Inside Waste August - September 2019 by Prime Creative Media

Official Publication of the

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ISSUE 91 | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019

Malaysia’s Environment Minister, Yeo Bee Yin, is refusing any contaminated waste from Australia.

INSIDE 28 Qld waste levy 32 Litter prevention 36 Compostable packaging

Exclusive report: Trevor Evans discusses waste industry’s future

Financial burden of exporting waste monitoring of waste coming onto their shores, they are also returning waste they deem doesn’t comply with standards. Malaysia is enforcing the return of all contaminated waste, which was imported in violation of the Environmental Quality Act (EQA) 1974 and the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal 1989. Director general for Malaysia’s Department of Environment, Norlin Jaafar, told Inside Waste that in addition, the Malaysian government is notifying all importers that they will be responsible for all shipment costs to return waste should they fail to comply with the Prior Informed Consent procedure under the Basel Convention. As well as warning that importers of waste could concur costs, Jaafar said countries should recycle their own waste rather than shipping it offshore. “Developed countries claiming to have high rates of recycling should ensure that contaminated waste is recycled

locally rather than exported,” Jaafar explained. sThe Malaysian government is also making changes nationally that will see companies held accountable for actions that go against regulations. “Malaysia has ramped up joint inspection and enforcement activities at recycling factories. Illegal factories will be shut down while factories found to be violating the EQA will be fined or will face legal action.   “Malaysia has also increased surveillance at ports to intercept illegally shipped waste,” Jaafar said. In relation to potential shipments of waste being returned to Australia, Jaafar said the Malaysian government is engaging with the Australian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur to address the issue of contamination. Australia’s Minister for the Environment, Sussan Ley, told Inside Waste the government is taking action to promote opportunities for local industries and jobs in light of actions taken by countries such as Malaysia. (Continued on page 24.)

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MALAYSIA HAS RAMPED up joint inspection and enforcement activities at recycling factories in light of what Malaysia’s environment minister, Yeo Bee Yin, reported as tonnes of contaminated waste arriving from countries such as Australia. Not only will waste be returned to offending countries, but fees are also being dished out for importers that do not comply with standards. The restriction on waste from Australia, Canada and Japan, among other countries, is putting increased pressure on nations to ensure waste that is sent offshore is of a high enough standard to remain offshore. One solution is ensuring infrastructure in Australia can cope with the waste onshore. But while more facilities are needed in Australia, waste is still being exported to predominantly Southeast Asian countries. Malaysia has cracked down on waste imports and so too have countries such as Indonesia and Vietnam. Not only are they stepping up the

Australia’s first waste minister vows to improve the waste sector by holding companies in the industry to account, while also improving Federal leadership with support and funding to programs such as a national battery stewardship scheme. In response to Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia shipping waste back to Australia, Assistant Minister for Waste Reduction and Environment Management, Trevor Evans, said if companies are breaching the rules when trading recyclables here or overseas, then they are letting their industry and all Australians down. “Where companies do not follow those rules, we need to make sure that there is compliance and enforcement. “There is a growing international recycling chain and it’s right and appropriate that Australia is a part of international efforts to grow recycling chains around the world. At the same time, we do need to ensure that Australian companies are complying with the rules that already exist around what those streams of recyclable products look like as they move around the world.” Holding companies accountable will help improve waste management in Australia, which Evans also wants to enhance with stronger support from Federal government. (Continued on page 20.)

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Editor’s Note //

Official Publication of the

Publisher Christine Clancy christine.clancy@primecreative.com.au

Let’s keep our waste SOUTHEAST ASIAN countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia have been sending waste back to Australia, which is putting more pressure on us to strengthen our infrastructure. So more than ever, people in the waste industry are saying we should keep our waste and manage it onshore. This would in part be helped by MRFs ensuring waste isn’t contaminated prior to it being shipped overseas, and councils ensuring they do their part to provide adequate services and support to industry and the community. It’s also a reminder that each and every one of us needs to do better. We need to take responsibility as individuals to ensure materials end up in the right bin and to ensure they are reasonably clean. But most of all, we need to refuse and simply not use as much packaging and plastic, and buy within our means to ensure food doesn’t go to waste. People in the waste industry understand this, but not the public. What we often hear is how more education is needed, and while current programs certainly help deter some

General Manager (Sydney) Terry Wogan terry.wogan@primecreative.com.au

people away from that 20-second plastic bag that holds their food from the sushi shop to the office, more education is needed. The majority of the public needs encouragement to take daily steps to minimise waste. When we compare our actions to those of our neighbours or colleagues, we have to be on the same page and recognise the importance of refusing, reducing, reusing. But, while it’s less acceptable to use single-use coffee cups or straws, it’s still widely accepted that lunch is served in a single-use plastic container and food is kept fresh in plastic wrap. Despite having a long way to go, the waste industry is making great steps to change this. Now it’s just a matter of amplifying these steps and ensuring we can manage our waste onshore, or at least find a better offshore solution, rather than depending on foreign sources to sort it out.

Inside Waste is available by subscription from the publisher. The rights of refusal are reserved by the publisher 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.

Group Managing Editor (Northern) Syed Shah syed.shah@primecreative.com.au Editor Miri Schroeter miri.schroeter@primecreative.com.au Design Production Manager Michelle Weston michelle.weston@primecreative.com.au Design Blake Storey, Kerry Pert, Madeline McCarty Client Success Manager Justine Nardone justine.nardone@primecreative.com.au Head Office Prime Creative Pty Ltd 11-15 Buckhurst Street South Melbourne VIC 3205 Australia p: +61 3 9690 8766 enquiries@primecreative.com.au www.insidewaste.com.au

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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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South Australia takes steps to banning single-use plastic straws, cutlery and stirrers with draft legislation under way South Australia is taking action to get rid of single-use plastic cutlery and other plastic items.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA is set to be the first state in Australia to ban multiple single-use plastic items such as plastic straws, cutlery, and stirrers. In early July, the South Australian government announced it is drafting legalisation for public discussion to ban these items by 2020. The release of Turning the Tide on Single Use Plastics: The Next Step plan pushes for an initial ban on single-use plastic utensils followed by a range of other products, such as takeaway polystyrene containers and cups, to be considered for future intervention following further consultation. To help inform the development of the legislation, a stakeholder taskforce will be established comprising representatives of selected business, industry, local government and interest groups to ensure that impacts are mitigated and appropriate time is given for transition. The banning of single-use plastic products will also be piloted through voluntary business/retailer led 6

“plastic-free precincts”, which will identify opportunities and challenges associated with transitions away from single-use plastic products and inform legislation. South Australia’s Minister for Environment and Water, David Speirs, said a discussion paper earlier this year received strong feedback from South Australians seen to see action on single-use plastics. About 3,500 submissions showed community and industry support for increased measures to address a range of single-use plastic products and other items. “Nearly 99 per cent of respondents recognised the environmental problems associated with singleuse plastics and nearly 97 per cent supported government intervention. “The community has called for swift action on single use plastic products,” Speirs said. The South Australian government will release draft legislation for further public consultation later this

INSIDEWASTE AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019

year with the intention to introduce it to the parliament in 2020. “Social and corporate action is already underway on some of these items and there are readily available alternatives. “I encourage industry stakeholder to register their interest for the stakeholder taskforce,” Speirs said. In July, Waste Management and Resource Recovery Association of Australia (WMRR) CEO, Gayle Sloan, said South Australia is ahead of the pack and the hope is that other jurisdictions will follow suit and take similar action against single-use plastics. “Regulating the use of single-use plastics will go a long way in avoiding the creation of unnecessary waste, reducing pollution and increasing reuse of materials. It is also hoped that such an initiative will assist in improving the quality of recyclable materials recovered in the State by eliminating contaminants often found in the yellow bin.

“Eliminating single-use items that have readily available reusable alternatives is a great step in reducing waste generation and challenging the convenience paradigm that we have towards consumption,” Sloan said. She explained that people should rethink what products they buy and whether they even need them. “Changing single-use plastics behaviours is challenging and WMRR encourages the government to also think about effective education and communication to complement the roll-out of the ban, including how to encourage avoidance in the first instance, as well as incentives and rewards to assist businesses as they transition in 2020 when the ban in enacted.” Sloan added that South Australia could take the lead in driving a national outcome at the next Meeting of Environment Ministers, which would assist in achieving one of the National Waste Policy goals of reducing waste per capita.

Daily news updates at www.insidewaste.com.au

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South Australia’s landfill levy hike riles some in industry who say it’s too much too soon THE SOUTH AUSTRALIA government will increase its solid waste levy from $100 per tonne to $140 per tonne in just over six months, which has some in the waste industry displeased as it gives businesses little time to respond. There are also fears householders and businesses will bear the brunt of the costs as councils could be forced to increase rates. In June, the SA government announced the levy increase in its 2019/20 State Budget. The solid waste levy will increase to $110 per tonne on July 1, followed by $140 per tonne on January 1, 2020. In response to the announcement, Adelaide’s Lord Mayor, Sandy Verschoor, said the council was “very concerned” about the announcement of the levy increase. “These waste levies are a state government tax that we are forced to collect from ratepayers and have increased alarmingly in recent years. “While overall, this is a budget that will help promote employment and economic growth in the City of Adelaide, [the] council will continue to advocate for our community on initiatives which haven’t been funded,” Verschoor said. SA Best described the increase as an “exorbitant waste levy hit”, with SA Best’s Treasury and Budget spokesman, Frank Pangallo, explaining that the state government was treating local government and ratepayers “with

complete and utter contempt”. “There is simply no justification for such an extravagant and over the top hike in the waste levy. “The fund isn’t depleted. It’s bursting with money which is being spent on other government programs,” Pangallo said. He indicated that householders and businesses will bear the brunt of a 40 per cent hike with fears the increase will be on-passed via council rates. Waste and Recycling Industry Association of South Australia (WRISA) executive officer, Chris Brideson, said there are some WRISA members, from the resource recovery sector, would see advantages to a substantial increase in the levy. “At the other end of the spectrum, landfill operators could see a decrease in their gate revenue. “On balance, I guess most people will just work with it.” He said the increase in January, while substantial, gives WRISA members enough time to communicate with their clients, but it could still have an effect on companies who have set budgets for the year. “Whether it’s enough time for the impact on people’s operations remains to be seen,” Brideson said. Waste Management and Resource Recovery Association of Australia (WMRR) CEO, Gayle Sloan, said the waste industry has been “blindsided”

Minister David Speirs said landfill is incredibly harmful to the climate.

INSIDEWASTE AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019

by the announcement as the levy was previously expected to increase by $3. “The timing and notice of this new levy increase is completely unsatisfactory – it does not allow businesses and local government with locked in 2019/20 budgets to prepare for this additional cost and it does not allow time for implementation of increased resource recover measures. “Industry supports all government action that promotes resource recovery and market development, however it is not as simple as drastically increasing landfill levies,” Sloan said. She said that while SA has led the way nationally in resource recovery, this increase is on top of a raft of new and increased costs hitting industry, which includes increased licensing fees and new financial assurance requirements. “[This is] all adding to the cost and challenges that our essential industry is already facing.” Sloan suggested the SA government should take note of Queensland’s model for implementing a rapid change in levy amount. “The Queensland government also looked to implement such a change on 1 January, however this was moved to 1 July and a years’ notice of such change given, and mechanisms put in place to manage such a large impact on councils and households. There is no such notice or mechanisms apparently planned in SA. “SA could also use this as a model for providing levy relief to MRFs and remanufacturers,” she said. A statement from the SA government explained that the solid waste levy increase would provide a strong signal that all efforts should be made to reduce landfill through recycling or resource recovery. The government will use the levy increase to fund significant environmental projects with the 2019/20 State Budget, including more than $64 million of new funding towards practical environmental action including waste management and coastal protection. SA Minister for Environment and Water, David Speirs, said landfill is one of the most significant contributors to greenhouse gas emissions that are incredibly harmful to the climate, so more action is needed. “We need to send a strong message that more needs to be done to reduce these damaging emissions and that councils need to have the tools to divert more for resource recovery and continue moving South Australia towards a truly circular economy.”

Adelaide’s Lord Mayor, Sandy Verschoor, said the council is concerned about levy increases in SA.

The waste management and resource recovery industry employs about 4,800 people, which Spiers said is a figure the government aims to grow. “For every 10,000 tonnes of waste recycled there are 9.2 full time jobs created compared to 2.8 jobs when sent to landfill. “As it stands, as much as 40 per cent of the material in our household waste bins sent to landfill is food and organic waste, which could be diverted through the organics bin.” WMRR indicated it recognises that a landfill levy is an integral part of a successful waste and resource recovery policy framework, but there were fears a large increase without policy support had the potential to lead to unintended outcomes such as illegal dumping. “A good levy is a certain levy with telegraphed changes that industry can plan for and respond to,” Sloan said. “Industry has been trying to create market demand for recyclables – the minister has effectively with this increase given industry six months to make it happen. We call on government to demonstrate leadership and mandate recycled procurement for all government agencies at all levels now. “We call on SA to continue to be a leader in Australia and implement sustainable procurement policies now,” Sloan said. Speirs explained that through better collection systems, infrastructure and education, by 2020 the SA government aimed to have a 35 per cent reduction in waste to landfill when compared to 2003 figures. “China’s National Sword Policy has provided the industry with a challenge but this funding package on top of support already provided in last year’s State Budget will help modernise and transition our resource recovery sector,” he said.

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Public comment sought on Circular Economy Policy issues paper in Victoria THE VICTORIAN government has released an issues paper on the Circular Economy Policy for public comment. A statement from the government, released in July, explained that Victorians have an opportunity to help make the recycling system more resilient and sustainable by expressing their views on the policy. The implementation of a Circular Economy Policy aims to deliver new opportunities for industry and more jobs in Victoria. Through the policy, Victoria will transition from the traditional linear model of consumption to a circular model that continually seeks to minimise the use of natural resources. The policy will build on the government’s continued investment in the waste and resource recovery initiatives and responds to global recycling challenges. Victoria’s Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Lily D’Ambrosio, said a circular economy will not only improve Victoria’s waste and

recycling systems – it will support local businesses and create local jobs here in Victoria. “We’re transforming the way we think about waste and resource recovery – developing a circular economy will deliver better environmental, social and economic results for Victoria. “I encourage Victorians to have their say on this important issue as we work towards a final policy in 2020,” D’Ambrosio said. The Circular Economy Policy issues paper is open for consultation until August 2, 2019. Queenslanders are also being encouraged to have their say on an Energy from Waste (EfW) policy discussion paper – released on Monday. Queensland’s Minister for Environment, Leeanne Enoch, said the discussion paper gives the community a chance to contribute to the development of a new policy and provide feedback on the types of technologies. “Converting waste to energy should not be considered as an alternative to recycling. Avoiding and reducing waste

The Victoria and Queensland governments are taking more action in the waste space with a circular economy policy and EfW policy, respectively.

should always be the most preferable option as a long-term solution, followed by reusing and recycling waste. “However, recovering energy from waste is suitable for waste that cannot be recycled, and would otherwise be destined for landfill,” Enoch said. Waste Recycling Industry Queensland (WRIQ) executive officer, Rick Ralph, said EfW will play an important role in helping to achieve the objectives

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and targets of the Queensland’s Waste Management and Resource Recovery Strategy. “The release of the energy from waste discussion paper is a step in the right direction. “Industry looks forward to having this discussion with the government in this important initiative,” Ralph said. The paper is open for public consultation until August 26.

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// News

New Zealand says goodbye to single-use plastic bags including biodegradables JULY 1 MARKED the first day of a ban on single-use plastic bags across New Zealand, including bans on biodegradable, compostable and oxydegradable plastics bags. In order to reduce the amount of plastic in the country, retailers in New Zealand can no longer provide customers with single-use plastic bags. The ban applies to all new singleuse plastic shopping bags with handles that are made of plastic up to 70 microns in thickness. This includes: • Light-weight plastic bags commonly found at supermarket, takeaway food and other retail checkouts; • Heavier boutique-style plastic shopping bags commonly found at department or clothing stores; and • Emergency bags offered by some supermarkets as an alternative to a free single-use plastic bag. The ban also applied to bags made of degradable plastic – regardless of whether the plastic material is made from fossil-fuel or biological sources, such as plants. However, not all single-use bags are banned. Bin liners, bags used to collect

pet waste, and barrier bags used when buying meat and fruit and vegetables are exempt. In the days prior to the ban coming into effect, New Zealand Associate Environment Minister, Eugenie Sage, said ending the use of single-use plastic shopping bags would help New Zealand live up to its clean and green reputation. “The ban should ensure less plastic ends up in rivers, streams, storm-water systems and the ocean so seabirds, fish, turtles, and marine mammals are less vulnerable to being harmed by it. “The plastic shopping bag ban is one step to tackling New Zealand’s waste issues. We also need to recharge our materials recovery and recycling systems and shift to a circular economy,” Sage said. Mainstream supermarkets in New Zealand have already made the change away from single-use plastic shopping bags and report that this has stopped tens of millions of bags being handed out. New Zealand Ministry for the Environment research indicated that 56 per cent of shoppers in April 2018 brought reusable bags, increasing

Associate Environment Minister, Eugenie Sage, said banning single-use plastic bags will help New Zealand maintain its green reputation.

to 91 per cent “always” or “often” bringing their own reusable bag in September 2018. “Government regulations and the sum of many individual actions make a difference,” Sage said. Businesses were given six months ahead of the ban to phase-out single-

use plastic bags. The New Zealand Ministry for the Environment highlighted long-life reusable bags in heavier-duty plastics, lightweight synthetic fabric bags and cotton, canvas, jute and hessian bags as good alternatives for carrying purchased goods.

Research for sustainable, less food waste city in Queensland underway RESEARCH INTO AUSTRALIA’S first sustainable food city south of Brisbane is underway to help create a digitallyenabled community compost system and

small-scale food production businesses. QUT is helping undertake the research as part of a Food Agility CRC project, with the university collaborating with

Queensland could soon be home to a less food waste city.

Daily news updates at www.insidewaste.com.au

Lendlease to develop prototype systems for sustainable local food production at Yarrabilba, south of Brisbane. QUT food and agricultural sociologist Dr Carol Richards said with the circular economy being a new approach to dealing with the growing problem of food waste, this waste will gain more value than it had in the past. “In this case, we are using food waste to grow more food and create a valuable resource for the community. Working with residents to co-design their own sustainable food city is a key aspect of this project,” she said. Food Agility CEO, Dr Mike Briers, hoped Yarrabilba would become a national model for digitally integrated, sustainable urban agriculture and the circular food economy. “The world is grappling with a major food challenge – how to make enough healthy food to feed a growing population – with less available land while minimising waste and environmental impact. “Yarrabilba will be a test ground for how we can embed cutting-edge digital technologies into the design of

our cities to create local food systems fuelled by food waste,” Briers said. The first stage will involve developing a prototype digital composting system that uses sensors to track when people add their kitchen food waste to the compost. The community will be able to track their progress on a digital dashboard and earn credits to swap for local goods and services. The second stage involves establishing a digitally-enabled produce garden and a local food market. Yarrabilba development director, Michelle Wooldridge, said the research will be incorporated into Lendlease’s development plans at Yarrabilba, which will see the community grow to 45,000 people by 2041. “We’re looking at environmental sustainability and community health in a whole new way and building in the necessary infrastructure from the beginning. We also think this will generate economic opportunities, whether that’s through urban farming, creating value out of waste or foodbased tourism,” Wooldridge said.

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019 INSIDEWASTE

News //

Soft plastics asphalt plant opens in Lake Macquarie

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A $5 MILLION asphalt plant has been opened in Teralba, Lake Macquarie, which will see plastic bags, recycled glass and printer toner to be used in the construction of new roads in the area. In mid-2019, Lake Macquarie Mayor Kay Fraser opened asphalt plant in Teralba, which will allow for the production of thousands of tonnes of sustainable road and pavement materials for the Hunter Region and Central Coast each year. One of the key products to be manufactured at the site will be Reconophalt, a road-base alternative that uses processed soft plastics such as shopping bags and chip wrappers to act as a glue that bonds and waterproofs roads. The soft plastics are collected through the REDCycle program, which has collection bins in Coles and Woolworths supermarkets, while waste toner will come from the national Planet Ark recycling initiative. The plant, run by Downer, is capable of producing a wide range of products including asphalt containing recycled tyre rubber and Reconophalt – a product that contains high recycled content from materials such as soft plastics, glass, toner and

reclaimed road. According to Downer, Reconophalt contains the equivalent of 530,000 plastic bags, 168,000 glass bottles and 12,500 toner cartridges. Reconophalt has enhanced properties of improved strength and resistance to deformation making the road last longer, and allowing it to better handle heavy vehicle traffic. Fraser said the opening of the facility has bolstered Lake Macquarie’s reputation for encouraging and embracing sustainable businesses and practices. “In the past 12 months in Lake Macquarie, we’ve seen the introduction of recycled glass sand in council’s civil works, a trial of recycled materials in concrete foot paths and now this next step in our war on waste. “I congratulate Downer on investing in new methods to close the loop on recycled materials.” Downer executive general manager for road services, Dante Cremasco, said the use of recycled materials reduced the requirement for “virgin” alternatives by one-third. Testing of the new Reconophalt material showed it lasted longer and was less prone to deformation than traditional forms of asphalt.

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Lake Macquarie Mayor, Kay Fraser, attended the opening of the asphalt plant.

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// News

Device that catches plastic waste deployed in Pacific Ocean A 600-METRE long device that catches plastic waste in the ocean has been released in the Pacific Ocean between California and Hawaii. The Ocean Cleanup, the company behind the device, announced in late June the machine was beginning its clean-up in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. The floating device was first deployed in September 2018, into the Great Pacific Patch, but it encountered issues. It had to be sent back for repair after the system did not maintain a sufficient speed, allowing plastic to exit the system, and a stress concentration caused a fatigue fracture in the HDPE floater. After four months of design, procurement, assembly and repair the device System 001/B is hoped to help clean up large quantities of waste in

the ocean. To effectively remove vast amounts of plastic, the System 001/B needs to be able to catch and retain plastic for long periods of time with minimal plastic loss. To retain the captured plastic, it is not as important if the system moves slower or faster than the plastic, rather the key is consistency, information from Ocean Cleanup indicated. The system must always go faster than the plastic or always go slower than the plastic. Fluctuations in the speed will prevent the plastic from staying within the system – as was seen during the previous campaign. Boyan Slat, creator of The Ocean Cleanup project, complemented the team behind the device, via Twitter, and wished for a better result than last time.

The Ocean Cleanup deployed a device in the Pacific Ocean in June to collect rubbish from the water.

“Big compliments to the team for getting us ready for launch in record time. Going from an 18-month development cycle to one of less than 4 months was painful at times, but

you did it. “Hopefully, nature doesn’t have too many surprises in store for us this time. Either way, we’re set to learn a lot from this campaign,” Slat said.

Sydney council tests durability of green concrete compared to traditional concrete CONCRETE MADE using industrial waste from coal-fired power stations and steel manufacturing is being used in a green roads trial in Sydney, with the test comparing this material to traditional roading materials. In June, the City of Sydney announced it is putting the building product to the test on an inner-city street, replacing a 30 metre section of roadway on Wyndham Street in Alexandria. To test the green concretes durability, the council has laid a 15 metres traditional concrete and 15 metres of geopolymer concrete, a sustainable blend of concrete and recycled materials. As a major road leading to Sydney Airport, the high traffic volume provides optimal conditions for the trial. Nine sensors have been positioned under the concrete to monitor and compare how the geopolymer concrete performs. UNSW Sydney researchers and the CRC for Low Carbon Living (CRCLCL) will then use results from the trial to create the first set of industry guidelines for Geopolymer concrete. City of Sydney Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, said the city was committed to finding new ways to lower carbon emissions. “Projects like this geopolymer trial can result in new products that make a real difference in slashing carbon emissions. With 70 per cent of the concrete produced today going into

pavements and footpaths, there’s great potential to further lower emissions from our operations. “We’re continually working with concrete suppliers to reduce the amount of pollution and greenhouse gases emitted during the production of concrete for our local roads, and we already use sustainable green concrete for all our footway renewal works – which adds up to 25,000sqm per year,” Moore said. Made from fly ash and blast furnace slag, geopolymer generates just 300 kilograms of CO2 per tonne of cement, compared to the 900 kilograms from traditional cement production – saving the equivalent of the electricity used by an average household every two weeks. Research has been undertaken since the 1990’s into geopolymer, but it’s only now that it is being explored as a product that is not only better for the environment, but also commercially viable. The low CO2 concrete has the potential to put the 400 million cubic tonnes of globally documented waste from the coal and steel industries to good use. While a small amount is currently used in construction, much of it is currently stored on site. UNSW Sydney researchers will monitor the road performance for up to five years. Professor Stephen Foster, Head of School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, is the CRCLCL project lead and he describes

Daily news updates at www.insidewaste.com.au

the trial as “a huge step forward”. “This trial will help drive step change in the industry. Many concrete companies are already doing a lot to change, but this trial really gives it another push,” Foster said. The road performance will be monitored for up to five years and a lot of the data collected in the first 3 to 12 months of the trial will be used to confirm the models and strengthen predictions. “Concrete contributes seven per cent of all greenhouse gas emissions and in 2018 the world produced about 4.1 billion tonnes of cement, which contributed about 3.5 billion tonnes of CO2. “Alternative, low CO2 concrete materials offer potential benefits in reducing the greenhouse gas emissions associated with conventional concrete.

This trial is important because we need demonstration projects to accurately assess the performance of Geopolymer over time so that there can be broader uptake,” Foster said. Industry partner Craig Heidrich, executive director of Australian (Iron and Steel) Association and Ash Development Association, said the benefits of the trial will be farreaching. “Our collaboration with organisations such as the City of Sydney and the publication of the research findings will further de-mystify and promote the use of geopolymer concrete in construction. “Geopolymer concrete has great engineering properties. It is a durable, high performance product that has a low carbon footprint when used in construction,” Heidrich said.

A green roads trial is underway in Sydney’s CBD.

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019 INSIDEWASTE

News //

Fire service urges NSW waste facilities to step up to reduce “disproportional number of fires”

Landfill fires happen all too often, according to Fire and Rescue NSW’s David Lewis.

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FIRE AND RESCUE NSW (FRNSW) is stressing the importance of waste facilities improving their fire safety standards with FRNSW’s David Lewis explaining there are too many preventable fires in these facilities. He said there are a disproportional number of fires in waste facilities compared to other industries. “In between January 2017 and June 2019, there have been 83 fires in waste facilities. Two thirds of these fires have involved multiple fire engines and 10 of those incidents have lasted more than two hours,” Lewis said. “Access and egress was a major issue. The longer it’s taking us to get in there, the more fire growth, the more damage will occur. We need to have good housekeeping.” To prevent fires and to minimise damage from fires in waste facilities, Lewis said companies needed better training of staff, improved smoke detection devices and sprinkler systems. He gave an example of a NSW facility that had experienced a fire, which staff tried to put out using 20 fire extinguishers. Once staff had been trained, they were able to control a similar fire at a later date with one extinguisher. In collaboration with the NSW EPA, FRNSW conducted inspections at 28 waste facilities in the state. Lewis shared the findings of the inspections at a Waste

Contractors and Recyclers Association of NSW (WCRA) industry update conference in Sydney on June 13. Results of the inspections showed that 89 per cent of the premises were identified as having issues relating to access for firefighters and egress for occupants. Common issues identified were obstructed exits, issues with exit signage and poor exit strategies. Of the premises inspected, 31 per cent that were required to have a sprinkler system, didn’t have any installed, and 17 per cent of the inspected premises had smoke detection systems, but they were all identified as having maintenance issues. Lewis emphasised the importance of a sprinkler system in facilities – particularly enclosed waste facilities as it can significantly limit the size and spread of a fire. He said 31 per cent of the premises inspected were identified as being required to have a sprinkler system in accordance with the National Construction Code, but they did not have one installed. Lewis said that more facilities need to adopt automatic smoke detection systems as these are rare in waste facilities, despite proving effective for early warning. Further research of the 28 facilities also found that 24 per cent of the premises were considered to have adequate fire hydrants installed. Inadequate fire hydrant systems can result in FRNSW committing extra resources to attend a fire, extended duration to extinguish a fire, and risk of significant loss and damage, which could be prevented. In an attempt to assist waste facilities in improving fires safety practices, FRNSW has created fire safety guidelines to provide the industry with information on processes to improve safety to staff, facilities and the environment. The guidelines are for new sites, not existing sites and FRNSW will help the waste industry meet requirements with alternatives methods if they cannot be met through the guideline recommendations, Lewis said. Lewis said there was a lot of interest in the guidelines with dozens of submissions from the public. “The final document is currently sitting with the EPA.” Lewis said the FRNSW expected a response on the guidelines from the EPA in mid-June and final documentation is expected within the next few months.

Daily news updates at www.insidewaste.com.au

// News

Tasmania’s landfill levy commitment supported by industry bodies The Tasmanian government released its Draft Waste Action Plan, in mid-2019, which highlights the introduction of a waste levy and the reduction of the volume of organic waste sent to landfill among key targets. Tasmania is one of few states in Australia that does not currently have a container deposit scheme (CDS) or waste levy, but the commitment to these in the action plan is considered a good move in managing waste in the state. Following the release of the plan in late June, Australian Council of Recycling (ACOR) and Waste Management and Resource Recovery Association of Australia (WMRR) applauded the state on its commitment to a waste levy. WMRR CEO Gayle Sloan said WMRR is pleased that Tasmania finally has a waste and resource recovery strategy. “In releasing the plan, the minister has acknowledged that waste management is a shared responsibility between all levels of government, the private sector, and community,” she said. In its plan, the Tasmanian government indicated it will continue work with industry, local government and other

stakeholders to develop to improve waste management in the state. Targeted consultation with these groups identified numerous priorities and the following key actions and targets were announced: • Introduce a waste levy by 2021 to fund waste management and resource recovery activities; • Introduce a CDS in Tasmania by the end of 2022; • Ensure 100 per cent of packaging is reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025; • Reduce waste generated in Tasmania by 5 per cent per person by 2025 and 10 per cent by 2030; • Achieve a 40 per cent average recovery rate from all waste streams by 2025 and 80 per cent by 2030; • Have the lowest incidence of littering in the country by 2023; • Work at the national level and with local government and businesses in Tasmania to phase out problematic and unnecessary plastics by 2030; and • Reduce the volume of organic waste sent to landfill by 25 per cent by 2025 and 50 per cent by 2030.

Tasmania’s Draft Waste Action Plan will tackle organic waste going to landfill.

Daily news updates at www.insidewaste.com.au

Sloan said Tasmania’s former Environment Minister, Elise Archer, should be congratulated for listening to industry about the importance of a levy as an economic tool for prioritising resource recovery, as well as working with industry and the community to design and set the levy. “This is a show of great leadership,” she said. “WMRR genuinely looks forward to working with government on both the strategy and the levy as we strongly believe Tasmania has a great opportunity to create resource recovery jobs and a circular economy, given the commitment of the Tasmanian community to the environment.” ACOR CEO, Pete Shmigel, said the plan is likely to increase the combined environmental and economic benefits that Tasmanians get from improved resource recovery. “ACOR also thinks it’s terrific innovation that the Treasurer, Peter Gutwein, will also be Environment Minister. It helps recognise that recycling is a great way to combine ‘green’ and ‘gold’ as it is both an economic and environmental positive.

President of the Local Government Association Tasmania (LGAT), Christina Holmdahl, welcomes Tasmania’s action plan.

Every 10,000 tonnes of material recycled generates some six jobs,” he said. ACOR noted the CDS, setting waste reduction goals, a commitment to a new administrative structure for waste minimisation, and acknowledgement of the need for national coordination as some key features of the action plan. Shmigel said ACOR now encourages the Tasmanian government to set the new levy at a sufficient level that drives positive results and industry investment, to ensure that the dedicated management body to guide improved resource recovery involves both local government and industry experts. ACOR also wants the government to have full transparency and independent governance in running its new CDS and to make commitments to positive procurement of recycled content products to boost local manufacturers. President of the Local Government Association Tasmania (LGAT) and West Tamar Council Mayor, Christina Holmdahl, said the local government sector had been calling for action and leadership on waste and recycling for a long time. “Our sector is pleased the state government is implementing a statewide waste levy and has announced a draft Waste Action Plan. “We welcome the commitment by the state government to also develop legislation to control how the revenue collected from the levy will be directed. “It is important that resources are directed to supporting industry, councils and the community to develop markets for recycled product and improving resource recovery,” Holmdahl said. The Draft Waste Action Plan is now out for consultation.

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019 INSIDEWASTE

News //

Profile | Ronni Kahn Ronni Kahn is the CEO and founder of OzHarvest – an Australian food rescue charity. What was your first job in the waste sector? Within my events company, I started realising how much food went to waste. That’s when the enormity of the waste hit me. I didn’t know it was a sector then. What’s your favourite part of your role as founder and CEO of OzHarvest? My favourite part is still going out on a van and reminding myself why we do this and 15 years on the vans still get filled every day. How has waste management changed during your time in the industry? The biggest change is that now everyone is talking about waste, plastic and sustainability whereas 15 years ago, we were a lone voice. What are some achievements that you are most proud of? I am most proud that we had laws changed, which have fundamentally transformed industry behaviour and Australians’ views on surplus food and how to repurpose it. I am proud that we got our government to commit to halving food waste by 2030. I love that our education programmes begin with school kids and go out into the community to all citizens sharing how to live a more sustainable life and to value our precious local food. What’s next for you on the short-and long-term? We continue to roll out our FightFoodWaste movement to all citizens and invite them to join us in halving foodwaste by 2030 in line with the UNDSG 12.3.

“We have chosen Volvo as our equipment partner because we feel there is an alignment in Volvo’s energy efficiency engineering values and ours towards reducing our carbon footprint and working towards a more sustainable future. We were also attracted to the quality that comes with a Volvo machine.”

works in a circular economy. Andy Street, the director of waste and resource management at UK company SLR Consulting, will speak about learnings from the international EfW market. There will also be a discussion on whether EfW can solve a larger energy problem in Australia – which will be held by Tribe Infrastructure Group’s Rajan Aggarwal. These and dozens more speakers will give insight into the EfW market nationally and internationally. On the Tuesday evening, people will be able to network at the conference dinner, held at the National Portrait Gallery of Australia. EfW has long been a topic of interest worldwide, with countries such as Japan and Germany using hundreds of EfW facilities in waste management. Australia is still exploring EfW and the opportunties these facilities offer in managing the nation’s waste and improving practices.

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THE WASTE MANAGEMENT and Resource Recovery Association (WMRR) has released the program for its upcoming National Energy from Waste Conference, held in Canberra on August 26-28, 2019. Under the theme of “Powering Change”, the program brings together international and local experts to discuss and debate all aspects of Energy from Waste (EfW), with the goal of understanding the barriers to acceptance and how EfW can be established in Australia while supporting an emerging circular economy. Highlights of the conference include expert speakers from the UK, Germany, Denmark and Belgium, panel sessions on policy around the states, and an interactive session on the barriers to acceptance in Australia. The first keynote speaker on August 27 is City of Nuremberg deputy mayor for environment and health, Dr Peter Pluschke, who will discuss how EfW

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Daily news updates at www.insidewaste.com.au

// News

Profile | Fishburn Watson O’Brien

Waste report highlights Australia’s shift in thinking THE YEARS 2017 and 2018 will be remembered as the make or break years before the seismic change that Australia’s essential waste and resource recovery (WARR) industry is currently experiencing, Waste Management and Resource Recovery Association of Australia (WMRR) CEO, Gayle Sloan, explains. Sloan said that for years, perhaps even decades, Australia, like many developed nations, discussed, debated, and researched the notion of a circular economy. “Sadly, the lack of action meant we had not transitioned, and worse, were unprepared to transition to a circular economy when the Asian nations that had previously traded our recyclable commodities began closing their doors. “We find ourselves in a sticky situation today.” In 2016-17, Australia exported about 1.2 million tonnes of recyclables – to put this into perspective, Australia generated 67 million tonnes of waste

that year, according to the National Waste Report 2018. A majority of Australia’s waste was exported to China and when the nation closed its doors, this material was traded with other Asian countries including, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Malaysia. “Following in China’s footsteps, these countries have now cracked down on imported recyclables, raising restrictions to minimise contamination, and are looking inwards for materials to close the loop domestically,” Sloan said. The work that is being done to improve WARR in Australia is highlighted in depth in the Inside Waste Industry Report – developed in conjunction with WMRR and Arcadis. The second volume report, Policy and Regulation, looks at waste management frameworks and policy on a state-bystate basis and at a Federal level. The volume is one of four that looks in-depth at waste in Australia. The first two volumes are available to purchase now.

Ross Fox, principal at Fishburn Watson O’Brien, provides specialist legal advice and strategy to some of the leading players in the waste and resource recovery industry. Fox shared his insights into his role at Fishburn Watson O’Brien. What experience do you bring to the company? I am an accredited specialist in planning and environment law and an advisor to the NSW Waste Contractors and Recyclers Association (WCRA) and the Australian Organics Recycling Association (AORA). I was also a principal legal officer and acted as director of litigation at the EPA. Prior to this, I gained extensive experience in a major international law firm. What key waste services do you offer? I provide strategic legal advice on obtaining approvals for waste facilities, regulatory issues and licensing. This ensures that clients access the right people and the legal strategies are framed in a way that maximises the prospect of resolution and obtaining the best result. What are some of your plans for the next 12 – 18 months at Fishburn Watson O’Brien? I expect to continue to advise on the significant and continuing regulatory change affecting the industry. This will mean advising clients in NSW, ACT and QLD on how to minimise disruption to their existing operations and take advantage of new opportunities. The renewed strategic focus on NSW and Federal government in the waste sector will also mean advising clients who are revisiting plans for Energy from Waste facilities.

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From the CEO’s desk Environment Ministers will meet for the second time this year THERE on 7 December, followingsymbol the firstof IS NO GREATER 2018 Meeting the of Environment Ministers (MEM) in community’s obsession with April, which was in part a response to the import convenience and consumption than restrictions driven China’s National Sword plastic.by Arguably, consumption has Policy and thefor effects this policy has had a long time been viewedacross as a the Australian waste resource recovery (WARR) major and driver of economic development industry. Key decisions derived from the April and wealth, without as MEM much include: consideration of the downsides (no, not just debt), the adverse impacts • Reducing waste endorsing a target that generation, our purchasing habits have of 100% of Australian packaging being recyclable, had on natural resources and the compostable orenvironment. reusable by 2025, and developing targets for recycled content in packaging. Plastic may have many advantages • Increasing Australia’s domestic recycling capacity. (affordable servings, lengthening life • Increasing the demand for recycled products. span, etc.) but it has just as many • Exploring opportunities to advance waste-to-energy and waste-to-biofuels. disadvantages – reliance on fossil • Updating the 2009 Waste Strategy by year which will include circular fuel,end, encouraging a disposable linear economy principles. mindset, to name a few. Activities such as Plastic Free July are fantastic initiatives, not only for being Australian It isand timechampioned to take stock internationally and examine what hasdone been Rebecca achieved Prince-Ruiz), since these decisions (well but for were announced. Now, seven (7) months may not seem like a longthink time, about however enabling government and the entire community to stop and the in that timewe webuy have seen further markets closeit(Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam)ifand plastic and use, and the role that has, allowing us to question we if you areneed an operator financial stress, seven (7) months really any of itunder – evencontinued the product that’s wrapped in plastic – and ifcould there make break you. areor re-useable alternatives instead. Today, my daughters in primary school think more about this stuff daily than I ever did, so it is great to have a month that Following the brings April MEM, we have front had three (3) states step in with varying specifically these thoughts of mind! degrees of financial assistance for industry (councils and operators). Thisplastic shouldis There is a general realisation today that the creation of single-use be expected considering almost all states (except Queensland and Tasmania) havein a major issue. Many are aware of plastic’s creation from fossil fuel, its role access to significant waste levy income each year. On the eastern seaboard, Victoria reinforcing a culture of mindless consumption, the challenges associated with hasmindless approximately $600 in waste levybereserves in the Sustainability Fund disposal, andmillion how difficult it can to recovery resources from complex andand NSW raises more than $700 million per annum from the waste levy. There is problematic materials. It has been hard to argue against affordability but certainly no lack ofsuch funds beMcCarthur reinvestedFoundation’s into our essential with statistics asthat the can Ellen claimindustry. that there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish by 2050, it is becoming harder to argue Funding but as know, the plastic. money goes a much longer way with againsthelps continued usewe of single-use Government support and leadership, as wellare as appropriate levers. Numerous countries around the world taking stepspolicy to avoid its creation as well as manage its use and disposal, some with greater success than others. VICTORIA Bali, for example, has impressed with its swiftness of action. On July 2, 2019, Victoria has arguably beenhome the most active and people earnestand in supporting industry the Indonesian island, to 4.3 million paradise tothe five million post-China, with two (2) relief packages announced to support the recycling tourists each year (including me!), banned single-use plastic items including industry, at a total ofpolystyrene $37 million.just Thesix Victorian has also plasticvalued bags, straws, and monthsGovernment after announcing thegone plan. above others statesand by with announcing it would take amade leadership role Not and six beyond years butallsix months, a population largely up of short in creating market demand for recycled products. stay tourists. In Australia, we are also seeing some positive action at the state level, SOUTH AUSTRALIA namely SA’s announcement that it will soon eliminate a range of single-use Government announced a $12.4 millionunderway, support package comprising $2 million of plastics, WA’s consultation currently and NSW’s recent announcement additional expenditure, $5 million additional funding for a loan scheme, together that it too will have a plastic strategy. Wouldn’t it be even better however, given with targeted funding from the Green Industries SA budget. The Government we are one country, if we could harness all of these initiatives and develophas one alsonational offeredapproach grants forinstead? recycling infrastructure. Industry has been calling on the Federal government for years to maximise NEW SOUTH WALESpackaging nationally (including eliminating single-use plastics), levers to address At strengthen first glance,the New Wales’ eye-watering $47 producer million recycling support lawsSouth and framework around extended responsibility, and package was heralded as the spark of hope industry needed. However, on closer move to a mandatory scheme that includes mandated percentages of Australian inspection, bulk in of this packageBut that funded via theespecially Waste Less, recycled the content packaging. it was is disappointing, in Recycle knowing More initiative and therefore the waste levy, was not new, making it very how quickly other nations have acted, that the Australian governmentdifficult decided for in stakeholders, local years government, to utilise as they were 2018 that weincluding needed seven (that’s right, years,the notfunds months) to achieve already committed activities. Some of the criteria change, begging to theother question, are we overthinking this?proposed by the NSW EPA also made itour challenging industry consistently to apply to these grants. Onisthe Managing single-use for packaging and nationally in plus fact, side, efforts are being made by the NSW Government to stimulate demand for neither complex or difficult. Bali has done it in record time, Canada is proposing recycled content through the intergovernmental agency working groups that a two-year timeframe and the UK has a roadmap Australia can simply adopt, have been established, tangible in demand or facilities meaning there is no though need to no reinvent theincrease wheel and there is certainly nohave need developed… Yet. to continue dragging the chain. QUEENSLAND Unlike its neighbours, Queensland did not provide any financial support to 18

INSIDEWASTE AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019

industry however the Queensland Government has embarked on the development ofAs a waste strategy by a waste disposalnational levy to increase Plasticmanagement Free July has ended,underpinned WMRR is proposing a simple plan recycling and recovery and create new jobs. The State will re-introduce a $70/ that can be developed quickly to transform the way Australia makes, uses, tonne landfill levy in March 2019. There are also strong attempts to use policy and disposes of plastic and beyond just plastic, create a sustainable, resource levers (levy discounts and exemptions) to incentivise the use of recycled material efficient national circular economy. We acknowledge that each state is looking at and make it cost competitive with virgin material. However, little done to their own circular economy strategy but economies, like waste, dohas notbeen recognise establish new markets and Government has not taken the lead in the procurement state boundaries and we need a national approach to this, like we do with most of recycled material. There are grantscertainty availableand for aresource recovery operations other issues in our industry, to create level playing field. Doing in also Queensland no monies haveAustralia been allocated to about assist in 2018. our This is so sends a although signal to the world that is serious solving troubling as Queensland rolled out its Container Refund Scheme on 1 November, waste and resource challenges. which likelyalready impact been the cost and we revenue of the State’s MRFs as we If I will haven’t clear, need models national leadership from –the have seen most recently in NSW. Federal government. We need to establish a national independent body that is representative of Australia’s supply chain with key stakeholders, including WESTERN AUSTRALIA all levels of governments and government bodies, businesses, all industries The Western Australian set up a Waste Taskforce in direct response involved in product andGovernment packaging manufacturing and remanufacturing, the to the China National Sword. As part of this announcement, the State Government waste and resource recovery sector, charities, not-for-profits, and associations. urged all local begin a three (3)-bin - red for This body’s solecouncils purposetomust bethe to utilisation accelerate of Australia’s move system to a circular general waste, yellowsolutions for recyclables and resource green for avoidance organic waste the coming economy by finding to boost and- over efficiency at yearspoint to reduce contamination. thiscan taskforce a step insuch the as right direction, every in the supply chain. While Australia look tois models WRAP UK are Scotland yet to seefor anyinspiration. tangible results from it or any funding for industry. In October, orweZero the WA Waste Authority its has drafthad Waste Strategy to 2030, whichresource comprises One of the reasons whyreleased WRAP UK proven success in driving a comprehensive and detailed roadmap towards the State’s shared vision of efficiency is because it has a national plan to tackle issues and develop becoming a sustainable, low-waste, circular economy. solutions for each of its priority sectors – food and drink, clothing and textiles, electricals and electronics, and plastics – the same issues we face in Australia, COMMONWEALTH yet we tackle them by state. Through national research and development, Following the MEMand in April, Australia now has a new Federal Environment Minister, recycling programs projects (including improving infrastructure), voluntary Melissa Price, who in October reiterated to media MEM’s commitment to explore agreements, consumer campaigns and education, grants and financial support, waste to energy as part of the solution to the impacts of China’s National WRAP UK is maximising the value of waste by increasing the quantity Sword, and which of is troubling (EfW is not solution recycling). Commonwealth quality materials collected for are-use and to recycling, andThe re-inventing how thehas also backedproduces, the Australian Recycling Label and endorsed the National Packaging UK designs, and sells products. Targets developed by the Australian Organisation (APCO), One of its more recent initiatives, thePackaging UK PlasticsCovenant Pact, which was established which has to date, failed to incorporate industry feedback in the development in mid-2018, has set ambitious 2025 targets that include milestones commencing of these targets. To the Commonwealth’s credit, there has manufacturers, been significant now for its coalition of more than 120 brands, retailers, coordination in reviewing the Nationaland Waste with the producers, recyclers, NGOs, governments localPolicy, authorities. TheDepartment reason why of Environment bringing together industry players and States during the review the UK Plastics Pact is gaining traction (and this is the same reason why WRAP process. UK is successful) is because it has a history of being independent and delivering tangible results for all parts of the supply chain, including councils, recyclers Theindustry, updated Policy willitnow before on 7 December. and enabling to go have the Environment confidence ofMinisters all participants to bringThe Commonwealth can play a key role – one that goes beyond the development of the these 120 players that represent more than 80 per cent of the UK’s plastic National Waste Policy. WMAA is supportive of the Federal Government maximising packaging to the national table to make a commitment to the targets. the has,each including taxation andorimportation a strong, Thelevers fact itthat initiative, pact, agreement powers, specific to tomaintain the identified sustainable wastestream and resource recovery priority material falls under theindustry. one national body, and action is undertaken on a national level, also offers consistency, certainty, and confidence AHEAD OF MEM 2 driving participation and engagement. This is so far lacking for all stakeholders, There may be movement across Australia,bodies. with some states doing better than in Australia with its smattering of different others, but the consensus is, progress is still taking way too is evident Funding this independent national body is a no-brainer (atlong. leastIt from wherethat there are funds available in almost all States to assist with developing secondary I’m standing). The Federal government has already committed over $200 million infrastructure, the only this will really atmanufacturing the last election to supporthowever our industry andway thethat manufacturing ofhappen lower is if there is government around mandating recycledsuch content in Australia emissions and energy leadership efficient recycled content products, as recycled now, not later. and paper/pulp. A portion of this fund should be allocated to content plastics the independent body, in addition to funds currently being channeled to other Voluntary schemes like the Usedlooking Packaging NEPM, underincluding which APCO is auspiced, federally-auspiced organisations at these issues, FIAL. are not working. We have 1.6million tonnes of packaging waste in Australia, Australia has the funds, the need, the desire, and the challenges to set upwhich a needs to be used as anWhat inputwe back into packaging. Barriers to usinggovernment recycled content WRAP UK-esque body. now need is will from the Federal to in civilthis. infrastructure must–be identified and removed, Government must lead launch Here’s an idea let’s adopt this model at theand Meeting of Environment in this field and prefer and purchase recycled material. A tax on virgin Ministers and get on with it, so we get national consistency and action and material start should alsowhat be imposed is overseas. MEMon must showthe strong leadership on this harnessing is a lot as of itgreat work going around country. Let’s stop issue.around Ministers have, since April, dealt directly with operators going in our own circles and instead, work together and and drivecouncils Australiathat are under and wedirection. have a chance to create jobs and investment in Australia forward in astress consistent at a time when manufacturing is declining. Ministers have the opportunity to be leaders of today, notexecutive procrastinators Gayle Sloan, chief officer– leaders of tomorrow and we are urging them to act and not just talk in December. Waste Management and Resource Recovery Association of Australia Gayle Sloan Chief Executive Officer Daily news updates at www.insidewaste.com.au

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Minister Trevor Evans will hold the waste industry to account, but also support it to grow.

Trevor Evans spills on where the waste industry is going By Miri Schroeter (Continued from front cover) A COLLABORATIVE approach has been on the wish list for some time as many in the waste industry recognise that more could be achieved in managing Australia’s waste if local and state governments were better supported. Organisations such as the Waste Management and Resource Recovery Association of Australia (WMRR) and the National Waste and Recycling Industry Council (NWRIC) advocate for collaborative approaches to schemes aimed at improving recycling in Australia. NWRIC CEO, Rose Read, said Australia has a product stewardship act so the Federal government should create regulations under that act, which establish programs such as a national battery stewardship scheme. She said there’s also a good opportunity for Evans to lead the implementation of a national single20

use plastic ban using the Product Stewardship Act. “I have suggested that’s what they should do. Under the Product Stewardship Act, they could create a regulation that bans certain single-use plastic items. This could be phased in over time to allow businesses and states to adjust. It would be a more efficient solution than having each state create their own regulations. This is what the Product Stewardship Act is about. “He’s very interested in trying to move things along, which is good,” Read said in the hopes that more national, collaborative approaches will be taken on board. When Evans sat down exclusively with Inside Waste, he addressed collaboration as a topic that is on his agenda, but with just a few months as the waste minister under his belt, there is a long road ahead. “There’s no doubt that this national role presents an opportunity to advocate for increased harmonisation where it’s appropriate. The most

INSIDEWASTE AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019

important thing of course is that schemes exist and are working well and are improving over time. “It’s also important to recognise that the power to legislate on these matters does in many instances remain with the states and territories and that different policy responses might be appropriate in different states and different populations,” Evans said. “But harmonisation, broadly, is one of the philosophies and aims that we bring to the table. All of these things are up for conversation and the commonwealth is certainly continuing to work with the states and territories as we develop these schemes,” he explained. A national battery stewardship scheme is in one of the initiatives the Federal government is supporting, Evans said. “The Federal government has given seed funding to one of the states to work with the others on developing battery product stewardship. That’s one of the ways that the commonwealth can play

a leadership role and help to encourage nationwide and consistent regulation. An industry driven stewardship is underway, led by the Queensland government, to refine the focus on hazardous and rechargeable battery types, such as button cell, power tool, sealed lead acid and emergency lighting batteries. While national approaches for some schemes could be the best way forward, Evans said that programs such as singleuse plastic bag bans are proving to work on a state-by-state basis. “We’ve gone over the last nine years from having one to almost all of the states phasing out single use plastic bags. And from none of the states having container deposit schemes (CDS) to almost all of them either having one now implemented, or working on their introduction. “Progress is being made and the Commonwealth can play a leadership role in encouraging that harmonisation.” Evans said there has been good

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// Industry News

progress by phasing out single-use plastic bags, but there is more work needed to update regulations and to ensure all states implement up-todate restrictions. “There are a couple of remaining jurisdictions that haven’t phased out single-use plastic bags although the major retailers nationally have.” Evans explained that some of the early schemes had definitions around biodegradability and compostability that need to be updated. The Australian Capital Territory (ACT), for example, banned single-use plastic bags in 2011. While the ban has reduced the volume of plastic bag waste going to landfill by about one-third, restrictions as to which bags are banned are not as strong as in other jurisdictions that adopted bans later on. The ban applies to all retailers in the ACT for single-use, lightweight polyethylene polymer plastic bags that are less than 35 microns in thickness – these are the thin plastic bags with handles. The New Zealand government banned single-use plastic bags in July 2019. While that ban came much later than in the ACT, it is stricter. Single-use biodegradable, compostable and oxy-degradable plastics bags up to 70 microns in thickness have been banned across New Zealand. This not only includes light-weight plastic bags commonly found in supermarkets and takeaway food outlets, but also heavier boutique-style plastic bags commonly found in department stores. Evans gave an example of where restrictions that were created years ago, could be outdated by today’s standards. “One of the stories, for instance, is an early definition of biodegradable allowed plastic bags that in the environment quickly broke down to strips of plastic, which is not the same as compostable and, which is not the outcome necessarily that Australian’s would expect to see. “The Federal government is encouraging the next piece of work with industry around looking for alternatives for heavier weight plastic bags. Obviously the lighter weight, single-use plastic bags are the most concerning from an environmental point of view.” He said the lightweight single-use bags can easily be picked up by the wind or water and land in marine ecosystems. “The heavier weight ones aren’t as likely to do that, but the states’ schemes focus on the most environmentally harmful products first and now we move our attention to the next.” Evans aims to take his role as the waste minister as an opportunity to bridge the awareness and education gap that currently exists in the industry. “There are some really exciting new solutions and schemes out there and I

have to say I’m encouraged by the early signs that there’s massive appetite in the community to know more.”

Regulating waste exports While Evans recognised that important steps are being taken to improve waste management and resource recovery (WARR) in Australia, he is not taking these steps as an opportunity to sit back. The Federal government is working actively with other national governments in Southeast Asia to establish whether any Australian exports have not been complying with Australian or international requirements. Evans said the government is investigating reports of contaminated waste being sent to landfills in

“The Federal government is encouraging the next piece of work with industry around looking for alternatives for heavier weight plastic bags. Obviously the lighter weight, single-use plastic bags are the most concerning from an environmental point of view.” announced they will return eight shipping containers after they found household rubbish, electronics and nappies in the containers, which were meant to hold paper. Similarly, in May, the Malaysian government announced the return of plastic waste to Australia, US, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Japan, China and Bangladesh.

together and agreed on a new unified way forwards in relation to waste reduction and recycling. That’s called the National Waste Strategy and it will be a key part of my role this year to present and to hopefully get agreement between all the levels of government and an action plan that underpins that. “In order for that to be successful, I believe the action plan has to include Evans visits a recycling plant with NWRIC CEO Rose Read.

Southeast Asia – a move that could put strain on some waste management facilities in Australia, but one that also reiterates the need for well-manged facilities and WARR processes. Under Australian law, a permit is required to export regulated waste, and the consent of the receiving country must be obtained. Regulated waste includes recyclable plastics not sorted to relevant standards, or which have significant contamination, as well as household waste. “If a company has exported such material from Australia without a permit, we would work cooperatively with the receiving country to ensure this issue is addressed. This could include accepting the return of the material into Australia, as well as compliance action under Australian laws,” Evans said. In early July, Indonesian officials announced 210 tonnes of waste will be shipped back to Australia due to contamination. Authorities

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Federal focus on waste a must Recognising the challenges Australia is facing in WARR, Evans’ appointment to Assistant Minister for Waste Reduction and Environment Management is a first for Australia, and possibly even for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), he said. “That should give stakeholders some confidence that waste reduction is now a national priority. “This portfolio has been created by the initiative of the Prime Minister personally. He’s taken that decision because he believes that waste reduction and recycling should be at the forefront of the national conversation.” Evans’ two immediate priorities as the waste minister are delivering on the government’s pre-election commitments and delivering an action plan that underpins the national waste strategy. “Last year, all of the states, territories, the federal and local governments got

appropriate funding. It has to include robust outcomes and milestones along the way,” Evans explained. Given his brief time in the role, he said he is at the early stage of reaching out to industry, governments and other stakeholders. “[I’m] listening as much as I possibly can to the opportunities and the challenges that each of the people in the industry and all of the stakeholders see. “It’s very clear to me already, having met so many, that people in the industry are very passionate about waste reduction and recycling. That passion stands us in good step going forward to take advantage of some of the opportunities that are in front of us.” Outcomes for a strategy will be determined in measurable terms following a negotiation process by state, territory, commonwealth and local governments, but Evans explained these outcomes must be

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019 INSIDEWASTE

Industry News //

The Federal government’s largest financial election commitment was around encouraging new recycling industries to grow in Australia.

robust and measureable against milestones along the way. “Broadly speaking, you can expect us to see that we want waste to be reduced, we want key components of waste streams to be reduced, we want to see increases in recycling rates

and we want to see a growing local recycling industry.”

Federal government encouragement Growing the local recycling industry is of course made easier with government

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funding, which Evans said is a priority of the Federal government. Australia’s national recycling targets, which includes the goal of having 100 per cent reusable, recyclable or compostable packaging by 2025, is just one of many initiatives the government is supporting, Evans said. The recycling targets get a lot of coverage – sometimes they are challenged for being too lenient and sometime they are praised for moving the industry forward – but Evans explained that other programs in the plastics and recycling space are also improving the waste sector. “That’s where topics such as product

“One of the wonderful ways that I’ll be able to bring about change is to use this role to shine a spotlight on many of the solutions that are out there and many of the ways that people can make a change in their daily lives. “People are looking for those opportunities. It’s really important for people to know that the choices they make and the decisions they make can make a significant different to the environment – both the local environment and internationally.” Evans’ commitment to the industry has been well recieved by the industry so far. After meeting Evans in July,

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stewardship come to the fore. It’s where initiatives like CDS, plastic bag schemes and so on arise as well.” The rise in awareness of plastic pollution worldwide and in particular in Australia with the China National Sword policy and other restrictions, has put plastic at the forefront of priorities. “This is why in dollar terms, the largest financial election commitment of this government was around encouraging new recycling industries to grow here in Australia – $100 million the government has put on the table to encourage investment in new recycling industries and process here in Australia.” Evans hopes to take his leadership roles as an opportunity to support the waste industry, while also encouraging the public to step up.

WMRR CEO, Gayle Sloan, said Evans showed a deep understanding of the importance of the industry. “It became very clear early in the meeting that the minister understands the significance creating demand and markets for recycled products has on driving our industry forward. His work in the retail industry as CEO of the National Retail Association has also given him much-needed perspective and experience in supply chain management, which bodes well for industry as he has a wealth of knowledge on the roles, responsibilities and market demands within a supply chain,” Sloan said. “WMRR looks forward to our continued engagement with the minister and all levels of government as we look forward and keep our eyes on the circular economy ball.” iw

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Warning: Fees may apply – Asia cracks down on waste imports By Miri Schroeter (Continued from front cover) “WE HAVE COMMITTED $167 million to an Australian Recycling Investment Plan that promotes innovation, product stewardship, manufacturing of loweremissions and energy efficient recycled content products, education, consumer awareness and the reduction of plastic litter and other waste in our oceans and waterways. “In simple terms, we want to reduce waste and increase recycling to reduce impacts on the environment [and] maintain the value of our resources within our economy for as long as possible. We want to grow the capacity of Australia’s recycling industries.” She said as the Environment Minister, her priority is to find unified ways to protect the environment. “We are working with overseas governments and the message is that if companies are found to be breaching hazardous waste regulations, then I look forward to working with Malaysian or other national authorities to ensure an appropriate response. “The environment is something we all share and it can’t be a case of pointing to what everyone else needs to do, we need to look at what we can all achieve,” Ley said. Assistant Minister for Waste Reduction and Environment Management, Trevor Evans, said the Federal government is working actively with other national governments to establish whether there have been any Australian exports that do not comply with Australian or international requirements. “Under Australian law, a permit is required to export regulated waste, and the consent of the receiving country must be obtained. Regulated waste

includes recyclable plastics not sorted to relevant standards, or which have significant contamination, as well as household waste. “If a company has exported such material from Australia without a permit, we would work cooperatively with the receiving country to ensure this issue is addressed.” He explained that where trade in recyclable materials is carried out appropriately, it provides benefits for importers, exporters and the environment. But, as it stands, with China’s National Sword Policy and backlash from countries such as Malaysia putting strain on waste exports from Australia, there is a push for the Federal government and state governments to support local infrastructure and to ensure waste going offshore meets set standards.

Malaysia’s Environment Minister, Yeo Bee Yin, announced the return of contaminated waste to Australia.

State support for local infrastructure Queensland government Department of Environment and Science (DES) spokesperson said China’s and Malaysia’s decisions to impose more stringent quality standards on imported recyclable materials is impacting on Queensland’s resource recovery industry and councils that collect kerbside recyclable material. “The decisions have revealed how exposed Queensland’s – and Australia’s – waste management system is to the volatility of international trade. “It also shows Queensland needs to be more self-sufficient when it comes to waste management with the added benefits of more jobs and economic development.” To kick-start a transition to a circular economy, reduce waste and increase recycling rates, state governments

across Australia are committing hundreds of millions of dollars in funding towards the sector. The Queensland government is investing $100m over the next three years for new and expanded resource recovery facilities in Queensland – tailored to its regional waste management challenges. “While issues relating to waste management facilities are primarily a matter for the waste industry and local government, DES continues to support industry and local government initiatives to divert waste from landfill

Containers of waste were shipped back to countries such as Japan, Australia and the US by the Malaysian government.

INSIDEWASTE AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019

disposal and recover resources,” the spokesperson said. Regarding interstate collaboration, DES is in discussions with representatives from the Federal government and other Australian states and territories on matters of waste and recycling, and the development of local markets for recovered materials. While all state governments are taking action, initiatives to boost the waste avoidance and resource recovery (WARR) sector are often led by SA, according to spokesperson for the SA government. “As South Australia has had a CDS since 1977, a plastic bag ban since 2009, a staged e-waste landfill ban that began in 2012, and was the first state in Australia to release a plan to realise the benefits of moving to a more circular economy in 2017, and we currently have world-leading diversion from waste results, it’s probably often more a case of the rest of Australia adopting behaviours and practices already in place in SA. “The way to create markets is through establishing standards and procurement. To encourage demand

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and increase markets for recycled content product and greater reuse, there needs to be either a cost benefit, where the materials and products are either cheaper or of a much higher quality, or there needs to be clear procurement targets.” The SA government is working with the SA Local Government Association to look at the demand from councils around recycled content and procurement. It is also monitoring evolving uses for recovered materials that are being explored or trialled in other jurisdictions. “South Australia is keen to ensure that common use standards can be applied nationally for these,” the spokesperson said. To manage the effects of China’s National Sword policy, the SA Government committed $12m to deliver education campaigns and increase recycling capabilities in the state. The SA government spokesperson explained that controls are also in place via the EPA, which licenses all commercial waste and recycling facilities – unlike in some other states. “Where needed, the EPA can establish maximum stockpile limits at any of these licensed sites, preventing environmental harm. The EPA also has strong powers to address illegal dumping and unlawful stockpiling or abandonment of waste. “EPA compliance staff have not seen an increase in issues with waste management facilities since offshore markets have changed.” A spokesperson for the Western Australian Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) said contamination is a key issue for any recycler, but while local recyclers are facing increasing challenges in sourcing international markets, clean sorted recyclables continue to be exported to markets in Indonesia and Malaysia. “Improved source separation helps provide a cleaner stream of materials that deliver higher value to recyclers, in line with the recommendation by WA’s Waste Taskforce that more effective and consistent communications to the community about how to recycle effectively was needed. “The state makes significant investment towards improved waste management every year and encourages the community and industry to take up their own responsibilities and be very active in this area in a variety of ways.” In response to the Chinese government’s 2018 import restrictions on recyclable waste, WA’s Environment Minister, Stephen Dawson, established WA’s Waste Taskforce with representatives from the waste industry, state government agencies, local government

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Plastic waste exports have been returned to Australia from several Southeast Asian countries.

and the community. It aims to develop advice and solutions on recycling market issues and opportunities to increase recycling in WA. Taskforce recommendations included more funding to support recycling infrastructure, and more effective and consistent communications to the community about how to recycle effectively. The WA government has allocated nearly $2.3m to improve waste management and increase recycling in the state.

Long road ahead Despite state funding to support recycling infrastructure and programs that will boost recycling and reduce waste to landfill – increasing recyclable materials, millions of tonnes of material are still being sent off shore. NSW port data from Global Trade Atlas, showed that in 2017 in NSW alone, 51 per cent of NSW plastic exports were heading to China, but this decreased to 8 per cent in 2018, due to the National Sword Policy. However, with a lack of capability to process it onshore, the plastic waste was sent to other Southeast Asian countries once China was out of the question. Thirty-seven per cent of exports of plastic waste from NSW in 2018 was shipped to Malaysia and 19 per cent was shipped to the Philippines. In comparison, Malaysia was taking 24 per cent of the waste in 2017 and the Philippines did not take any. Waste Management and Resource Recovery Association of Australia (WMRR) CEO, Gayle Sloan, said nothing

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has changed as large percentages of waste is still exported. “We don’t want to be exporting it, but in the absence of facilities here, we need to do it.” Sloan said that Australia needs mandated recycling targets that are enforced by government, rather than taking the coregulatory approach that is currently implemented through Australia’s 2025 National Packaging Targets. The targets are led by the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) – a not-for-profit company established to administer the covenant on behalf of government and covenant signatories. The packaging targets encourage 100 per cent of all Australia’s packaging to be reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025, 70 per cent of Australia’s plastic packaging to be recycled or composted by 2025, 30 per cent average recycled content to be included across all packaging by 2025, and problematic and unnecessary single-use plastic packaging to be phased out through design, innovation or introduction of alternatives. Yet, currently, there are no regulations on materials such as single-use plastics that require states to phase them out or ban them. Sloan said progress would be quicker and more efficient if Australia followed programs similar those implemented by countries such as Canada. “There’s ways of doing this as we’ve seen oversees. We need to accelerate the targets.”

In June 2019, the government of Canada announced it is banning harmful single-use plastics and holding companies responsible for plastic waste. Through a Canada-wide Strategy on Zero Plastic Waste, single-use plastics, such as shopping bags, straws, cutlery, plates and stir sticks, will be banned as early as 2021 under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. Companies that manufacture plastic products or sell items with plastic packaging will also be held responsible for managing the collection and recycling of their plastic waste through Extended Producer Responsibility programs. The government of Canada will work with states and territories to implement these country-wide directives. By improving how Canada manages plastic waste and investing in innovative solutions, the government estimates Canada can reduce 1.8 million tonnes of carbon pollution, generate billions of dollars in revenue, and create about 42,000 jobs. Sloan said giving people a period of two years to adjust, as the government Canada is doing, is enough time to create the change that is needed, whereas Australia’s co-regulatory model lacks Federal leadership. “It’s more about confusion about role. I can’t help but feel that Federal government is so removed from being up-to-date in this issue. “They are not engaging with it as regularly as local and state governments. We’ve had Federal ministers talk about it in the last few years. Now is the time

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019 INSIDEWASTE

Industry News //

Malaysia and other Southeast Asian countries are cracking down on imported waste.

for taking over. It’s time for genuine action,” Sloan said. She hoped that the remaining funds, within the $167m allocated to the waste and recycling sector, will be used to create a meaningful structural shift and change. “There’s a frustration that the financial commitment by the previous minister didn’t create jobs or the structural shift required. “Having a minister dedicated to waste management now, we’ve got to think it’s such an opportunity to take action.” Sloan said in theory there were currently four ministers dedicated to the sector, so change should logically happen. The Liberal-National Coalition announced the appointment of Australia’s first ever waste minister in May 2019. “That’s a really strong commitment to our industry, so let’s hope it moves,” Sloan said. By having stronger Federal leadership and mandated recycled

content in products such as packaging, it will create a sustainable market, Sloan explained. “We need to get it nationally consistent – we are a common market. It’s nonsense to think states can to it by themselves.” Consumers need to understand what happens with the products they recycle and manufacturers need to be prompted and supported to use recycled content in their products, Sloan explained. National Waste and Recycling Industry Council (NWRIC) CEO, Rose Read, agreed that the key is creating more local markets here in Australia. “Those materials have been bought by offshore processors. What we need is we need alternative markets here in Australia so we don’t send them offshore – that’s the first step.” Read is also in favour of putting more onus on manufacturers and brands. “We have to ask that question – what are the companies who create this packaging doing?

Indonesia says no to Australia’s waste Just as China, Indonesia and other Asian nations have cracked down on waste imports, Indonesia taken a stand against contaminated waste. In July, Indonesian officials announced 210 tonnes of waste will be returned to Australia due to contamination. Authorities announced the return of eight shipping containers after they found household rubbish, electronics and nappies in the containers, which were meant to hold paper. The containers were reportedly contaminated by toxic or hazardous materials. Australia is not on its own when it comes to receiving its waste back from Indonesia. In June, Indonesia sent back a load of Canadian paper waste, imported via the United States, after it was allegedly found to be contaminated with plastic, rubber and nappies.

INSIDEWASTE AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019

“It’s their packaging and they don’t seem to mind where it ends up. If there’s no legitimate market for the material it should be disposed of responsibly here in Australia not exported and dumped offshore.” Read said manufacturers and brands have to take responsibility and be held accountable. “They need to either create a market so those materials have a place to go or ensure that costs of the disposal are met by them.” She said APCO’s part in improving the design and materials manufacturers use to create products as a good step, but she shares Sloan’s view that government needs to set recycled content packaging targets for manufacturers and brands to meet. “We urgently need to ramp up the use of Australian sourced recycled materials within their packaging. This is where the packaging covenant has always fallen short. We need to have some hard deadlines that are met sooner rather than later – 2025 is too far away,” Read said.

Other state commitments While industry experts such as Read and Sloan are pushing for more stringent targets with shorter deadlines, some state governments have implemented quick changes to deal with waste. The Victorian government, for example, introduced an e-waste ban in July 2019 and the Queensland government reintroduced a landfill levy in July after half a decade without one. The Victorian government is also developing a circular economy policy and action plan. The policy will

consider how governments, businesses and households can all reduce waste generation, increase reuse and recycling of resources and improve waste management, including exploring the role of EfW as an alternative to landfill. A Victorian government Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning spokesperson said the government is supporting Victoria’s recycling industry to build more resilient infrastructure and to ensure the security of municipal recycling. “[A $70.9m] Recycling Industry Strategic Plan will help increase domestic recycling capabilities and build demand for products with recycled content. This will improve the productivity of Victoria’s recycling industry, supporting investment and job creation.” Tasmanian EPA Director, Wes Ford, said recent disruptions to the market caused by the Chinese trade reform has been closely considered in Tasmania’s Waste Action Plan. Following in other state’s footsteps, Tasmania is introducing a CDS program, which will be operational by 2022. “This will help drive new business development opportunities in Tasmania, deliver higher quality streams of recyclable material, and help reduce litter in Tasmania. The government has set the goal of being the least littered state by 2023.” All states are funding programs, introducing bans and creating initiatives to boost the waste sector, but some are more forward thinking than others. The NSW government, for instance, has a strategy in place to increase recycling rates for MSW and commercial waste to 70 per cent by 2021-22 and increase recycling rates for demolition waste to 80 per cent by 2021-22. Similarly, the ACT government’s waste strategy aims to increase resource recovery rates to 85 per cent by 2020 and 90 per cent to 2025. The Northern Territory EPA is facilitating opportunities to connect waste recovery and reuse markets with key waste producers among priorities as part of its waste strategy. The state was an early adopter of a CDS program, introduced in 2012, and it banned single-use plastic bags in 2011, but it doesn’t have a landfill levy, which has been a priority for other states. Local and state governments and the Federal government are continuing to improve the waste sector in Australia, but with countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia keeping a tighter control on waste coming onto their shores, the time to act is now. According to waste experts, action not only needs to happen immediately, it also needs to be ramped up to deal with ongoing strain on waste management. iw

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// Waste management

Australian waste levies – something needs to be done Contributed by Ron Wainberg AUSTRALIAN LANDFILL levies are on the move, with significant changes in Queensland and South Australia. The trouble with waste disposal, however, is that it tends to flow to the point of cheapest disposal. Just like water, waste flows downhill to the lowest point. This has led to unintended outcomes in recent years, such as hundreds of thousands of tonnes of waste sent from Sydney to South East Queensland for landfilling. Landfill disposal is relatively cheap, and the waste levy was introduced as a financial instrument to encourage

resource recovery by making disposal of waste in landfill more expensive. The following table shows the current status of waste levies across the entire country. There is a lot of debate about what should be done with the funds raised, with many believing that 100 per cent should be hypothecated back to fund infrastructure development and education programs. Unfortunately, in some jurisdictions the sheer size of the revenue generated has resulted in a significant portion of the funds collected being directed to consolidated revenue. While building hospitals and schools are core

The cost of transport and the lack of availability of a suitable local landfill are important factors that influence a decision to dispose of waste remotely. Nevertheless, the cost of disposal is a critical factor, and it is strongly influenced by the levy.

Solid Waste Levies July 1, 2019 ($/tonne) QLD

NSW

functions for government, failure to hypothecate levy funds has led to a situation where state treasuries have a vested interest in actually landfilling as much as possible. There is another issue that needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency. The difference in the levy quantum and its geographical coverage between all Australian jurisdictions has served to encourage long distance transport of waste for disposal. We have seen this in the Sydney region for nearly 10 years, with waste being transported to South East Queensland. It is to be hoped that the new Queensland levy will discourage this practice. However, there are other examples that have not grabbed the headlines, such as waste transport from northern Victoria to regional NSW. The cost of transport and the lack of availability of a suitable local landfill are important factors that influence a

Applicable Area

• MSW: $75 • Category 1 (high risk): $155 • Category 2 (moderate risk): $105

•C oastal and Inland councils from Port Douglas to Coolangatta, Longreach to the west •T he area surrounding Mount Isa

• Metro: $143.60 • Regional: $82.70

•M etro: Newcastle to the north, Penrith to the west and Shellharbour to the south •R egional: Coastal and Hunter LGAs (broadly)

• Levy introduction under consideration

• Details not available yet

• Metro (MSW): $65.90 • Metro (C&I): $65.90 • Regional (MSW): $33.03 • Regional (C&I): $57.76

• Metro is defined as Mornington Peninsula to the south, Wyndham to the west, Whittlesea to the north and the Yarra Ranges to the east

• Voluntary local Government levy • State levy planned, however details not available yet.

• Details not available yet

• Metro (solid): $110 [$140] • Regional (solid): $55 [$70] • Metro (shredder floc): $62 [$70] • Regional (shredder floc): $31 [$35]

•M etro is defined by Gawler to the north, Bridgewater to the east and Sellicks Beach to the south

• Metro: $70

•M etro is defined by Wanneroo to the north, Serpentine-Jarrahdale to the south and Swan to the east

ACT

VIC

Tas

SA*

*SA levies will change on Jan 1, 2020 to the values in brackets

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Ron Wainberg said waste disposal tends to flow to the point of cheapest disposal.

decision to dispose of waste remotely. Nevertheless, the cost of disposal is a critical factor, and it is strongly influenced by the levy. The pricing differentials above demonstrate there is a financial incentive for alternative disposal pathways such as: • NSW metro area to regional Queensland or Victoria; • Victoria regional areas to unregulated NSW areas; • SA to regional Victoria, or unregulated NSW areas (as of 1 January 2020); and • ACT to unregulated NSW areas (if a levy is introduced). None of this waste transfer is illegal, however from an environmental or social equity perspective, it does not make sense. It would be absurd if a situation were to arise such as the simultaneous transport of NSW metro waste to regional Victoria and from regional Victoria to unregulated NSW – just to avoid paying the respective state’s levy. The only sensible remedy would be for the jurisdictions to cooperate and recognise each other’s levy regimes. The levy would effectively travel with the waste and become due regardless of where the landfill is located. This brings me back to the treasuries’ vested interest mentioned earlier. Failure to curtail this type of long distance waste disposal is actually reducing the ability to invest in the new schools and hospitals, to say nothing of waste infrastructure. It really is time for action. Dr Ron Wainberg is a technical director at MRA Consulting Group. iw

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019 INSIDEWASTE

Waste levy //

Queensland waste levy gets thumbs up but challenges could be on the horizon By staff writer THE QUEENSLAND government has reintroduced a waste levy after half a decade of not having one, but “only time will tell what the shake out is”, Waste, Recycling Industry Association of Queensland (WRIQ) CEO, Rick Ralph, said in response to the levy coming into effect on July 1. Queensland was the only mainland state without a waste levy, after it was canned in 2012. The waste levy has been reintroduced at $155 per tonne for regulated waste of high risk, $105/t for regulated waste of moderate risk, and $75/t for general waste. While many recognise a need for the waste levy, Ralph explained that the greatest challenge with the new levy is the current model of its design, which he said is broken. “It is disproportionate and socially inequitable. More than half of all local government jurisdictions in the state are completely isolated both from the policy itself and also funding for any projects.

“Yet these same communities all generate waste and all have genuine recycling needs.” To differentiate policy design in terms of splitting the state into two, thinking that a ratepayer is someone different to a Queensland consumer, and advocating that no householder will be impacted by a new waste disposal levy, is problematic in both its messaging and of shifting long term consumer cultural habits and thinking, Ralph explained. He said the levy won’t change anything without a solid policy and enforceable targets. “We don’t need more ‘investigate’, or ‘undertake’ terminology, we need definitive action statements. “The policy and roadmaps are far too vanilla in their design.” Just two weeks after the levy came into effect, there was already evidence of small consolidation sites occurring as companies look at ways of avoiding the costs, Ralph explained. But, he said it’s still too early to judge as the real impacts will occur at the end of the first and second quarters when businesses are lodging their business activity statements and will realise the changes in cash flow

INSIDEWASTEAUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019

and outgoings. “Industry members are passing the costs on, thus it’s the generators who will see the biggest change, particularly north of South East Queensland as gate fees were already high due to limited private facilities and business will now be paying more than $200 per tonne – in some cases more than $230 per tonne for disposal. That pain is yet to be fully understood. “We are prepared and only time will tell what the shake out is,” Ralph said. Despite apprehension over how the levy will affect the industry in Queensland, waste associations recognise the need for the levy and support its introduction. Waste Contractors and Recyclers Association of NSW (WCRA) executive director, Tony Khoury, said with so much waste coming from interstate sources, for this reason alone it was inevitable that the Queensland government would introduce a waste levy. Despite the levy, Queensland may still prove to be an attractive costproposition for waste disposal, Khoury explained. “With the introduction of a waste levy in Queensland, operators of Sydney tips have taken the opportunity to also increase their gate fees. Further, NSW facilities are also faced with additional

costs due to the EPA’s C&D standards, which commenced on May 15, 2019. “Authorities have allowed the long distance of waste to be common practise and over so many years, brokers and transporters have built these savings into their business operating models and will continue to look for arbitrage opportunities in different state and territory markets,” Khoury said. A Department of Environment and Science (DES) spokesperson told Inside Waste that the introduction of a waste levy in Queensland is helping the state improve waste management, increase investment in industry and create jobs. “Queensland is generating waste faster than it is growing in population, and we need to do something about this. Until recently, we were the only mainland state without a waste levy, so the introduction has brought us in line with the rest of the country.” More than 90 per cent of Queensland’s population lives in the waste levy zone, which covers 39 of the 77 local government areas. In 2017-18, almost six million tonnes of waste reached landfill in Queensland. Of this, less than 75,000 tonnes (less than 1.3 per cent) reached landfill outside the levy zone. The Queensland government committed to ensuring that 70 per cent of the funds raised from the waste levy will go back into to waste management, resource recovery and

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// Waste levy

other environmental initiatives. The levy will provide funding for investment in infrastructure, technologies and innovation to improve resource recovery and reduce waste. It will also help create new products, industries and jobs from waste diverted from landfill. The spokesperson said the Queensland government is also supporting local councils in the implementation of the waste levy. “The government has provided councils more than $143 million in advance payments to ensure the costs of the waste levy is not passed onto ratepayers. In addition to this, the government also provided $5m as part of the Local Government Levy Ready Grant Program, which provided to funding to councils to help upgrade infrastructure in the lead-up to the waste levy coming into effect,” the spokesperson said. Waste Management and Resource Recovery Association of Australia (WMRR) CEO, Gayle Sloan, said there is unnecessary movement of products between Queensland and NSW. The NSW government will now have to plan for the increased volume of waste that will remain in NSW, Sloan said. “There will be teething problems. But, we need to get on with it and we need to set the right processes. “It’s in the interest of all members to have a levy. We want better managed landfill,” she said. Although there may be initial issues as a result of introducing the levy, Sloan said the Queensland government and its Minister for Environment, Leeanne Enoch, must be acknowledged for being open and willing to listen to the industry’s concerns and to work collaboratively throughout the levy implementation process. “In doing so, the government was able to minimise the impact on both industry and local government, for what is a significant and vital change for our industry.” Sloan praised the Queensland

Queensland has reintroduced a waste levy after half a decade.

government for committing to put 70 per cent of levy funds back into the industry – using the levy as a tool to drive investment and build a domestic remanufacturing sector. “WMRR recognises change is not easy, however, we know business as usual is not an option and we believe that the Queensland government is to be congratulated for this move. “Queensland has one of the highest generators of waste per capita and the lowest diverters of waste per capita. It has now taken real action to start making the structural shifts we need to create 9.2 jobs for every 10,000 tonnes we recycle, compared with the current reliance on disposal, which only creates 2.8 jobs,” Sloan said. She indicated the transition to a levy was well thought-out. “The Queensland government did not rush into this, but instead heeded the advice of stakeholders and provided time for industry and councils to make the necessary adjustments and prepare for the levy. “These are important lessons that other jurisdictions should take on board in their review and decisionmaking processes,” Sloan said. She took South Australia’s levy increase announcement as an example

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where processes were not as smooth. In June, the South Australian government announced it will increase its solid waste levy from $100 per tonne to $140 per tonne in just over six months. There was an initial increase to $110/t on July 1, which will be followed by a surge to $140/t on January 1, 2020. Sloan said the waste industry had been “blindsided” by the announcement that the levy would increase so substantially. “Industry supports all government action that promotes resource recovery and market development, however it is not as simple as drastically increasing landfill levies. “The timing and notice of this new levy increase is completely unsatisfactory – it does not allow businesses and local government with locked in 2019/ 20 budgets to prepare for this additional cost and it does not allow time for implementation of increased resource recover measures,” Sloan explained. She said there is a need for levies in all jurisdictions, but it needs to be

planned and communicated well with industry.

Queensland waste spike As well as Queensland’s challenge to divert waste from landfill, there has also been a growing volume of interstate waste transported to Queensland for disposal due to low landfill gate prices and the absence of a waste levy. In 2017–18, the amount of resources recovered or recycled was 4.9 million tonnes, or about 45 per cent of waste generated. This is below the national average of resource recovery performance across all Australian jurisdictions, and well below those states with the highest recycling rates. Over the past 10 years the amount of waste being sent to landfill in Queensland has increased while the recycling rate has remained steady. Local governments also continue to clean up littered and illegally dumped waste at a cost of more than $18 million each year. iw

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019 INSIDEWASTE

Energy from Waste //

More public engagement needed to support EfW By Miri Schroeter PUBLIC AWARENESS of the benefits of EfW facilities is too low in Australia, according to CSIRO’s Daniel Roberts. Roberts, who is the leader of CSIRO’s Hydrogen Energy Future Science Platform and the leader of Australia’s participation in IEA Bioenergy Task 36, said more knowledge of EfW is need to give people an insight into the benefits and challenges of these technologies. “The awareness of those technologies is quite low. “We don’t have any large scale MSWto-energy plants for example. We have some anaerobic digestion and those processes, which is great, but we really don’t do well,” Roberts said. A paper published in April 2018, Status and Opportunities for Energy Recovery from Municipal Solid Waste in Europe, outlined that as of 2016, the number of EfW facilities for MSW reached 1618 plants worldwide, including 512 plants in Europe, 822 plants in Japan, 88 in the United States and 166 in China. This number has increased to more than 2000 since 2016. Australia is lagging behind with several plants currently under construction, but not ready for use. Perth is seeing movement in EfW facilities with a plant in Kwinana, 40km south of Perth under construction. The project will process an estimated 400,000 tonnes of waste per-year. Another plant is planned for Perth, which will see an estimated 330,000 tonnes of waste converted into renewable energy in Rockingham. A plant has also been proposed for Laverton North, in Victoria, which would take up to 200,000 tonnes a year of residual household waste. However, despite some movement in the EfW space in Australia, Roberts said with more education on EfW, people’s perception of these technologies could change for the better. “The public has a broad approach of what it means. Some people think it’s putting bags of rubbish in incinerators in your backyard. The public’s perception of this whole space is stuck in this space.” “If awareness is increased, it would be more straight forward. There are some challenges around government policies, but really it’s just awareness.” 30

CSIRO’s Daniel Roberts said awareness of EfW technologies in Australia is too low.

He said having plants, such as those being built in Perth, that are operational and working successfully in Australia, would help paint a better picture of the benefits of EfW facilities. “I really hope they are run well. It will be a good interaction for industry to show.” But for now, Roberts said Australia is well behind other developed countries when it comes to facilities that deal with MSW. “Even countries like Norway have 1520 small-to-medium sized plants. They need these for heat as much as power so the story is easy to sell. “But we are a long way behind. Part of that is because it’s been cheap and easy to do landfill. Now there’s an expectation that we do more,” he said. With Federal government figures indicating that Australia generates more than 67 million tonnes of waste per year, Recovered Energy Australia director Ian Guss said there are definite benefits in adopting EfW processes for MSW. “We need to recognise that we live in a developed country that is embracing convenience living and we are growing at a rapid rate.” A concern that has arisen in the sustainability of EfW facilities is that there could be a shortage of waste due to recycling and reuse taking precedence, but Guss said this this should not be an issue. “We can worry about sustainable volumes of waste, but we need to recognise that waste is growing faster than population growth. There will always be residual waste for EfW facilities.

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“We have seen countries where there is significant EfW as well as high recycling rates. We need to understand that it is part of the overall system. It’s part of the solution,” Guss said. Australia has run into challenges with restrictions to waste imports across Asia and with price volatility making it harder to guarantee markets for transported waste, which contributes to the need for local recycling and alternative residual waste processing infrastructure such as EfW facilities, Guss said. “The demand for alternatives to landfill has turned on the back of their adverse social and community impacts as well as improving financial incentives for diversion.” While Roberts said there was a need for more public engagement, Guss said strong community engagement had been a driving factor in plans for the Laverton plant, which Recovered Energy Australia is developing. “There’s clearly community driving demand for change now. It’s important to take into consideration what their thoughts are.” Guss explained that Recovered Energy Australia supports smaller, localised community facilities, which are more sustainable. We think that if we are a smaller facility and we are working with only a small number of communities that makes us less exposed to the challenges of securing and continuing to secure waste without undermining recycling.”

governments are considering EfW facilities as part of their waste strategies. In July, the Queensland government released an EfW discussion paper that gives Queenslanders a say in developing a new policy. In a statement, Queensland’s Minister for Environment, Leeanne Enoch, said while converting waste to energy should not be considered as an alternative to recycling, EfW recovery is suitable for waste that cannot be recycled and would otherwise be go to landfill. “We acknowledge that some wastes cannot be recycled, and it is better to retain the value of these wastes by recovering energy than it is to dispose of them to landfill. “This is all part of our broader transition to a circular economy,” Enoch said. Niels Jakobsen, senior project

No one size fits all approach One of the difficulties in securing approval for an EfW facility in Australia is that legislation can change within a state and policies can differ stateto-state. Guss said having a pre-conceived idea of what is an appropriate model for an EfW facility can be difficult as each state and country has its own jurisdictional specific community, economic and environmental drivers. “It’s not realistic to pick up a model that works in one jurisdiction and blindly expect it to work here in Australia. “Between states, we also have quite different environmental regulations and economic conditions. It makes it difficult to take a consistent approach.” Despite these challenges, state Daily news updates at www.insidewaste.com.au

// Energy from Waste

manager for Danish/Australian engineering and consultancy company Ramboll, currently acting as owner’s engineer at the Kwinana EfW project, said it is highly recommended that both state and federal governments secure stable and aligned framework conditions as this is crucial to attract private investors. He said uniformed landfill levies, uniformed environmental standards for EfW across Australia, secure long-term waste contracts and long-term power purchase agreements would help improve the EfW and waste management sector. “It is however also important to accept differences between states and accept that EfW facilities might not be the optimum solution in low populated areas as this could potentially lead to increased road traffic and/or unreasonably high handling fees.” Jakobsen said Australia has been slower than Europe and some parts of Asia to include EfW as an integrated part of waste management schemes mainly because it hasn’t been high on the public agenda. “There simply hasn’t been a push towards using EfW as the existing landfills worked OK.” He said Australia also has an

abundance of land, so the area occupied by landfill is less of an issue compared to densely populated countries like Denmark and the Netherlands. “Further, the landfill capacity has so far not been an issue, but many landfills are now facing overfilling. A lack of landfill levies/unequal levies across Australia have also not supported EfW.” Jakobsen said there has also been a misconception that EfW facilities pollute the environment, are ugly, smelly and noisy. In order to speed up the process of EfW implementation in Australia, Jakobsen said the public sector needs to be educated in EfW and the benefits of having EfW as an integrated part of our major cities, which has been the case in Europe for decades. “Especially in European countries, we have experienced that public consultation and stakeholder involvement is crucial for the success of EfW projects. It is important that the public, neighbours and not-forprofit organisations are involved.” The public sector also needs to liaise with regulators in Europe to learn about challenges in terms of emission standards and the classification of residues from the EfW

“The demand for alternatives to landfill has turned on the back of their adverse social and community impacts as well as improving financial incentives for diversion.” process, Jakobsen explained. “In Denmark, we used to hide away EfW plants, but nowadays these plants have a much more open attitude – having nice architecture and glassed facades showing the machinery. The public have online access to emission monitoring, schools are invited to visits and plants have open days. “All of this increases the public’s positive perception of EfW. Today, EfW is generally accepted as an integrated part of the waste management and energy systems and not discussed at all in countries like Denmark, Sweden, Germany and the UK,” he said.

EfW on the stage Jakobsen and Guss are giving further insight into the EfW sector at the free-to-attend Waste Expo Australia in Melbourne from October 23-24. The expo’s conference line-up will feature EfW among other waste management and resource recovery topics. Waste Expo Australia event director,

Cory McCarrick, said through insights and customer research from previous exhibitions, the team became aware that EfW was a hot topic. “There’s an impressive line-up of speakers who are striving to improve resource recovery in Australia.” With a huge amount of support from the waste industry, the expo is set to have the most speakers and exhibitors ever, McCarrick said. The expo will cover about 6000sqm of the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre and there will be 100 expert speakers from council representatives, to state government and other industry experts. “The number of exhibitors has increased with 120 this year. About 50 are news ones that we’ve never had before. We also have those big brands that come back each year.” There are two new conference sessions this year, after organisers also received feedback from previous years on C&I waste and C&D waste, McCarrick said. iw

EfW facilities are growing the energy and waste sectors in many countries, but Australia is lagging.

Daily news updates at www.insidewaste.com.au

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019 INSIDEWASTE

Pollution //

Do the right thing – prevent litter Contributed by Val Southam FIRST LAUNCHED in 1979, Do the Right Thing is an iconic Australian environmental campaign that was widely acclaimed as the most successful behavioural-changing campaign in Australian history. It was so effective that today, mature Australian’s still remember the advertisements as both a brand and a message that is instantly recognised and understood and most can still sing the iconic jingle. Where we have gone wrong as a society is that we think it’s okay to simply drop rubbish on the ground, throw it out of a car window or simply leave it around after a picnic and not pick it up. Yes, there continue to be a lot of clean up campaigns, and don’t get me wrong they are admirable, but why should a small number of community minded individuals and businesses have to clean up the mess of others who either don’t care or are too lazy to take responsibility for their own rubbish. What we really need is a change of behaviour and a show of respect for this country to compliment the infrastructure and enforcement.

The current state of Litter The Keep Australia Beautiful National Litter Index (NLI) is an audited and

independent piece of research carried out twice annually to create an annual report on litter, which has been running for 12 years. The counts cover 983 sites nationally and help build a deeper understanding of what is being littered, where it is being littered and how this has changed over time. A 2019 NLI report shows there has been an overall litter reduction of 10.3 per cent from 2018, with the most significant reductions being 16.8 per cent in takeaway food and beverage packaging, 14 per cent per cent in CDS/CDL containers and a 6.4 per cent reduction in cigarette butts. But, there is still a very long way to go. The recent introduction of CDS programs in ACT and NSW have definitely helped to reduce litter volumes, however these have not made a significant change to the plethora of alternative litter in the environment.

What is being done The introduction of CDS programs to address beverage container litter is no doubt having a huge effect on the reduction of litter of those containers, but there is not a lot being done to address all the other items nor the littering behaviour itself. There are thousands of volunteers that give up their time to clean up parks and beaches, with companies

often giving staff volunteer leave one day a year. Volunteering to pick up litter is admirable, but is it sustainable? How long will it be before these good citizens get sick of cleaning up after other people? Many consumers blame the industries that produce and fill the packaging for the litter they see, but really they cannot be held accountable for the behaviour of their customer and consumers. These companies can however help to educate their customers on how to dispose of these items correctly. It is interesting to note that the Packaging Covenant no longer has litter and education as part of its Istrategy and although company Covenant Action Plans must address litter, this leaves no opportunity for a co-ordinated approach and leaves organisations to individually approach companies to solicit support for the many great programs being run to educate the community, reduce litter and change behaviour. The cost of cleaning up litter is enormous with councils spending valuable rate payer dollars. The estimated cost of litter services nationally is about $300 million to $350m annually. About 95 per cent of resources are allocated to litter

Keep Australia Beautiful promotes litter prevention.

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Val Southam wants more government focus to prevent people from littering.

management and only 5 per cent to litter prevention. Sustainability Victoria has costs in excess of $98m dedicated to provide litter maintenance and street sweeping in Victoria alone. If everyone just did their bit, think of the money that could be saved and spent elsewhere.

What else can be done Implementation and subsequent regular maintenance of stormwater infrastructure is critical. Ninety-five per cent of the litter on beaches comes from suburban streets, which goes down the street drains and through the stormwater system into the ocean. The only way we can get a generational change in attitude is to get to the kids in schools while they are young. They are the influencers who take what they learn to the community and home to their parents. There are many community organisations doing great work on a shoestring budget with mostly volunteers. They are really making a difference and with more financial support they could do so much more. It is time that governments get behind these organisations who work at the grass roots level and can leverage so much volunteer support to enable them to make a difference. The time has definitely come for us to inspire all Australians to Do the Right Thing and work on preventing litter – not just cleaning it up. Val Southam is the CEO of Keep Australia Beautiful. iw

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// Recycling

Australia’s recycling efforts often go unnoticed

The elephant in the room – Australia’s recycling woes – need to be addressed.

Contributed by Pete Shmigel WHEN YOU’RE blindfolded and holding its tail, you can’t always tell it’s an elephant. And, when it takes a poop on you, you don’t want to stick around to find out. That’s one way of describing the situation our Australian recycling industry finds itself in as the mainstream media again highlighted stories about our export recyclate to Asia being “rejected”. Namely, the most recent reports, based on 223 tonnes or nine shipping containers of material, see our industry and Australia’s overall recycling efforts over three decades being characterised in a disproportionate and distorted way. The regretful and negative narrative being put by some in the mainstream media is that we’re somehow exploitatively exporting huge amounts of “toxic” material to poor Asian countries. While that’s a yarn that might tap the urban guilt of some in the Australian community, and perhaps the readership of some major newspapers, it ignores so much of the broader story and successes of Australian recycling. And, that’s worrisome given that the system relies on the confidence and participation of millions of ratepayers and businesses. Let’s deal with some aspects in turn. To start with, export recyclate is

a smaller component of the whole recycling system. Anyone who bothers looking at the National Waste Report – and it appears that some journalists haven’t – knows we recycle about 37 million tonnes of the 67 million tonnes of waste generated. Of that, we export around 4 million tonnes. Namely, some 80 per cent of material stays in Australia where it is made into useful products and totally justifies people’s efforts at the kerb. Furthermore, the four million exported tonnes aren’t a case of Australia somehow forcibly imposing an environmental impact on somebody else. Factually, it’s the supply of useful material to buyers in Asia who have chosen to pay money for it and then convert it into new products. That’s been going on for decades, be it material shipped from Australia, the USA, Canada or elsewhere, as recycling has been as global as any other industry. And, it’s good to lift the lid on the 4 million export tonnes. The vast majority is actually metal and pulp/paper - and not the mixed plastic that has generated the problematic headlines. In fact, only some 235,000 tonnes of total exported material, including some 60,000 tonnes exported to Indonesia, is plastic (and that’s part of the 415,000 or so tonnes of plastic we recycle overall). As ACOR has pointed out repeatedly to media outlets, plastic exported to Indonesia is approximately 1.5 per cent of total exported recyclate and less

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than .2 per cent of all recyclate. Additionally, material that has historically conformed to both Australian and Indonesian requirements, most likely comes from a very normal source – your council recycling bin. It’s hardly “toxic”. Rather, it’s material that ratepayers have put out, such as plastic containers for food and motor oil. It fully reflects the reality of what is collected from Australians via their Council kerbside programs and our industry’s subsequent attempts to do something valuable and useful with that very heterogeneous material. That has for many decades included exporting some material because there are markets for it that haven’t always been available here in Australia. In the case of mixed plastics in particular, there’s historically been under capacity in domestic reprocessing infrastructure and product applications in Australia, probably because Asia was available. By way of contrast, Europe has in place – and has recently increased – measures to promote domestic recycled content manufacturing. Indeed, without export markets, Australia’s plastic recycling rate could fall from its current (and paltry) 11 per cent to under 5 per cent. So, what’s really happening? Why is a (a small amount) of Australian material in Indonesia (or China, Malaysia or elsewhere) now being questioned by local authorities and featured by in media opportunities? To put it simply, because they’ve

decided to build domestically sustainable systems. Rather than be reliant on imported material for their manufacturing base, administrations across Asia now want to support and stimulate local material collection and sorting – and meet their growing middle classes’ expectations about environmental standards. We haven’t done anything different per se; our Asian neighbours are changing their goals and that has a knock-on effect for Australia and for the world when it comes to the recycling sector. They are moving fast on ‘recycling sovereignty’ and, if Australian stakeholders fail to keep up their own tempo, our system will be put at risk. While export is only around 20 per cent of “our business”, it’s an important part that often determines overall commodity prices and market structures. Let’s not keep getting shat upon by the elephant. Rather, let’s jump on top and ride the big beast into a better future. Implementation of promised Commonwealth and State Government policies – especially for domestic recycling infrastructure, recyclate market development and positive procurement – is critically needed now for our whole sector to pivot and become more future-proof. Pete Shmigel is the CEO of the Australian Council of Recycling (ACOR). iw

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019 INSIDEWASTE

E-waste //

Consumers hoard e-waste as greater trust in disposal is needed before parting with it By staff writer MANY AUSTRALIANS are left wondering what to do with that broken hair straighter, that old washing machine that’s been sitting in the garage for 20 years or the Tamagotchi that no longer gets virtually fed. Just like the restrictions on throwing televisions and computers into landfill these items cannot be simply thrown into a red bin – at least that is the case in some states such as Victoria, which implemented an e-waste ban in July 2019. The National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme has resulted in the collection and recycling of more than 290,000 tonnes of e-waste. However, there are plenty of electronics that still make it to landfill, including pesky items such as handheld Tamagotchi toys, Fujitsu sustainability manager for Australia and New Zealand Blaise Porter pointed out at the Waste Strategy Summit in Sydney in June. Porter said she once visited an office that had an electronic device stowed away in a corner. When asked what purpose the device once had, no-one at the office knew. As was the case with that device, Porter pointed out that many electronics are left to gather dust at home and work. “It never really ceases to amaze me that those kinds of hoarding behaviours at home are reflected at work,” she said. “E-waste is growing, but not a lot of it gets recycled. We are underachieving. We are a small market that isn’t as big as it could be because so much of this is going to landfill.” But, with low value electronics such as broken hair straighteners or corded phones, there’s no incentive for owners to sell them, and there is little incentive for an e-waste collection facility to take these items. “When you look at things like the hair straightener, they are essentially just plastic. It’s inherently low value,” Porter said. However, with e-waste bans, such as the one in Victoria, there is more pressure on companies and individuals to avoid throwing e-waste into landfill. The e-waste ban in Victoria, which 34

Fujitsu sustainability manager, Blaise Porter, said too many people hoard unused electronics. applies to all products with a plug or battery, requires people to better manage their dead and unwanted electronics. This means that individuals and businesses can no longer place their used, broken or obsolete electrical and electronic goods in their household or work rubbish and recycling bins. Instead they need to take these items to an approved collection point to be recycled properly, repair the items, or pass them on to someone else to use. Unfortunately, passing these on or taking them to collection points comes with a concern that they end up in the wrong hands, Porter said. While an e-waste collector would find it difficult to get personal details off a Tamagotchi, apart from seeing how much attention it got from its owner in the 90s, there are fears that information can land in the wrong hands if a computer or phone is passed on. “There’s a very low level of trust in who we give our e-waste to,” Porter explained. She said once Fujitsu made its e-waste collection points available to other companies, employees felt more

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comfortable disposing of their e-waste. “Who we trust more than anybody is our employer. If you can make this available as an employer, they will trust you.” While companies such as Fujitsu work with their partners to dispose of e-waste correctly, Porter said bans such as the one in Victoria leave the monitoring of e-waste to the last minute, making it difficult to track. “This ban will be enforced pretty much at the point of landfill, but at that point it’s almost too late.” Porter explained that it would be difficult to refuse small electronic items, such as Fitbits, if they have made it to landfill by lying among food scraps and other waste. “Due diligence hasn’t happened as much as it ought to,” she said. A Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning spokesperson said when e-waste is put in a rubbish bin, it is a missed opportunity to retrieve and reuse the precious metals and reduce the amount of harmful materials we send to landfill. “We are encouraging both Victorian businesses and households to manage their e-waste by taking it to their nearest e-waste drop-off point.”

The Victorian government has invested $15 million to upgrade e-waste collection and storage facilities across the state – giving Victoria one of the best e-waste collection networks in Australia, the spokesperson said. In addition, the state government has developed a $1.5m education campaign to increase awareness amongst Victorians about the value of e-waste and where they can take their e-waste items to be recycled. “Reducing the level of e-waste being generated is everyone’s responsibility; it’s up to all of us to do the right thing. “Fines are not applicable to either households or businesses, however Victorians are being urged to do the right thing and embrace the indisputable fact that responsible electronic-waste disposal and recycling makes more sense.” Some councils across the state regularly conduct bin audits to identify households contaminating kerbside collections and offer incentives to dispose of it correctly, the spokesperson explained. E-waste collected at council transfer stations, resource recovery

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// E-waste

centres and MRFs will be stored until it can be transferred to an e-waste processing facility. E-waste is then taken apart, shredded and sorted, and data is destroyed in the dismantling process. “The community should reset and erase all data from any device before dropping it off at an e-waste drop-off point to be recycled,” the spokesperson said. “Because every device is different, we recommend you check with the item’s manufacturer to work out the best way to securely backup or erase your data.” The Victorian government indicated the amount of e-waste created in Australia is growing up to three times faster than general municipal waste. It is estimated that e-waste from televisions and computers alone will grow by more than 60 per cent, or 85,000 tonnes, over the decade to 2024, the Managing E-Waste in Victoria Policy Impact Assessment report indicated. While e-waste is not one of the main waste streams generated in Australia, comprising about one per cent of the waste currently going to landfill, it is one of the fastest growing, the report identified. South Australia and the Australian

A Tamagotchi is among the stranger e-waste items dropped in Fujitsu e-waste bins.

Capital Territory have bans on e-waste to landfill, and Victoria has followed suit. Other states support the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme. In response to the introduction of a ban in Victoria, Ewaste Watch has highlighted steps that individuals and businesses can take to avoid and reduce e-waste, which include steps to: 1. Avoid generating e-waste in the first

place – buy less, choose well and make it last; 2. Use tool and appliance libraries where available – share, borrow and lease electrical and electronic products rather than purchasing them; 3. Always ask about warranties and repair options – check brand and retailer commitment when buying new products and find out what they offer with regard to repair and

replacement options; 4. Make use of repair cafes – join local DIY electronics repair groups; 5. Conduct preventative maintenance – look after electrical and electronic products to maximise longevity; 6. Make use of local council reuse and recycling options – check the waste and recycling pages on council website to see what reuse and recycling services they provide. iw

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AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019 INSIDEWASTE

Packaging //

Clarity needed to form decisions around investing in compostable or recyclable packaging By staff writer COMPOSTABLE PACKAGING has held a good reputation in consumers’ minds as the war on waste battles its way through single-use plastic packaging and materials that are proving detrimental to the environment. A plethora of examples can be found in Australia, such as the Melbourne Business School switching to compostable packaging on its campus in early 2019 and the Federal government endorsing a packaging target that is pushing for 100 per cent of all packaging in Australia to be recyclable, compostable or reusable by 2025. However, while compostable packaging is proving to be a popular alternative to single-use plastics with its potential diversion from landfill, it has coped some slack from critics – even in the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO), which is leading Australia’s packaging targets. Speaking at an Australian Food and Grocery Council Sustainability Seminar in Sydney in June, APCO CEO, Brooke Donnelly, said compostability is part of the solution but “it’s not a silver bullet”. She said the benefits for compostability and biodegradability need to be assessed as well as the

APCO CEO, Brooke Donnelly, said compostability is only part of the solution.

capacity in which these products can be composted. “There’s a lot more work that’s needed around how much can be composted. There are a limited number of organic recycling facilities. “There’s also a lack of industry and consumer knowledge of compostable packaging.” Donnelly said consumer awareness needed to be increased and the growing number of products that claim to be biodegradable and compostable need to be addressed. Detmold group general manager for marketing and innovation, Tom Lunn, said despite people making other claims, PLA is still plastic even if it’s labelled as compostable packaging. In addition to that, compostable certifications only check whether its compostable in an industrial system, Lunn said. “It’s a bit of a cop-out and it’s a bit of a cheat. It’s the reason importers are favouring compostable.” Lunn said there are also issues with a lack of consumer education. “A lot of the public hear the word ‘bio’ and they think it behaves better in landfill, which is the opposite of the truth. “We still supply compostable packaging where appropriate, but we champion recycling.” Recyclable products are also part of the target leading towards more sustainable packaging by 2025, but Donnelly said more work needs to be done to ensure consumers know which products to buy and how to dispose of recyclable products correctly. She supports the Australasian recycling label which is a labelling system for Australia and New Zealand that provides easy to understand instructions about how to correctly dispose of every part of a product’s packaging. It informs users about which parts belong in the recycling bin, the rubbish bin, or which items can be disposed of in soft plastic collection

INSIDEWASTE AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019

bins at selected supermarkets. Donnelly said the current challenge comes from the hundreds of recycling labels consumers are subjected to. “Why are people confused? Because there are over 200 ways in which you are telling people how to do something. Keep it simple. “This is where I encourage and say get behind one consistent approach. It’s giving people something to understand. They’ve got to have confidence in the systems and understand their role in it,” Donnelly said. NSW EPA director of markets, policy and data, Justin Koek, explained that in an unsteady environment, there needs to be a good understanding of what these recycled products are being used for. “I see a lot of the correspondence that comes from the public into the minister’s office. Once the China Sword issue came to light, it unleashed a deep cynicism in the community about what is actually happening to the material they are putting in their recycling bins. “If you did a straw poll of the average person, they’d probably tell you it’s all being shipped of shore and it’s ending up in some landfill in Southeast Asia somewhere. There’s now this cynicism that we have to combat,” Koek said. He explained that one way to do this is by demonstrating that the product people are picking off the shelf was made using the material they put in their recycling bin. “Being able to demonstrate that circularity to people would get us so much more than going out and brow beating them and saying, ‘it’s terrible you need to put the right material in the right bin’.”

Boosting confidence As well as a need to give consumers confidence in recycling, CocaCola Amatil general manager for public affairs, communication and sustainability, Frier Bentley, said the waste industry has expressed a lack

of confidence in investing in new plastics recycling facilities because there are no secure buyers or partners. “Our experience in this country is that we have to import food grade PE because we’ve not been able to stick to an agreement with the local producer for sufficient supplies.”

She said that lack of confidence means Australian companies lose out on providing recycled plastics locally to companies such as Coca-Cola. “There is demand there. To me, that’s an opportunity. That’s signal to the market to say, ‘look, here’s a major player’. “We’re a third of the market in food grade beverage bottles and we’re buying it from overseas.” Lunn said it can be difficult for recycling and waste management facilities to trial programs and open new centres due to restrictions and long waiting periods on approvals.

Daily news updates at www.insidewaste.com.au

// Packaging

THIS YAWEI LASER IS We’ve shredded S YAWEI LASER IS DESIGNED TO CUT the price, not the SIGNED TO CUT ABOVE THE REST. quality. OVE THE REST. NOW THAT’S APPLIED Now that’s W THAT’S APPLIED THINKING. Applied Thinking. NKING. “To even get a site approved is a multi-year process. The infrastructure costs and the margins are very tight. “It’s also very difficult in our experience with the larger collectors and recyclers if the scale is not there for them to invest and do something different,” Lunn said. Bentley said programs such as container deposit schemes are going some way in giving plastic value in Australia, which supports investment opportunities. “The container deposit schemes across this country have actually increased the value across those waste streams. For the beverage containers that are able to be returned they’re suddenly exponentially more valuable. “When those programs were established they were about reducing environmental litter. But very rapidly because of the pace of change in terms of the plastic debate, they’re actually also shifting to responsible sourcing and that chain of reasonability dimension.

“This is another area where a very good initiative is let down at the final hurdle, because there’s no framework to clearly work out how that value is shared and how it’s reinvested. Frank said damage is caused in the energy, time, resource and relationships it takes to negotiate where the CDS funds go to. “Is it back to the council? Is it back to the service provider? It’s predominantly weighted to the council,” he said.

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Despite frustration around CDS fund allocations, lack of consumer and industry education, and a lack of O NST R UCES WAST E FO MON TY C R plastic recycling facilities, Donnelly ED LU DU said the important part to remember, is that everyone can play a part in minimising plastic waste now – without waiting. “The powerful thing to realise is that it’s all interdependent. If you play with something in the right hand corner, you’re going to affect something in the top left hand corner and vice versa. “The whole system has to be doing things differently to what it has done before and to do that, we have to recognise we’ve all got a role to play,” Donnelly explained. She said each company and individual can achieve goals in different parts of the pathway to solving the plastic issue. “It’s 10 per cent of the waste stream but it’s the most complex stakeholder place of all of them. If you can get packaging in the with very low operating th its extreme accuracy, speed and consistency of cut, right combined circular economy the rest of it falls business to the next level. sts, the new Yawei laser is the perfect way to take your me accuracy, speedHLF andfiber consistency of cut, with into place combined because the rest of itvery is a low operating w Yawei HLF fiber laser is the perfectlittle waybittomore take your business to the next level. simple. llar for dollar, the new HLF is in a league of its less own,complexity, opening up “There’s lesspossibilities for companies Heavy across the laser cutting sector; from start-ups through to full production, 3-shiftduty, reliable, cost effective recycling stakeholders, clearer chains. for companies ar, the new HLF is in a league of its own, opening up supply possibilities solutions You get that 10 per cent right and vironments. laser cutting sector; from start-ups through to full production, 3-shift that’s the model you can use for the Australia’s favourite solution for all kinds of waste/ . other 90 per cent you still have to deal th a quality German built Precitec auto-focus cutting head, IPG laser source, Siemens materials reduction applications with. It’s a big messy complex piece 0DSL controller and a fabricated, stress-relieved fully annealed frame it really is a cut above or work,head, but it’s IPG entirely achievable.” German built Precitec auto-focus cutting laser source, Siemens Extensive range available: eroller rest.andWith more than 200 recycling symbols, She said Australia has advanced to a fabricated, stress-relieved fully annealed frame it really is a cut above there can be a lot of confusion. a point where people have the same • Vision Series Shredders objective, but policies and trendy • Gran-Calibur Series Granulators “Everybody that handles a bottle, topics can confuse that vision. • Complete recycling lines; tyres, e-waste, cable, the consumer, will get 10 cents, but “Sometimes, we get so caught more information: there’s also a handling fee. It doesn’t in those, we fall down that rabbit plastic washing & drying. l: 03 9706 8066 mation: go to us, it actually goes to the waste hole and we don’t have a way back ail: sales@appliedmachinery.com.au industry that are the collectors and out. We forget what the overarching 066 it: www.appliedmachinery.com.au that’s fine, but there’s an adjustment objective is and that is that we all ppliedmachinery.com.au that needs to happen in that live on this planet. These Connect are your with us socially iedmachinery.com.au economy, because it’s out of kilter at communities, they’re not somebody Connectit’s withyour us socially the moment,” Bentley said. else’s’ communities home. “We’ve got some changes that need Suez director for marketing and i-FPC-1.indd 1 22/12/16 9:27 am to happen. In that transition, we’re communications, Justin Frank, said going to have some speed bumps. In collectors do receive handling fees 22/12/16 9:27 am the long-term it will even itself out. It’s for the containers acquired through important that we do better with our the yellow bin, but Suez doesn’t packaging issues tomorrow than what necessarily collect all the funds, we are doing today,” Donnelly said. iw which puts a strain on reinvestment. AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019 INSIDEWASTE

Circular Economy //

The case for mainstreaming reuse and repair Contributed by John Gertsakis THE TRANSITION TO a circular economy is underway across industries, sectors and communities. Noteworthy practical measures are in play as are policy development processes across all levels of government. A key question is whether the initiatives can deliver against the fundamental principles of what constitutes a circular economy, or are they yesterday’s recycling projects rebranded to appear more circular. If initiatives demonstrate the ability to design out waste and pollution, extend product life, keep materials in use and regenerate natural systems, then we’re on the right track. Similarly, if government policies can create incentives and regulations focused on waste avoidance, then positive reform is likely.

Circular economy is much more than recycling System-wide transformation will necessarily require redesign across the economy and portfolios, and not just in waste agencies. A pathway to a circular economy viewed narrowly through a waste lens is incomplete and unlikely to achieve the desired outcomes envisaged by many stakeholders. One area of activity which aligns strongly with circular economy principles is how we view manufactured goods, product design, durability and the growing appetite for repair and reuse. People buy products, and not necessarily materials so we need to create products that embody circular economy principles and features.

The menace of premature obsolescence Premature obsolescence of manufactured durables is an obvious contributor to waste generation and the loss of otherwise reusable components and recyclable materials. Indeed, some critics argue that recycling has evolved into a convenient excuse for brands to build-in premature obsolescence. Small appliances are a case in point. Kettles and toasters once designed to be repaired and last for several years, are today a typically short-life device rarely repaired. The once ubiquitous service agents in the 38

high street have all but disappeared. Any diagram explaining the circular economy places emphasis on increased product reuse and repair, and Australia can boast some outstanding examples. The key is to support and replicate these so that their value can be widely adopted by manufacturers, retailers, consumers and local councils.

Richard Paschke at the Wangaratta Repair Café – one of many repair cafes springing up in Australia.

The Repair Café movement Repair cafés are springing up around the country and their ability to engage communities through mending and fixing is uplifting. Staffed by volunteers and often supported by local councils, repair cafés not only extend product life and divert functional goods from landfill, they also teach new skills, and get the public thinking differently about consumption. I recently attended a Saturday morning with the Wangaratta Repair Café in north east Victoria, and the cheerful que of residents were lining up with their toasters, lamps and laptops. Any online search will quickly identify where repair cafés are located and when they operate.

The Bower Reuse and Repair Centre Sydney’s Bower Reuse and Repair Centre is approaching icon status. With Guido Verbist at the helm, The Bower runs a range of programs from appliance and furniture repairs through to product collections, rehoming and repair skills workshops. Through their work with councils across greater Sydney, The Bower is a notable template of what is possible when local governments recognise the importance of reuse and repair but also provide the resources to make it happen i.e. practical waste avoidance that meets community need.

Brunswick Tool Library Why buy products that are only used occasionally? The sharing economy concept is a real-world initiative at the Brunswick Tool Library (BTL). For a nominal annual membership fee, locals get access to a comprehensive range of tools and repair services. Not unlike a municipal book library, the BTL lends out tools and is perfect for people who do occasional home improvement or DIY projects but don’t want to buy a tool they use infrequently.

INSIDEWASTE AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019

The BTL is a not for profit group strongly supported by the City of Moreland and sustained by local members and residents.

iFixit and right to repair At a very applied hands-on level iFixit makes DIY repair affordable and accessible to everyday consumers. Their wiki-based website provides a wealth of resources to enable people to repair, document and share their knowledge. With a strong focus on tablets, laptops and smart phones, the iFixit approach is big on providing tools, guides and teardowns. This type of information and hardware directly empowers consumers to fix while also diverting otherwise functional devices from landfill. At a policy level, the US-based Repair Association is a strong advocacy organisation representing “everyone involved in the repair and reuse of

technology” including DIY hobbyists, independent repair technicians and environmental NGOs. Their Right to Repair campaign seeks to restore legal rights that enable unencumbered ability for consumers to fix things they own. Whether it’s repair cafés, tool libraries, repair manuals or bolstered repair laws, it’s obvious that these initiatives are fundamental elements of a circular economy. They provide solutions beyond materials recycling and enable communities to keep products (and materials) in use. Waste and pollution is ultimately a design decision and it’s time to accelerate up the waste hierarchy to address the elephant in the room – consumption. Anything less, will deliver a piecemeal solution to how we produce and consume manufactured goods. John Gertsakis is the co-founder of Ewaste Watch. iw

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Equipment //

Precision and experience from European shredders By staff writer IN THE EU, waste is known as white gold, yet in Australia and many other developed countries, too much waste still gets tipped into landfill, despite having the potential to do so much more. Waste could be used more frequently for applications such as EfW processes, with the right tools and technologies at hand. Many people already know that – it’s simply a matter of building those markets, creating demand and making everyone view waste as white gold. While Lindner sales manager, Gerhard Gamper, didn’t coin the term

The big change was around 25 years ago when we were thinking about how to reduce volume of waste. The aim was also to produce alternative fuels. We always try to be at the forefront of the technology. “white gold”, it is something that he recognises as providing a valuable insight into how the EU views waste. The EU has taken up opportunities to expand markets such as EfW in order to minimise waste to landfill in a reliable and sustainable way. Lindner manufactures EfW technology, which cements it as go-to company in the sector.

Lindner manufactures the Komet and Power Komet single shaft shredders, which produce a tailormade solution for pre-defined granulate. Both of these models are extremely powerful and offer energy savings of up to 50 per cent compared to others on the market, which presents significant cost saving opportunities. Lindner products, such as the Komet, are distributed by CSS Equipment in Australia.

With thousands of Lindner machines in operation world-wide, Australia’s burgeoning EfW market can benefit from Lindner’s experience with these technologies. Gamper said the company, founded in 1948, began making EfW technology more than two decades ago. “The big change was around 25 years ago when we were thinking about how to reduce volume of waste. The aim was also to produce alternative fuels. We always try to be at the forefront of the technology.” Given restrictions on waste imports in countries such as China and Malaysia, the Australian waste

Overall benefits of the Komet: • The internal pusher promotes continuous shredding due to smooth feeding and it is low maintenance due to the absence of guide elements; • The Komet has safety in mind with its single-step belt drive, which is efficient, stable and gearless. It is also low maintenance due to a simple, tried and tested design; • Input materials include, MSW, C&I waste, wood waste and film; and •T he torque-limiting clutch protects against damage to the drive unit when blockages are caused by foreign objects. Furthermore, the highly precise sensors facilitate the controlled powering down of the machine to preserve all components.

Technical data:

• The Komet 1800 is 4924mm x 2925mm x 3111mm, the filling opening is 1790mm x 2030mm, the hopper volumes are 3.3m³ and it has 50 cutters and 5 screens; •T he Komet 2200 is 5755mm x 2925mm x 3111mm, the filling opening is 2135mm x 2030mm, the hopper volumes are 4m³ and it has 60 cutters and 6 screens; and • The Komet 2800 is 6445mm x 2925mm x 3111mm, the filling opening is 2825mm x 2030mm, the hopper volumes are 5.3m³ and it has 80 cutters and 8 screens.

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// Equipment

I think for everybody it was good that China stopped the import of waste. It’s our obligation to the world to minimise it. industry is more so than ever looking for near-immediate alternatives to sending waste to landfill and to grow recycling and reuse infrastructure. “I think for everybody it was good that China stopped the import of waste. It’s our obligation to the world to minimise it,” Gamper said. In order to bring the latest in EfW technology to Australia at a time where it is entering the EfW market, Lindner has partnered with CSS Equipment, which distributes Lindner’s products in Australia. CSS Equipment’s Neil Coyle said Lindner’s deep experience across resource recovery is second to none. “With increased landfill pressure, Australia is moving towards embracing energy from waste, and as they do, companies want to work with technology that is proven, not only overseas but right here in Australia.” CSS Equipment stocks Lindner’s

Lindner manufactures the Komet and Power Komet single shaft shredders.

RDF/SRF/PEF alternative fuel shredders. The Komet single shaft shredder can be used in processing municipal or bulky refuse, industrial or commercial waste, textiles, waste

paper or other materials. It is easyto-use, low maintenance and gives consistent results. The Komet, which comes in three applications – Komet 1800,

2200 and 2800 (and with high powered versions), and other Lindner shredders are key tools in helping in EfW facilities and in other applications. iw

SMART WASTE, SMART THINKING Partnering with you to achieve resource recovery and value adding goals. Our team can provide early advisory to meet your waste infrastructure needs, from helping you understand its’ place in a circular economy to planning and procuring advanced waste treatment facilities.

Dominic Schliebs dominic.schliebs@arcadis.com Daily news updates at www.insidewaste.com.au

www.arcadis.com/au AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019 INSIDEWASTE

Equipment //

Reliability key when investing in wheel loader By staff writer WHEN WORKING WITH heavy machinery being able to rely on the equipment working efficiently, effectively and without breakdowns is key. Using and taking care of a wheel loader shouldn’t be an expectation – it needs to serve its purpose while proving reliability time and time again. The Volvo L220H Wheel Loader promises just that. Distributed by CJD Equipment in Australia, the L220H features well-matched drivetrain and hydraulics. The wheel loader delivers power, productivity and reliability. It does this with its dynamic engine design, cooling functions, and axle oil circulation. The Volvo engine features advanced technology and it builds on decades of experience. The water cooled turbocharger increases engine life and performance – delivering high performance and low fuel consumption. The hydraulically-driven, electronically controlled cooling fan

CJD Equipment distributes Volvo machinery such as the L220H Wheel Loader.

regulates the temperature of the vital components. It automatically activates only when it’s needed – reducing fuel consumption and noise. The optional reversible functionality – which blows air in the opposite direction – allows for self-cleaning of the cooling units.

The L220H’s electronics support preventive maintenance and diagnostics for maximum uptime. Waterproof sealed connectors protect the machine’s reliability and increases its longevity. In addition to this, both the front and the rear axle featuring filtered axle oil circulation. This

allows the axle oil to circulate and cool inside the axle – protecting components. The optional axle oil cooling system cools axles and can reduce oil changing intervals and increases break pad life. CJD Equipment national product engineering and training manager,

The Volvo L220H Wheel Loader features well-matched drivetrain and hydraulics.

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// Equipment

Operator comfort and minimising operator fatigue are just some of the key aspects of the machine. The safety features reduce operator fatigue, reduce vibration and noise levels. A high-vis orange paint used on all hand rails is one thing that helps keep the operator safe by reducing the chance of operator falls and slips. Lindsay Daniels, said all this and other features make it a reliable machine for use in the waste sector. He said the L220H includes safety features that make it comfortable and safe to use in any waste environment. “Operator comfort and minimising operator fatigue are just some of the key aspects of the machine. The safety features reduce operator fatigue, reduce vibration and noise levels. “A high-vis orange paint used on all hand rails is one thing that helps

keep the operator safe by reducing the chance of operator falls and slips,” Daniels said. The cab provides a spacious, safe and quiet environment that helps operators optimise productivity all day long. The dash display clearly presents the operator with vital machine information including fuel and oil levels, and warning messages. From the operator seat, basic configurations and tests can be performed via the panel, which can be read even on bright days when the sun is shining. To further increase operator comfort, the cab suspension reduces vibration and noise, and a spring added into the mounts improves shock absorption to increase operator comfort and productivity. Maximising productivity is key in any high-volume facility, so CJD Equipment supports the L220H for the easy handling and practical attachments it offers to the operators. The standard Boom Suspension System (BSS) boosts productivity by up to 20 per cent by absorbing shock and reducing the bouncing and bucket spillage that occurs when operating

on rough ground. This enables faster and more comfortable work cycles and increases machine life. To add to this, the tires and additional counterweight enable the operator to fit a larger rehandling bucket to the machine, resulting in increased productivity in rehandling applications. Practicality is further increased

with attachments that have been purpose-built to work in harmony with Volvo machines. The attachments are designed as an integrated part of the wheel loader for which they’re intended – with functions and properties ideally matched to parameters including linkarm geometry and breakout, rim pull and lifting force. iw

Overall benefits of the L220H: • Volvo’s cab features ergonomically placed controls, low internal noise levels, vibration protection and ample storage space; • The engine delivers high performance and low fuel consumption; • The cab can be tilted in two positions – 30° and 70° for improved service and maintenance access, which leads to more uptime and increased machine availability; and • Volvo’s load-sensing hydraulics supply power to the hydraulic functions according to demand, lowering fuel consumption.

Special features: • Volvo’s OptiShift technology reduces fuel consumption by up to 18 per cent, increases operator comfort and reduces stress in the drivetrain; • The BSS boosts productivity by up to 20 per cent by absorbing shock and reducing the bouncing and bucket spillage that occurs when operating at speed on rough terrain; and • The ideally-matched, all-Volvo powertrain has been built to work together in perfect harmony to ensure optimised performance.

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Young Professional //

Creating recycling cultures By staff writer GERMANY HAS LONG been a leader in waste avoidance and resource recovery (WARR) with its comprehensive recycling infrastructure and scarce landfill operations. WARR processes are well adopted by its residents – one of whom is now researching recycling behaviour in Australia to determine how Australians’ perception of WARR can be shifted. When Susann Noé moved to Australia more than three years ago, she was struck with the realisation that many people here didn’t view recycling and diversion from landfill as a normal and important practice in everyday life. She said while there are good initiatives such as CDS programs in place in most states, the people around her weren’t taking these on board – as would be deemed second nature in other countries. “In my personal environment, I do not see people collecting bottles to get their 10 cents. Also, the yellow bin system is often not used as much as it could be.” “People doing the right thing shifting towards imbedded recycling cultures will help develop much better communities and give much better environmental outcomes,” Noé said. Noé has gained an interest in researching people’s behaviour and attitudes towards WARR. Putting this interest into action, she embarked on her PhD, in early 2019, which is concerned with questions such as, how can recycling cultures be fostered without being imposed?

A background in resource recovery Noé has worked with CDS programs in Germany and Australia. She originally gained her experience working for the co-developer and scheme coordinator of the German CDS, Rhenus. She then moved to Australia to work for Rhenus’ sister company, Remondis, where she started her first role in the Australian waste and recycling industry as business development manager. “I came as CDS expert analysing Australian CDS legislations, providing suggestions and considerations to relevant government bodies and developing business cases and market entry scenarios.” “One of the biggest challenges is to move towards a nation with an imbedded recycling culture and make use of all the opportunities put forward 44

Susann Noé is researching people’s behaviour towards recycling.

by state governments. This is how and why my interest in environmental psychology emerged.”

Building good recycling habits Noé’s research project, ProEnvironmental Behaviour Change: Applying Social Practice Theory to Promote Recycling Behaviour in Australian Households, stemmed from her experience with CDS programs and what she said was a lack of scheme acceptance in Australia. “Striving for the success of recycling schemes to advance resource recovery processes is an essential requirement of today to save the planet of tomorrow.” Noé said people must understand the importance of saving natural resources. However, too often communities have knowledge of the right disposal and recycling methods and are concerned about the environment but behave otherwise. “Many Australian households dispose valuable resources incorrectly,” she explained. “Environmental campaigns try to promote better recycling behaviours and participation in recycling schemes. They often follow traditional linear ‘information deficit’ approaches that build on the assumption that people are essentially rational and provided information about environmental issues change people’s attitudes and beliefs.” Noé’s research project examines household disposal behaviour by decentralising people’s attitudes and beliefs from the core analysis. “The focus lies on the daily (often

INSIDEWASTE AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019

subconscious) habits and practices of how people dispose of their rubbish to identify how disposal practices form, reoccur and what modifications are needed to change them.” The study moves beyond traditional online surveys and in-depth interviews – proposing a research app to be used by participants. The participants will be divided into two groups – one recording standard household disposal behaviour, the other one undertaking special recycling tasks. The method has never been applied in Australian household domains before. By observing standard behaviours and receiving feedback from assigned recycling tasks both – via video, photo and/or voice message – Noé will witness what exactly happens “inthe-moment” of household disposal practices. Depending on funding, the

study could involve several hundred participants. The aim of the research is to gain a contextual understanding of barriers, issues and problems that lead to unsustainable disposal practices. The enhanced knowledge about residents’ household disposal practices will allow for innovative ideas and improved environmental concepts to create good recycling habits. The research is being conducted at the University of Notre Dame Australia and financially supported by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulations in Western Australia. Findings will be considered in the community education strategy of the CDS campaign in WA commencing in 2020. As a member of the Waste Management and Resource Recovery Association of Australia (WMRR) – NSW Young Professionals and Waste Educator working group – Noé is able to share her knowledge with others, while learning more about the waste sector in Australia. She has been a WMRR member since 2016. This year she became the secretary of the YP NSW division. “I can feel the passion people from our industry have to bring this sector forward and make this country more sustainable by working towards a circular economy and better practices. I am proud to be a part of this and I am happy to share my research experience and introduce the innovative approach to everyone interested.” If you are interested in joining the WMRR Young Professionals, please contact office@wmrr.asn.au. iw

Noé’s study moves beyond traditional online surveys by proposing a research app to be used by participants.

Daily news updates at www.insidewaste.com.au

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Features: Twin Ram Recycling baler for baling RDF, SRF, MWS, cardboard, plastics, PET, HDPE, Bulk Bags, mattresses, carpets, shredded paper, aluminium and steel cans and other recovered materials. Compaction force: 60T/80T/120T Power pack: 22kW/37kW/59kW/74kW/110kW Bale Weight (RDF): 750kg-950kg Throughput of RDF (120kg/m3): 10-20 tonne/hour Bale Size HxWxL: 750mm x 1100mm x 1300mm Feed opening: 2250mm x1060mm More: (02) 4365 4247 or www.focusenviro.com.au

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Features: Twin Ram Recycling baler for baling RDF, SRF, MWS, cardboard, plastics, PET, HDPE, bulk bags, mattresses, carpets, shredded paper, aluminium and steel cans and other recovered materials. Compaction force: 80T/120T Power pack: 37kW/59kW/74kW/110kW Bale Weight (RDF): 1100kg-1300kg Throughput of RDF (120kg/m3): 18-35 tonne/hour Bale Size HxWxL: 1100mm x 1100mm x 1400mm Feed opening: 2250mm x 1060mm More: (02) 4365 4247 or www.focusenviro.com.au

FOCUS Enviro

Ecostar

UNTHA XR waste shredder

Product name: VB Primary Shredder Speed (slow/high): Twin shaft – slow speed Throughput: 200tph+ Suitable material: All waste types Drive type: Diesel or electric Number of shafts/speed: Twin shaft/slow speed up to 40rpm Hopper size: Up to 16m3 Unit dimensions: TBC Weight (tonnes): Up to 66 tonnes No. of units in range: 6 Models Base price: $250,000 + GST More: 1800 644 978 or www.cssequipment.com.au

Application: Able to manufacture PEF in a single pass, this shredder can process commercial and industrial waste, municipal solid waste, waste wood for biomass, bulky and baled waste, hazardous waste, construction and demolition waste, green waste, pulper ropes and more. Features: Available with three key cutting concepts, this is a high throughput, energy efficient and easy maintenance shredder, which guarantees particle homogeneity with low whole life running costs, for maximum profitability. Options/Extras: With no such thing as a “one size fits all” solution, the XR can be supplied with a range of drive powers, rotor speeds and lengths, cutting configurations, hoppers, auxiliary equipment, inclusive spare and wear parts packages, and more. Flexible finance options are also available. More: (02) 4365 4247 or www.focusenviro.com.au

FOCUS Enviro

Hammel Recyclingtechnik

UNTHA XR mobil-e waste shredder

TRT622 Tracked Trommel

Application: Able to manufacture PEF in a single pass, this shredder can process commercial and industrial waste, municipal solid waste, waste wood for biomass, bulky and baled waste, hazardous waste, construction and demolition waste, green waste, pulper ropes and more. Features: Supplied on tracks with an in-built discharge conveyor and overband magnet for metal separation, this mobile shredder features the same world-renowned features as the static technology – foreign object protection, high throughputs, low downtime, energy efficient, easy to maintain, particle homogeneity, low whole life running costs, ergonomic design and in-built safety mechanisms. All of this combines to deliver a high-performance machine for maximum profitability. Options/Extras: With no such thing as a “one size fits all” solution, the XR can be supplied with a range of drive powers, rotor speeds and lengths, cutting configurations, hoppers, auxiliary equipment, inclusive spare and wear parts packages, and more. Flexible finance options are also available. More: (02) 4365 4247 or www.focusenviro.com.au

Applications: Aggregate, C&D waste, compost, MSW, mulch, sand and gravel, topsoil and wood. Features: • 2m x 6.9m long forward / reverse screen drum • Fuel consumption 12-15 litres per hour at 100 per cent load. • Intelligent operating system ensures maximum up-time and prevents overloading • Innovative feeder design allows for quick barrel exchange procedure Options/Extras: • Power-source options: diesel/hydraulic, dual power • Drum options: punch plate drum/mesh drum/spiral drum • Various belt ply’s and types available including heavy duty and chevron Contact: (02) 4365 4247 or www.focusenviro.com.au

Daily news updates at www.insidewaste.com.au

FOCUS Enviro

CSS Equipment

ELB Equipment

// Product Profile

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019 INSIDEWASTE

Wasted Space //

A gherkin jar for the win MOST OF US WASTESIDERS are trying to reduce the amount of plastic and other single-use products we use – this was particularly the focus in July when Plastic Free July was putting pressure on us to use less plastic, while subsequently shaming us if we were spotted in the office with a plastic bag. Most of us took the challenge seriously. So rather than using that plastic bag to ensure one colleagues soup didn’t leak in his bag, he felt some satisfaction from being able to show the rest of us that despite getting rid of the plastic bag, the soup was still somewhat intact and not floating in plastic. Instead, it seeped through the fabric bag that acted (very poorly) as a layer of protection between his work bag and the soup container. The fabric was dyed orange from the liquid, but after a quick spin in the washing machine, it was good

to use again – unlike the plastic bags that were destined to sit in their own soupy mess in the bin. You may ask why he did not just get a container that doesn’t leak. The rest of the office questioned that too. Our colleague’s lack of research meant he did in fact buy a container that wasn’t made of plastic, but little did he know that a stainless steel bento box wasn’t a suitable vessel for liquid substances. But, the stainless steel container was bought from a vegan, plastic-free health food shop. So at least he was ticking all the boxes there. This point is something he had to reiterate now, and continuously to colleagues, to ensure that everyone knew he took Plastic Free July seriously. But back to the issue at hand – now our colleague had his hipster container but rather than staying in there, the soup snuck its way out every day. As

he was sitting at home using the last gherkin in the jar for burger Tuesdays, he was hit with a revelation. He could use the old gherkin jar as a soup container. In practicing self-gratitude, our colleague added that this was such an ingenious idea that he just had to bring soup to work to put it to practice – and to show the rest of us Wastesiders. Despite being sick of pumpkin soup after a week of liquid lunches, he made another batch and carried it to work. And lo and behold, the soup didn’t leak. He didn’t need a fancy stainless steel container, all he needed to do was finish the gherkins he had in the fridge. Now he can encourage all of us to dig out those chutney jars from the fridge, or add an extra lathering of jam on our toast, so we too can have a great container that won’t leak. Not only does it not leak, it supports so many of the waste and packing targets that we hear about from a

Federal level, a state level, a council level, from our partners and from our children who know so much better than we do in the waste space – shocking, but in some cases this is true. The trusty jar shows that we are not only reducing our plastic use in the office, but we are reusing items, avoiding items (if unlike me you haven’t purchased new stainless steel or glass containers), creating a circular economy, minimising our footprint, putting one less thing into landfill and keeping our food fresh. The excitement of this realisation is so high it’s hard to contain it. Now our colleague has a vision that long after Plastic Free July, our office will include a fridge full of jars. There will be no fancy containers or horrid plastic containers. There will just be a bunch of oddly shaped containers with the labels half ripped off. What a sight that would be. iw

and urban wastes. Held at the Adelaide Convention Centre, the conference includes an exhibition area, workshops and short courses. The workshops aim to benefit the delegates of CleanUp 2019 in their continuing professional development.

October 23-24 Waste Expo Australia Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre Waste Expo Australia attracts waste management and resource professionals from across Australia with its free-to-attend business-tobusiness setting. It is hosted alongside an exhibition of Australian and international companies. Waste Expo Australia will focus on seven targeted areas including collections, resource recovery, landfill and transfer stations, EfW, commercial and industrial waste, construction and demolition waste and wastewater.

bringing together the waste industry to generate quality sales leads and discover the latest trends. The expo showcases innovation, network opportunities with key waste and recycling decision-makers from industry and government, and in-depth practical seminars and workshops.

DIARY August 26-28 Energy from Waste 2019 QT Canberra, ACT Under the theme of ‘Powering Change’, this conference will bring together international and local experts to discuss and debate all aspects of Energy from Waste (EfW), with the goal of understanding what the barriers to acceptance are and how we can ensure that EfW can be established in Australia, while supporting an emerging circular economy. September 8-12 International CleanUp Conference Adelaide Convention Centre The 2019 International CleanUp Conference will feature themes such as dealing with mixed contamination, landfill evaluation, capping and gas management, and issues in the disposal of industrial

September 25-27 Waste and Recycle Conference 2019 Crown Towers, Perth The Waste and Recycle Conference will once again be held at Crown Towers, Perth. Hosted by the Waste Management and Resource Recovery Association of Australia (WMRR), Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER), and Western Australian Local Government Association (WALGA), the conference is an essential waste and resource recovery event in Western Australia.

INSIDEWASTE AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019

October 30-31 Australasian Waste and Recycling Expo ICC Sydney, Darling Harbour AWRE is dedicated to the Australasian waste and recycling marketplace –

December 2-6 Ocean Plastics Congress Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre This congress brings together scientists, policymakers, legislators, industry and community groups from around the world in the search for solutions to the multiplicity of problems resulting from waste plastics. The focus will be on engagement, collaboration and action to design and implement effective strategies to address the many environmental, health and social effects, and their financial implications.

Daily news updates at www.insidewaste.com.au

2017-2018

INSIDE WASTE INDUSTRY REPORT

POLICY AND REGULATION

REPORT OVERVIEW

What are state governments doing to support Australia’s waste and resource recovery (WARR) industry? What role is the Federal government playing? How do the waste sectors in each state compare? Get these insights and more from our latest industry report: POLICY AND REGULATION

For the ﬁrst time in Australia’s Federal election history, waste management is a priority issue among politicians, with policy dedicated to waste and the appointment of an Assistant Minister for Waste Reduction and Environment Management. The waste sector has seen a reinvigoration of engagement between key waste groups and the Federal government, and a very public focus on WARR goals in the aftermath of the introdution of the China National Sword Policy.

The second volume of the Inside Waste Industry Report, Policy and Regulation, will look at waste management frameworks and policies on a state-by-state basis and at a Federal level. The Policy and Regulation is part two of four volumes of the report. Volume one, Volumes and Values, and volume two are available to purchase now.

Available for purchase at www.insidewaste.com.au/index.php/inside-waste-industry-report For more information visit our website www.insidewaste.com.au or contact Miri Schroeter at miri.schroeter@primecreative.com.au