ISSUE 116 | OCT/NOV 2023
29 E-waste issues 34 Cardboard bans 42 Politician wish list
Medical waste – a solvable problem By Inside Waste
Is the resource recovery sector regressing? By Inside Waste
Australians like to recycle He found that in his experience, most Australians think recycling is very important, with most people making the effort to ensure they recycle correctly. He said there is now a set of challenges that are becoming prominent due to such things as more multi-unit dwellings (MUDs) being built. These issues include insufficient facilities to cater for the amount of waste being produced, or the various bins are not labelled clearly enough in terms of what should be put in them. Product design was also high on his agenda in terms of what the country needs to address if it wants to ensure it gets the recycling and resource recovery outcomes it wants. Khoury then brought up a topic that has resonated throughout many panels at the various waste expos over the past couple of years – the need for a united national front instead of various legislations in the states and territories. “Let’s start with six states and two territories – all with different waste and recycling laws,” he said. (Continued on page 21)
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ON the back of Inside Waste’s August/ September issue on the lack of infrastructure, a panel at the Australian Waste and Recycling Expo took a deep dive into the resource recovery system as a whole. What followed was a robust debate on the state of the industry. Leading the charge was outgoing Waste Contractors & Recyclers Association of NSW executive director Tony Khoury. Joining him on the panel was his replacement at the association, Brett Lemin, representing the Victorian Waste Management Association; Alison Price from the Waste Recycling Industry Association of Queensland (WRIQ); lawyer Ross Fox from Fishburn Watson and O’Brien; and representing both SA and NT was Adam Gray, the CEO and executive officer respectively of those areas’ Waste & Recycling Industry Associations. Khoury chaired the panel and didn’t pull any punches in his opening address. “In my view, recycling – and the view of many others – should be a relatively simple exercise. It should not be complex,”
he said. “Over the years I’ve been in the industry; we’ve made it more complex. And the success of recycling depends on the actions of everyday people – people in kitchens, people in bathrooms, people working in business.” Guidance on how to recycle comes in many guises, including “little notes on packaging material”. In some cases, the advice is great. In others, it is not so helpful, according to Khoury. He also pointed out that some of the labels offer conflicting messages when it comes to recycling. Additionally, in many cases, a product has not been designed to achieve a good recycling outcome. “It gets mind-boggling for the end user,” he said. “If those in the industry get a little confused sometimes, spare a thought for the consumer. “Sometimes, the product says it is recyclable, but it’s just not recyclable in a bin with the yellow lid. I’ll give you examples of products that are eminently recyclable, but they’re just not recyclable in the bin with the yellow lid. Polystyrene. Aerosol cans. Shredded paper. Plastic bags and batteries.”
MEDICAL waste is a special category all on its own. While there are challenges in all waste streams, due to the nature of medical waste, it must be handled correctly and safely at all times. There are needles, bodily fluids as well as literally body parts that have to be disposed of safely and hygienically. Despite these challenges, getting a circular economy up and running in the industry is not as hard as you think. However, getting it up and running, and everyone on board is another, according to Renae McBrien. McBrien was the MC at one of the seminars held at the Australasian Waste and Recycling Expo held at the ICC in Sydney during July. McBrien is a radiographer by profession based in Queensland. About five years ago she realised a lot of medical waste was going to landfill, when if disposed of correctly, it could be diverted from such a fate. Joining McBrien on the panel to discuss how far along medical waste has come were an eclectic group of people from around the country. Sarah Almeroth is a registered nurse but is also a sustainability and environmental officer for the Northern Adelaide Local Health Network. Dr Mana Sitthiracha, is a senior product sustainability engineer for Resmed, also based in Queensland, while Jason Rijnbeek is the BDM for Medcycle from Melbourne. Finally, there was Danni Munro, from Circmed, also from the Sunshine state. (Continued on page 26)
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Are we regressing? THAT question was asked during a keynote panel titled The State of our Resource Recovery Sector at the AWRE Summit in July. The person asking was outgoing Waste Contractors and Recycler’s Association executive director Tony Khoury. And it’s a fair question. Over the past 24 months many organisations have been stuck in the mire of trying to get governments and their agencies up to speed to help kick start the industry along the route of making sure the various recovery targets are met. Khoury finds the current climate around recycling confusing. And if those in the industry find it confusing, spare a thought for consumers, he said. Whether it be how a product is designed, which part of a product goes in what bin, or an array of different labels that sometimes don’t have all the relevant information on them, we need to do better. One of the panellists, Alison Price who has recently taken up the role of CEO for Waste Recycling Industry Association of Queensland (WRIQ), said issues are just as confusing in the sunshine state. It has a landfill levy system that doesn’t encourage diversion, stockpiling won’t go away, and a funding announcement
Chief Operating Officer Christine Clancy christine.clancy@primecreative.com.au Managing Editor Mike Wheeler mike.wheeler@primecreative.com.au Brand Manager Chelsea Daniel chelsea.daniel@primecreative.com.au Design Production Manager Michelle Weston michelle.weston@primecreative.com.au Design Blake Storey, Kerry Pert, Client Success Manager Glenn Delaney glenn.delaney@primecreative.com.au Head Office Prime Creative Pty Ltd 379 Docklands Drive Docklands VIC 3008 Australia p: +61 3 9690 8766 enquiries@primecreative.com.au www.insidewaste.com.au Subscriptions +61 3 9690 8766 subscriptions@primecreative.com.au
system that leaves a lot of people scratching their heads. Consider confusing legislation around just about anything to do with waste and resource recovery, and you get an industry of enthusiastic people getting nowhere – or feeling such. The solution(s)? Well, anybody who rules the world has all the answers. But none of us do. However, co-operation would be a good first step – the states and territories putting their egos aside and getting some harmonisation across various legislative bodies. Co-operation is also mentioned in one of our other main stories on e-waste. This time among manufacturers and recyclers. How about manufacturers and designers getting the input of recyclers when it comes to putting new products to market? Giving designers an insight into the types of issues that arise when trying to separate waste streams might be a good start. Some might not think it a practical approach, but those operating MRFs know their waste streams. How hard would it be, and how long would it take, to give a designer a head’s up on the components being used when putting together a product and how they affect a waste stream? It doesn’t seem that difficult to do.
Articles All articles submitted for publication become the property of the publisher. The Editor reserves the right to adjust any article to conform with the magazine format. Copyright Inside Waste is owned by Prime Creative Media and published by John Murphy. All material in Inside Waste is copyright and no part may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means (graphic, electronic or mechanical including information and retrieval systems) without written permission of the publisher. The Editor welcomes contributions but reserves the right to accept or reject any material. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information, Prime Creative Media will not accept responsibility for errors or omissions or for any consequences arising from reliance on information published. The opinions expressed in Inside Waste are not necessarily the opinions of, or endorsed by the publisher unless otherwise stated.
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4 INSIDEWASTE OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2023
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Industry throws support behind Waste Expo Australia 2023 WITH a growing focus in corporate and business circles on waste management, the circular economy and sustainable resource consumption, Waste Expo Australia 2023 comes at an opportune time for leaders to discuss trends, challenges and opportunities for the sector. Free registrations for the event are still open. With a core theme of Advancing Towards Sustainable Resource Recovery, Waste Expo Australia features a multistream conference and exhibition that will showcase the best and brightest of the waste industry in Australia. Held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre over two days from October 25-26, attendees interested in resource recovery, sustainability, environment, and circularity will have plenty to discover as they move through the exhibition. The annual conference attracts more
than 2,300 attendees, 60 conference speakers and more than 100 international and domestic suppliers including Bucher Municipal, EEA Group, Repurpose It, Komatsu, Eldan Recycling and TOMRA Collections. Waste Expo Australia is the ultimate sourcing platform for waste and resource recovery sectors fostering an environment that encourages innovation, robust discussions as well as idea generation among industry leaders. Warrick Grime from Bucher Municipal says as the company returns to exhibit at Waste Expo Australia for a third year, the opportunity to connect with customers and industry over two action-packed days is a time-efficient one. “The waste management industry is in a period of transformation, with ideas like circularity and sustainability coming to the forefront of the national conversation. Being on the ground to connect with customers and fellow industry people at
Geta Skip Pty Ltd convicted and fined for failure to comply with clean-up notice Geta Skip Pty Ltd (Geta Skip) was convicted and ordered to pay a fine of $9,000 in Parramatta Local Court for failing to comply with a clean-up notice issued by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA). In March 2021, the EPA issued a clean-up notice to Geta Skip directing it to remove and lawfully dispose of approximately 6,000 cubic meter of waste that had been stored at a warehouse leased by Geta skip on Woodpark Road, Smithfield. Geta Skip’s unlawful conduct was potentially harmful to the environment and undermined the regulatory regime for waste management and environmental protection. On 30 September 2022, Parramatta Local Council convicted Geta Skip of one offence against s 91 of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 for failure to comply with the direction of a clean-up notice and order Geta Skip to: 1.
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8 INSIDEWASTE OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2023
Waste Expo Australia allows us to form valuable relationships and share ideas to move the industry forward.” Waste Expo Australia is strongly supported by many industry associations, with the Victorian Waste Management Association (VWMA), Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP) and Australian Organics Recycling Association (AORA) all playing key roles in the event’s programming. Ken Dickens, VWMA’s President, says Waste Expo provides a fantastic opportunity to connect with members, community and government throughout the conference, exhibition and at the WVMA breakfast, held before the conference commences on October 25. “VWMA has supported Waste Expo Australia over the last several years, and the event is integral to our member event calendar in 2023. As a free event with plenty of opportunities for networking, we’d encourage anyone involved in the waste
management sector to register now and plan to attend.” AORA National Executive Officer John McKew says Waste Expo Australia represents an important opportunity to connect with audiences and spread the word about the importance of recycling organics. With almost half of the country’s national waste stream comprising organic material, the success or otherwise of transitioning to a circular economy is dependent on the success of the Australian organics recycling industry. “As an organisation that exists to champion sustainable and costeffective recycling of organic material, we know we play an important part in the sustainability discourse. We are heavily invested in the circular economy, and I am looking forward to speaking at the conference and highlighting the contributions of organics recycling to attendees,” he said.
NEW purple-lidded bins for glass recycling were rolled out to residents across Victoria, in preparation for kerbside collections that began in October. By separating glass, Victoria will be able to recycle more glass into new glass products and re-use more materials from the yellow mixed recycling bin due to the reduced contamination from glass. The glass bin will work alongside Victoria’s new container deposit scheme, CDS Vic, which commences on November 1 – making it easier for Victorians to recycle, whether they are at home or out in the community. Frankston City Council was one council that completed the rollout of its kerbside glass service joining many other councils who embraced the new system. This included Ararat, Whittlesea, Colac Otway, Hindmarsh, Hobsons Bay, Horsham, Macedon Ranges, Merri-bek, Moyne, Pyrenees, Surf Coast, Warrnambool, West Wimmera, City of Yarra and Yarriambiack. The Victorian government has invested $129 million to support all Victorian councils to buy new bins, improve drop-off facilities, deliver
education campaigns and ensure they have the infrastructure in place to roll out these reforms. The four-stream recycling system is a key part of the Government’s waste and recycling reforms which will help meet our goal of diverting 80 per cent of all material away from landfill by 2030. These reforms will create nearly 4,000 new jobs for Victorians and boost the state’s economy by up to $6.7 billion by 2030.
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Daily news updates at www.insidewaste.com.au
News //
ACT to introduce legislation to kick start circular economy THE ACT Government has introduced new legislation to support a new legal framework to establish a circular economy by keeping more resources in the economy for longer. “We have the ambition for Canberra to be a circular city where we value waste as a resource,” said Minister for Transport and City Services Chris Steel. “These laws will establish the framework supporting a circular economy where waste is reduced as much as possible and where we maximise the reuse and recovery of resources. “It builds on the steps we have taken already to reduce the harm of plastic, and encourages the use of renewable, reusable and non-toxic resources that are kept in use at their highest value.” Following the phase-out of certain single-use plastics, the Bill extends powers to ban other problematic,
right thing by the environment by recycling, and this Bill will enable the Government to set a level playing field for all businesses, to ensure more resources are recycled and diverted from landfill,” said Steel. Draft regulations also propose a waste reduction requirement for food businesses to implement food waste reduction plans, and new processing requirements to separate food waste and ensure it is recycled. “It is estimated that around 9,500 tonnes of commercial and industrial food waste are currently going into landfill in the ACT, where it turns into methane and contributes to climate change,” said Steel. Consultations on a draft regulation and a regulatory impact statement (RIS) have been prepared to assist impacted stakeholders, business and industry.
The new legal framework is out to cover many different facets of resource recovery.
non-plastic products. “This recognises that, while single-use plastic presents a particular problem, non-plastic products and non-single-use products can also be harmful to the environment and human health,” said Steel. “Similar to the process for phasing-out single use plastics, when problematic non-plastic products
are identified we will invite public submissions ahead of making any decision to ban them.” The Bill introduces a new power to make a regulation on recyclable waste processing requirements. The intention of the bill is to require businesses that produce recyclable material to separate co-mingled recycling. “Many businesses are doing the
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‘Education first’ for single-use plastic ban QUEENSLAND’S single-use plastic ban came into effect on September 1. The government is trying to make sure that it gives as much assistance as possible to those companies making the transition through education. The following single-use plastic items are banned: • cotton buds with plastic stems; • expanded polystyrene loose packaging (such as “peanut” style fill foam); • plastic microbeads in rinseable personal care and cleaning products; and • the outdoor release of lighter-thanair balloons. Further requirements for heavyweight plastic shopping bags, such as department store bags, also came into effect that day. Non-woven plastic shopping bags of 35 microns or more thickness will need to pass reusability tests for 125 uses and, for non-compostable plastic shopping bags, contain a minimum of 80 per cent recycled content. The Queensland Government has partnered with the National Retail Association (NRA) to support businesses in understanding the new requirements and to become ban compliant, including providing advice on managing existing stocks. The National Retail team has physically visited over 2000 stores across the state in preparation for the new bans, providing information sessions to businesses, and is providing a toll free hotline for businesses to receive advice and assistance to comply. Consultation was undertaken prior to the introduction of the new single-use plastic bans to determine if suitable alternatives were available and if actions other than a ban were more appropriate. The new bans follow those introduced in September 2021 that prohibited single-use plastic items including straws, stirrers, plates, bowls, cutlery, and expanded polystyrene takeaway food containers and cups. “Plastic products are useful parts of our everyday lives, providing many positive benefits, but plastic pollution is a growing problem when it ends up in the wrong place, impacting the health
of our communities, our environment and wildlife,” said Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef, Leanne Linard “Retailers support the phase-out of unnecessary or problematic single-use plastics in order to reduce waste and improve environmental outcomes,” said NRA director, policy, David Stout. “We also understand that businesses need time, education and support to understand single-use plastic bans so they can transition to more sustainable alternatives while minimising business impact.” “We welcome the next tranche of plastic reduction regulations by the Queensland Government,” said Boomerang Alliance Queensland manager, Toby Hutcheon. “Plastic stemmed cotton buds and plastic microbeads in personal care products are unnecessary, whilst polystyrene pellets in loose packaging of products is just wasteful. “We applaud the decision to ban the deliberate release of helium balloons in Queensland and urge other States to follow the Queensland example. “Heavyweight plastic shopping bags continue to be a problem waste, so introducing new rules on what constitutes a reusable bag is good policy. “Any plastic shopping bag that claims to be reusable must now prove it has been made and designed to complete at least 125 shopping cycles.” Following the introduction of the 2021 ban, the NRA has spotchecked more than 2600 retailers and investigated 167 reports from the public, with the majority of businesses found to be doing the right thing, which suggests education is working. If issues were discovered, the NRA and Queensland Government worked through solutions with the businesses concerned and achieved compliance without “heavy-handed” intervention. Although a maximum fine of 50 penalty units can be imposed for contravening the single-use plastic bans, this “education first” approach has meant there has been no need to issue any penalties since the bans were introduced.
Daily news updates at www.insidewaste.com.au
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Latrobe City Council trials plastics into asphalt scheme LATROBE City Council is one of ten Victorian councils taking part in a project that will incorporate recycled plastic into asphalt for new road surfaces. This project is an innovative recycling solution led by RMIT University and supported by Austroads. With Australians generating 2.6 million tonnes of plastic waste each year, this project is helping to address an urgent challenge that effects the region on both a local and national scale. Mayor of Latrobe City Council, Councillor Kellie O’Callaghan, said using recycled products is an effective and innovative solution for reducing the amount of waste that goes to landfill while also upgrading roads. “At Council we are taking actions to adapt to a changing climate. This project is a sustainable way to deliver new roads in our municipality and find a
Using plastics in road products follows on from other products such as glass and rubber being used for a similar purpose.
productive use for plastic waste. “We have successfully trialled different recycled materials in road resurfacing before, such as glass and rubber. The results have proved that using these recycled products is a viable way to reduce our environmental
impact and deliver quality roads in our region.” The team at RMIT undertook a study, funded by Austroads, that found the recycled plastic asphalt mixtures had 150 per cent less cracking and 85 per cent less deformation under pressure
testing than conventional asphalt. This project builds on previous findings that confirmed that recycled plastics can be successfully incorporated in road infrastructure without detrimental effects on the environment, the health and safety of the workers, or the future recyclability of plasticmodified asphalt. The project aims to develop evidence-based guidance that will provide certainty to road managers about the use of recycled plastics in road surfacing applications and lay the foundations for this solution to be embraced nationally. The 10 project sites involved in this initiative will use an estimated 21,000 kg of recycled plastic. Residents will be notified if road works are occurring nearby, and updates can be found on Council’s website and social media pages.
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From the CEO’s desknational framework for circular economy WMRR calls on Environment will of meet for athe second ThereMinisters is a lot of talk creating circular time thiseconomy year on in7 Australia December, following the by 2030. Just like first 2018 Meeting of Environment Ministers the export bans in 2019, this ‘target’(MEM) in April, which was in part a response to theover import seems to be sneaking in and taking restrictions driven by China’s National Sword Federal government language and possibly Policy and the effects this policy has had thinking, but what does that mean andacross the Australian waste and resource recovery (WARR) how are we going to get there? And unlike industry. the Keyexport decisions the April bans,derived how dofrom we make themMEM include: both meaningful and effective?
In Australia, I feel that we have not yet • Reducing waste generation, a the target joined the dots with theendorsing link between of 100% natural of Australian packaging being recyclable, environment, energy, the ‘waste compostable orand reusable 2025, and developing sector’ carbon.byBut we remain hopeful targets for recycled content in packaging. that policymakers will get there. • Increasing Australia’s domestic recyclingBoth capacity. Europe and America have a ‘Green • Increasing demand recycled Deal’. The the United Statesfor also has theproducts. Inflation Reduction Act – all are clear • Exploring advance waste-to-energy andthey waste-to-biofuels. attempts opportunities to address the to current planetary challenges and cleverly link • Updating the 2009 Waste Strategy by year end, which will include circular them to economic tools and outcomes. economy principles. To date, Australia has no such framework. We desperately need one. We (the community and businesses) need to know the rules and the pathway so we can It is stockwhat and is examine whatbeing has been achieved since these alltime worktototake achieve increasingly called a ‘just transition’. It’sdecisions more were announced. Now, seven (7) months may not seem like a long time, however than environmental policy, it’s a move to a fairer and more prosperous society, in with that time we have seen further markets close (Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam) and a modern, resource-efficient economy. if youWhen are an operator stress, seven WMRR first under startedcontinued calling for afinancial framework years ago, (7) themonths EU reliedcould make or break heavily on theyou. Waste Directives. These are now augmented by the Circular Economy Action Plan and the Green Deal. Europe has put its framework in place, Following April we have three (3) states step in material with varying and even the better, hasMEM, kept building onhad it, ensuring that it is not only fit, degrees of financial assistance for industry (councils and operators). This should but future economy and carbon fit. be expected considering all states (except and Tasmania) have While Australia does almost have pieces of the puzzleQueensland like the Safeguard Mechanism, access to significant waste levy income each year. On the eastern seaboard, Victoria and a rather uninspiring National Waste Action Plan, what is missing is has approximately $600 million reserves the Sustainability Fund that National Framework similarintowaste whatlevy we see in the in European Union and NSW raises more than to $700 million per annum the waste levy. There is (EU). It involves measures create a predictable andfrom simplified regulatory certainly no lacka of funds that can be places reinvested into our industry. environment, clear paradigm that obligations onessential producers to manage product life and impact, as well as speeding up access to finance. Funding helps butof as goes aOne, much longergrowth way with The key goals thewe EU’sknow, Greenthe Dealmoney are threefold. economic Government support and leadership, as well as appropriate policy levers. and long-term investment from the financial sector translates into sustainable economic activities and projects. Two, capital is redirected into sustainable VICTORIA investment and away from sectors contributing to climate change. And third, Victoria has arguably beenrisks the most active and earnest in supporting thea industry minimising the financial from climate change. As noted by PWC in report post-China, with two (2)green reliefwave packages announced to support recycling entitled ‘the regulatory impacting our shores’, the intentthe is clear industry, valued at a total of $37 million. The Victorian Government also gone – give the economy a direction where future investments should behas made above and beyond all others states by announcing it would take a leadership role through regulation and leadership. in creating market demand for recycled products. WMRR continues to call for a similar Australian framework to create that necessary common vision and level playing field. In the absence of that clear SOUTH AUSTRALIA and agreed framework, when you try and put all the puzzle pieces together, Government announced a $12.4 support package comprising $2 million of they may not fit – or worse still,million there are massive gaps and years wasted. additional expenditure, $5 million additional funding for a loan scheme, together This risk is real. with targeted funding the Green The Government has It’s not too late forfrom Australia to do Industries that either,SA butbudget. we must move, also offered grants for recycling infrastructure.
industry however the Government and it is important thatQueensland we must move quickly. has embarked on the development of At a waste management strategy underpinned by a wastewith disposal levyplans, to increase the moment, it feels a bit like death by consultation, multiple recycling and recovery and create new jobs. The State will re-introduce a $70/ schemes and issues papers all with lovely pictures and motherhood statements tonne landfill levy in March 2019. There are also strong attempts to use being put to us. However, has anyone else noticed they are not joined up, let policy leverstalk (levy exemptions) incentivise the use ofvision? recycled alone to discounts each otherand or have common to language or a common Andmaterial and make it cost competitive with virgin material. However, little has been none that I have found to date consider the sector or the system as a whole, done let to establish new markets and Government has not taken the lead in the procurement alone understand it. of In recycled There are grants available for resource operations almost material. all these current consultations, while the words andrecovery ambitions inall Queensland although no monies beenare allocated assist in 2018. This is of the Environment Ministers acrosshave Australia high, thetodepartmental troubling as rolled its Container Refund Scheme on 1 November, documents weQueensland drown in have the out aspiration to do no more than necessary. which will likely impact the cost and revenue models of the State’s MRFs For example, e-waste product stewardship proposes a collection scheme (no – as we have seen most recently in NSW. design, repair or reuse to date), the mixed paper export rules consultation is
almost six months late, and let’s be real – the domestic infrastructure and WESTERN AUSTRALIA markets promised have not eventuated. There is also a real risk that the The Western Australian Government Wastegiving Taskforce in direct response to packaging regulation being considered set willup beasimply business as usual the China National Sword. As part of this announcement, the State Government more powers. urged allwill local councils to begin the risk utilisation of a and three - red for There simply be more cost and on councils the(3)-bin WARRsystem industry. general waste, yellow for recyclables and green for organic waste over the The PFAS consultation does no more than deal with three out of 4,000 forevercoming years to reduce contamination. thiscommenced taskforce isina 2001. step in the right chemicals and catches up on whatWhile Europe There is no direction, point we are yet to see any tangible results from it or any funding for industry. October, replacing one ‘forever chemical’ with another just as bad but without the In high the WA Waste Authority released its draft Waste Strategy to 2030, which comprises profile. And that’s before we talk about carbon consultations. a comprehensive and detailedoperates roadmap towards the State’s shared vision of All too often the government in silos (Department of Climate becoming a sustainable, low-waste, circular economy. Change, Energy, the Environment and Water in name only it would appear) and these are simply some of the examples. COMMONWEALTH Seriously, at this pace we will be circular in 3030 not 2030. For now, we go in Following the in MEM April, Australia circles and not thein way we’d like. now has a new Federal Environment Minister, Melissa Price, who in October to media MEM’s to explore The Federal Government mayreiterated point to the Recycling and commitment Waste Reduction waste to energy as part of the solution to the impacts of China’s National Sword, Act – the only piece of national legislation related to the sector as a whole. But which is troubling (EfW is not a solution to recycling). The Commonwealth the reality is – again - while it contains some really nice words and sentiments, has also backed the Australian Recycling it’s a toothless tiger with limited power.Label and endorsed the National Packaging Targets developed by the Australian Covenant Organisation Changing this requires courage. Not inPackaging the Sir Humphrey Appleby from Yes,(APCO), which has to date, incorporate industry feedback in the development Minister! sense, but infailed a realto leadership sense. of We these targets. Commonwealth’s therefrom hasthe been are at real riskToofthe codifying practices and credit, approaches earlysignificant coordination in reviewing the National Waste Policy, with the Department of 2000s with current powers and approaches because it’s the easy option Environment bringing together industry players and States during the review rather than creating a future fit and ambitious regime where avoiding waste, process. the life of resources, and taking responsibility for their impact is a extending given. The will and nowpowerful go before Environment Ministers on 7 December. The It updated is time forPolicy a strong national framework that follows the Commonwealth can play a key role – one that goes beyond the development of the format of the EU’s waste directives and uses the knowledge of the Circular National Action Waste Policy. supportive of need the Federal maximising Economy Plan. AllWMAA statesisand territories a clearGovernment and consistent the leversonit how has, including taxation importation powers, design to maintain a strong, approach we manage the endand of waste, how producers sustainable waste and resource recovery industry. out hazardous substances and how to focus on agreed priority materials consistently and nationally, as well as promote innovation to extend life, reuse AHEAD OFoptions. MEM 2 and repair There may be movement acrosslow Australia, statesWhat doing better than All the above create new green, carbon with jobs insome Australia. is not others, but the consensus is, progress is still taking way too long. It is evident that to love? there are funds available in almost all States to assist with developing secondary manufacturing infrastructure, however the only way that this will really happen is Gayle Sloan, Chief Executive Officer, WMRR if there is government leadership around mandating recycled content in Australia now, not later.
NEW SOUTH WALES At first glance, New South Wales’ eye-watering $47 million recycling support package was heralded as the spark of hope industry needed. However, on closer inspection, the bulk of this package that was funded via the Waste Less, Recycle More initiative and therefore the waste levy, was not new, making it very difficult for stakeholders, including local government, to utilise the funds as they were already committed to other activities. Some of the criteria proposed by the NSW EPA also made it challenging for industry to apply to these grants. On the plus side, efforts are being made by the NSW Government to stimulate demand for recycled content through the intergovernmental agency working groups that have been established, though no tangible increase in demand or facilities have developed… Yet.
Voluntary schemes like the Used Packaging NEPM, under which APCO is auspiced, are not working. We have 1.6million tonnes of packaging waste in Australia, which needs to be used as an input back into packaging. Barriers to using recycled content in civil infrastructure must be identified and removed, and Government must lead in this field and prefer and purchase recycled material. A tax on virgin material should also be imposed as it is overseas. MEM must show strong leadership on this issue. Ministers have, since April, dealt directly with operators and councils that are under stress and we have a chance to create jobs and investment in Australia at a time when manufacturing is declining. Ministers have the opportunity to be leaders of today, not procrastinators – leaders of tomorrow and we are urging them to act and not just talk in December.
QUEENSLAND Unlike its neighbours, Queensland did not provide any financial support to
Gayle Sloan Chief Executive Officer
18 INSIDEWASTE OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2023
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Is the resource recovery sector regressing? By Inside Waste (Continued from front cover) “[THERE’S] 550 local governments across the country making decisions about what their collection system should look like. Is that a great idea when you’re trying to get a message across Australia as to what the message should be for recycling? Do we need to get waste levy portability across the various jurisdictions? We’ve all seen horrible outcomes of the waste levy being used to subsidise longdistance waste going into Southeast Queensland. About 1.8 million tonnes a year at one stage was moving north.” His final points was about recycled products being part of a government procurement program, whether at the local, state, or federal level, and also if waste export bans were really going to work and are they are doable? “I’m questioning the federal ban on the export of recyclables,” he said. “Are these bans sustainable? Do we have markets in Australia for these recyclers? Was the decision by the Scomo government just a knee-jerk reaction to a piece of media? The export bans absolutely fail to recognise that recyclables are commodities that are traded on the world stage. Why are we the only country in the world that’s banned the export of recyclables? As a country that imports probably 60 per cent of what we consume, how will we fit 100 per cent of our recyclables into the 40 per cent manufactured here? “At the end of the day, I’m just very fearful that we’re going to try and develop a recycling processing industry here in Australia that is not commercially viable. Because if we go down that path, it will always rely on government funding.”
QLD problems At the time of the event, Price had only been in the WRIQ job for six weeks but had hit the ground running. There are a lot of hot-button issues in the Sunshine State, including a spotlight on enforcement concerning licensed operators, levy enforcement, and stockpiling. The levy issue won’t go away, and one where the incentive to change the amount being paid to councils is not going anywhere soon. “The state government made a promise to the people when the levy was introduced. They said, ‘There will
Khoury asked some burning questions, especially when it comes to export bans.
be no direct cost to householders’,” she said. “That leaves us with a very interesting situation where we’ve got councils being paid 105 per cent of the waste levy as a rebate upfront, and not a lot of these levy funds are being used for genuine recycling initiatives. Also, you get a lot of funding announcements, where not all the funding is given out. However, then you get more funding announcements, and you realise that the new funding is a recycling of the previous funding announcement.” One issue that Price is hot on is what is a piece of anti-competitive legislation in the state called Section Seven. “[This] allows councils to monopolise commercial waste collection, and therefore, commercial feedstocks in their local council areas,” she said. “Imagine you’re a waste recycling company, and you want to invest in the local area, and the council can come along and say, ‘Oh, thank you very much for building that piece of infrastructure, but we’re going to do it ourselves now’.” Price addressed several issues, and what was interesting was that for every positive initiative, there seemed to be a negative connotation attached. For example, the government put together
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some end-of-waste codes, which were seen as a good thing. However, the implementation of the initiative is not working very well, she said, because the regulator cherry picks when they will be enforced. Another example is energy from waste. The government introduced a policy early, but it might have been pointless to do so. “Unfortunately, our only large-scale energy-from-waste proposal was run out of town with the backing of state government,” she said. “It is a really challenging environment to work in if we want to avoid landfills.”
Regulatory challenges Fox saw the seminar as a ‘disruptive session,’ so the panel and audience could look at some of the issues that need solving urgently and not put on the back burner. He is an environment planning lawyer and touched on several key regulatory challenges. He said the three big ones were no end of life for waste, obtaining approvals for infrastructure, and the conflicts between the states and territories. On the first point, he said when it comes to end of life, anybody who has tried to develop a waste product in New South Wales, “will liken it to walking through the desert for months on end constantly thinking you’re about to get
there – you can see the horizon and all of a sudden the EPA might shift the goalposts back another couple of weeks or months – and the mirage continues”. Fox said the challenge is that New South Wales has the broadest definition of waste in the country. He said it’s been effective in terms of regulation, but that was also part of the problem. He gave the example of coffee cups and their reuse as one example of such an issue. “The current position of New South Wales EPA is that the fibre used from recycled coffee cups to produce asphalt and applied to a road would mean that the whole road would be defined as waste,” he said. “Obviously, that’s deeply problematic.” As for other parts of legislation, Fox gave a practical example of how investors would wince if they tried to get their heads around some of the legislation surrounding building new resource recovery/waste facilities. “A facility can obtain the New South Wales development consent – a licence from the EPA –but still won’t be able to operate if it’s dealing with a waste material that hasn’t got a resource recovery order that allows its customers to use that material,” he said. “That’s just an additional regulatory challenge that applies to
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Cover story //
Problematic waste streams like Styrofoam have yet to be fully addressed in terms of recycling.
waste that doesn’t apply to products.” As for resource recovery orders, especially in New South Wales, Fox believes it is confusing for those trying to get them. “The fundamental problem here is there are structural issues with resource recovery orders,” he said. “There are no appeal rights, no clear guidance on contaminant levels, and no ability to see what your competitors
are doing because often they’re confidential. And there’s no due process on revocation. It’s a bit of a dark art in terms of how you get a resource recovery order in New South Wales. But my concern is that it might take more than just minor tinkering to the regulations in the legislation.” Like Khoury, Fox also spoke of the conflict between the different states’ laws and regulators. He talked of a
recent example where an electrical transformer was to be recycled. These pieces of machinery have a lot of recoverable metal in them but also contain PCB-contaminated oil. Ideally, the unit would cross the border from NSW to Victoria and undergo a best-practice cleaning process. One that issue was dealt with, the scrap metal would stay in Victoria while the oil would return to NSW for further recovery. “That was deeply problematic for the Victorian regulator. It just shows that there’s a lot of conflict,” he said. “There’s a lot of talk about moving to a circular economy, but there’s a lot of practical things that have to happen. Many perspectives might need to change in particular jurisdictions to allow the timely and effective transfer of materials. In that example, the Victorian economy would have benefited significantly from that outcome.”
Doing things different According to Lemin, one of the most dangerous phrases in the English language is, “We’ve always done
it this way”. He feels that we need to not only do differently but think differently so the industry can evolve. He believes that over the next 10 years, the waste industry will be in a “pretty revolutionary space”. Currently, Victoria has an almost 71 per cent diversion rate, and he believes that the target can be reached. However, he quickly pointed out that stats can be deceiving. While the state has one of the highest recovery rates of construction and demolition waste, there are a couple of disturbing trends hidden among the figures. “When you look at kerbside diversion rates, we’ve dropped to 45 per cent,” he said. “If that number continues on its current trend, by 2030, it will be 40 per cent. We’re not heading in a great direction. Illegal activity with a number of councils has gone up by 400 per cent. That’s tyres and asbestos being dumped. We’ve recently started doing some work with illegal dumping of commercial hazardous waste with our EPA. The early stats are quite alarming. Also, an estimated 20 per cent of industrial commercial waste doesn’t appear in our waste tracking
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system. It’s going somewhere, but we don’t know where.” He said the association had also tracked information that shows illegal tipping goes up every time there’s a facility closure or fire. Every time the waste levy is increased, illegal tipping goes up. Add to that an increase in consumer spending – clothes and shoes by 30 per cent, restaurants, cafes, 22 per cent, alcohol, CDs, 12 per cent – there is an exponential increase in waste. He also made it clear that while the industry takes a lot of hits in terms of negative publicity, there are other forces at play. “All the decisions and poor choices have been made before it gets to our industry,” he said. “We really need to work with government, producers, and manufacturers to ensure that everything is designed so that it can be circular and be recycled within the facilities that we have.”
SA Government comes to the party Gray’s roles cover both South Australia and the Northern Territory. He said one of the main issues faced in both places was the tyranny of distance, especially in remote communities where waste stockpiling can sometimes be an issue. While this will be a problem for some time, the South Australian government has become proactive in other areas. It
created the Zero Waste SA Act, which spawned an entity of the same name. This entity has been responsible for the state’s waste mechanisms – and they haven’t been quiet. Within that act, the government hypothecated the levy – i.e., it pledged monies by law to a specific purpose – in this case, 50 per cent of the levy collected would go towards incentives to drive the state’s waste targets. Has it worked? Sort of, said Gray. “If you look between 2003-2004, we were sitting at around 63 per cent diversion from landfill,” he said. “And we really didn’t shift much in that period…When we look at the next jump forward, which I’ve flagged at about nine years, although our waste generation increased by a million tonnes, which is an awful lot, our… diversion rates got to around 75 to 77 per cent.” He believes the South Australian government levers can take kudos for some of those figures. He thinks the reinvestment of some of that levy and incentives, programmes, grants, and initiatives helped, too. Jump forward another nine years to 2020-21. The state generated about five million tonnes of waste, with about 4.2 million tonnes being diverted from landfills, making it an 83 per cent recovery rate. However, while that is a reasonable rate, not all met
Understanding legislation can be a nightmare for those wanting to invest in infrastructure.
24 INSIDEWASTE OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2023
their targets. “Our current targets for 2023 were around 65 per cent for municipal solve waste (MSW), C&I was about 85 per cent, and C&D 90 per cent,” said Gray. “The reality was that MSW didn’t hit its target. It’s sitting at around 50 per cent. Our C&I and our C&D sectors are the true champions. I think largely due to the infrastructure we’ve got, the incentives we provide, and the delivery of service.” One interesting facet Gray brought up was that his organisation was no longer talking about zero waste but zero avoidable waste. The intimation is that zero waste in a circular economy is not entirely possible. There will always be residual waste. The new language ensures the residual waste element is as little as possible. The state has also increased its landfill levy, and it is having a knock-on effect in many ways, according to Gray. “The ratcheting up of the levy… makes landfill more expensive. It also props up our recycling industry because recyclers can track just below the disposal rate at the gate,” he said. “It changes the financial dynamics quite well and has served us quite well.”
Legislation needed Gray is not confident that South Australia and its inhabitants will be able to meet the circular economy
needs on its own. He believes the government needs to step in. “I don’t necessarily think that I’ve got confidence that the current mechanisms in South Australia are going to generate that next incremental step change,” he said. “Heralding the waste management resource recovery industry as the white knight for our circular economy objectives is slightly unrealistic. It will take much bigger, constructive regulatory interventions to help us deliver that circularity.” He also stated that there were limiting factors within the industry itself as the end-of-life fate of waste depended on “markets, markets, markets and markets”. If there is no pull-through and no dollars available to help reach those goals, then the investment in the industry will be limited. As for the Northern Territory, it has challenge upon challenge upon challenge. There are poor recovery rates, community issues bigger than waste disposal, the aforementioned tyranny of distance, and a sparse population spread over a large amount of land. “The Northern Territory Government has got some great people, and they’ve got a circular economy strategy, but they don’t have an adequate regulatory framework,” he said. “When somebody says ‘[the waste] can’t go here’, and there’s no regulatory framework, where can it go? And how do we manage it?” The situation isn’t helped in that there is minimal data. Gray said you can’t manage what you can’t measure. “The Territory Government’s got barely any levers,” he said. “There’s no levy, and an investigation into options around it recently put it in the ‘too hard’ basket. The Territory Government doesn’t have much money to spend on incentives.” Price and Fox summed up the feelings of most of the panel, moving forward. “We’re at a really interesting point where there’s going to be some huge changes in the industry in the next year or two, particularly relating to regulation and other matters, which as a lawyer interests me,” said Fox. “It’s going to, hopefully, set the stage for the next decade.” “We’ve had a huge job ahead of us,” said Price. “When I was first asked to consider taking on this role, I thought of the challenges of this industry. With so much government intervention, and with so many different players in the industry, it is enormous and only collaboration and innovation is going to solve it.”
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Medical waste //
Medical waste – a big problem but one that is solvable By Inside Waste (Continued from front cover) ONE of the first issues raised was that like a lot of industries, being sustainable is one thing, but there are other considerations to be taken into account. “When I’m talking to my executive, we talk about environmental sustainability and financial sustainability at the same time,” said McBrien. Every decision McBrien makes when it comes to dealing with the waste/ resources, she thinks about the financial implications, which has led to some good outcomes. Currently, in the hospital where she works part-time – Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service – she has made $580,000 from recycling and reusing waste over the past year. But she said more needs to be done. “That’s the financial sustainability and environmental sustainability rolled into one,” she said. “However, let’s move to the next stage, which is the investment that we need. And that’s when we need to start talking about the revenue that’s needed to go into the system. We also need to talk about costs savings, not, ‘how can we make money from waste?’ There’s a misconception in silos that we have this value [of the waste] that you all want. It’s not that simple.” Munro and Rijnbeek agreed that investment is needed, especially as a lot of waste created in the health industry is single-use plastics due to the health and safety concerns of patients in terms of spreading communicable diseases and germs. “It costs money to recycle, particularly plastics,” said Munro. “However, there are commercial opportunities there, we just need to work out the pathway to them. The healthcare system needs to invest in this though – that’s the hospitals and the suppliers. That’s us putting the infrastructure in place to do it.” “There’s also so much opportunity within the healthcare sector for reuse and reduction,” said Rijnbeek. “There’re some great businesses entering the market that are looking at reuse applications. Off the back of COVID-19, there has been the need to use singleuse plastic items. We have to reconsider reuse and reduction. “When you’ve got scale, when you’ve got more volume coming through, you get the cost reductions and see the cost efficiencies, you get the logistical gains. We can’t do what we’re doing if we’re
McBrien said having frank discussions with hospital administrators is getting results.
doing it in a subset of hospitals right across Australia. We need to have that density and we need to get the network otherwise it will just be a pipe dream.” Sometimes it’s hard to have conversations with those that hold onto the purse strings because it is necessary to persuade them to part with monies or create a budget for sustainability reasons. Almeroth goes for the straight up approach, but that doesn’t mean she gets the results she is after. McBrien admits that when she first began to make savings in her hospital, she didn’t ask the executive committee for a cent. For the past eight years she’s been ‘running on the smell of an oily rag’, doing such things as selling metal to scrap metal merchants. Lately, she’s been brave enough to not only approach the executive committee about funds, but also change the conversation. This includes having a rethink about the products they use. “What I have been trying to do is go back to reusable – let’s go old school and talk to clinicians about why they need a single-use plastic tray for every single examination,” she said. “I call it clean the green. We’re trying to reverse some of the financials. For example, I spent $4,000 on reusable trays and this will save us $25,000 that we once spent on single-use trays. “We can start talking about changing the way we operate a clinical practice. We can also look at environmental impacts and cost-saving measures, which are really important. So, then
26 INSIDEWASTE OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2023
the question is, who is missing in the conversation?” According to Rijnbeek, nobody is missing from the conversation. What is missing is the communication between the various parties. Whether this be politicians navigating their way through the issues, hospital executives with their own agendas, or those at the coal face – clinicians, nurses – everyone is doing it on their own, he said. He also made the point, that there was one sector missing from the equation. “I think there could be more from brands in terms of contributing financially,” he said. “It’s on the radar because the Federal Minister for Environment has put that on her priority list for product stewardship. I believe by December this year, there needs to be an initial action plan available from industry. And I haven’t seen anything today that shows how industry is going to respond to the minister and her putting plastics on the list. It’s a shared responsibility. Everyone’s doing something but we just need to come together.” Munro agrees – mostly – with what Rijnbeek said, but also has practical advice in terms of how a product stewardship scheme might play out in the health industry. “I think the collaboration piece is a big one, but it is tricky when you have industry, government, and users such as hospitals, because that’s where the big dirty word of ‘profit’ comes in,” she said. “I don’t know about you guys, but I don’t go to work for free. We do need that
profit at every level, but it’s about being brave enough to have collaboration. It’s having those brave discussions and being less protective of your patch because there’s certainly enough ideas to go around. We need to be smarter about how we’re approaching those issues.” Munro also pointed out that economies of scale in terms of getting equipment into hospitals was an issue, which made collaboration even more important. It made going to a bank, or getting investors onboard, a lot easier if everybody was on the same page when it comes to investment in infrastructure. Another issue was about the difficult waste stream within the medical fraternity – blister packs. This is due to their mixture of foil and plastic. They are seen as a necessity because not only do they provide a dosage for people to take, but the packs also help keep pills clean and safe from contaminants. However, as the recent series of ABC’s War on Waste pointed out, it is a huge problem, not just in the health sector, but for households, too. One answer on a commercial scale is Pharmacycle. This is an initiative whereby pharmacies buy receptacles where members of the public can drop off empty blister packs. They are then collected and taken to a processing plant. One of the hats that Rijnbeek wears is as the Business Development Manager of the organisation. “There are 200 pharmacies who have come on board through their own leadership,” he said. “They’re funding it
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// Medical waste
100 per cent by themselves. They see value in what they’re doing, both from driving engagement with their consumer base, but also because it’s the right thing to do.” He said one of the barriers for getting the other 5,500-plus pharmacies onboard is cost of entry. The receptacles can cost up to $180 each. Even though they hold a lot of blister packs, and the pick-up is free, there are tight margins around retail pharmacy. However, that doesn’t mean there are no work arounds. “What we’re currently doing is working with the pharmaceutical industry,” he said. “We’re engaging in a conversation around product stewardship, and it’s progressing. We’re confident that we’ll be able to expand Pharmacycle into at least 1000 pharmacies by the end of this year.” Blister packs aside, there is a plethora of other issues that need addressing. Such as? Almeroth said as a sustainability officer she is always looking at new ways of disposing of, or even avoiding, waste. “We’re actually introducing a reusable PPE gown into our organisation,” she said. “It’s currently being used across different wards. Staff feedback
is fantastic. Staff love it. They say it breathes well and they don’t sweat in it. We’re planning to move away from the single-use gowns.” She said that the Health Network is looking at doing a waste audit at the end of 2023, which will tell them what items keep on turning up in the waste stream. “If 15 per cent of it is paper towels, then we need to fix that problem,” she said. “Or, if it’s a whole bunch of aluminium cans, that also can be fixed. We know we use a lot of products, but do we need to use them all? Can we just empower people and educate them so they can think smarter about what they do with it once it has been used?” McBrien agreed and gave the example of a plastic widget that was used in oxygen equipment. One of the nurses pointed out that it was not a necessary piece of equipment. No longer using that widget meant savings of $18,000 were made annually. McBrien is also a fan of setting up documentation so there is evidence of what is being recycled, and how. This gives proof of concept that these changes are working and offers the platform to share knowledge. “Sustainable change is not sustainable
Gowns are just one item that might be made reusable and therefore save money and items going to landfill.
until I have published a government document on it,” she said. “For example, with metal recycling, if I want to recycle single-use forceps or a pair of scissors, then I will write a government work instruction that is published on our catalogue, which is then a shareable
document. That’s so we can all work smarter, not harder. We can’t just go throwing things into a bin. There’s so much work to be done. When we work together, we can create systemic change and a circular economy, and hopefully help stakeholders as well.”
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27
TIPPING THE BALANCE It’s time to recover Australia’s used off-the-road tyres, conveyors, and tracks Australia’s persistently low resource recovery rate of about 10% for off-theroad (OTR) rubber products is simply not good enough. It’s time to start ‘tipping the balance’. OTR tyres and conveyor belts are critical assets for local government and industries including construction, manufacturing, mining and agriculture. Up to 245,000 tonnes of OTR tyres and conveyor belts are used and become waste each year, with less than 10% being recovered. The vast majority being buried, stockpiled or sent to landfill. That’s just not good enough. Used OTR tyres and conveyor belts are a valuable resource and finding a new life for them offers many environmental, social, and economic benefits, particularly in regional and remote Australia. TSA’s ‘Tipping the balance’ report is a step change that can take
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// E-waste
Why recycling E-waste will become a necessity ACCORDING to The World Counts website, “If Earth’s history is compared to a calendar year, modern human life has existed for 37 minutes, and we have used one third of Earth’s natural resources in the last 0.2 seconds”. One group of resources that has taken a battering over the past 1000 years are metals – especially so since the electronic age dawned. From cars through to the latest iPhone, metals – whether they be run-of-the-mill aluminium, or the rare earth type – are a finite resource. Short of spending tens of billions of dollars mining asteroids or other planets in our solar system, they are all we have. This is something not lost on a panel at the Australia Waste and Recycling Expo held this year in Sydney. The panel consisted of Close the Loop’s Steve Morriss, Libby Chaplin from the Battery Stewardship Council, Anthony Karam from Sircel Limited, Bede Wolf from TES Australia, and Andrew Hanratty from Mint Innovation. All the panellists were at pains to point out that e-waste needs to be part of the circular economy, but even deciding what a circular economy is has
become an issue. As Chaplin pointed out, does the term only refer to resources/ waste onshore in Australia? “If so, that’s going to be really challenging for us, given that we don’t have a very big manufacturing sector,” she said. “It’s very important whether it’s a regional or global perspective. That is the place to start.” Wolf was more pragmatic and detailed when it came to how the circular economy should be viewed. “Circularity is ensuring that the life cycle is managed in such a way to ensure the longevity of the product and extend the life cycle of the product,” he said. “Once that product can’t be used as an asset any longer, we then need to ensure that, down to materials level, those materials are recovered and brought back into the supply chain for manufacturing.” One of the points Karam made was something that has come into the narrative often during the past 12 months. “From our perspective, we actually don’t see it as waste at all,” he said. “We see it all as accessible resources; and that with the right technologies and
right investments in place, we can access those resources again. We see it more as an opportunity in terms of accessing those resources.” He also thought collaboration between all stakeholders was vital if the circular economy regarding e-waste was going to reach its potential. Hanratty touched on the crux of the matter when asked by Morriss what he saw as the main issues surrounding e-waste and its disposal. Rare earth metals – or the lack thereof – are going to be an issue sooner rather than later. Current estimates are that there are 130 million metric tonnes of rare earth minerals in the ground, with China having about 44 million of those tonnes. Other countries with reserves include Vietnam, Brazil and Russia. “We’ve got to give ourselves a bit more mineral sovereignty with regard to some of these electrification elements,” Hanratty said. “Because without them, and without some of the rare earth elements, we won’t reach our industrial strategies of digitalisation of pursuing low carbon or even net zero. This is because we literally could be starved of critical raw materials in the future.”
For example, he said that the global production of iron in 2019 was 2.7 billion tonnes. The global production of rare earth material germanium in 2021 was 140 tonnes. “Earlier this year, China stopped the exportation of gallium and germanium,” he said. “These minerals, which are found in e-waste, are so important at the moment, because we’re approaching the physical boundaries of what Silicon can deliver. And it’s some of the more esoteric elements like gallium and germanium that are going to take us to the next leap forwards with regards to semiconductor manufacturing. We’re innovating to ensure that we keep these precious minerals spinning around and circularising for us. It is absolutely vital. Critical raw materials are a race, and it’s time to start running.” Chaplin went one step further and said it wasn’t only rare earth metals that would soon be hard to extract. She said that she had read in a recent US government report that what are considered common metals would reach the critical risk stage between 2025 and 2035. This included lithium and nickel. She also announced some critical figures
Recyclers should have input on materials when a product is at design stage.
Daily news updates at www.insidewaste.com.au
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2023 INSIDEWASTE
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E-waste //
When it comes to end of life, a lot of e-waste by products are being underutilised.
in terms of battery waste that would need to be recycled over the next 25 years. Currently, Australia recycles 3000 tonnes of batteries annually. By 2030 there will be 30,000 tonnes that need to be recycled, 2040 it will be 360,000 tonnes and 2050 it will have reached 1.4 million tonnes. Wolf circled back to Karam’s point about co-operation. He feels that if all stakeholders get together at the beginning of the design phase, then there could be better outcomes. The manufacturer would still take issues such as cost per unit and quality into account, but if they spoke to the retailers and recyclers, some of their needs could be taken into consideration at the design stage. “If all of those stakeholders are in the room when a manufacturer looks to design a product, then we can be much surer of a positive outcome when it comes to a circular economy in terms of extending the life cycle of the product,” he said. There were a few simple things that could be taken into consideration at the design stage that would make life easier for recyclers once the product had reached end of life. For example? “Do we need to have 10 different types of plastics? Maybe we could have four or two?” he said. “Do we need to have glued bonding on the product? Can we use screws instead? That might facilitate a manual disassembly, or it might reduce contamination in a material stream. I’ve even seen
products with additional screw holes built into the chassis, so that once those screw holes are worn out, they’re able to just migrate over to the next screw holes. It costs them nothing to implement but extends the life of the product.”
Thinking Big Karam also said there needs to be a mind shift. Until recently he felt that a lot of people saw e-waste recycling as niche to the industry. He believes it’s time to scale up because there will soon
be a “huge” mountain of material that is going to have to be recycled and reused. He also believes that the public doesn’t realise how big the e-waste industry is and therefore don’t realise how much is being discarded into household waste. “We need to be looking at scale. It’s not just about micro labs and desktop work, it has to be something that’s scalable, because…this e-waste is only growing,” he said. “We will only have more devices coming into play and we will only be relying on technology more and more.
“One of the things that always fascinates people that visit our facility is the breadth of e-waste. It’s much wider than computers, telephones, PC boards – you’re talking about Pokie machines, whiteboards, power tools, and so on and so forth.” Karam also was at pains to make it clear that just because the term waste is attached to a product doesn’t mean recycling and reuse should be looked at as cheap solutions. Investment in plant, machinery and people takes money and time to come to fruition.
There are a lot of materials that can be recovered from something as small as a mobile phone.
30 INSIDEWASTE OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2023
Daily news updates at www.insidewaste.com.au
// E-waste
“I’m not saying that [government(s)] should be writing us $10 million cheques every year,” he said. “But [waste and resource recovery] needs to be a sustainable economy in itself. Otherwise, the consequences are that participants take shortcuts, because you have to pay rent, you have to pay insurance, you have to pay wages – all those things allow you to help provide this solution. There needs to be an awareness of that in terms of how that’s structured. “We’re talking about an AV tsunami that’s going to come and we’ll be chasing our tails trying to get there to provide solutions. Unless solutions are funded and supported, and the research is done, there could be problems. The earlier we’re all brought into this conversation the better.”
Infrastructure Most sectors of the resource recovery and waste space need infrastructure. Chaplin said that while more would be better in the e-waste arena, that was not the main issue. “There is increasing infrastructure and we’ve got some good examples with this panel of people who are investing
in infrastructure in this space,” she said. “I don’t think it’s so much of an infrastructure issue. I think it is about automating the volumes sufficiently to make sure that the infrastructure can be operating in a commercial sense.” She said everybody involved in the process needed to take some responsibility. As consumers, people need to be making choices of investing in products that can be recycled and go through that process. She also said policymakers need to be setting the policies to have the right triggers, as well as governments making the right purchasing decisions using recycled products.
Right to repair Wolf provided food for thought when it comes to reusing or refurbishing a product – this is even before recycling comes into play. He would like people to get access to technical information about how to repair a product before it goes the recycling route. “We’re not so capable when it comes to manufacturing these products and as a result we’re importing serious quantities of it,” he said. “It’d be
nice to have a local capability but what does that actually mean when it comes to life cycle longevity? It means that it’s more difficult for those Australian practitioners – I won’t call them recyclers, because this is before recycling and it might be reconditioning, refurbishment, or remanufacturing – to exist without having access to the original design information. Whether that’s the actual factory installation, or whether it’s even just access to technical information about how to repair how to source parts, they need those details.” In summing up, Morriss said one of the main pillars of a circular economy was trying to keep products in circulation for as long as possible, and this was especially so for minerals. Whether this was via right to repair, at the design stage, or when they start their journey as part of their second life, consumers needed to get as much use out of them as they can. “[I realise it’s] not easy to do when we’re talking about e-waste, where they have not been designed with the end of life in mind,” he said. “When all else fails, keep those atoms and molecules in circulation.”
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OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2023 INSIDEWASTE
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Organics //
Over regulation of PFAS in compost is not workable By John McKew A DECADE ago, per and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) substances wasn’t a term you heard widely. Today, it is popping up all over the place. Its notoriety is increasing and even featured recently in the ABC television series War on Waste. We can only hope that in the next decade, it’s presence, not only in the media, but in our products has decreased. PFAS is a group of man-made fluorinated compounds that have been in commercial use since the 1940s and are abundant in today’s society. These chemicals are used for their resistance to heat, water, and oil. PFAS can be found in Australian households in products used in everyday life including cookware, food packaging, carpets, cosmetics, clothing and more. To state that PFAS is ubiquitous is an understatement. It is present within our own bodies and in our blood. Jurisdictions around the world, including Australia, are now trying to grapple with how best to manage PFAS. What is becoming increasingly important is how impacted industries, such as the recycled organics industry, should be assessed when it comes to PFAS levels. Australia must have a robust, sustainable, and commercially viable organics recycling industry. With approximately half of our nations waste stream comprising organics, there is a lot at stake. If Australia “gets organics recycling right,” we have a good chance of meeting our national and state objectives for waste reduction and recycling, landfill reduction, and carbon reduction. “If we do not get it right, we will not achieve those targets,” states Peter Wadewitz OAM, Chair of the Australian Organics Recycling Association (AORA). Not getting it right includes poorly structured regulations on issues such as PFAS within the Australian organics recycling industry. It is important to put PFAS concentrations in compost into a realworld context – both for the general public and for regulators. PFAS is found everywhere and in everything, that is not in dispute. It is also not made due to the composting process nor is it an additive to the process. PFAS contamination may occur in trace levels within compost as a result of it being present in the feedstocks that are used to
Over regulating PFAS levels in compost is not achievable or realistic.
make compost. Feedstocks can be materials like biosolids from wastewater treatment plants, agricultural wastes contaminated with pesticides, or domestic ‘FOGO’ (Food Organics, Garden Organics). With PFAS literally everywhere, there is no way to avoid it being found in trace levels in finished compost products – levels much lower than the levels found in day-to-day products we all use in our homes. If that is the case (and it is), how can we remove PFAS? The short answer, you cannot completely remove it from compost or elsewhere in the environment for that matter. However, what you can do over time is reduce and limit the use of PFAS in everyday products. Reducing PFAS at the start of the supply chain is something governments around the world are now investigating. Restricting the use of PFAS is the only way to reduce its presence in our waste streams including recycled organic products, such as compost. There is a real danger that the Australian organics recycling industry is being unreasonably held to account for the low levels of PFAS that may be detected in our products. Overregulating PFAS levels within compost is not helpful, reasonable, or achievable. Some Australian jurisdictions are contemplating allowable levels of PFAS in compost to be as low as one part per billion (1 ppb), which is simply not possible. This rate is conceivably a much
32 INSIDEWASTE OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2023
lower level than what currently exists within our own bodies and certainly within many of the products we regularly use. When did compost become the villain? It is not and should not be considered as such. The composting industry is actively evolving to manage the PFAS challenge. New or updated legislation and guidance is being developed, considering the latest scientific understanding of PFAS behaviour and associated risks. These developments are essential for accurately assessing PFAS impacts in compost and establishing reasonable guidelines for its use. Compost products, from reputable sources, remain suitable for use and fit for purpose for most urban and agricultural applications and end uses. As the regulatory landscape continues to evolve, it is expected that new or updated national guidelines will be developed, specifically tailored to compost. These guidelines will be informed by scientific research and will more accurately reflect the risks associated with PFAS in compost and address current over-conservatism. This will help foster best practice composting practices and ensure safe use of compost products in various applications. Based on our current research and knowledge, it is safe to use compost to apply to land (agricultural or urban), to grow vegetables and flowers (professional or private) and to use on sporting/ recreational fields. When produced and managed
responsibly, compost contains acceptably low concentrations of PFAS, posing minimal risk. As we continue to advance our understanding and improve regulatory standards, the composting industry will work to further mitigate any potential risks associated with PFAS. AORA, like our international counterparts, including the US Composting Council, has a pragmatic and rational view about the PFAS issue. This includes bans or limits on the use of PFAS, ensuring advanced scientific understanding of PFAS, and enabling the following of science to advance public health and environmental protections, as well as increasing research funding to scientifically document the plant uptake properties of PFAS – if any – in compost. Overregulating the Australian organics recycling industry with regards to PFAS will have adverse consequences that will be detrimental and far reaching, including increased volumes of food and organic waste streams returning to landfill which directly contradicts our federal and state government objectives of reaching our net zero emissions targets. If we want a successful circular economy and the benefits this can bring, economically and environmentally, we must have a robust, sustainable, and commercially viable organics recycling industry and we should not allow overzealous regulation to prevent that. John McKew is the National Executive Office for the Australian Organics Recycling Association (AORA)
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Export bans //
Clock ticking on solutions to export bans
By Helen Millicer IN 2020, the Australian Government became the first country in the world to introduce sweeping bans on the export of waste. Under the Recycling and Waste Reduction Act, unprocessed glass, plastic and tyres can no longer be sent overseas for processing. In nine months the bans will be expanded to include paper and cardboard. The government’s intention was to safeguard the environment and human health by preventing unprocessed waste materials from being dumped overseas. However, this ambitious and idiosyncratic policy intervention has created a series of challenges for
stakeholders – particularly Australian businesses and local councils due to the impact on contracts, sales, trade and economic viability. This poses two questions. Are we becoming more circular and productive as a result of this policy initiative? And what are governments and industry doing to head in the right direction?
Export ban is a blunt instrument Our first challenge is that the export ban is an end-of-pipe intervention. The bans are a curtailment of what material can be sold to who, in this case, offshore customers. They have not slowed the flow of products or materials into the Australian market, nor improved their quality and recyclability.
34 INSIDEWASTE OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2023
Likewise, the bans have not improved the economics of processing or boosted market demand by supporting an increase in the quantity reprocessed in Australia. What this policy has done is make our trade a one-way linear traffic highway with ever more products and packaging stuck here for marginally viable reprocessing, or to fill our landfills. To address this challenge, the Australian Government at the time chose a familiar solution – to provide grants for capex to build additional processing capacity. This includes the $250 million Recycling Modernisation Fund grants package. We are now in a race as the bans are biting, materials continue to flow to landfills and our national targets appear
Helen Millicer from One Planet Consulting.
ever further out of reach. Thankfully governments and industry are now busily seeking, consulting and modelling many new measures beyond the familiar ‘ban and grant’ model of policy intervention.
Daily news updates at www.insidewaste.com.au
// Export bans
In 2024, it will be the turn of cardboard and paper to be the subject of export bans.
But will we make the transition in time?
Cardboard and learning from plastic history In 2016-17, Australia dispatched 1.25 million tonnes of ‘waste’ to China. However, the landscape shifted dramatically in 2018 with the introduction of stringent restrictions under China’s National Sword policy. The repercussions were nothing short of extraordinary: stockpile fires, the collapse of kerbside recycling collections and the rollout of financial bailouts. Victoria was the worst affected. Many councils and communities saw kerbside recyclable materials sent directly to landfill. Businesses, too, looked for new markets including for source-separated industrial plastics like scrap car bumper bars and pipe. The sudden closure of this giant market forced an oversupply and decline in the value of recyclables, with resource companies scrambling to find markets for material that kept flowing in. In other countries, measures to stabilise and reform ranged from finding new markets to ramping up green procurement and recycled content mandates at home. As a result of a flooded market, prolonged depressed prices and unreliable demand for recyclate, several companies went out of business or exited this uneconomic field, including Envorinex in Tasmania and REDcycle nationwide in 2022.
The clock is ticking on cardboard Adding to the still present plastic export challenges, from 1 July 2024, these bans are expanding to include waste paper and cardboard, which typically accounts for >45 per cent of the weight of the commingled recycling bin. History is not always a sign of the future; however, we already know this will have impacts, particularly on household recycling collections and council contract pricing. Where council contracts currently rely on local and overseas markets for the sale of mixed paper/cardboard, that will shrink from July. Councils struggling with high contamination rates among household recyclables are likely to be the hardest hit, as they may fail to meet both local and export market standards of less than five per cent contamination. Unless a local Material Recycling Facility has capacity to sort to export-grade quality, or can send it to one of the few pulpers for improved treatment, they must find other markets – or send it to landfill.
The cardboard crunch is likely to prompt more innovation and source separation, like bin checks, separate collection systems for glass, and bagged soft plastics for measurable improved quality and better price. In the meantime, the cost to households for sorting and processing cardboard may surge due to the falling price and shrinking market for this mixed comingled commodity. As we saw with plastics, while we all want higher quality material and more recycling, blocking off the end of the pipe does not directly result in improved quality or economics for sorting or processing. Other measures are required to achieve that.
Never waste a crisis – go systemic Australia is now transitioning away from the traditional ‘waste and capex grant’ mindset to embrace a new set of measures for a viable circular and lowemission economy. These measures are economic, broad and equitable. Some of the following measures are adaptations from recommendations in our recent circularity report published by the Australian Government: 1: Re-evaluate landfill costs The current low cost of landfill disposal for ‘mixed waste’ is problematic. To promote better source separation and encourage new business ventures and investment by all (instead of those lucky few who obtain a capex grant), we require clear projections of future price increases, especially discouraging mixed waste disposal to landfills. This will provide financial certainty and encourage more economically viable sorting and recycling practices and businesses.
Daily news updates at www.insidewaste.com.au
2: Factor in recyclability, volume and GHG emissions While there are some differential diversion incentives at landfills, for example for organics and soil, this can be amplified. Bulky recyclable materials like expanded polystyrene and cardboard are taking up valuable space in landfills, and in the case of cardboard, are increasing greenhouse gas emissions. Landfill fees must be smarter and restructured for greater incentives around recyclability, volume and associated greenhouse gas emissions. 3: Aim for reuse and recyclability Circularity will be best achieved with interventions that influence the quantity, lifespan and recyclability of products and packaging allowed into the Australian market. We need to adopt smart measures and realistic targets for each of these: reuse, repair, recyclability, collection and reprocessing. And we need teeth for these measures and targets to ensure they are adopted and pursued effectively. Solutions include reliable certification and labelling for lifespan, recyclability and recycled content. Recycled content targets in packaging and other applications have to become mandatory for market pull on recyclables and recyclates. Given global trends and likely EU regulations, packaging made in Australia will require recycled content to be compliant in coming years. 4: Incentives for supply chain realignment It is crucial to maximise reuse systems and recycling for paper and cardboard and acknowledge they can also go to other fibre-based products like insulation. Similarly, instead of sending plastic packaging to landfills, each polymer has multiple pathways including packaging and durable long-life products like pipes and flooring. By incentivising new supply chain collaborations and the circularity of
products and materials, we can minimise deforestation and extraction of gas and oil, thus mitigating environmental damage. Incentives can include voucher systems or rebates to establish new supply chains, as well as green procurement programs. 5: Compulsory membership to stewardship schemes Where there is market failure, there is a role for effective product stewardship. Currently, brand owners do not need to be members of the relevant stewardship schemes in Australia, such as for tyres, batteries or packaging. Until we are tougher on free-riders the good and willing will subsidise the artful dodgers, and schemes will valiantly limp along. That is inequitable and prevents systemic improvements to design, performance and circularity. We need a level playing field for companies to pay their dues relative to the packaging they put into the market. 6: Fees and incentives for recyclable packaging We need eco-modulated fees that reflect the environmental impact of the packaging put in the market. This will provide a financial incentive for companies to change packaging for eco-design for environmental good, not harm and ensure it is recyclable. This will provide a financial incentive for companies to improve packaging design to ensure it is recyclable. It’s a great time to engage in innovative policy solutions that strategically address the complexities of products and materials for systemic management in the 21st century. Our clock is ticking. Helen Millicer is the Director of One Planet Consulting and co-founder of ClimateWise Associations Australia.
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2023 INSIDEWASTE
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Education //
Can we educate the community to achieve a circular economy? By Mike Ritchie WE CAN’T. Education has a place in improving the quality of recycling and of reducing contamination. It improves the capture of materials into the correct bins. It reduces litter and illegal dumping. It is definitely worth doing. But it is not a mechanism that can deliver the additional 18 MT of recycling needed to achieve the national waste targets of 80 per cent diversion from landfill by 2030. And I am just pitching for 80 per cent and setting aside the aspiration for a circular economy at this time, which implies a 100 per cent or near 100 per cent recycling and diversion from landfill. Education is not a mechanism that can deliver those sorts of tonnages.
Here are some facts: • Australia generates 67MT of waste. • We recycle 40 MT. • We landfill 27MT or 40 per cent. • To achieve an 80 per cent diversion rate we need to grow total recycling by 18 MT/year or cumulatively increase it by 2MT per year every year for the next eight years to 2030. • Kerbside recycling represents 1.9MT/yr. • Achieving the national waste targets is about a lot more than kerbside recycling. I don’t mean to diminish the role of education, but I do want to say that education works best when it is aligned with commercial incentives rather than in opposition to them. Education is a weak instrument compared to price. Most often when price drives material to landfill, all the education in
the world will not reverse the trend, nor in fact, have much impact on it at all. Let’s look at Commercial Food Organics (COFO) as an example. It is currently cheaper to landfill almost all COFO than to separate it, collect it and redirect it to composting or anaerobic digestion. That is because it is hard to keep it clean enough. There are relatively fewer COFO generators than waste generators, which makes collection comparatively more expensive (tonnes collected per truck hour). Then there is the differential in gate fees between landfill and composting/AD, which is insufficient to bridge the gap.
That is why 80 per cent of COFO waste is landfilled across Australia. Now, let’s assume some generous EPA ran a program to educate business owners on the downsides of landfilling COFO, both in terms of greenhouse emissions and the waste of resources. A rational business owner will weigh up their commercial interests versus those of the broader society. It would be no surprise to you that over 95 per cent of business owners will opt for the cheaper option of landfill disposal.
Price more than education is going to get waste and resources out of landfills.
36 INSIDEWASTE OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2023
Daily news updates at www.insidewaste.com.au
// Education
Regulations are another way to make sure those disposing of waste do the right thing.
And it doesn’t matter how many times you visit that business to educate and inform, the economics have not changed. Business generates 70 per cent of the waste in Australia. To achieve a circular economy or even the 80 per cent waste targets, we must use instruments that help/convince businesses to act. There are few of those available and these fall into two categories: 1. Regulation a. Mandated separation and collection of materials such as organics; b. extended Producer Responsibility mandating the producers of materials take responsibility for their end-of-life use/recycling; c. bans on materials to landfill (Europe has been doing this for decades); d. limits of greenhouse emissions which will drive recycling (watch this space for the Safeguard Mechanism’s impact); and e. other. 2. Price a. Landfill levies; b. Subsidies for recycling (e.g. EPA grants often derived from landfill levies); c. tax incentives for recycling or diversion from landfill e.g. Daily news updates at www.insidewaste.com.au
differential tax regimes or GST rebates; and d. Other. While I am a big supporter of education to drive capture of recyclables, it works best when the systems are already in place, and we are using education to drive behaviour to those systems. It is a weak instrument in getting the systems set up in the first place. For example, education works well in getting businesses/households to do better recycling of say, cardboard. But it is not the reason we have cardboard recycling per se. We have cardboard recycling because councils save money recycling it rather than landfilling it and businesses earn money by recycling it rather than paying to have it collected and landfilled. This is true of most waste streams. To summarise, we cannot educate our way to a circular economy. We need to use regulation and price signals. Governments love education because there is no risk in educating the public. Regulation and price involve risk. Governments need to step up if we are going to have any chance of achieving the targets
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Plant and machinery //
Scepticism no longer an issue for CSS with new partnership
JONO gear is capable of sorting multiple waste streams at one time.
NEIL Coyle has been in the resource recovery industry for the best part of 20 years and has always been looking out for new opportunities that will help move the industry forward. Specialising in plant and equipment for the recycling and resource recovery sectors, Coyle’s company CSS Recycling Equipment Solutions, has teamed up with Chinese-based company JONO Environmental Co to offer costeffective solutions to those wanting to build high-end material recycling facilities. Coyle is aware that when it comes to quality products most decisionmakers turn to the climes of Northern Europe to find solutions. He admits he used to be one of those people, but after visiting China in 2019, then again in 2023, he is convinced that while Europe does produce high-quality plant and machinery, China is no longer the ugly step-child producing second-rate gear. He’s convinced that due to heavy investment, a government determined to meet the West in terms of high-end products and services, as well as a system that encourages students to get involved in STEM streams when at university, China has closed the gap markedly in terms of quality. Coyle first came across JONO at a sales
meeting five years ago with one of his European Partners. “They specialised in engineering and design for complete turnkey plant (EPC, Engineering, Procurement & Construction), mainly in China,” he said. “This was for their waste industry – right across the board from MSW, organics, as well as commercial, industrial, and construction demolition waste – and recycling plants, and also for producing fuel for incineration in China.” Coyle started a conversation with the company, which led him to believe that there was an opportunity to start a relationship that would offer a costeffective alternative to the traditional European partnerships that most distributors in Australia covet. “I did – to a certain extent – have an expectation that if you buy things from China there might be quality issues, whether it be with their technology or their structural steel or whatnot,” he said. “However, after visiting them and seeing first-hand what they do, I realised that they take quality issues very seriously.” One of the first things to catch Coyle’s eye at that IFAT event was the European advances in AI and robotics. What
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surprised him more, was when he caught up with JONO in China soon afterwards. “They were already building their own AI at that time,” he said. “My initial thought process when I first came across JONO was, ‘they offer complete turnkey recycling facility solutions’. That was one thing. But when I saw how far down the line they were with AI and robotic systems (and automation in general) that they were designing, I thought in a market like Australia and New Zealand – where labour costs are deviously high – this is an opportunity for us. And I knew that they were doing something that was out of the ordinary; that it was very technologically advanced. After all, it was only just starting to come out in Europe.” Why is Coyle excited about this technology over others? He said, the main benefit is that it allows multiple materials in one stream to be sorted. Currently, with most MRFs, they can only sort one thing at a time using separate lines. “This AI robotic sorting can do multiple materials at once,” he said. “If you’ve got a waste stream on the conveyor belt and you’ve got one grab, that one grab can sort out the timber from the plastic from the textile from the aluminium.”
Coyle said it will soon get to the stage where MRFs might start sorting waste streams to order from third-party customers. “You can literally put approximately 250 types of material into the AI-controlled plant, and you can control it from your phone,” he said. “In the future it might be more of a commodity than a waste stream. Think about it – if you get the recycling facility up and running in the morning, and you look at commodity prices during the day, somebody might see a price change, which means you can change what you’re picking so you can get the material sorted in real time and then on-sold quickly. In theory, we’re trying to get all the valuable materials out of the waste stream so nothing valuable is going to landfill.” How serious is JONO about AI being developed for waste? How important is research and development to its end game? Very important according to Coyle. “I was there six weeks ago and looking at a whole floor, which was about 10,000 square metres in size,” he said. “It was full of engineers sitting there with their laptops with trial conveyors, pushers and grabs, just trying to ‘teach’ the machinery
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// Plant and machinery
Quality is no longer an issue when it comes to plant and machinery produced in China.
about new different materials.” His opinion was reinforced when Coyle had a conversation with engineers about how to separate engineered timber from clean timber, which currently can only be done manually. With construction demolition and commercial waste, if you can take the timber away from engineered timber, you can sell that clean timber back into the market. He said it is a work in progress, but pointed out this was the type sorting that could be done in the near future. One of the reasons Coyle is interested in JONO’s AI ventures is he is currently working on a couple of projects, one of which will have JONO’s robotic sorting equipment in it. He hopes to have a demonstration model up and running by the end of the year to highlight its capabilities. But it’s not just AI that has piqued Coyle’s interest. JONO also makes a range
of equipment that would help make life easier at the coal face of sorting and picking. “A heavy picker from JONO can do 2000 picks an hour – maybe even more – compared to a human, which will do 400 picks an hour,” he said. Coyle has been in the industry for almost two decades and said over the past couple of years it has moved on in ‘leaps and bounds’ in terms of technology. “From when I first went to Jono’s set-up in China, and then I went there six weeks ago, the advancements have been phenomenal,” he said. “I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like over the next couple of years, especially when you see 10 engineers just sitting up there constantly working on one aspect of the technology to improve it.” For Coyle, it was not only about whether the machines and AI can do their respective jobs, he also wondered
Waste processing plants are becoming more sophisticated as different streams are separated more easily.
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if the quality of the steel used to make the machines was good enough. Again, in the past he would have been sceptical. Not so much now, especially as there was another set of eyes looking over the specifications of the quality of the steel while he was in China. “In the past I think it was probably not so much the quality of the steel, but the quality of the treatment after it had been forged that people would question,” he said. “Questions like, ‘will it rust?’, or ‘is it galvanised or primed?’ Those types of questions are the key.” Accompanying Coyle on his trip were two engineers who worked for his client. They were there to check on the quality of the product JONO was manufacturing. One of them wasn’t fussed at all about the AI aspect, he was interested in more practical things. “He just wanted to touch and feel the base plates or the columns that are
building the structure of the conveyors that we’re feeding into the machines,” Coyle said. “Of course, he wanted to see the other stuff, but he just wanted to see the structure of the plant itself. This is an engineer that has had many years working for some very big, impressive companies in Australia. He came back saying they’re as good as he’s seen both structurally and technology wise.” As for the future, Coyle sees nothing but good things working with JONO, and is looking forward to seeing what opportunities present themselves. “We’re in a unique relationship with JONO,” he said. “They’ve been super supportive, especially with the first couple of projects we’re working on. They’re going to put consignment stock in a warehouse for us nice and close in Sydney so we can service the customer so they can be a complete reference point for us going forward.”
CSS has forged a close relationship with JONO, and one that Coyle sees only getting better as time goes on.
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// Young Professional
Organic waste is warming the planet AFTER completing a Bachelor of Science (Biotechnology) and Bachelor of Arts (Linguistics) at UNSW, Jessica Hie took up a full-time role at Envirolab after working part time at the firm during her university years. But it was when she was growing up that she got the first inkling of what should happen to waste. “My dad was always a reuse and repair sort of guy,” she said. “I remember when he turned a computer chair and a plank of wood into wheelable barbecue table. That’s the sort of behaviour that was modelled to me as a kid. I also never knew people didn’t eat their broccoli stalks. I remember my mum always just peeling the tough part and cutting off that very hard end. There’s a whole lot more broccoli inside the stalk that can be used and which tastes great.” While not fully ensconced in the waste industry, the work Hie performed at Envirolab gave her a taste of some of the issues faced by companies involved in resource recovery. “The lab does all sorts of environmental testing – in soil, water and air samples. I had many different roles at the organisation,” she said. “This included asbestos analysis, so I did a lot of microscope work. It was a bit repetitive, but it taught me good lab practice principles and a lot about detailed lab methodologies.” Hie points out that it wasn’t just analysis-type work she carried out, she also worked in the client services’ department, and then ended up with the business development team. The latter involved managing client relationships in areas such as contaminated land issues and occupational hygiene. And it was while she was working there, that her interest in waste was piqued. “One part of that job that redirected my attention to waste was testing all sorts of soil that came across our desk at the lab,” she said. “We would get these testing suites that came from these things called ‘resource recovery orders’. At that time, I didn’t know what it was. I remember my boss saying, ‘that’s when they take the excavated soil from one location and re-use it somewhere else’. And I remember just thinking, ‘wow, that’s a fantastic concept’. “And I just thought that was really cool. Around the same time, at home, I
One of Hie’s pet issues is greenwashing, an issue that she can see only becoming worse.
started a worm farm. I got one of those subsidised worm farms from Compost Revolution through my council. I quickly became obsessed with that. I remember that was the point where I started to view my food waste in a different light. It flipped from being a waste to a resource. That was another pivotal moment.” It was around about this time that Hie started a lot of ‘soul searching’ in deciding where she wanted her career to go. It was during these ruminations that her partner suggested she become a waste consultant. She readily admits that she didn’t even know such a career existed. “I’d never heard of it before,” she said. “I did some research and I reached out to Mike Ritchie at MRA Consulting. That’s how I got started. That was one year and three months ago.” Hie started out as an environmental
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consultant in the Organics Team, which is where she still sits. One of the aspects of the role that she enjoys is the variety of projects she gets to work on. One day she is reviewing lab results for a client that is producing compost, the next she is discussing POEO legislation and looking up what the definition of waste is according to said legislation. “Just last week I was designing a questionnaire for small businesses, cafes and restaurants, on their attitudes to food waste,” she said. “Earlier this year, I was onsite looking at the catering waste for a major airline. It really is a broad range of projects. Currently, I’m really enjoying the corporate sustainability projects we are working on.” Hie also enjoys the people she works with. “There are so many great brains at
MRA. It’s a real privilege to have access to so much collective waste knowledge and expertise.” When it comes to the future of the industry, there are a couple of issues that need addressing that are at the forefront of her mind. The avoidance and diversion of organic waste is one of them. “I feel like we’re really racing against the climate change clock,” she said. “We better start making big moves soon if we want to meet the national target of halving organic waste to landfill by 2030 and its associated GHG emissions.” A related issue is councils trying to meet their 2030 FOGO targets. Hie thinks there’ll be a lot of teething issues for those councils that are yet to start. Then there’s the 2025 NSW commercial food mandate targeting large commercial food generators. She thinks it’s great that the NSW EPA are setting these mandates. She said that hopefully the industry will get some clear direction around commercial food collections. Everybody has their pet issues, and Hie is no different. She thinks greenwashing is a big problem that is only going to get worse – whether intentionally or not – as companies start looking for social license proof that they are doing the right thing when it comes to manufacturing a product and dealing with it as its end of life. “Anyone can put a little green leaf in a circle and then make that into a false sustainability logo,” she said. “And I think that’s really hard for consumers to sift through, not to mention being unfair to the businesses that are trying to manufacture genuinely sustainable products. It’s good that the ACCC is starting to investigate and crack down on instances where that is starting to occur.” Hie is glad she took the advice of her partner and investigated getting a job in the resource recovery and waste industry. She believes most of Australia is working towards the common goals of waste avoidance and reduction. It’s just a matter of how the issue is approached at all levels of society – by government(s), industry, and the community at large. “It’s a really exciting space to be in but we’ve just got so much more work to do,” she said.
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Politics //
Skills and government buy-in key to reaching targets A POLITICIAN turning up to a waste expo is a rare event, so when Tasmanian Senator Peter Whish-Wilson made himself available to scrutiny at a seminar at the Australasian Waste and Recycling Expo (AWRE) recently, eager ears listened to what he had to say. MC’ed by Rick Ralph from the NWRIC, the topic of discussion was the importance of getting government onboard – and even educating politicians – on the intricacies of the waste and resource recovery industry and how it can work better with bureaucrats. Joining Ralph and Whish-Wilson was Veolia CFO David Gerrard, who had the perspective of those at the coal face of the industry. Being a member of the Greens, it is not surprising that one of the reasons Whish-Wilson got into politics was due to pollution – plastics in the ocean to be specific. At the time his interest was piqued, he was a lecturer at the University of Tasmania, specialising in environmental finance and economics. An avid surfer for a long time, other waste-related topics that interested him – and still do – were container deposit schemes, product stewardship and a true circular economy. Whish-Wilson has several bugbears that he thinks need addressing. He initiated a Senate inquiry into plastics in the ocean, and in his speech he had
a lot to say on product stewardship schemes. He said that previous enquiries had shown that voluntary product stewardship schemes didn’t work, and that government legislation is/was needed to make sure those causing most of the waste help manage it. It is a hot button topic for WhishWilson as he believes mandated product stewardship schemes would draw a line in the sand. A private bill he had before the government in 2020 came close to being part of a larger bill that the Morrison government was proposing but was voted down by one vote, with the president of the Senate having to cast the deciding vote as it was deadlocked. Whish-Wilson does give credit to the current minister of the environment. This is due to Tanya Plibersek stating that she is open to regulation on several fronts when it comes to recycling and resource recovery. “There are discussions underway around having a mandated approach for a product stewardship scheme,” said Whish-Wilson. “APCO did apply under the new law that was brought in by the Morrison government to be an accredited voluntary product stewardship scheme. That is one possible way forward to make that voluntary scheme a mandatory one.” He said that many people within the resource recovery sector, and in the environmental movement, want
Whish-Wilson gives credit to the current government over its stance on product stewardship.
new mandatory product stewardship scheme(s) established by the government. And that’s certainly what he is pushing for. “There’s essentially two core principles we’d like the scheme to be guided by,” he said. “The scheme would be fully funded by those importing, producing and selling the material – so the producer, not the consumer or government – would be paying for the scheme. It also needs to be accessible to the community via a comprehensive network of retail and community dropoff points and kerbside, for this approach be effective.”
One of the other keys, and to ensure the success of the scheme, is that these initiatives be underpinned and supported by mandatory design standards, and national packaging targets. He went so far as to say that the government needed to set legally enforceable targets for recycled content. A couple of reasons for mandatory targets, he said, was to give businesses certainty for investment and to increase capacity. “The government banned waste, expecting that we would be self-reliant in a short period of time,” he said. “But we know the recycling industry hasn’t felt
The government was naive to think solutions would be found quickly when the waste bans were enacted.
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Daily news updates at www.insidewaste.com.au
// Politics
Private finance incentives could be one way of encouraging investment in the waste sector.
it has the certainty to invest in [capex] without getting the federal architecture right around national packaging targets.” Another issue within the industry that Whish-Wilson is keeping abreast of is government(s) making recycled content part of the procurement process during tendering for public works contracts. He has been asking questions of the federal government. “We’ve been asking a lot of questions to different departments, mostly through Senate estimates processes, about what they’re doing to procure Australian recycled content,” he said. “And I know we’ve had some discussions with recycling industry stakeholders about the current mechanism. For example, we can use [recycled content for], construction areas. The government has supercharged some of their trials and is looking at using recycled content, but they’re very much still at the trial stage. And they’re saying that there still needs be considerable research underway as to whether these kinds of products – like plastic content – can be use in road base. We’re doing whatever we can to push it out.” Gerrard looks at all these issues from a CFO’s point of view. Like most in the resource recovery sector, he likes the idea of the recycling/reuse/landfill
diversion targets. He sees them as very ambitious, but also necessary. However, with that ambition, comes another series of problems. “Those targets are going to need significant investment,” he said. “They’re going to need a return on that investment. And that’s the challenge. Because I’m a simple guy and what we do very well [as a company, is] make a healthy return on what we do. “To lead the change is going to require some effort. There are going to be some brave decisions in terms of how we get from where we are today, to where we want to get to by 2030.” He said that it is important for – both government(s) and industry – to acknowledge that Australia is behind the eight ball in terms of how it deals with its waste as a resource. He has several suggestions on how it can be possible to reach those targets. The first one he talked about was public/private partnership. “It has to happen, and I’ve seen it happen,” he said. “In the UK, we call it private finance initiatives. This is where public bodies are working with the private sector, and often financial institutions, to generate the sort of investment that we need to hit those targets by 2030. “Why did it work? It worked for me as a finance guy because we were getting
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guaranteed [feedstock] to plants over a significant contract [time], which gave us certainty on our returns. Like anybody else we’ll look at an investment and base it around revenue, the P&L or cash it generates, what our payback is, and what hurdle rates we’re going to achieve.” Gerrard believes that the private sector working with the public sector created that certainty for the investment. He said it also generated the long-term returns that a company such as Veolia needs. He also believes it created a big push towards achieving the recycling targets. His next issue was about the need for certainty around planning. He said that if a company is going to invest in new plant and machinery, it needs that certainty. “As a nation we’re asking the private sector to spend a lot of money – millions of dollars on new facilities,” he said. “When you don’t have certainty that that facility is going to end up in operation [it isn’t helpful].” Gerrard did single out the NSW government for nominating zones where energy from waste facilities can be built. “That’s a step in the right direction; giving us some certainty that those facilities will be built in the end,” he said. Gerrard’s third point involved other incentives. He conceded that some would say there are already incentives out there for companies such as Veolia. They’ve
had tax efficiency around research and development, they’ve had government grants, and during COVID they got a tax benefit for investment where they got 100 per cent of the investment off their tax bill. But they need more, he said. “You can’t ask the private sector to fund all of the investment without some incentives,” he said. “I’m asking the government to do more of that – to take their share of the financial burden.” His final lever was around skill, or the lack thereof in the industry. He said for Australia to get where it wants to get to by 2030, it must up its game in terms of getting workers up to speed with the amount of new, innovative technologies that are starting to come online. “We need the skills to do that,” he said. “Right now, I don’t think we have enough of that skill set to get to where we want to get to in five- or six-years’ time. I don’t want to blow our own trumpet, but this is where companies like Veolia can come in because we’ve done a lot of these things around the world that we need in Australia. It makes it easier for companies like Veolia to take on the [people with these] skills on a short-term basis, who have the experience of driving those innovative solutions through. “It’s not just about the private sector. It’s not just about the public sector. It’s about us working together,” said Gerrard. “The opportunity is here for all of us.
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Plastics //
Carbon emissions of Australian plastics to 2050 By Yong Lin, Kyle O’Farrell and Joe Pickin SINCE the 1950s, plastic use has grown dramatically, generating innumerable improvements in packaging, medicine, engineering, consumer goods and many other products. However, our global reliance on a group of synthetic materials that are not part of natural systems is also responsible for significant impacts on human health, plants and animals, and the environment more widely. Poor management of plastic waste, especially in developing countries, has caused pollution on an enormous scale. The Ellen Macarthur Foundation’s report The New Plastics Economy estimated in 2016, that by 2050, on current trajectories, there could be more plastic than fish in our oceans by weight. A seminal 2023 Minderoo-Monaco report on the human and environmental health impacts of plastics found they release dangerous chemicals into the environment at every stage of their life cycle, and that plastics are a ‘stealth threat to human and planetary health’. The impacts of gross plastic pollution, microplastics and production chemistry are significant and growing topics of research and mainstream discourse. However, the greenhouse gas emissions associated with plastics production, consumption and disposal have had less attention. This is despite plastics now representing around 8-10 per cent of global fossil hydrocarbon (fuel) use, and plausible estimates it will account for around 20 per cent by 2050. Plastic production growth has been above fossil fuel consumption growth for decades. Noting this research gap, the Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) and World Wide Fund for Nature Australia (WWF), commissioned Blue Environment to conduct a study to quantify the greenhouse gas emissions of plastics consumption, use and endof-life management in Australia, under various scenarios to 2050. The authors have a long history in preparing the annual Australian Plastics Flows and Fates Study and in undertaking carbon emission assessments. The study was timed to inform advocacy in relation to the United Nations development of an internationally binding instrument to tackle plastic pollution. The next negotiation session is scheduled for November 2023.
Figure 1. Average emissions of plastics production methods, 2019-20 (GWP 100 year basis)
Figure 2. Average emissions of plastics end-of-life management approaches, 2019-20 (GWP 100 year basis)
The study quantified the annual and aggregated carbon emissions of plastics use in Australia, across the period of 2019-20 to 2049-50, and was based on the ISO standard 14067:2018 Greenhouse gases – Carbon Footprint of Products. The primary carbon emissions modelling requirement was
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undertaken in the life cycle assessment software openLCA, and the time-series scenario modelling undertaken in MS Excel. It was critically reviewed by a panel of three independent lifecycle assessment specialists prior to finalisation. The modelling found that emissions
from Australian plastics consumption (full lifecycle) in 2020 amounted to just over 13 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-e) emissions on a 100-year global warming potential basis, which is equivalent to the yearly emissions of around about 4.4 million cars.
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// Plastics
There were six key takeaways from the study including the reduction of plastic production within the next 10 years.
Most of these emissions were generated during virgin plastics production, which is almost entirely based on fossil carbon sources. The emissions intensity of plastics produced from fossil fuels was almost 70 per cent more than that of plastics produced via recycling (see Figure 1) The study also quantified the emissions associated with the available end-of-life management options (see Figure 2). Of the six options explored, it was found that: • mechanical recycling had the lowest carbon emissions on average, due to relatively low energy inputs and avoided virgin polymer production credit; • chemical recycling had the second lowest carbon emissions on average, but this varied significantly by polymer type; and • incineration had the highest carbon emissions, due to the conversion of the polymer to CO2 and no avoided virgin polymer production. The authors then modelled the carbon emissions of plastics use under various system change scenarios from 2020-2050, based on baseline plastics consumption projections. The scenario analysis found that: • reducing consumption (unsurprisingly) performed well in reducing emissions to 2050; • switching to 100 per cent renewable energy usage, performed moderately well in reducing emissions to 2050; and • increasing recycling rates dramatically performed relatively poorly in reducing carbon emissions to 2050. Overall, the study findings indicated that multiple complementary system level changes are required to reduce the carbon emissions relating to plastics use. These would include absolute reductions in plastics use, decoupling polymer
Figure 3. Annual accumulated carbon emissions by scenario, from 2019–20 to 2049–50 (GWP 100 year basis)
production from fossil hydrocarbons, decarbonising energy systems globally, and increasing recycling rates. In Figure 3, this is represented by the ‘Combined scenario 3’, which entailed by 2050, a 10 per cent reduction in consumption relative to 2019-20, a 100 per cent recovery rate, 100 per cent renewable energy, and 100 per cent biobased or CO2 based plastics production. This scenario projects a 70 per cent reduction in aggregated carbon emissions between 2020-2050. Based on the study, AMCS and WWF made six recommendations on actions to undertake to reduce the carbon emissions of plastics out to 2050: • Reduce plastic production within the next 10 years, through a combination of approaches such as increasing
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reuse systems, banning single-use plastics, and extended producer responsibility. • Rapidly transition away from the use of virgin fossil fuel-based plastic, using substitutes such as plant-based, recycled or CO2-based plastic. This would require investment in the infrastructure needed to manage these plastics. • Shift to a 100 per cent renewable energy system for both stationary energy and transport, and electrify plastics production, product manufacture, product use and product end-of-life management. • Maximise recycling when products are no longer reusable or repairable, with a strong preference for mechanical recycling where feasible.
• Avoid management of plastics via incineration (including energy recovery), which, in a renewable energy future, will be have a much higher net emissions than other management options. • Support comprehensive and robust global regulation to reduce plastics consumption and transition to a safe circular economy for plastics, through a new international agreement to end plastic pollution. By following these key actions, Australia can make cuts in plasticsrelated emissions. It is unavoidable that plastics will continue to play an role in our society. Systemic changes in production, energy systems and end-oflife management are required to control these outputs.
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Hazardous Waste //
EV batteries: handle with care ACCORDING to CarExpert, the sales of electric vehicles (EVs) in Australia has almost tripled in the first half of 2023 compared to the same period last year. Globally 1.2 million EVs were sold in August 2023 alone and the choice of vehicle models is ever increasing. As car companies seek social license from the public, they are well aware that people are becoming more conscious of the ecology in the
community and the promise of health benefits and climate impact with lower emissions, as well as the savings in petrol costs. Growing the national EV market is also at the heart of Australia’s first National Electric Vehicle Strategy, launched in 2023. But the increased uptake has a downside. Research commissioned by the Battery Stewardship Council, released in June 2023, estimates
Used EV batteries will reach 30,000 tonnes by 2050.
There is a constant risk of fires at material recycling facilities due to lithium-ion batteries.
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used EV batteries entering the waste stream will reach 30,000 tonnes by 2030 and 1.6 million tonnes by 2050. This is a problem on many fronts – not only do most batteries have some environmentally unfriendly components, but as the use of lithiumion batteries increases, they also become a fire hazard if incorrectly disposed to landfill. Currently, with household discarding
batteries in kerbside bins, an average of one fire a week at a MRF or in a collection vehicle occurs. When it comes to EV batteries and Solar Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), lithium-ion batteries’ high voltage and capacity brings added risk at their end-of-life, requiring special safety provisions, designated transport containers, thermal monitoring and fire response equipment. To date, there are limited national recycling solutions providers for used EV batteries and large energy storage units. The Battery Stewardship Council is urging government and the EV and solar industries to advance discussions and be prepared for the emerging waste stream. Extended Producer Responsibility consultations are in progress and programs are looking at being established. The recycling industry is expected to make investments and build capacity for a circular economy to form part of Australia’s critical minerals policy. E-waste recycler Ecocycle is moving ahead of the game, investing in equipment, technology, and training to collect and recycle used EV and BESS batteries. Zoltan Sekula, product stewardship manager for the company, said it is imperative to embrace the safest processes for transportation and recycling of even the current volumes of used EV battery and energy storage systems reaching their end-of-life. “Ecocycle are leading from the front,” Sekula said. “We have made it our mission to be ready, with all the right equipment to deal with all battery chemistries and capacities.” Sekula said, unfortunately Australia does not have an official recycling program or a code of practice when it comes to EV batteries or high voltage energy storage systems. He said special considerations are needed right through the supply chain and the time is now. There is a need for training programs for people wanting to work with high energy EV and BESS batteries in the recycling sector. The main issue is the EV batteries’ high voltage, up to 800+ volts. Even at end-of-life, batteries may still have a significant charge capacity left. “Not everyone can, or should, work with EV or energy storage batteries especially from a personal risk and potential property risk perspective,” Sekula said. “Anyone who believes they are just a simple battery assembly is mistaken. Units can deliver a dangerous direct current that could be fatal. Safety is paramount. EV and BESS batteries
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// Hazardous Waste
Anybody who believes dealing with end-of-life batteries is easy, is mistaken, according to Sekula.
Specialised equipment is needed when processing EV batteries.
Special safety provisions are needed when dealing with end-of-life EV batteries.
are classed dangerous goods with a risk of serious adverse events and possible fires if not processed by trained personnel with the right equipment and machinery for recycling.” Ecocycle has undertaken its own staff training, following safety guidelines from the European EV battery recycling industry. The company has invested in remotely operated thermal monitoring Fire Rovers, which continuously scan for adverse thermal events and deploy fire extinguish chemicals directly to an early fire, before it can grow to any significance. Ecocycle also provides special safety containers for the transportation of whole EVs, end-of-life EV batteries and BESS. The specialist range of EV safety containers have in-built environmental monitoring equipment and contain proven fire-retardant materials. In the event of a thermal runaway, a potential fire will be self-contained. A national fleet of company-owned DG approved
“It’s coming, and somebody needs to be at the front... Ecocycle has made it a mission to be ready, have the right equipment and have everything in place.” vehicles are available to respond to any enquiries for their deployment of EV whole vehicle safety containers, and individual EV battery safety transport boxes. Sekula said EV batteries in cars that are involved in an accident and sustain damage to their battery have the potential to ignite at site. This includes when in transit, or any time weeks after an accident, because energy cane remain in the battery pack. Ecocycle has the equipment and processes to ensure these vehicles can be transported safely and remain monitored for as long as required
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before dismantling and recycling. “It has been documented that accident damaged EVs can catch fire while on a tow truck and create a second emergency,” Sekula said. “With our self-contained vehicle safety containers, this is controlled and dealt with safely. The on-board monitoring equipment will detect any heat build-up and respond appropriately to contain the impact of a potential thermal runaway or fire.” A member of the Association for the Battery Recycling Industry (ABRI), Sekula advocates, “under an EV battery stewardship program Ecocycle will facilitate recycling of EVs and EV batteries to be transported safely and monitored in safe storage. We will process end-of life EV batteries and defuse any risk of adverse events by effectively returning the energy from EV batteries to the grid, before the recovery of resources, further increasing the benefits of
EV battery recycling”. The elements used to create EV batteries need to be preserved. This includes cobalt, nickel, manganese, and lithium. Recovering those materials to be reused in the manufacture of new batteries will be important in a circular economy where climate action can be impacted on positively through sophisticated recycling. Sekula expects the EV battery recycling industry will supply at least 10 per cent of the demand for resources to build new batteries in the future. He said it is imperative EV and BESS battery recovery and recycling is formally supported with effective product stewardships. He also said Ecocycle has made a commitment to ensure EV and other large-scale batteries are collected, transported, stored, and recycled to a world-class standard with capacity to process the projected tonnes towards 2030 and beyond.
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PIPA //
Plastic pipes are easily recyclable PLASTIC pipes have transformed the way we live, delivering essential services and utilities to our homes and communities. With the increased focus on reducing our environmental footprint and transitioning from a lineal to a circular economy, plastic pipes have many advantages over alternative materials and are becoming preferred material of choice to replace and upgrade pipes throughout the world. Aligning with the key principles of a circular economy, plastic pipes are designed to minimise waste and pollution and to be kept in use for a long time. They can also be repaired and recycled. “One of the important features of plastic pipes is their design life,” said Plastics Industry Pipe Association’s (PIPA) executive general manager, Cindy Bray. “They are intended and designed to last a very long time. In typical environmental conditions, plastics materials are well known to last in excess of 100 years. They remain functional – without requiring excess maintenance or repair – when used and installed correctly in normal operation over its design lifetime.” As a non-profit association, PIPA works to promote the appropriate and contemporary use of plastic pipes and fittings throughout Australia. This is achieved through its four key pillars of advocate, educate, technical and sustainability. One of the key focus areas for PIPA is to educate on the differences between plastic pipes and fittings to other plastics, like single use. “Not all plastics are the same and too often plastics pipe systems are mistakenly put in the same category as single-use plastics,” said Bray. “Pipes are long-life products, not single use, made from materials engineered to be robust, reliable, recyclable with a long service life. “This includes how they are different to other plastic products and why the manufacture of virgin material is critical for people and the planet. To help further educate on the positive use of plastics PIPA has recently launched a digital campaign That’s using plastic for good. It differentiates plastic pipes from singleuse plastic, highlighting the role they play. It’s an awareness campaign, targeted to those outside of the industry.” With a long service life, most plastic pipes in use today are still in their first life cycle. This makes comparisons between annual plastics consumption and the total annual plastics recovery misleading for plastic pipes and fittings. PIPA and its members are acutely aware of the problem society faces with plastic pollution. For more than two decades the industry has aimed to recycle the maximum amount of usable plastic pipe
and other suitable materials into new plastic pipes. “We are committed to maximising the use of post-consumer and pre-consumer recycled content in products while ensuring that products remain fit for purpose,” Bray said. “Pipes manufactured with recycled content must conform to the relevant Australia Product Standards, just as pipes manufactured from virgin materials do. This is particularly important in infrastructure applications where reliable performance and long service life are primary considerations.”
Providing Guidance on the use of recycled material To provide education on the use of recycled materials PIPA published a discussion paper on the Use of Recycled Materials in Plastic Pipes. This paper outlines where recycled materials can be incorporated in plastic pipes and the sustainability advantages. It also addressed misleading comparisons of virgin and recycled material and explained how they are long life products. Further to this, PIPA has developed an Industry Technical Guidelines POP208 “Specification and Testing Guidelines for recycled materials suitable for nonpressure plastic pipe applications”. This document defines specification and testing requirements for recycled material and products that incorporate recycled material, and outlines the materials characteristics and performance criteria required when using recycled materials.
Improving sustainability now and into the future Although there is low volume to recover due to the long life and integrity of plastic pipes systems, PIPA and its members are taking practical, meaningful steps to minimise the impact of plastic pollution. It is working together with broader industry to divert suitable plastic material from landfill into long-life, recycled pipe products that meet the relevant Australian and International Standards. There is already now capacity to increase the use of recycled material across a range of non-pressure pipe products when suitable waste stream volumes become available. A great example of this is within PVC nonpressure pipes – through multi-layer extrusion technology (or sandwich construction), it allows recycled material to be used in the core layer of the pipe (the middle) between the inner and outer layers of virgin material. This means the core layer can be any colour, density, or formulation of rigid PVC material. The performance characteristics of
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Construction Plastics Recycling Scheme provides opportunity to educate apprentices entering their career on the recyclability of PVC offcuts and other plastic pipe materials.
these pipes is exactly the same as pipes made form 100 per cent virgin material. That’s the important role performance standards play.
Plastic Recycling Program Due to the low volume of plastic pipes in the waste streams, the piping industry is always looking at ways to work with waste management companies, distributors of products, and specific suppliers/clients to collect volumes of plastic pipes viable for recycling. With the various applications plastic pipes are used, there is not one approach to collection, with some more challenging than others. PIPA has established a Plastic Pipes Recycling Program working with a variety of partners across Australia providing information and locations for end users to deliver their no longer needed pipes and fittings.
Education and Pilot Programs PIPA has engaged with other industry stakeholders, which has established education and pilot programs to increase awareness on the sustainability of plastic pipes and develop the behaviours of appropriate disposal of off-cuts. “Programs such as the Construction Plastics Recycling Scheme in Queensland and the Plumbing Industry Plastic Recycling Scheme in Western Australia not only educate, but also provides the industry with valuable insights behaviours and greater understanding of the volume of available plastic pipe offcuts and fittings from building, construction sites and education training facilities,” said Bray. “This data will enable us to paint a true picture of material available, enable us to expand these
types of programs more broadly and support better consumer investment and policy decisions.” Success of these programs can only be achieved through collaboration of all key stakeholders within the industry from associations, manufacturers, merchants through to end users. These programs provide PIPA the opportunity to visit TAFEs and training colleges to speak with apprentices at the beginning of their careers about sustainability and recyclability of plastic pipes. It is hoped these programs will encourage those coming into the industry to continue the conversation about appropriate disposal when they are out of the classroom and back on site. PIPA has also teamed up with Cool. Org, a company that brings real-world learning into classrooms providing free lesson plans that are mapped to relevant year levels and the Australian curriculum centred around environmental, social, economic and sustainability topics. “I’m proud of this partnership,” said Bray. “We’ve developed 10 lessons designed for Grade 5-6 students in the subject of design and technology – focusing on circularity and the good use of plastic.” Through the whole lifecycle, the plastic pipe industry has and will retain its long-standing commitment to improving sustainable practices and outcomes, in a way that benefits all Australians. Australia’s landscape require largescale, special-purpose systems to move water, wastewater, gas and to protect underground networks of power and communication cables. Plastic pipeline systems are robust and long-lasting, providing reliability now and into the future.
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// Heat recovery
Heat regeneration should be key consideration MANY industrial processes require energy, but only a portion of that energy input is used for each operation such as pasteurisation or evaporation. Unused energy is wasted, often passing to the environment as hot gas or liquid. However, by using heat exchangers, it is possible to recapture most of this untapped energy through waste heat regeneration. Heat regeneration (or heat recovery) is the process whereby heat from a process that would otherwise be lost or wasted, is recaptured and used for useful heating purposes. Heat regeneration should not be confused with ‘regenerative heat exchangers,’ which are a specific type of heat exchanger in which the product and service fluids flow alternately, and the heat is stored in the structure of the heat exchanger. When the folks at HRS talk about heat regeneration, they mean the recovery of as much surplus heat (or cooling capacity) as possible after the primary function of the heat exchanger has been performed. This can then be reused to either improve the efficiency of heat exchange process or used elsewhere. Recovery and re-use of industrial waste heat is an attractive concept that could simultaneously reduce energy costs and CO2 emissions. Given the importance of energy efficiency in reducing the use of fossil fuels and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, it can be argued that it is imperative to employ heat regeneration and recovery at every opportunity. As at least one paper has pointed out, The use of excess heat could also be important to improve the economic and climate footprint feasibility of new processes… by avoiding the addition of new heat production capacity.
Benefits of heat regeneration Heat recovery improves the energy efficiency of heat exchange processes, so the greatest benefit of heat regeneration (recovery) is that less energy is required for a particular heating or cooling operation. This provides financial benefits but is also better for the environment compared to systems without heat recovery. Repurposing recovered heat can also reduce the amount of heat required for certain processes. For example, if a material is pre-heated with recovered
Trapping heat via heat exchangers means an energy resource can be reused instead of being wasted.
heat, then it may be possible to complete the necessary heating (for example for pasteurisation) using hot water from another source or part of the factory, instead of requiring a dedicated boiler to provide the necessary temperature rise. By increasing the energy efficiency of the heat transfer process, heat recovery can also make it possible to reduce the size of the heat exchange equipment required or reduce the necessary processing time.
Heat recovery in action One example can be found in food pasteurisation processes, where products such as cream need to be heated to the necessary temperature to achieve pasteurisation, then rapidly cooled to maintain shelf life and quality. Such systems involve the use of two heat exchangers: one uses hot water to raise the temperature, while the second uses chilled water to cool the cream down again. The cooling process produces warm water, which can be discarded, cooled for re-use, or cooled with some of the heat contained being used to pre-heat the cream before the pasteurisation process. This last option utilises heat recovery or heat regeneration, reducing the amount of new energy required for the subsequent first heating phases. As another example, many biogas plants use heat exchangers to pasteurise the digestate produced during the anaerobic digestion (AD) process.
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The ‘surplus’ heat, which is generated after the system has been running can also be used to pre-heat the digestate, reducing total heat load and improving overall efficiency. Heat recovery can also be used in gaseous applications. Whether it is using the heat from the flue gas of a biogas combined heat and power (CHP) engine to pre-heat digestate, or a large gas-to-gas heat exchanger to capture waste heat from chemical processing, there is no reason to waste the heat present in gaseous products or waste streams. Perhaps the most common use of heat regeneration is demonstrated in multi-effect evaporation systems, where a number of heat exchangers are combined, for example in the HRS DCS Digestate Concentration System. The first evaporation stage heats liquid digestate and uses a cyclone separator; the steam produced from this first cycle (usually available at 70˚C) is then used as the heating media for the second effect, whereby the process is repeated. The subsequent steam (usually available at 60˚C) is then used as the heating media for the third cycle. The number of effects is determined by the level of dry solids required and the amount of surplus heat available, up to a maximum of four cycles. After the final stage, the steam is condensed back to water and this heat is used to pre-heat the incoming product before the first stage of evaporation. In all, the heat is regenerated up to four times in the process.
Other considerations To determine the potential value of waste heat, and therefore determine what it can be used for, it is necessary to know a number a parameters about the process temperature, the product and heating (or cooling) medium being used, and the performance of the heat exchange process in terms of heat transfer area and flow rate. It is therefore important to consider energy regeneration or recovery as early as possible. Heat recovery systems can be retrofitted to many processes, but their design is often a compromise and retrofitted solutions may involve excessive pipework and other connections. To maximise the benefits of heat regeneration it is important that waste heat is transferred to the storage media (e.g., water or thermal transfer fluid such as glycol) as soon as possible after its source. This is particularly true where the waste heat is in the form of a gas, as this has a much greater energy constant than liquid, meaning that the heat is lost much faster. By considering all of these factors, it will be possible to calculate both the additional capital costs associated with specifying heat regeneration in a project, together with the savings in running costs and energy, and from this determine the return on investment for the project. Although capital costs may be higher, the longer term financial and environmental benefits will make the use of heat regen in heat exchanger projects highly attractive.
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Equipment News //
MAC112 XL is a multi-purpose baler DISTRIBUTED in Australia by CEMAC Technologies, the MAC112 XL is a baler that has been especially designed to treat various types of sorted municipal solid waste, C&D waste, refused derived fuel (RDF), unsorted municipal solid waste, and organic material. Although suitable for landfills and transfer stations, the MAC112 XL is equally at home baling other material like PET, Paper, Cardboard, HDPE, and RDF at high throughputs while maintaining high bale quality and density. The throughput, density and quality are subject to input material condition, loading capacity and other baler variable factors. The electromechanical horizontal tying system is designed to tie both plastic and steel wires. The system simplifies the cleaning process for the tying unit, ensuring greater safety
As well as being able to bale a range of waste streams, the MAC112 XL has hydraulic sliding doors to protect the tying unit.
for the operator. The maintenance and cleaning of the tying unit is performed at floor level. There is no need for a maintenance pit below the floor. The baler is also equipped with hydraulic sliding doors to protect the tying unit. Replaceable liners, made of HARDOX wear-resistant steel alloy, extend the working life of the
equipment. The wear liners are bolted in the extrusion chamber and in the compaction box and can be easily replaced as necessary. Features of the baler include two REXROTH 120 HP variable flow pumps with full regenerative circuits; a pump flow capacity of up to 580 litres per minute; a ram force of 200,000 kilograms and a cooling
system that uses thermostatically controlled air-to-oil heat exchangers. Pumps are mounted external to the oil tank allowing for faster and easier maintenance. High efficiency IE3 motors provide up to 30 per cent energy saving compared to traditional motors. All this is mounted under a soundproofed and dust protection sliding hood. Another feature is the cutting blades, which are designed to optimise the cutting of excess material in the hopper. These blades are tempered to ensure a longer service life. In cases where a foreign object accidentally enters the baler, the control panel is fitted with a hydraulic “fast zero” button that releases the pressure in the counter-pressure cylinder minimising potential damage and allowing for the object to be ejected.
Eriez Magnetic Separation Solutions ERIEZ, a provider of magnetic separation equipment, offers a diverse range of solutions tailored to meet the toughest challenges in the recycling industry. Innovative products from Eriez include eddy current separators and suspended magnets, available in both permanent and electromagnetic designs. These units improve operational efficiency, ensure product purity, and offer maximum product recovery. The company’s eddy current separators feature state-of-the-art magnetic circuits composed of high-strength rare earth magnetic materials. Designed to reliably separate nonferrous metals, these
advanced systems induce eddy currents within conductive metals such as aluminium, copper, and brass, creating repelling forces that selectively push away the metals at a high rate of recovery. Each eddy current separator is comprised of a non-metallic external drum, an internal permanent magnetic rotor, a drive, and a belt conveyor. As the external drum rotates at conventional belt conveyor speed, the internal rare earth alternating polarity rotor spins at a much higher RPM than the external shell, contributing to the effective separation process. The result is a cleaner product,
Eriez equipment is designed to meet the toughest conditions in source separation.
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Eriez equipment has a reputation for offering maximum product recovery.
more streamlined operations, and boosted profits. Eriez suspended electromagnets offer a solution for ferrous metal collection from conveyed materials. Typically suspended over conveyor belts, these electromagnets efficiently recover ferrous metal, ensuring maximum profitability. Eriez offers a variety of electromagnetic configurations, including oil- and air-cooled, round and rectangular core, explosionproof, and even cryogenic superconducting magnets capable
of producing the world’s strongest magnetic force. Eriez suspended permanent magnets use ceramic magnetic material arranged in a specific pattern to create a powerful magnetic field. Each model is designed for the application based on conveyor width and speed, material burden depth, as well as the density or frequency of ferrous metals present in the process. The magnets are permanently charged so they require no external power source and operate at peak efficiency at all times.
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// Equipment News
Isuzu waste trucks improving outcomes for Brisbane’s Jumbo Skip Bins AUSTRALIA has its challenges when it comes to collecting and processing the waste that is generated through its construction sector. According to the National Waste Report, building and demolition waste is one of the largest sources of recovered materials in the country. Unsurprisingly, it’s also the largest source of waste. Operators like Jumbo Skip Bins in Brisbane – with its fleet of mediumand heavy-duty Isuzu trucks – step in with solutions to tackle processing much of that unwanted waste. Rory Crundall, director of Jumbo Skip Bins, sensed an opportunity in this. With a background as a heavy machine operator in Western Australia, he started out in the skip bin service in 2016 with fresh eyes and a solo chain lift truck, working seven days a week to get the business going. His goal of delivering consistent service has seen the Jumbo operation grow to a present-day fleet of 10 trucks, 10 drivers, and 17 staff. They cover a service area of Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast, offering residential and domestic hire, specialising in demolition disposal for the construction sector. Commercial skip bin hire makes up to 90 per cent of turnover for Jumbo Skip Bins, and it also provides add-on options such as crane bins, forklift bins and the standard wheely bins for high-rise construction. Crundall has worked hard to change the way waste disposal is conducted in the local area and acknowledges that it’s a work in progress. “Historically, we’ve found that
Jumbo Skip Bins now has nine Isuzu trucks in its fleet, with a plan to expand in the future.
most construction companies haven’t been interested in how much of their waste is being recycled but that is changing,” Crundall said. “The Queensland waste levy has incentivised companies to divert as much as possible from landfill, especially common materials such as bricks, concrete and soil, so we are moving more and more into this space. “Even though it has taken more time and work to make it happen, I have always had an interest in environmental outcomes and have been willing to make the effort to deal with waste, separate it and recycle it into different streams.” Crundall said the goal of providing a cleaner, greener service has come with challenges in cost and logistics. He is keenly aware that fleet choice has a knock-on effect to the business, saying that he wanted the support of a truck brand that provided a range of product, capable of tackling a punishing roster and
Reliability and back-up service were two of the key reasons Jumbo Skip Bins chose Isuzu trucks.
Daily news updates at www.insidewaste.com.au
staying out of the repair workshop. “I had intentions to grow into a large fleet and did a lot of research, asking mechanics and other trucking companies which brand they preferred. “The answer I got was Isuzu about ninety per cent of the time,” Crundall said. “I thought it’d be silly if I went any other way; you want to get off on the right foot from the beginning. “As a business owner, I wanted that peace of mind and comfort, so Isuzu’s warranty and roadside assistance terms are a massive incentive.” The team at Brisbane Isuzu in Eagle Farm assist Crundall with fleet choice, recommending models that are sized and specified to suit the skip bin task. Jumbo Skip Bins has taken delivery of two new chain lift trucks within the past six months – a FXZ 240-350 and a FVR 165-300, both fitted with West-Trans
body equipment. This takes the fleet up to nine Isuzu trucks in total from a fleet of 10 trucks, ranging from a mediumduty FSR 140-260 chain lift skip loader, through to the heavier FXZ 240-350 chain lift and hook lift trucks. Crundall’s eventual goal is to run an all-Isuzu fleet, presenting a united front to clients and consistency in performance across the business. In addition to working a full roster with Jumbo Skip Bins, Crundall said the trucks are commandeered for double duty, collecting concrete waste for sister company, Moreton Bay Recycling, which is located 50 metres across the road from Jumbo’s base in Narangba, QLD. As of 2022, Rory became coowner and director of Moreton Bay Recycling, essentially combining two well-matched businesses and the fleet that supports both. It makes for a pleasingly circular operation that offers a cleaner, greener outcome for those clients in the construction sector –coincidentally some of the largest concrete waste producers in the country. Once concrete waste has been collected from a site, either a Jumbo truck or one of the Moreton Bay Recycling trucks deliver it back to the facility, where it is processed into a quality product for use in future construction projects. Crundall said the versatility of the combined fleet equates to an efficient service that saves the client money and also offers the businesses time and delivery cost savings. “Our customers at Jumbo often need products that are produced from the recycled concrete, so we’re able to fill it up at Moreton Bay facility and then drop it off with their Jumbo skip bin, which saves them the cost of an extra delivery. “It’s vice versa with our Moreton Bay customers – when they order aggregate, they will often need a skip bin. “Our drivers can be trained on both the Isuzu skip and tipper trucks, which gives us great crossover and means we’re frequently able to utilise our skip trucks to deliver material,” Crundall said.
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Equipment News //
Komatsu Forest releases new PC270LL and PC300LL log loader Komatsu Forest has long thought the value of hydraulic excavators for forest/timber applications had not met its true potential. Especially the Komatsu excavators with their compensated load sense hydraulic systems, which are suitable for many different forest applications. This led to a close association with New Zealand companies EMS and Active Engineering with them suppling guarding packages, certified Forest Cabs, as well as high/ wide undercarriages and modified booms to suit various timber/loading applications. Unfortunately, over time the demand for superior excavator modifications has led to increasing costs reaching the point where they lost their cost advantage over purpose-built track machines. This led Komatsu Forest Aust to approach Komatsu Ltd (Japan) to assist in developing factory-built excavators
suitable for forest applications including loading. Factory fitted forestry options would be more cost effective and greatly reduce lead time to the end user, which has become a problem due to demand. “Increased local costings meant there was no other decision but to pursue a factory solution”, said Brett Jones MD Komatsu Forest. The first decision was to design and manufacture a high wide track frame with all the relevant features which was simplified as the PC270LC-8 and PC300LC-8 already share the same standard track frame. Following the completion of the HW track frame, it was then decided to pursue a suitable factory boom option, in this case the factory had to design two different size boom sets for the PC270LL and PC300LL. “These two major options have been a real game changer when it comes to modifying an excavator for
These excavators reduce the lead time for the end user.
a forestry application,” confirmed Jones. It reduces the time in a workshop by approximately six weeks. The factory high/wide track frames and boom sets have been installed and tested in the field since they were completed in 2020. Over the past 18 months, Komatsu Forest has released a HD cooling package and is currently developing a special guarding package to suit all potential
forestry or loading applications. The combined Komatsu Forest and Komatsu Ltd development process, in addition to the support from suppliers such as EMS and Active Engineering (NZ), has now produced up to nine new forest models to meet customer’s various requirements, typified by the PC270LL and PC300LL log loaders fitted with certified high-rise rear entry cabs.
The Komptech Cribus 5000: pioneering innovation in screening technology IN the world of waste management and recycling, the pursuit of efficiency, sustainability, and environmental responsibility has never been more critical. As we navigate the challenges posed by growing waste volumes and environmental concerns, innovative solutions are essential. One such solution is the Komptech Cribus 5000, an advancement in screening technology that is transforming the way waste materials are processed. With its cutting-edge design and good performance, the unit addresses several pressing issues faced by the sector, making it a game-changer for both businesses and the wider environment. “The Cribus 5000 provides superior screening capabilities’, said Deon Cope, Komptech CEA Brand Leader. “With its large, customisable drum, the Cribus 5000 boasts an unparalleled screening surface area that allows for efficient separation of various materials. Whether it’s compost, biomass, construction debris, or mixed waste, the Cribus
The Komptech Cribus 5000 is a time saver and is cost-effective to run.
5000 can handle it all. This versatility also ensures that waste processing facilities can maximise their efficiency and reduce the need for multiple screening machines, ultimately saving time and resources”. One of the key features of the Cribus 5000 is its state-of-the-art technology helping to minimise energy consumption while maximising output. The result? Lower operational costs and a reduced carbon footprint. This aligns with the global shift towards cleaner, more sustainable practices in waste management. Another feature is the Cribus 5000’s user-friendly design. It’s engineered for easy
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maintenance, reducing downtime and increasing productivity. This is crucial for waste management facilities, where every minute of operation counts. By simplifying maintenance procedures and incorporating robust components, Komptech has ensured that the Cribus 5000 is not just efficient but also reliable, making it a worthwhile investment for any operation. “The Cribus 5000 doesn’t just excel in its technical specifications”, added Deon; “it’s also a shining example of the power of innovation, thanks to Komptech’s commitment to research and development, paving the
way for waste management solutions globally. Its smart automation features, intuitive controls, and remote monitoring capabilities make it a forward-thinking solution within the industry”. By effectively separating and classifying materials, the Cribus 50000 facilitates the recovery of valuable resources, reducing the need for raw materials and minimising waste going to landfills. This not only benefits businesses by enhancing their resource efficiency but also plays a crucial role in conserving the planet’s natural resources. The Komptech Cribus 5000 represents a leap forward in screening technology, redefining the standards of efficiency, sustainability, and innovation in waste management. Its versatility, commitment to sustainability, user-friendly design, and contribution to the circular economy make it a machine suitable for waste management facilities worldwide.
Daily news updates at www.insidewaste.com.au
// Workplace Health
Dust suppression: the sustainable solution By Inside Waste RECYCLING and waste processing are among the top producers of atmospheric dust in Australia. Once dust is generated, circulation is difficult to control, affecting worker health, machinery, and spreading to neighbouring land. As the industry enters peak dust season, Pollutex Dust Suppression System offers a solution. ASD GmbH, located in Germany, specialises in the processing of construction debris. With a processing capacity of up to 100 tonnes per hour, the company uses an impact mill, sieve, and magnetic separator that classifies material into granulations of 0-32 and >32. The discharge takes place at a height of 10 metres. The company previously relied on a water spray system to reduce dust but was dissatisfied with the results. Water use can lead to moisture problems and often evaporates quickly. Insufficient
dust suppression led to environmental strain and conflict with those companies surrounding them.
Pollutex Dust Suppression System While looking for a viable solution ASD came across the Pollutex Dust Suppression System. Recently developed in Germany, the system uses a unique foam application, Pallax, which is biodegradable. To produce the solution, an average of 99 litres of water is mixed with 1 litre of Pallax foam. Adding air under variable pressure conditions creates an increase in volume with a long shelf life. Twelve hundred litres of foam are obtained from 100 litres of solution. The system was implemented as a retrofit solution in ASD’s older facility, which operated without extraction or enclosure. By using the foam, dust was
suppressed at the source, therefore improving air quality. Additionally, neighbourhood conflicts were resolved. In Australia, the Pollutex system is distributed by CEMAC technologies. Easy to install and maintain, consisting of a dosing pump, a foam mixer and foam nozzles, it is versatile and suitable for various materials and applications. The foam immediately binds to dust particles, preventing them from entering the air. Pallax foam can be effective for one to two weeks after application, which means that the material is not only processed dust-free, but can also be sorted and transported without dust production. Unlike dust extraction solutions, there is also no additional waste product that needs to be taken away. Furthermore, the system contributes to environmental sustainability by reducing dust emissions and minimising environmental impact.
“Dust suppression benefits both short- and long-term workplace safety and lowers machine maintenance costs, making dust suppression not just a convenience but a necessity to protect worker and community health and preserve equipment longevity,” said CEMAC’s sales specialist, Kurt Palmer.
Future-proofing Using the system, ASD not only resolved its dust issues but also found a future-proof solution for its facility. By optimising working conditions, resolving neighbourhood conflicts, and making a positive environmental impact, Pollutex has met ASD’s requirements. The results have not only impressed customers in Germany but also piqued the interest of numerous international clients including those in Australia. Pallax foam is suitable for a wide range of materials including waste wood, rubble, glass, textiles, paper, plastics, metal, and e-waste.
The Pollutex Dust Suppression System prevents dust from entering the air in the first place.
Daily news updates at www.insidewaste.com.au
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Capabilities Statements //
Komatsu Forest Company Overview: Komatsu Forest is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of forest machines. We are represented on six world continents by a network of dealers and our own sales companies. Komatsu Forest’s head office is in Umeå, Sweden, and we have two manufacturing units, in Sweden and the USA. Our own sales companies are located in Sweden, Norway, Finland, Germany, Austria, France, United Kingdom, Russia, USA, Australia and Brazil, and our network of dealers represent us on all other important forestry markets. Our extensive service organisation takes care of the machines, ensuring that they perform their best throughout their service lives. We have workshops throughout the world, service vehicles for quick assistance, in-house machine and methodology instructors to help maximise productivity, and support functions for everything related to our machines and services. Products and Services: We offer products and services that
increase productivity while simplifying the working day for you as a machine owner. We combine all our services under our Customer Care concept. This is our promise that you will enjoy the benefits of Komatsu Forest’s investments in research, development, servicing, support, logistics and innovative services. These combined resources are at the very heart of Komatsu Forest’s offer. Our goal is to make your working day as safe, problem-free and profitable as possible, no matter where in the world you operate. Let us show you that by choosing Komatsu, peace of mind and accessibility can become a natural part of your working day. Brands • Komatsu • Peterson • TimberPro Core Capabilities: Our world-wide network of highly trained service professionals is ready for you. We know how important it is to be
close to service and maintenance when help is needed. Therefore, we have a market-wide network of highly trained service professionals that knows your Komatsu, Peterson & Timberpro machine in every detail. They are, in turn, in constant contact with the Komatsu Forest head office so your voice or needs are never more than a call away from our collective expertise. Furthermore, we are constantly developing new services that will help you in your everyday work.
• Support and maintenance throughout your machine’s service life • Maintenance agreements with fixed maintenance prices and other benefits Contact Details: AUSTRALIA Komatsu Forest Pty Ltd 4/11 Ave of Americas Newington, NSW 2127 T : +61 2 9647 3600 E : info.au@komatsuforest.com
We offer: • Workshops and field services throughout Australia & New Zealand • Well qualified personnel with expert knowledge of Komatsu & affiliated machines • Field Service that enables us to remain close to you and your machine
NEW ZEALAND Komatsu Forest Pty Ltd 15C Hyland Cres Rotorua, New Zealand M: John Kosar + 64 274 865 844 M: Paul Roche + 64 21 350 747
Hitachi Zosen Inova Company Overview:
Own, Operation & Maintenance
Hitachi Zosen Inova (HZI) is a global leader in waste to energy (WtE), anaerobic digestion (AD) and Power-to-Gas, acting as an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor delivering complete turnkey plants and system solutions for energy recovery from waste. Since 2015, HZI Australia, a 100% subsidiary of HZI, is developing new projects in Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific. Its first project, the 300,000 tpy East Rockingham WtE is now in construction and will start commercial operation in 2024.
Brands:
Products/Services: • Thermal treatment of residual waste, energy recovery, flue gas treatment, and residue recycling • Wet and dry anaerobic digestion of food & green resources, renewable power production, biogas upgrading to biomethane and bio-CNG • Power-to-Gas for volatile electricity into renewable synthetic gas for a carbonneutral economy • Development, Design, Build, Finance,
• Hitachi Zosen • Aquaroll, DYNOR, Kompogas, • HZI Etogas, HZI DryMining Core Capabilities: Energy from Waste, Renewable Gas, Project Development, EPC, O&M, Asset Management Recent Projects/Installations: HAGENHOLZ WASTE TO ENERGY, ZURICH, SWITZERLAND HZI has been awarded the contract by Entsorgung + Recycling Zurich, the City of Zurich’s waste management division, to design, build and commission a new state-of-the-art Waste to Energy line at the Hagenholz waste treatment site close to the city’s airport. HZI will deliver a new third line and the fifth boiler to be built on the same site, which will increase the treatment capacity by 120,000 tonnes of waste each year. It will generate 48MW of thermal power and facilitate
54 INSIDEWASTE OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2023
the extension of Zurich’s existing district heating system. Significantly, the energy generated will markedly reduce the need for the oil and gas-powered heating systems currently used by homes and industry in the city, contributing to both a reduction in Zurich’s carbon footprint and enhanced supply security, with less dependence on energy imports. Notice to Proceed was given on the 6th September 2023, signalling the start of the build phase. Once fully commissioned, operations at the Hagenholz line will start in December 2026, producing much-needed electricity and steam for Zurich’s expanding district heating infrastructure. This is a home win for both parties, with HZI, a leading international green-tech group based in Zurich, helping to further increase
the canton’s ability to treat more of its own non-recyclable waste locally. For more information visit: https://rb.gy/ tivlz Contact Details: Hitachi Zosen Inova Australia Pty Ltd Level 16, 1 Denison, North Sydney, NSW 2060 Phone: 02-8003 4110 Email: info@hz-inova.com Web site: www.inova.com Key Contacts: Dr Marc Stammbach 02 – 8003 4110 info@hz-inova.com
Daily news updates at www.insidewaste.com.au
// Capabilities Statements
Hammel Recyclingtechnik Company Overview:
Brands:
With more than 20 years experience, Hammel produces the most powerful, versatile and extensive range of slow speed shredders in the market. Hammel Recyclingtechnik also manufactures screening and sorting technology and complete plant solutions. Hammel are famous for their Primary Shredders, which easily process your general waste materials including C&D, C&I, MSW, Green & Timber Waste while separating valuable ferrous materials. Harness the power of a Hammel to process tough materials such as Scrap Metal, Mattresses, Tyres, Railway Sleepers, Cars, Concrete and other difficult materials. Available in mobile or static, fuel or electric, Hammel Recyclingtechnik has a shredding solution to suit most applications. Exclusively represented by CSS Recycling Solutions, Hammel Primary Shredders are broadly recognised as the most powerful, efficient and reliable shredders in the Australian and New Zealand market.
All available mobile or static. Electric models available: • Red Giant VB 950 DK • VB 850 DK • VB 750 DK • VB 650 DK • VB 450 DK Core Capabilities: The HAMMEL product range of preshredders includes 5 models, which are available as stationary electric or mobile diesel-powered versions. Today we are looking at the second largest model in the range - the HAMMEL VB 850 DK.
also be shredded, giving the customer full flexibility in use. The machine is equipped with an easy-to-use control system, where different shredding programs can be selected depending on the material to be shredded.
The latest version is powered by a 525 hp Cummins STAGE 5 engine. With this powerful engine, the shredder is able to process large-volume input materials such as wood waste including roots, stumps, pallets, logs. Thanks to the multifunction shafts, other materials such as bulky and household waste, aluminum profiles and packaging, car bodies and light or mixed scrap can
The HAMMEL VB 850 DK is self-driven via a track system and can be easily transported. The compact design with a transport width of only 2.5 m offers mobility advantages for road transport.
material. A permanent magnet installed transversely on the discharge belt offers the option of separating ferrous materials from the output material in order to optimally process it further on high-speed secondary shredders or screening technology. Customers value the machines for their flexible handling. Contact Details:
The long discharge belt with a discharge height of approx. 4,800 mm can be adjusted hydraulically, which enables high stockpiling of the shredded
CSS Recycling Equipment Solutions PO Box 359 Dee Why NSW 2099 Phone: 1800 644 978 Email: info@cssequipment.com.au Web: www.cssequipment.com.au
Melbourne 1/97 Monash Drive, Dandenong South VIC 3175 1300 788 757 www.komptechcea.com.au
Perth 1 Yagine Close, Perth Airport WA 6105 1300 788 757 www.komptechcea.com.au
Brisbane 11 Kiln St, Darra 4076 1300 788 757 www.komptechcea.com.au
Auckland 96 Gavin Street Mt Wellington 1060 0800 435 269 www.komptechcea.com.au
Adelaide 260 Cormack Rd Wingfield, SA 5013 1300 788 757 www.komptechcea.com.au
Key Contacts:
Komptech CEA Company Overview: Komptech CEA is the Australasian distributor of Komptech machinery and systems for the treatment and processing of solid waste and organics waste materials for recovery and recycling. Our product range includes over 30 different types of both mobile and stationary machines that cover all key processes in modern waste processing including: • Single-shaft and dual-shaft industrial shredders • Compost windrow turners for commercial operations • Star screen and trommel screen machines • Material separation equipment including windsifters, ballistic separators and stone contaminant separators • Stationary recycling system solutions including shredders, separators and screening machines Brands: • Diamond Z • Screenpod • Trackstack
• Rowan • Komptech Core Capabilities: With a specialised product portfolio that includes over thirty different types of machines covering all key processes in modern waste handling, a consultative guiding approach to solution development for customers, and full service aftersales support and parts, Komptech CEA has become a leading supplier to the recycling and waste processing industry. Providing customer value is our focus as we strive to be the industry’s technological leader through continual innovation. Komptech CEA is dedicated to working with you to help you solve your waste problems and identify opportunities with comprehensive, detailed solutions driven by world-class technology. Contact Details: Sydney 50 Skyline Crescent Horningsea Park, NSW 2171 1300 788 757 www.komptechcea.com.au
Daily news updates at www.insidewaste.com.au
Deon Cope Product Manager 0408 059 231 d.cope@cea.net.au OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2023 INSIDEWASTE
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Capabilities Statements //
MRA Consulting Group
Eriez Magnetics
detailed and practical advice to support your waste and resource recovery needs. Core Capabilities: Contact Details: Customised advice to all levels of government and corporations. Our MRA Head Office objective is to collaborate with you from Suite 408 Henry Lawson Building, the initial briefing process through to 19 Roseby Street project development and implementation Drummoyne NSW 2047 of solutions specifically tailored to your 02 8541 6169 needs in the fields of: info@mraconsulting.com.au Strategy & Commercial – Innovative and www.mraconsulting.com.au tailored strategies Circular Economy – Help move your Company Overview: organisation or material towards a circular economy model MRA is one of Australia’s leading Planning & Approvals – Development and environmental consultancy firms, planning approvals and licensing services specialising in all aspects of waste Contracts & Tenders – Preparation, review and recycling. We are experts in and assessment waste, resource recovery and the circular economy, technology, climate Organics – Business case, collection processing and market development change, carbon and sustainable development. Our vision of the future solutions Grants – Scoping, application, writing, is one that is both environmentally review and administration sustainable and economically rational. With over 35 professionals in Waste Education – Effective and engaging programs environmental science, engineering, Auditing – Research and compliance audits law and finance, working across Carbon – Climate adaptation, ERF reporting Australia we have the experience and accounting and technical knowledge to provide
Core Capabilities: Company Overview: Leading specialists in metal separation, resource recovery technologies, and developing new recycling strategies and processes. Products and Services: • • • • • • • •
Magnetic Pulleys & Scrap Drums Ballistic Metal Separators Suspended Electromagnets Eddy Current Separators Stainless Steel Separators Fines Metal Recovery Systems Airless Metal Recovery Systems Tech Service and Repairs
Eriez designs and manufactures equipment to successfully recover and beneficiate ferrous and nonferrous metals. Identify and remove unwanted metal contaminates to minimise product rejection and maximise product purity. We can help you achieve greater recovery at a higher-grade product delivered at a lower cost per ton. Recover valuable resources from: • MRF, MSW, C & I and C & D • E-waste • Tyre recycling and Scrap metal yards, • Energy from waste feed and bottom & fly ash • Green waste processing, composting and road sweepings Contact Details:
Brands: • • • •
P-Rex® Scrap Drum Shred1™ Ballistic Separator FinesSort® Metal Recovery System RevX-E Eddy Current Separator
Australasian Specialty Coatings
Eriez-Australia 21 Shirley Way, Epping, Victoria 3076 Phone: 61-3-8401-7400 Email: sales.au@eriez.com Web: www.eriez.com.au
Applied Machinery
Products and Services:
Company Overview: Australasian Specialty Coatings – ASC – is an experienced coatings company located in Blacktown. We work in Construction and Maintenance and provide a range of Protective Coatings and Treatments for Concrete & Steel. We have been established since 2003 and we have a strong track record in achieving outstanding results for our customers. ASC successfully works with a wide variety of customers including Sydney Water, Ericsson, Veolia Environmental and Water Services, Suez Water and Waste Services, Unilever, Coca Cola Australia, General Mills, Bega Foodservice, George Weston Foods, Diageo, etc. ASC is an experienced organisation with ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001 Certified Management Systems as well as the NSW Government 5th Edition. We are also members of the Master Builders Association.
Flooring (Epoxy and polyurethane) – Commercial & Industrial Floor Resurfacing, Concrete Remediation, Concrete Repair, Anti-Slip Flooring, Anti-Static Flooring, AGV Flooring, Self-Levellers, Demarcation & Line marking Coatings for Concrete Densifiers, Waterproofing Membranes, Sealers, Concrete Resurfacing, Epoxy and Polyurethane Flooring, Chemical Bund Linings, Acid-Resistant Coatings Protective Painting Services Abrasive Blasting, Vapour Blasting, Shot-Blasting, Corrosion Control Coatings, Chemical Resistant Coatings Contact Details: ASC Head Office 1/14 Chicago Avenue Blacktown, NSW 2148 Phone: 02 8840 8888 Email: enquiries@acoatings.com.au Web: ascoatings.com.au
56 INSIDEWASTE OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2023
Brands: • Genox • Meyer • Starlinger-Viscotec
Contact Details: 55-61 Nissan Drive Dandenong VIC 3175 Phone: 03 9706 8066 Email: sales@appliedmachinery.com.au Web: www.appliedmachinery.com.au Company Overview: Applied Machinery is one of Australia’s largest suppliers of quality recycling machinery. Over 30 years industry experience enables us to deliver turnkey solutions for all manner of recycling applications across Australia. Products and Services: • Shredders and granulators • Plastic washing, tyre, and e-waste recycling plants • Repelletising systems/screen changers • Optical Sorting Systems
Core Capabilities: Applied Machinery has the capability to service the smallest single machine requirement, through to the largest of multi-site, staged installations and complete recycling line, turn-key projects. We supply some of Australia’s largest recycling organisations. A wide range of shredders and granulators are always in stock for quick delivery. Recent Projects/Installations: CLOSE THE LOOP Somerton, VIC Genox plastics recycling line installed at CTL’s Somerton plant. Handles a diverse range of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) materials including bottles, retail displays, tubs and crates.
Daily news updates at www.insidewaste.com.au
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Wasted Space //
Why rare earth elements are important to recycling EVENING SIR, Gadgets. We love them in our line of work don’t we, Sir? They’ve certainly gotten me out of a scrap or two over the years, thanks to our friends in the research and development division. Oh, the things we’ve brought the world that we can’t talk about. Anyway, with every upside, there is a downside. While gadgets and gizmos have certainly made our lives easier over the past few decades, unlike the Olympic Gods (or Q for that matter), they do have an expiry date. Unlike many other forms of waste, some of the components in our old mobile phones, televisions, computers and an array of other homeware, are literally worth their weight in gold. But people throw them on the scrap heap anyway. Rare earth elements, or metals, are a case in point. These elements have wonderful names such as Yttrium (useful if a tooth needs a crown), Scandium (great
for aerospace components), Promethium (for those very handy nuclear batteries), and Praseodymium (try saying that three times quickly after a couple of shaken martini’s!). They’re also important for components in such things as television and computer screens, electric vehicles, and hard disk drives. In other words, they are very important. With our reliance on digital and electronic goods becoming more so over the past three decades – and that reliance is only set to increase – recovery of these elements is becoming paramount. Thing is, the name is a misnomer. Some of these ‘rare’ elements are not rare at all. In some cases, more of these elements exist in the Earth’s crust than gold, silver and platinum – or even copper or lead. The issue is getting them out of the ground. And that is where things become a bit sticky. Because one of the countries with the biggest deposits
58 INSIDEWASTE OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2023
– and who are running the show for want of a better saying – is China. Up to 90 per cent of these metals come from the Middle Kingdom. Other places that have deposits include the US, Myanmar and here in the Great Southern Land, but nowhere on the scale as our south-east Asian contemporaries. And by Jove, do they know it. China has gone to extraordinary lengths to let the rest of us know who’s in charge. In the past decade, not only have they wound down production, but any of the smaller mines have been forced to amalgamate or be shut down so the internal bureaucracy can keep an eye on the comings and goings of what is being mined. I won’t even go into the environmentally unfriendly ways that are needed to extract these elements from the ground. Add to that, a recent article in Science News (I know, you’re surprised that I’m exerting my academic prowess at I
approach middle age) stated that by 2050 the planet will need up to seven times the amount of these elements than it is processing now in order to meet demand. Where is all this conjecture leading? Recycling. The same article announced that just over one per cent of these metals are recycled mainly due to the process needed to do so – hydrochloric acid being the main medium. However, scientists are said to be working on new ways to extract out these elements from the electronic goods where they are currently housed. It is hoped that this extraction process will cover about 25 per cent of manufacturing and industrial needs for these elements. I’m not holding my breath, Sir, but if we can negate our reliance of these elements from a source that’s intent on monopolising the feedstock, well, that can only be a good thing, right? Until next time. JB
Daily news updates at www.insidewaste.com.au
London, Oslo and Dublin Rely on Our Energy-from-Waste Technology. London, United Kingdom
Oslo, Norway
Dublin, Ireland
So Does Perth. Rockingham, Australia
Our solutions are based on efficient and environmentally sound in-house technology, and cover the entire life cycle of an Energy-from-Waste facility. Our proven technologies have been part of more than 700 plants worldwide. As a global leader in energy from waste we are proud to be able to say: We deliver. Check our references.
Waste is our Energy www.hz-inova.com
DELIVERING A GREENER FUTURE Komptech CEA is a leading supplier of machinery and systems for the treatment of solid waste through mechanical and mechanical biological treatments, as well as the treatment of biomass as a renewable energy source. Komptech CEA is proud to provide innovative solutions for handling waste and biomass. Komptech CEA’s extensive range of products cover all key processing steps in modern waste handling. At Komptech CEA the focus is always on innovative technology and solutions ensuring maximum benefit to the customer. Like to know more? why not speak to one of our team today?
SHREDDERS
TROMMEL SCREENS
TERMINATOR Where Function Meets Technology A slow-running, single-shaft shredder suited to all types of waste.
CRAMBO Less Fuel, More Power
1300 788 757
komptechcea.com.au
STAR SCREENS
WINDROW TURNERS
MULTI STAR Screening with a Star Makes waste wood and biomass processing highly efficient.
NEMUS Robust and Reliable
Ideal for shredding all types of wood and green cuttings.
Combining the practice-proven virtues of its predecessors with new solutions for even greater performance.
TOPTURN X
AXTOR
The Ideal Combination of Performance and Design
Shredding and Chipping Made Easy
With a sturdy frame, powerful hydraulics and large drum, the Topturn X is ready to handle any work situation.
One of the most versatile machines around for processing wood and green cuttings.