Contractors Association of NSW before landing on Waste Contractors and

A restored A.E. Baker Enterprises vintage truck at an Illawarra festival. (Credit: Arthur Baker)

Recyclers Association of NSW in 1991 in recognition of the introduction and growing role of recycling. Its name may have changed over the years, but one thing has remained a constant.

“Whatever WCRA does, we aim to do well,” Khoury, who has been at the helm since 2003, said.

“We believe that WCRA is the oldest body of employers representing the waste sector anywhere in the world,” he added, “during my time at WCRA, we have sought to manage WCRA using the principles associated with running a proper business. We have also placed a high priority on compliance with all rules, laws and regulations.

“Our calendar of events includes events that are highly supported by members and sponsors including the annual dinner that attracts around 250

guests, breakfast briefings that address key issues and the annual Ron Horswell Memorial Golf Day.” And the high level of engagement is both appreciated and applauded - many members have stood by the associations for decades (see various quotes) particularly as the sector has been through numerous changes and challenges.

“Over the last 10 to 15 years, there has been a massive change in environmental regulations in NSW and the rise of the NSW solid waste levy.

In 2003, the waste levy was $19.80 per tonne, in 2008, it was $38.60 per tonne, and in 2018, it is $138.20 per tonne. Whilst in the main, the waste levy has had a positive impact on many recycling and waste diversion projects, it would be fair to also state that the levy has had some major unintended

I can recall attending my first WCRA meetings in the late 80s with the likes of Ron Horswell, Malcom Greer and Barry Thomas, when the association was mainly focused on industrial relations and struggling for financial support from industry. Fast forward today, WCRA is financially secure and truly representative of all the issues associated with the industry such as safety, RMS, EPA, industrial relations, waste equipment, technology, insurance, tax to name a few.

It’s comforting for all its members large and small, to have WCRA to fall back on for sound advice in times of need.

- Dean Naudi, Toxfree manager industrial services - NSW A Sullage collection truck. (Image courtesy of Enid Davis, V.M. Folini Pty Ltd)

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Daily news updates at www.insidewaste.com.au

// Anniversary consequences such as subsidising transport to interstate landfills, illegal dumping, cash flow impacts for commercial contractors exposed to bad debts, etc.,” Khoury said, pointing to the NSW government’s failure to address the issues associated with long distance transport of waste to SE Queensland in particular, asking, “Why are they still allowing a rebate of the waste levy on exhumed waste?”

But it hasn’t all been painful and difficult. The sector has come a long way, Khoury said, particularly with the equipment used by operators today.

“I have travelled much of the world looking at waste collection and I am very proud to say that the equipment and systems we use to contain, collect, and transport waste and recyclables compares more than favourably with anything I have seen in any other country. Our WHS compliance is first rate, our workers are well-paid, and we have high standards of productivity and logistics on all areas of our collections,” he said.

A pivotal moment The Australian waste and resource recovery industry is facing a crucial turning point and while the present is uncertain and challenging, the future holds opportunities. But a number of steps need to be taken.

In NSW, the one major hurdle that could hinder the industry’s progress is the same one that could progress the sector - the EPA. “It would be fair to say that they are currently operating under some serious difficulties and a lack of genuine leadership seems to be a serious issue for the EPA. These concerns present the waste sector with some serious challenges,” Khoury noted.

“The crash in recycling markets is also a challenge for the sector, quite simply the supply of many recyclable products continues to be a constant, whilst with China exiting the market, the demand for the end product has almost halved. But this challenge will also present an opportunity that I am very sure the market will respond to.

But it will take a little time and the support of government.”

Government support comes in numerous forms, whether it is funding or procurement of end products. One area that Khoury believes needs a good review is the regulations surrounding the collection of the waste levy in NSW. “A system that allows a leakage of approximately $120 million per annum is a system that is broken. This has created an un-level playing field in NSW and there are numerous operators whose business model is based entirely on lawfully avoiding payment of the

NSW waste levy... and these operators are not recyclers,” he said.

“Another issue would be the need for governments to show some urgency when dealing with issues that affect the waste sector.”

In recent months, the sector has come under intense scrutiny by mainstream media (do we need to remind you of what happened on ABC’s Four Corners program?) and the interest has the added benefit of applying continued

pressure on governments to support the sector’s quest for sustainable outcomes.

But on top of that and perhaps more importantly, it is the tireless efforts of associations such as WCRA that will keep the sector’s issues on governments’ agendas. On that note, Inside Waste would like to congratulate WCRA for its 70 years of success. If you would like to join in the celebration on June 14 at the Kirribilli Club in Sydney, give WCRA iw a ring on 02 9604 7206.

I was privileged to be a representative member of the Waste Contractors and Recyclers Association, on behalf of various companies, for a good many years. I was extremely grateful to the members for allowing me to be the association’s president for some of that time. I reflect on that time as being a pivotal time for the association. Our executives were faced with many complex challenges and difficult decisions which have fashioned the strategy and the identity of the association to this day. The solid support of the members, the courage and fortitude of the executive and the leadership of the executive officer shaped the association, building a solid foundation for an organisation which makes a significant positive contribution to the Australian waste and recycling industry. In the end though, then and now, WCRA is all about people, people of integrity, courage, generosity, skill and many other virtues who work together to improve the future. I count myself fortunate to be a part of helping WCRA to get to 70 years and along with many friends and colleagues, I look forward to the Waste Contractors and Recyclers Association of NSW continuing in its leading role.

- Jim Perry, Vac Group NSW state manager and former president of WCRA

A “self-explanatory” note from a “fair-dinkum” lady to a Wollongong waste truck driver, early 1960s. (Credit: Arthur Baker)

An open garbage truck. (Image courtesy of Enid Davis, V.M. Folini Pty Ltd)

Daily news updates at www.insidewaste.com.au

I am fortunate to have been involved in the waste industry for 50 years and waste associations for over 30 years. To be currently in the position of president of WCRA involves a variety of challenges for our industry. Being president of a strong association directed by an experienced executive and assisted by the executive director, is a rewarding experience. From my start in this industry, when one of the early problems was the loss of glass bottle recycling due to the ATO taxing the collections for their cash sales of bottles, to the current issue of no markets for recycled glass, the industry continues to evolve.

Industrial relations issues have moved from men working in all weather conditions and limited safety equipment, to the current situation of operating high-tech equipment in heavy traffic areas, whilst complying with detailed safe work procedures.

The industry has moved from the collection and transport of waste to the collection, transport, and processing of a variety of waste and recyclable product streams.

- Harry Wilson, SMS Municipal Services managing director and president of WCRA

JUNE/JULY 2018 INSIDEWASTE

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Problem waste //

Making inroads in tyre recycling

By Jacqueline Ong A fair few companies have had a go at processing Australia’s end-of-life tyres and there are a number of stories of novel technologies, successful processes, and viable end products, from pyrolysis and destructive distillation, to trialling the use of crumbed rubber in explosives, to using recycled material in road and driveway surfaces.

End-of-life tyres (ELTs) may be in abundance in Australia which means there is no lack of feedstock, but the challenges are pulling the materials apart - imagine how scary it would be if this were easy to do - maximising the

materials that comprise a tyre (not just the rubber) and scaling up some of the newer technologies. Then, if and when technology is deemed environmentally safe and commercially viable, and can be commercialised, there’s the planning process to contend with though to be fair, it is easier in some states than others.

In an Australian-first, one company has succeeded in getting environmental approvals in two states - WA and Queensland - for its thermal desorption technology and has commenced commissioning of its first commercial production plant in Staplyton, a locality in the City of Gold Coast.

Pearl Global, formerly Citation

Pearl Global’s Staplyton plant.

Resources Limited, started looking at ELTs in 2010 when executive chairman Gary Foster and inventor of the technology Phil Erasmus approached BHP about a potential waste treatment issue. Foster told Inside Waste that what they had was a technology that could extract hydrocarbons from water but in the water space, there were already a number of filtration or cleaning specialists.

“We were looking for a solution that could have a major impact on a specific space and tyres came up. Tyres contain hydrocarbons, so we designed the technology specifically for the waste rubber stream,” Foster said.

Foster acknowledged that thermal desorption is similar to pyrolysis and the process is conducted in an oxygen-free environment. However, he noted a key difference.

“Thermal desorption operates at lower temperatures, which allow us to run our plants continuously rather than batch because most pyrolysis plants are batch plants which means you have to stop and start and you don’t really get the economies and efficiencies that are required to make the process profitable.

Running a continuous process allows us the better economics and it allows us to control our emissions a lot better,” he said.

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// Problem Waste

To further improve the economics of the process, Pearl Global only accepts shredded rubber so that it is able to use small heating areas instead of large heating vats.

The company said that the process is able to cleanly convert ELTs into products such as liquid hydrocarbon, high tensile steel, and carbon char all of which can be sold commercially or further processed to create higher value. It has, in its commissioning process, sold some of these products ad hoc at “reasonable prices”.

How clean?

Pearl Global has received planning approval from the Gold Coast City Council as well as approval from Queensland’s Department of Environment and Heritage. It also holds an environmental licence from the WA Department of Environment Regulation.

Foster said in going through the various approval processes, the regulators commissioned auditors to conduct independent tests and Pearl Global had to prove a number of things, including being able to run the process continuously a number of, and at varied times.

“The emissions are tested for

1000-plus elements and it’s most certainly a stringent process. The plant would run continuously while the independent auditor captured emissions to make sure they were meeting EPA benchmarks,” Foster said.

“In essence, one of our thermal desorption units emits less than a diesel car on the road. That’s the best analogy I can give.”

Once it’s up The two thermal desorption units in Staplyton are now under commission but Foster noted that “commissioning” isn’t just about the technology but the entire operation, which includes occupational health and safety considerations, emissions profiles, and more. He anticipates that this will be completed in the “not too distant future”. Field trials of the end products will then be conducted.

Once up and at full production, each unit will be able to process about 5000 tons of shredded rubber per week, providing an average weekly output of 1.5 million litres of raw fuels in the form of liquid hydrocarbons. The operation, according to Foster, will also be a simple one.

“We will receive shredded tyres in

40-foot containers from the likes of Tyrecycle. They then go into a hopper that’s fed into our oven. These tyres are treated in the oven itself and at the end of the oven, we receive our fuels, our carbon, and our steel, which we sell,” Foster said.

Next up Pearl Global has successfully completed a $5 million capital raising and the funds will be used to grow its operations. The company has its sights set on Victoria as the next state to apply for EPA approval, a process that Foster said takes between four and six months. It will certainly help that the company has evidence from its other approvals. Over in WA, Foster said when the company is ready to set up shop, the process is only eight to 12 weeks long.

But it is finding a suitable location for a facility that poses the biggest challenge.

“That’s the most expensive thing leasing a site prior to operations. There’s certainly a financial commitment that needs to be made,” Foster noted.

Pearl Global is also experimenting with excavator tyres as they pose a significant issue in Australia. For now, the company is keen to engage with the industry.

Shredded rubber received at Pearl Global’s facility ready for processing.

“We would be interested in having discussions with the entities that have tyre issues and how we can expand the business - they may have land or sites, or they may be a waste stream collector.

We’d like to have discussions with them to put our units across Australia in regional and urban areas,” Foster said. iw

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39

Waste to energy //

Scaling the energy mountain

By Jan Arreza

Julian Turecek, head of assets at EnergyAustralia.

AUSTRALIA’S energy market is in transition and the challenge is to ensure energy supplies are affordable and reliable, while we also integrate a wide range of renewable technologies and retire old coal-fired power stations.

Within this context, utilising the embedded energy in residual waste harnesses a resource too valuable to merely discard to landfill.

Waste to energy, according to Julian Turecek, head of assets at EnergyAustralia, is one of the final pieces of the energy puzzle.

“Australia is making the transition to a new, modern energy system and we now have most of the puzzle pieces – solar, wind, demand response, pumped hydro, battery storage, intelligent energy management systems and energy recovery, supported by gas-fired generation,” Turecek said at the Australian Waste to Energy Forum in Ballarat earlier this year.

“The challenge is planning; getting the right balance and mix for a modern energy system – in the most cost-effective manner - and a national, bi-partisan plan is the blueprint that industry needs so it has the confidence to make the large, long-term investments required.”

The Mt Piper model Turecek used EnergyAustralia’s Energy Recovery Project at Mt Piper Power Station in Blackmans Flat, NSW, as a positive case study. EnergyAustralia is working with Re.Group on the project to augment the 1400MW power station with lower emissions generation and will use non-recyclable plastics, linen, and cardboard in a specially designed boiler to create steam.

“The Mt Piper Energy Recovery Project is a great example of the thinking and innovation that will come to underpin a new, modern energy system in Australia,” Turecek said.

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// Waste to energy

“It has great potential to help solve two big challenges we face in Australia - reducing waste that goes to landfill and integrating new supplies of renewable energy into the system. It’s early days but we’ve been really encouraged by the interest the community has shown in the project.”

The energy recovery project has two important advantages. First, it is integrated into an existing power station that’s already connected to the national electricity grid, which avoids having to build dedicated turbines, generators and grid connection.

Second, the project is at an existing industrial site, minimising the issues that may come up with greenfield developments.

“We’re now focused on community consultation and investigating potential impacts, and how we might mitigate or avoid impacts from plant emissions, transport and traffic and the disposal of residual waste,” Turecek said.

“Preserving air quality, flora and fauna and quality of life are important to the community and we simply must get these things right. Any project we do has to be socially and environmentally acceptable.”

The question that has been posed is, is waste to energy a waste issue or an energy issue? It really boils down to who is discussing it and typically, the conversations tend not to collide as much as they should. Thus, EnergyAustralia’s interest and investment in this space is exciting and hails a positive step forward in cross-sector collaboration.

“EnergyAustralia has a long history of generating energy and supplying it to our customers but moving into the resource recovery space represented a new challenge and we wanted to work with someone that truly understood recycling and resource recovery,” Turecek said.

“Many waste to energy projects fail due to complexities of power purchase offtake, grid connection and from an energy company’s perspective, an ability to secure a reliable and sustainable feedstock to underpin the life of the project.

“We knew that the best way to deliver this project was with a collaborative approach and Re.Group appeared to us as a natural like-minded partner. Just as we are able to provide a long-term offtake for the energy, Re.Group is able to secure long-term agreements for the fuel supply.

“The benefits of this approach have already been proven as we have worked

through the complexities of this project. Each group brings specialist skills that working together in one project team can leverage, rather than each company climbing a steep learning curve in a new industry.”

Current studies have found Mt Piper will need an investment of approximately $160 million for the construction of a new loading dock and boiler, which is forecasted to handle 200,000 tonnes of non-recyclable rubbish a year.

“Our job as an energy retailer is to produce or buy cleaner supplies of reliable electricity as cheaply as we can on behalf of our customers. In operation, the energy recovery project at Mt Piper could generate reliable baseload electricity for an additional 40,000 homes in New South Wales without having to burn more coal,” Turecek said.

“The project will take proven technology and practices from Europe and apply them within an existing power station – it’s a showcase of Australian innovation.

“At the same time, the project will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by the equivalent of more than 200,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year and will mean there’s less need to develop new landfills.

“If viable, energy recovery will create around 300 direct and indirect jobs during construction, and 16 ongoing roles in operation.”

The project was subject to exhaustive feasibility studies and an environmental impact statement is due later this year.

“Last year, with the assistance of ARENA, we completed a feasibility study, which found the project was technically feasible and economically viable based on consumption of 200,000 tonnes of refuse-derived fuel per year,” Turecek detailed.

“We’ve appointed environmental consultancy ERM to do a full environmental impact assessment over the next 12 months. Meanwhile, we’re completing detailed engineering works and technology selection, while progressing relevant planning and environmental approvals.

“Consultation with the community is ongoing – we’re spending a lot of time talking to people across Lithgow and the region, so we understand any concerns they may have.

“A final decision on the project is scheduled for 2019. If it proceeds, the Mt Piper energy recovery project could iw make its first power in 2021.”

Daily news updates at www.insidewaste.com.au

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Contracts //

Assessing kerbside recycling arrangements

By Jacqueline Ong WHILST on assignment to assist Victoria’s Metropolitan Waste and Resource Recovery Group (MWRRG) with technical issues pertaining to the current problems in kerbside recycling, boutique environment and sustainability strategy and management firm, Equilibrium, together with the group, identified a need for greater transparency and accountability in kerbside contracts.

What was born out of this discovery was a methodology that may assist parties - councils as well as contractors - with making informed decisions about ongoing arrangements. And its launch in April is timely as councils in Victoria and across the country consider their current arrangements against the backdrop of numerous changes and challenges.

So far, the MWRRG has distributed the tool to all Victorian councils and Equilibrium said it’s fielding interest from Queensland, South Australia and NSW. The firm has also provided the methodology to the Australian Council of Recycling and the Waste Management Association of Australia for them to distribute to their members.

The tool sets out the principles of kerbside recycling services, considerations for assessing kerbside recycling arrangements, commodity price indices as well as factors and calculators to inform financial considerations, and monitoring and verification agreements. All of these aim to help stakeholders work their way through contracts and ensure that

there is adequate transparency during the decision-making process. But the methodology should be viewed as a guide and it is not prescriptive.

“It is not intended to be a strict process that everyone necessarily follows. Rather, it is intended to canvass all of the kinds of issues that may be considered and then for each circumstance, the council and the MRF operator may pick and choose what is relevant or a priority for them and investigate that further. And then, where possible, quantify it either in terms of the amounts of materials and the likely value of those materials, and the likely operational costs within the operation that therefore helps you understand why a contract price may have to be set at whatever level it is,” Equilibrium managing director Nick Harford said.

“Then, there are the non-financial areas which we’ve identified around various risks, which is worth considering because those are the types of things that may cause a contract or arrangement to be changed in the future.”

As the methodology will assist organisations in assessing the potential costs of kerbside recycling services, a number of benefits could be realised.

Firstly, it may help councils better understand the significant investment made in plant equipment and that this investment needs a return, which occurs over a period of time. Second, the current situation has shown clearly that commodity prices are subject to significant risk, most of these being external, and prices are influenced by

global factors. In understanding this, councils and contractors are building knowledge and can use the tool to factor considerations for future decisions.

“But people need to be mindful that the methodology does have its limitations and they should not expect it to give them all the answers or enable them to necessarily make

a detailed decision without further support or advice,” Harford said.

The tables on this page show the data and details that may be inputted in the methodology. Note that the values used are indicative and a guide only. For more information on how to use the methodology, contact iw Equilibrium on 03 8807 0139.

SUMMARY CALCULATOR

KERBSIDE MATERIAL

OPERATING EXPENDITURE

Considerations The key issues that may impact and determine service levels as well as financial arrangements for kerbside recycling include: • Material parameters - the material requiring handling and sorting as well as its volume, composition, compaction and quality.

• Operational costs - overall operational costs per tonne conversion cost for the MRF operator.

• Capital cost - cost of plant and equipment; depreciation and amortisation and their impact on overall conversion cost per tonne processed.

• Commodity price - the price per tonne that can be achieved for each commodity, long-term average pricing, forecast trend for pricing, and the impact for the overall basket of goods being received and processed.

• External price impacts - factors that influence the price, including exchange rates.

• Sales - the impacts that influence the timing and activity for sale, who pays for the cost of waste disposal to landfill, export or domestic sales, and contracted end markets.

• Terms - the terms for payment and influencing factors.

• Legal and compliance.

• Insurance and emergency.

• Other MRF activities - activities that may influence or impact operational and conversion costs.

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INSIDEWASTE JUNE/JULY 2018

RISK RANKING

Daily news updates at www.insidewaste.com.au

// Product profile: telehandlers

Manitou

MLT-X 960 Dimensions: Overall dimensions - width: 2.48m, height: 2.53m, length: 6.1m Operating capacity: 6000kg Lifting height: 9m Maximum outreach: 5.3m Reach at max. Height: 1.1m Break-out force with bucket: 7300 daN Engine: John Deere, Stage 3A Travel speed: 40km/h Base price: P.O.A. More: www.manitou.com

Manitou

MLT-X 845 120 H Premium Dimensions: overall dimensions - width: 2.42m, height: 2.58m, length: 5.22m Operating capacity: 4500kg Lifting height: 7.55m Maximum reach: 4.57m Engine: Mercedes OM904LA 4cly 121 hp-90kw Base price: P.O.A. More: www.manitou.com

Genie

GTH – 4014 and GTH- 4018 Rough Terrain Telehandler Dimensions: height - 2.44 m, width - 2.42 m Operating weight: 11,240 kg (GTH-4014), 12,640 kg (GTH4018) Lifting height: 13.51 m (GTH4014), 17.38 m (GTH-4018) Maximum forward reach: 9.05m (GTH-4014) and 13.33m (GTH-4018) Lifting capacity: 4000kg Turning radius: 1.87m Engine: Perkins 1104-E44T turbo diesel 100hp (75 kW) Travel speed: 27 km/h

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44

LH 24 M

Boom combination: 6m straight boom & 4m stick with tipping kinematics Tool: sorting grab SG 25B 0.75m3 Maximum reach: 10.2m Cabin type: TOPS for elevating cabin Engine: Liebherr D924, 4-cylinder 105kw (143HP) @ 1800 RPM Travel speed: 12km/h Weight: 22900 kg Number of models: 1 Base price: P.O.A. More: www.liebherr.com.au

Boom combination: 6.6m straight boom & 4.5m stick with tipping kinematics Tool: sorting grab SG 25B 0.90m3 Maximum reach: 11.1m Cabin type: TOPS Engine: Liebherr D924, 4-cylinder 110 kw (150HP) @ 1800 RPM Travel speed: 12km/h Weight: 24400 kg Number of models: 1 Base price: P.O.A. More: www.liebherr.com.au

Liebherr

LH 22 M

MI 45 G

Dimensions: overall dimensions - width: 1.45m, height: 2.34m, length: 4.05m Lifting capacity: 1800kg Lifting height: 3.3m Engine: Nissan, type: 3B Turning radius: 2.58m Ground clearance: 0.32m Travel speed: 25 km/h Base price: P.O.A. More: www.manitou.com

Dimensions: overall dimensions - width: 1.49m, length: 3.11m Lifting capacity: 4500kg Lifting Height: 3m Engine: PSI Turning Radius: 2.8m Ground Clearance: 0.23m Travel speed: 22 km/h Base price: P.O.A. More: www.manitou.com

Manitou

MC18

Fuchs MHL320F

Maximum reach: 16m Cabin type: continuously variable elevation system up to a viewing height of 5.6m.

Engine: 160kw Travel speed: 1st gear 5km/h, 2nd gear 20km/h.

Number of models: enquire for details.

Base price: P.O.A. More: www.onetrak.com.au or 1300 727 520

Maximum reach: 10.4m Cabin type: infinitely variable hydraulic height-adjustment with eye level up to 5.3m above ground.

Engine: 95kw Travel speed: 1st gear 5km/h, 2nd gear 20km/h.

Number of models: enquire for details.

Base price: P.O.A. More: www.onetrak.com.au or 1300 727 520

Onetrak

Fuchs MHL350F

Dieci 40.7

Dieci 75.10

Dimensions: 2445mm x 5075mm x 2260mm (HxLxW) Operating weight: 7700kg Lifting height: 7m Lifting capacity: 4000kg Turning radius: 3920mm Engine: FPT Travel speed: 40km Number of models: 1 Base price: P.O.A. More: ww.awdgrp.com.au

Dimensions: 2490mm x 5910mm x 2380mm (HxLxW) Operating weight: 12,100kg Lifting height: 9.65m Lifting capacity: 7500kg Turning radius: 4400mm Engine: FPT Travel speed: 30km Number of models: 1 Base price: P.O.A. More: www.awdgrp.com.au

INSIDEWASTE JUNE/JULY 2018

Dieci

Dieci

Onetrak

Manitou

Liebherr

Product profile: material handlers and telehandlers //

Daily news updates at www.insidewaste.com.au

RT210 Track Loader

Horsepower: 67.4 Operating weight: 2650kg Operating capacity: 0.4m3 Tipping load: 1400kg Boom breakout: 18.86kN Bucket breakout force: 20.8kN Engine: Yanmar 4TNV98-ZPLYS Tier 3 Base price: P.O.A. More: www.awdgrp.com.au

Dimensions: height: 83.1”, width: 69.5”, length: 114.4” Operating weight: 9890lbs.

(4486kg) Lift height: 128” (3251mm) Net power: 70.7hp (52.7kW) Operating capacity at 35% tipping Load: 2100lbs.

(953kg) Tipping load: 6000 lbs.

(2722kg) Bucket breakout force: Tilt Cylinder - 6631 lbs. (3008kg), Lift Cylinder - 6481lbs. (2940kg) Engine: Yanmar/4TNV98CT-NMSL Tier IV Base price: P.O.A. More: www.gehl.com

Gehl

375B

Volvo L110H

Dimensions: height to hinge pin - fully raised: 123” (3124mm) Rated operating capacity: 2200lbs.

(998kg) Net power: 70. hp (53.7kW) Maximum torque: 217ft-lbs (294nM) Engine: Yanmar/ 4TNV98CT-NMS Tier IV/ Stage 3B Base price: P.O.A. More: www.gehl.com

Max engine output: 1800rpm Max power at: 1800rpm Max torque at: 1250Nm Breakout force: 157.7kN Tipping load: 11,420kg Bucket capacity: 3.4 m³ Operating weight: 18,560kg Engine: Volvo D8J Base price: P.O.A More: www.cjd.com.au

CJD Equipment

R220 Skid Loader

SDLG Wheel Loaders

Max engine output: 1500rpm Max power at: 1500rpm Max torque at: 1317Nm Breakout force: 172.9kN Tipping load: 12,610kg Bucket capacity: 3.6m³ Operating weight: 19,420 kg Engine: Volvo D8J Base price: P.O.A. More: www.cjd.com.au

Max engine output: 77 - 295HP Max power at: 2000 - 2200RPM Max torque at: 1500 - 2000RPM Breakout force: 5914 - 22,025kg/f Tipping load: 1.8 - 7t lift capacity (rated load) Bucket capacity: 1.0 - 4.2m3 Operating weight: 6200 - 23,500Kg Engine: 4.2 - 11.6L Base price: $75,000 - $290,000 More: www.sdlg.com.au

CJD Equipment

Volvo L120H

Hidromek HMK 640 WL

Schaffer Loaders

Max engine output: 324HP (242kW) @ 1800rpm Max power at: 324HP (242 kW) @ 1800rpm Max torque at: 1600Nm (1300rpm) Breakout force: 19975 (kgf) Tipping load: static tipping load (no tire deflection) 19269 (kgf) Bucket capacity: 4.2m3 Operating weight: 26,300kg Engine: 242KW (324HP) Base price: P.O.A. More: www.onetrak.com.au or 1300 727 520

Max engine output: 26-75hp Max power at: 2800RPM Max torque at: 2200RPM Breakout force: 2800kg Tipping load: 1080 to 3200kg Bucket capacity: 0.2 to 2.0m3 Operating weight: 1850kg to 5000kg Engine: Kubota and water cooled Deutz Base price: $48,999+GST More: www.schaffer-loaders.com.au or 1300 88 21 61

Daily news updates at www.insidewaste.com.au

Schaffer Loaders

Onetrak

CJD Equipment

Gehl

LiuGong

// Product profile: skid steers and wheel loaders

JUNE/JULY 2018 INSIDEWASTE

45

890H

Max power at: 272kW (370hp) @ 2100rpm Max torque at: 1,674 N · m @ 1400rpm Breakout force: 220kN Tipping load: 20,378kg Bucket capacity: 4.5m3 Operating weight: 25,300kg Engine: Cummins QSM11 Base price: P.O.A. More: www.awdgrp.com.au

Max power at: 261kW (350 hp) @ 2100rpm Max torque at: 1776 N · m Breakout force: 245kN Tipping load: 25,827kg Bucket capacity: 5.4m3 Operating weight: 30,400kg Engine: Cummins QSM11 Base price: P.O.A. More: www.awdgrp.com.au

LiuGong

877H

L 526

L 538

Max engine output: 103kw/ 140HP Max power at: 103kw /140HP @ RPM 2000 Max torque at: NM 548 @ RPM 1500 Breakout force: 95kN Tipping load (straight): 8800kg Bucket capacity: 2.3m3 Operating weight: 11250kg Engine: 4045HFL07 Tier IVF Base price: P.O.A. More: www.liebherr.com.au

Max engine output: 114kw/ 155HP Max power at: 114kw /155HP @ 2000RPM Max torque at: NM 628 @ RPM 1500 Breakout force: 110kN Tipping load (straight): 10,700kg Bucket capacity: 2.6m3 Operating weight: 13,500kg Engine: 4045HFL09 Tier IVF Base price: P.O.A. More: www.liebherr.com.au

Liebherr

Liebherr

LiuGong

Product profile: wheel loaders //

A VITAL LINK IN MODERN

WASTE HANDLING

Volvo has over 25 years experience in waste handling and offers a wide range of purpose-built machines; all designed to meet high industry demands for safety, dependability and cost efficiency. As focus continues to shift to intensive recycling not just waste handling, Volvo is ready.

FAST WORK CYCLES Volvo drivetrains provide excellent rimpull while maintaining great traction even in poor conditions, with more power and much less tyre wear. Load-sensing hydraulics and patented torque-parallel linkage on Volvo wheel loaders provide a sensitive yet strong operation of the loader in any bucket position.

PROTECTION OF BOTH MAN AND MACHINE With a filter system in a class of its own, the air in a Volvo cab is always clean; dust and dirt won’t get into the operator’s lungs or the engine, transmission, axles, hydraulics and fuel tank. The flat floor makes cleaning quick and easy, while noise and vibration insulation keep the operator fresh and focused.

BIG ENOUGH TO TRUST SMALL ENOUGH TO CARE www.cjd.com.au | 1300 139 804 | marketing@cjd.com.au Facebook.com/cjdequipment

Linkedin.com/company/cjd-equipment

Instagram.com/cjd_equipment Images are for illustration purposes only. Picture may or may not include local options.

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INSIDEWASTE JUNE/JULY 2018

Daily news updates at www.insidewaste.com.au

// Wasted Space

A time for spring cleaning IF there is one positive thing that has come out of China’s National Sword policy, it’s that we can now take every old (council) excuse in the book and flush it down the toilet.

Let’s start with councils constantly reminding industry that they are “risk averse”. Look where that has gotten them. In passing on all risk to their contractors, they are now faced with a massive problem - what do we do with community’s recycling if contractors, particularly MRFs, in bearing all the risk, can’t stand on their own two feet for much longer? They can certainly try going down the Ipswich route of sending recyclables to landfill for weeks then announcing that they “will” be doing that. We certainly didn’t envy Ipswich the day after news broke, with all the outrage, a lot of it from their community, directed at Council.

Waste management and resource recovery should be a shared responsibility and it does not make any business sense for one party to take on all the risk. Council is providing a community service and is not a business? Well, get all council employees to work for free then. It’s a community service after all, no?

Here’s the thing. We all know that community wants recycling but now, not only do we have the data to back that up, waste and recycling is firmly in sights of the people - there’s no escaping their watchful eyes.

So, we know that community wants recycling, no, they demand it, and they will pay for recycling. Interestingly, what has come up is that many had no clue how much they were paying for their waste management services specifically and more importantly, when they found out, they were surprised at how little it cost them to recycle. That leads us to the next lame excuse.

“We need to provide the lowest cost service to community”. In case you’ve forgotten, read that paragraph again.

The general consensus is that people are willing to pay more if it means their materials are being recycled so please, stop using this excuse and start pricing services appropriately. A $1 per week increase in cost is not going to enrage community but a “let’s just send it to landfill” will.

Why are councils adamant (or scared?) about not articulating the true cost of recycling to communities? If you look at the CDS - sure, you’re entitled to a 10-cent

refund if you return your containers - the overall cost of beverages has gone up.

Has anyone had a go at the CDS? No. People love it. People want to do the right thing and will. This low-cost excuse has to go and local government needs to put in a bit more effort in explaining why recycling costs what it costs. Surely that’s easier than explaining to the community why their MRFs and recycling facilities have shut down.

Now, speaking of costs the same goes for contracts. It is clear as day that we need to reprocess and remanufacture domestically so please, stop with the “let’s go for the cheapest solution” and start thinking about the value you can get out of contracts and services for the prices proposed. You really don’t want a repeat of the current situation and you’re out of excuses to continue doing the same old same old for much longer.

DIARY June 26-28 Waste Strategy Summit 2018 Aerial UTS Function Centre, Sydney The Waste Strategy Summit 2018 will discuss solutions to the most pressing challenges in waste management today. It brings together captains of the industry that are driving world leading projects, innovative strategies and regulators all into one place to share their knowledge and experiences. www.questevents.com.au/waste-strategy-summit-2018 August 29-30 Australasian Waste & Recycling Expo ICC Sydney, Darling Harbour The Australasian Waste & Recycling Expo brings together the industry to discover the latest trends, showcase innovation, attend high quality practical seminars and workshops, and network with key waste and recycling decision makers from industry and government. www.awre.com.au October 3-4 Waste Expo Australia 2018 Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre Waste Expo Australia is part of Australian Sustainability Week and will run alongside All-Energy Australia. In addition to Waste Summit, a free-to-attend conference, Waste Expo will also include Waste Evolution, which showcases new technologies and products set to change the future of waste management and resource recovery in Australia. www.wasteexpoaustralia.com.au

Daily news updates at www.insidewaste.com.au

October 22-24 ISWA World Congress Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Malaysia The ISWA World Congress 2018 will feature a comprehensive scientific programme highlighting the socio-economic impacts of waste recycling, waste reduction, and health, safety and policy regulation pertaining to recycling and climate change.

It will also include areas of current interest such as marine and coastal waste management. The scientific program will culminate with a forum that will see key ASEAN ministers responsible for solid waste management, participate in a dialogue to re-evaluate waste management policy and practices within the region. www.iswa2018.org November 5-8 WasteMINZ Annual Conference Air Force Museum of New Zealand, Christchurch A new climate-change law set to be introduced in 2018 will bind governments to carbon targets and set it down a path to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. With that in mind, the theme for the 2018 conference will be Target 2050.

To meet this target, the sector is going to need to play a significant part and must drastically transform the way it does things. www.wasteminz.org.nz November 11-15 2018 WasteSA Resource Recovery Conference Adelaide Convention Centre, South Australia There are a large number of changes on uncertainties in the waste industry both locally and internationally. Recent changes in international markets have bought a sharp focus on change in the domestic sector. It is likely the ‘change will be the only constant’ in the waste industry moving forward. How the sector reacts to that change will be critical to developing a sustainable waste and resource recovery sector. www.wmaa.asn.au

JUNE/JULY 2018 INSIDEWASTE

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