FEATURES
Heavy metal with a different tune
Organic opportunities
New horizons
Closing the loop
Australia’s major fashion and clothing players are being urged to commit to change.
PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY:
Cookers Bulk Oil System provides an environmentally conscious model for handling oil at all stages within the food service industry.
34 A NEW BUILD
ResourceCo welcomes Sunshine Groupe into the fold, expanding its Victorian footprint for resource recovery.
37 HEAVY METAL
Ecocycle plays a key role in ensuring Australia meets its requirements to minimise mercury risks.
40 NEW HORIZONS
Newly branded Orez works with clients to find sustainable waste management solutions.
42 CIRCULAR ECONOMY SORTED
TOMRA shows commitment to advance material circularity in Australia.
44
KEEP THE WHEELS TURNING
The Cat 938K waste handler is the right fit for transfer stations.
The National Clothing Product Stewardship Scheme aims to lead the way in closing the loop on textile waste.
“EVERYONE IS KEEN TO BE INVOLVED, BUT THE MOVEMENT HAS HIT ITS NATURAL LIMIT WHERE THERE’S NO SYSTEMIC APPROACH.”
- Danielle Kent, Director Australian Fashion Council
46 SAFETY LOCK
What does unlocking the safeguard mechanism mean for waste-to-energy facilities and landfills in Australia.
48 CLOSING THE LOOP
A new Genox recycling line will assist Close the Loop achieve its vision of ‘Zero waste to landfill.’
50 THE BIG ISSUES
Waste Expo 2023 tackles the emerging trends and challenges set to shape the resource recovery industry.
52 COUNCIL IN FOCUS
Armidale Regional Council turns to technology to maximise space and efficiencies at its regional landfill.
Regulars
54 PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT
57 LAST WORD
My local council included food organics in the kerbside green waste bin recently, which lets me continue to keep food waste out of landfill while my already full home compost does its thing. And that’s good.
But it’s initiated some frustrating conversations in our household.
My parents visited from regional Victoria recently and mum spent a lot of her time in the kitchen making her grandkids’ favourite meals.
“Where are your food scrap bags?” she asked while preparing dinner. To which I replied: “We can’t use them”.
I got a quizzical look when I recovered a few bones from the caddy later that night and put them in the rubbish bin. To which I responded: “We can’t use them.”
You can see where I’m going with this. My parents live in a regional area where they can, and do, throw everything organic into their green waste bin. Try as I might, I couldn’t satisfactorily explain why a local government area just 45 minutes up the road was so different.
Now take my conversation and duplicate it across the 537 councils Australia-wide and you can begin to imagine the frustration of organics processors trying to navigate a circular economy outcome for the nation’s green waste.
Catherine Phillips, Commercial Manager of Organics with Cleanaway, hit the nail on the head when she said alignment and consistency around the country would go a long way to helping educate the community about organics recycling and decrease contamination.
With national and state organics mandates closing in, education, contamination and capacity are critical areas that need to be addressed across the board.
Thankfully, as this edition of Waste Management Review highlights, there’s a wealth of expertise and global learnings to draw upon. Some companies are transitioning facilities to FOGO only, some are updating infrastructure, while others are turning to science to close the loop in regional areas.
All have the same end-goal – creating healthy soils and a healthy environment.
Happy reading
Lisa KoryckiCHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Christine Clancy christine.clancy@primecreative.com.au
GROUP MANAGING EDITOR
Sarah Baker sarah.baker@primecreative.com.au
MANAGING EDITOR
Mike Wheeler mike.wheeler@primecreative.com.au
EDITOR
Lisa Korycki lisa.korycki@primecreative.com.au
JOURNALIST
Shannon Paten shannon.paten@primecreative.com.au
DESIGN PRODUCTION MANAGER
Michelle Weston michelle.weston@primecreative.com.au
ART DIRECTOR
Blake Storey blake.storey@primecreative.com.au
DESIGN
Louis Romero, Kerry Pert
BRAND MANAGER
Chelsea Daniel chelsea.daniel@primecreative.com.au
p: +61 425 699 878
information published. The opinions expressed in Waste Management Review are not necessarily the opinions of, or endorsed by the publisher unless otherwise stated.
The Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) is committing $75 million in debt finance to develop what will be Queensland’s flagship construction and demolition (C&D) recycling facility.
Operated by Rino Recycling and strategically located in Pinkenba, between the Brisbane CBD and airport, the $89 million facility is expected to deliver 55,363 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent carbon abatement annually, equivalent to taking almost 12,000 cars off the road. With a recovery rate of more than 90 per cent, it will produce quality recycled products for reuse.
The new integrated plant – one of Australia’s largest for throughput volume under one roof – will be able to process more than one million tonnes of C&D waste annually, including
concrete, excavation material, vacuum waste and skip bin waste, diverting valuable resources from landfill.
The CEFC investment is the single largest to be made via its $100 million Australian Recycling Investment Fund.
Todd Pepper, Rino Recycling Director, said Brisbane is expected to continue the trend in population growth over the next 20 years, in addition to the construction requirements of the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games.
“The city has a significant pipeline of infrastructure development, including expansion of the Brisbane Airport and the development of the Brisbane city region in the SEQ ‘City deal’,” Pepper said.
“The potential for recycling building material in these construction
projects is very large and it’s great to be working with the CEFC to help establish this plant and contribute to a more sustainable Olympics.
“The introduction of the landfill levy by the Queensland Government in 2019, and their commitment to almost double it by 2027, has enabled us to make this investment. This facility will not only help SEQ achieve its Olympics commitments but preserve a number of its finite resources by recycling existing materials in the system first.”
The new facility will help address the under-developed construction and demolition recycling sector in Southeast Queensland, using recycling technology by Turmec, from Ireland, and CDE, from Northern Ireland.
The Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) is calling for a stronger co-regulatory framework that strikes a balance between industry-led action and effective government regulation, in a review of the 2025 National Packaging Targets.
Chris Foley, APCO Chief Executive Officer, said: “There have been some fantastic contributions from many businesses so it is disappointing that
the headline data indicates targets will not all be met”.
APCO members have reported considerable action that supports the transition to a circular economy for packaging and the 2025 targets are a key driver. Despite positive action by some, the report identifies the need for further improvement of packaging design and the expansion of business-to-business recycling as key opportunities.
The report outlines four key findings:
While the 2025 Targets are driving a transformation in packaging in Australia, they are not on track to be met by 2025; longer-term vision is needed to guide action; collaboration is needed across the entire packaging system and; strong and co-ordinated interventions are needed on essential packaging material streams.
Glass wine and spirit bottles will be eligible for a 10-cent refund under Queensland’s Containers for Change program from November 1, 2023.
The commitment to expand the scheme follows a consultation period, where more than 6600 Queenslanders shared their thoughts about including additional containers in the refund program.
More than 98 per cent of participants were in favour of more containers being made eligible for refunds through the program.
The container refund scheme has recovered more than 6.4 billion containers since its launch in Queensland in 2018, refunding more than $630 million to Queenslanders and creating 815 jobs as a result.
The addition of glass wine and spirit bottles is expected to build on the existing benefits of the program, especially around the
recovery of additional glass for remanufacturing.
To ensure all Queenslanders can participate in the expanded scheme, the Queensland Government is working with Container Exchange (COEX), who manage the Containers for Change program, to make sure industry and facilities will be ready within six months.
Toby Hutcheon, Campaign Manager, Boomerang Alliance congratulated
Queensland on being the first state to include wine and spirit bottles in the container refund scheme and called on other states to follow the Queensland example.
Glass wine and pure spirit bottles will not be accepted at refund points before 1 November 2023.
These glass bottles can still be placed in the kerbside recycling bin.
New data indicates a trial of kerbside soft plastics recycling has won new people over to making sure their used plastic packaging is sent for recycling and stays out of landfill.
A survey of residents taking part in trials for the National Plastics Recycling Scheme (NPRS), a soft plastics advanced recycling scheme being developed by the Australian Food and Grocery Council, indicates people who had not used the now-
defunct REDcycle store drop-off scheme have started recycling household soft plastics via kerbside collection.
About 60 per cent of respondents said they had previously used store drop-off for their soft plastics, while a handful had used drop-off options at other locations, such as council depots.
When ranking their preference for an ongoing soft plastics recycling
model, the NPRS model of putting soft plastics in a specially supplied bag and placing it in the household recycling bin was the overwhelming favourite.
The results come from more than 1000 responses to surveys of households taking part in trials held in six council areas across Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales.
The Australian food and grocery manufacturing industry, led by the AFGC, is developing the NPRS as a long-term, circular system for used soft plastic packaging.
The NPRS model incorporates collecting soft plastics at the kerbside for recycling into new, foodgrade plastic packaging as part of a new, onshore circular system.
Tanya Barden AFGC Chief Executive Officer, said while REDcycle had been valuable, store-return schemes could not be the solution for large-scale soft plastics recycling in Australia.
“While work is continuing on a short-term solution to REDcycle’s suspension, the NPRS project is a long-term solution dealing with large-scale collection and recycling,” Barden said.
“What store-return plastic recycling demonstrated is the dedication of Australians to recycling soft plastics.
“The NPRS is an industry-led scheme where the companies putting soft plastics into the marketplace are taking the lead and providing a real solution.”
THE ROTARY CLUB OF REDCLIFFE SUNRISE HAS JOINED ONE OF THE LARGEST COMMUNITY-DRIVEN PROJECTS THAT IS HELPING REDUCE LANDFILL AND RESTORE MORETON BAY.
On an almost daily basis, volunteers from the Rotary Club of Redcliffe Sunrise and the Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group (ESRAG) Moreton Bay Chapter can be found hauling shucked oyster shells to wheelie bins at the local waste transfer station.
Collected from the region’s seafood businesses and restaurants, the oyster shells are destined to play a role in rejuvenating Queensland’s waterways.
After several months at an oyster recycling station, the shells will be placed in crates and returned to the waters to create reefs, in the hope of restoring local oyster populations, improving water quality and increasing marine life.
“The end game would be to see oysters growing naturally in Moreton Bay and doing their job of cleaning the water,” says Colin Scobie, Vice-President of the Rotary Club of Redcliffe Sunrise. “When we heard about this project it was a
no-brainer. We’ve got to be much more aware of the detrimental effect of things we do on the peninsula and their impact on the bay.”
Colin is championing the ESRAG team in Moreton Bay, but the journey to recycle oyster shells in Australia has been a long one, led by marine biologist Ben Diggles, Managing Director of DigsFish.
Ben has developed several world’s first science extension tools related to aquatic animal health and welfare and has been a
consultant for government and industryfunded research.
Using recycled oyster shells to form artificial reefs in waterways has proven successful in various rehabilitation projects overseas for the past 20 years.
A national Shellfish Restoration Network was established in Australia in 2014, but work in Queensland’s waterways was restricted by the state’s Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011.
Under the act, oyster shells were considered organic fish processing waste and as such, were illegal to recycle. They couldn’t be used to restore local shellfish reefs unless community groups applied for a beneficial use approval – at a cost of more than $2500.
Ben fought for two years to get oyster shells their own ‘end of waste code’ under the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act. The Department of Environment and Science approved the code, deeming used oyster shells a resource for the purpose of constructing structures designed to promote the settlement of oyster spat.
Colin says that without Ben, reef restoration projects in South-East Queensland would not be possible.
Oysters were removed in early colonial days for a source of protein and as a source of lime for cement in construction of early Brisbane buildings. Their removal destroyed the oyster reefs as a means of preventing coastal erosion and made oyster recruitment at the time impossible.
Ben, along with Moreton Bay Regional Council, opened Queensland’s first oyster recycling station on a parcel of land at Ningi Transfer Station in July 2017, as part of a project to restore Pumiscestone Passage.
The station is a central location to properly treat oyster shells for disease and pests before being placed in robust oyster baskets (ROBs) and deployed back into the water to create shellfish reefs.
Oyster shells don’t decompose and without the recycling station there is little option but to dump them in landfill.
Fish conservation charity OzFish has an ambitious goal to restore 100 hectares of shellfish reef in Moreton Bay, stretching hundreds of hectares.
It was following a presentation to the Rotary Club of Redcliffe Sunrise about 12 months ago that Colin and ESRAG got behind the initiative.
A brochure was developed in partnership with Health Land and Water, Southeast Queensland universities, OzFish and others to promote the initiative. Local seafood wholesalers were contacted to collect the lids of the shucked oyster shells.
“They were very pleased that the shells wouldn’t be going into their skips and eventually landfill,” Colin says.
The Rotary Club arranged to have the shells stored at the local waste transfer station until there were enough to transport to the OzFish work site at the Port of Brisbane. A community grant from the local water utility purchased wheelie bins to store the oyster shells.
“Now there is a tonne or more of oyster shells each month going to
OzFish,” Colin says. “The club now has the local seafood restaurants on board the Following the Shell initiative in ‘Saving the Bay’, with volunteers collecting shells on an almost daily basis.
“We’ve been amazed by the number of shells collected. From the Redcliffe area we’re collecting about one tonne a month, which would have just gone to landfill.”
Colin says the initiative has gained momentum. ESRAG now has space in a local shopping centre to use as an information outlet to spread the word about oyster shell recycling.
He says there’s work in the background to change legislation to allow restoration works in the Moreton Bay Marine Park, which is deemed a conservation park.
For his part, Colin is speaking to other Rotarians about Oyster Shellfish Reef Restoration and took it to the world stage at the Rotary International Convention held in Melbourne in May.
“There are no excuses now, we certainly know how to recycle shell in a biosecure manner,” Ben says.
“It would be great to see this done more widely across the state rather than have them go to waste.”
Waste Management Review introduces ‘The Breakdown’ a new monthly column giving industry leaders and decision makers a chance to share their views on topics central to the sector.
This month we asked industry leaders and decision-makers: “How can community education about recycling and resource recovery be improved?”
Our community is rich and diverse, made up of different ages, ethnic groups and different ideas and behaviours. It’s important to understand the barriers and motivators for each and not apply a one-size fits all approach.
To inform our Small Acts Big Impact campaign, we undertook research and focus groups and have designed a program with a behavioural focus, both statewide and locally. The aim is to shift community behaviour by making it easy for people to understand what they need to do and the benefits it will deliver. Tailoring messaging and language to each audience with simplicity is key.
There is always value in making a direct connection with people you wish to influence in considering WIIFM – What’s In It For Me?
If we can improve the quantity and quality of organics recycling, we are diverting away from landfill, reducing the production of harmful greenhouse gases, benefiting efforts to reduce the impacts of climate change. High quality composts, mulches and soil conditioners produced from organic recycling can improve our parks and gardens, sporting fields and other community areas providing sustainable spaces for everyone to enjoy for a lot longer. Provide a direct reason (WIIFM) is a good start.
Firstly, make the kerbside recycling system simple. We have 570 councils and too many variations in kerbside recycling. We must co-ordinate a national system. Our current 10 per cent yellow bin contamination rate is partly a reflection of complexity and variance. The same applies to organics and FOGO. Keep it simple and standardised.
Secondly, educate on the big policy issues around why we recycle – climate change, organics in landfill driving methane emissions, embodied energy savings and resource conservation. To do that well we need to communicate regularly and with clarity. Evidence suggests that each $1/hh increase in education drives a one per cent decrease in contamination rates. An industry funded education campaign would be a good contribution.
If you or someone at your organisation is an industry leader and would like to be a part of this monthly column in 2023, please get in touch with Editor, Lisa Korycki lisa.korycki@primecreative.com.au
Katie Pahlow Director Regions & Community Action Sustainability Victoria
John McKew National Executive Officer Australian Organics Recycling Association
Mike Ritchie Managing Director MRA Consulting
Improving community education about recycling and resource recovery is crucial for building a sustainable future. However, it is not enough to solely rely on individual efforts. Industry and government at all levels must be involved in promoting sustainable practices. To improve education, governments, organisations and industries should collaborate to create targeted campaigns, providing clear and consistent messaging through various channels. Community engagement programs, such as local workshops, school programs, and social media campaigns, should also be used to promote recycling and resource recovery. By working together, education and awareness can lead to a more sustainable future and a circular economy.
Community education on recycling tends to focus on a “which bin” approach. This sends the wrong signal on two fronts: Firstly, that recycling is just about collection. Secondly, that the ‘yellow bin’ is the focal point for household recycling. The recycling system comprises three elements: collection, processing and end markets. If any of these is missing, the system doesn’t work. And community behaviours at the ‘bin’ can have big consequences for the system’s ability to process and find markets for recycled material. Additionally, there are thousands of away-from-home drop-off options for items that can’t be recycled kerbside, but can achieve good recycling outcomes. More should be done to deepen community understanding of what recycling is, and the alternatives available to broaden resource recovery outcomes. ACOR’s Recycle Mate program is a good start.
Prior to working in this industry, my knowledge surrounding what happens to Food and Garden Organics (FOGO) was minimal, however it shouldn’t take working in these industries to understand how we can do these things effectively.
Knowledge is power and one of our goals at Repurpose It is to not only simplify and successfully conduct waste management processes, but to also educate our community on ways they can too.
Our new series Living with Purpose, hosted by Jamie Durie, does exactly this – speaks to our audience in an educational yet easy to consume way, making waste management simple for everyone.
Brett Lemin Executive Officer Victorian Waste Management Association
Suzanne Toumbourou Chief Executive Officer Australian Council of Recycling
Pure unites people and technology to transform the circular economy through advanced resource recovery.
We strive to be Australia’s leading resource recovery specialist, providing viable solutions to meet our customers needs.
It’s time to shift the paradigm and create a fashion industry where economic growth is decoupled from resource use, according to the Australian Fashion Council (AFC).
The AFC, leading the development of the National Clothing Product Stewardship Scheme (NCPSS), has set a bold target of achieving clothing circularity by 2030.
Claire Kneller, Sustainable Business Advocate and WRAP Asia Pacific Managing Director, admits it’s an ambitious target, but says it’s one that must be set.
Speaking during a virtual town hall recently, where the NCPSS released its plan for circularity, Claire said it’s time to rethink what successful looks like.
“We need to engage the entire industry from clothing brands to retailers and consumers to play a part in reducing the environmental impacts of clothing, and to consume in a future fit manner,” she said.
Australians bought 383,000 tonnes of new clothing in 2018-19 – about 56 items per person. Of that, only 210,000 tonnes of clothing are donated or re-used annually, and very little recycled sourced fibre is used in clothing fabric production.
According to a report in October 2022 by Monash University’s Sustainable Development Institute (MSDI), global apparel consumption is estimated to reach 102 million tonnes, an increase by 63 per cent from 2015.
The current model of textile production and consumption, such as fast fashion, is putting unsustainable pressure on planetary health, contributing to water shortages and pollution, biodiversity loss, soil degradation and climate change.
Professor Rob Raven, Deputy Director (Research) of MSDI, and an expert on sustainability transitions, says fashion and textile industries need to become more sustainable.
“This is a hard nut to crack due to international value chains and intimate connections to individual expression
and lifestyle,” Rob says. “But we can no longer afford to ignore the social and environmental impacts and need to find more comprehensive and inclusive solutions.”
Report co-authors and sustainable textile experts, Julie Boulton and Aleasha McCallion, both agree that government support is one of the things needed to avert the current trajectory and help build a system that can drive industry efforts towards sustainable change at speed and scale.
“We have a massive production and consumption problem, which ends up creating a massive waste problem,” Julie says. “We need everyone in the supply chain thinking differently about all items of clothing.
“Shifting the entire fashion and textile ecosystem will require work across multiple fronts. It will also need a coordinated effort involving government, industry (in all its forms), researchers and citizens to implement a transition to a sustainable, future-focused industry.”
A DESIRE TO CLOSE THE LOOP ON TEXTILE WASTE IS A COMMON THREAD IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY. THE NATIONAL CLOTHING PRODUCT STEWARDSHIP SCHEME AIMS TO LEAD THE WAY.
Danielle Kent, Director for the AFC, agrees collaboration is a key to drive change.
She says while there are successful initiatives being introduced by brands and individuals within the industry, grass roots action can only go so far. A national framework will amplify efforts.
Outdoor apparel brand Patagonia is among a growing number of brands using recycled materials in its clothing, including cashmere, nylon from fishing nets, polyester, and wool.
In Australia, Myer has engaged Textile Recyclers Australia to collect textile waste, such as off-cuts and samples, from merchandising teams at its head office. The materials are upcycled into furniture filler, diverting them from landfill.
And on its website, fashion chain Zara states that more than 50 per cent of its collection is now made according to its Join Life requirements, a traceable system
for garments using processes and raw materials that have a lesser impact on the environment.
“Individually, brands and retailers are actively involved in this space, but you need a system in place, you need pathways, recycling and remanufacturing infrastructure,” Danielle says.
“It’s not just all about the stewards. When you look at the whole circle of the supply chain, everyone needs to play their part for it to work.
“We’ve found everyone is keen to be involved, but the movement has hit its natural limit where there’s no systemic approach.”
In a bid to provide that systemic approach, clothing waste was put on the Minister’s Product Stewardship Priority list in October 2022 and the government is funding the NCPSS.
The scheme is being led by the AFC with a consortium that includes Charitable
Recycling Australia, Sustainable Resource Use, Queensland University of Technology and WRAP, along with collaborators from the Product Stewardship Centre of Excellence, Australian Retailers Association, Australian Council of Recycling, National Retail Association, Waste Management and Resource Recovery Association.
Claire says the consortium combined learnings from other product stewardship schemes, both nationally and overseas, to create a best practice scheme for the unique Australian context.
She’s confident the scheme is a worldleader for making clothing circularity a reality.
“It’s about systemic change,” she says. “Thinking about the products, right from the beginning of their life, as conceptualised, to how are they designed, how are they brought to market and how are we extending their life for as long
as possible and responsibly disposing of them at end-of-life? Whole system change needs to happen, that’s why we have such a broad group of stakeholders. It’s not just about clothing businesses.
“We’re addressing the challenges that nobody can do on their own.”
The scheme is modelled off four key pillars – design for circularity, circular business models, closing the material loop and citizen behaviour change.
Claire says industry needs to introduce circularity at the beginning of the process to ensure clothes are designed for the best possible outcomes. That includes looking at what fabrics, fastening and accessories are used, to where products are sourced.
“This is not one-size-fits-all,” she says. “It’s about finding solutions that speak to lots of types of businesses within the sector.”
Circular business models and how clothing is brought to market will also play
a role. Industry should not only be looking at clothing reuse but other business models such as clothing rental, subscriptions or made-to-order.
Closing the material loop takes in collection and sorting end-of-life clothing to be reused into high value recycling, either closed loop to become other clothes, or open loop, providing feedstock for other high value uses.
Underpinning all of those is citizen behaviour and changing the way people behave around clothing.
Claire says the use of the word citizen, rather than consumer, is important.
“We want to move away from the idea that we’re just here to consume clothing. We need to have better citizenship,” she says.
“How do we buy better, take care of our clothes, use them longer and what do we do better with them at their end of life?”
Revenue for the scheme will be raised through a four-cent contribution on each item of new clothing placed on the market.
Claire says contributions are calculated on what funds will be required to deliver the scheme’s objectives.
While many businesses consulted during the design process preferred a governmentregulated scheme to prevent free riders, Claire says the scheme will start on a voluntary basis.
“Regulation is a complicated beast, and the industry doesn’t have time to wait for any potential new regulations to come into place,” she says. “We’re recommending that we go ahead. If in the future there’s a compelling case to shift it to regulatory then that process can happen, but we can’t wait for that to be done.”
Key to the NCPSS plan is the recruitment of foundation members during 2023 that will fund the transition phase and help shape the scheme and its establishment.
Leila Naja Hibri, Australian Fashion Council Chief Executive Officer, called on Australia’s major fashion and clothing players to commit to change.
“Australia’s top 30 clothing brands and retailers bring in at least 60 per cent of the 1.5 billion units of clothing that are imported into our market each year,” Leila says.
“By becoming foundation members, these brands have the opportunity to transform the way Australia makes, consumes and recycles clothing.
“Together we can do what no brand or retailer can do on their own. Together we can start our industry’s journey toward a circular economy that eliminates clothing waste by 2030 and net zero by 2050.”
For more information, visit: www.ausfashioncouncil.com
With Australia producing about 14 million tonnes of core organics annually, and with half still going to landfill, Australia is clearly lagging on the organic waste management front compared to many other developed countries, says Jan Dübbelde, REMONDIS National Organics Manager.
Locally we need to make better use of organics, to further improve its climate footprint and to ensure further volumes find their way into the circular economy.
The scope to divert organics such as food and garden waste from landfill are vast, says Jan, but require smart and targeted investment.
“With government mandates requiring all businesses and homes to have organic recycling capacity in coming years, there’s an onus on pretty much everyone from big business right down to mums and dads to play a part,” Jan says. “But the biggest
onus – and opportunity – sits with major recycling management players such as REMONDIS, who, with extensive experience behind them, have the know-how to advance multiple investments and strategies.”
REMONDIS has operated environmentally sustainable organic recycling facilities globally for many decades now, with more than 85 facilities developed to date, including some of Europe’s largest composting and anaerobic digestion plants.
Jan says drawing on global expertise has enabled the company to set a lead with organics management initiatives in Australia.
Jan says that the company has extensive runs on the board when it comes to local organics management, with government assistance playing an important part.
“Last year the Commonwealth and New South Wales Governments awarded two million dollars for us to extend the Lake Macquarie Organics Resource Recovery Facility, enabling us to lift processing capacity from 44,000 tonnes to 60,000 tonnes and assure operations for another 20 years,” he says.
“This is significant given that the Awaba facility is still relatively new. The takeoff in activity speaks of a local community embracing the facility in a way we could never have imagined only a few years ago. The outcome is quality compost products that are used for landscaping, farming and erosion control.”
Specific areas of focus at Awaba include using world’s best technology to manage odour emissions, increase product quality and enhance decontamination. REMONDIS emphasised that the Awaba facility is run in partnership with Lake
Macquarie City Council, whose collaboration and support has been invaluable.
Another REMONDIS organics success story is Australia’s first fully enclosed in-vessel composting facility at Port Macquarie, which has been operating for 22 years.
This Organics Resource Recovery Facility receives up to 50,000 tonnes of organics annually, including kerbside collection FOGO waste and garden waste from homes, businesses, and municipal precincts. About half of the total input is broken down through biological degradation and evaporation during the composting process, while the other half is sold to market as compost to improve soil health and fertility.
One of several recent investments at the Port Macquarie site is the
acquisition of new equipment that shreds wood and green waste. As it stands, less than one per cent of material that can’t be recycled at Port Macquarie ends up as landfill. “This is an outstanding environmental
outcome,” Jan says, “When you consider that all local organics once ended up in holes in the ground.”
For more information, visit: www.remondis-australia.com.au
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The fundamentals of composting have been around for thousands of years, but for the highest quality outcomes it’s important to understand the science behind the process.
Kali Martin is combining a chemistry background and a passion for sustainability and soil health to improve the management of organic materials for regional Queensland.
Kali, General Manager of Organic Recycling for WestRex, a subsidiary of Pure Environmental, says the quality of the end-product is optimised by getting the foundations of composting right.
“It’s about understanding the nature and ratio of the feedstocks and optimising the conditions of composting to harness natural microbiological processes and ensuring nutrients are retained,” she says. “We are monitoring and optimising these conditions through the entire process.
“Taking a scientific approach has allowed WestRex to meet compost specifications that are not typically produced in our region.”
Specialising in finding niche solutions for resource recovery, WestRex recruits chemists and engineers to ensure it delivers best practice outcomes for customers and the environment.
Kali describes the company as socially focused, and while it may have a smaller platform, it aims to have a big impact through an investment in people, innovation, and technology.
Leyburn Organic Recycling opened in January 2022 to process compostable materials including food processing waste, animal waste, grease trap, green waste, and other agricultural residues.
Located between Toowoomba and Warwick, the Leyburn facility is located within a diverse agricultural production region – suitable for both feedstock, and end-markets.
Kali says moving into the organics space was always on the cards – it combines the company ethos of finding ways to have a positive environmental and social impact, with the farming and agricultural background of company directors.
The timing was right for Leyburn in terms of expertise within the company and a need for quality compost in the region.
“Leyburn is ideally situated because we’ve got materials from local agricultural industries coming in, and the compost can be returned to the soil in that area,”
Kali says. She says farming applications have their own specifications and are a growing area for compost application as more people become aware of the benefits compost can provide in improving soil health and quality.
“We’re undergoing a huge evolution in this industry, where people are more concerned about their environmental footprint,” she says. “Carbon abatement and sequestration are emerging areas with farmers becoming more aware that Australian soils are carbon depleted and understanding the importance of increasing soil carbon.
“Farmers affected by drought are also investing in compost because they understand it builds up organic matter and soil structure which improves water retention. Compost ticks a lot of boxes.”
Kali says the benefit of having technical expertise within the business means there is a constant review of new information
and technology and how to optimise its application.
That expertise will help guide local industry and regional councils as they work toward implementing the Queensland Government’s Organics
Strategy which aims to halve the amount of food waste generated in the state, divert 80 per cent of organic material generated from landfill, and achieve a minimum organics recycling rate of 70 per cent, by 2030.
Kali says she’d like to see development of localised closed loop systems for organics where waste materials are generated, processed and the compost used locally, returning the carbon and nutrients to the soil they came from.
“At the moment we’re supplying a range of horticulture and agricultural applications and some of the material we produce travels a long distance,” she says.
“Among the reasons we moved into the composting space was a desire to help divert volumes of material from landfill, as well as reducing global warming and the impact of emissions.
“I’d like to see the high quality compost we’re making return locally where it can have a greater impact.”
For more information, visit: www.westrex.com.au or www.purenv.com.au
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Joe Mildren, also known as Farmer Joe, checks the quality of the compost.
With an established market across Australia, Van Schaik’s Bio Gro has expanded its operations with a new facility in Newbridge, Victoria.
Leigh Barry, Chief Executive Officer, says the new 400-acre facility, took its first delivery of organic material in September 2022 and has hit the ground running.
As well as expanding its footprint in Victoria – Bio Gro’s primary composting facility is in South Australia – the new plant will give the company the capability to increase its product line.
Leigh says the expansion has been prompted by an increase in circular economies and diversion of organics from landfill, as well as an increase in demand for Bio Gro products.
“The work of Sustainability Victoria and Recycling Victoria around diverting organics to landfill bodes well for the future of the industry,” Leigh says. “It has encouraged everyone to do their part for the environment.”
Bio Gro’s Newbridge facility, he says, is a key part of the company playing its role in this move.
“We started from a blank canvas with the Newbridge site previously being a mushroom composting facility,” he says. “Since its acquisition in August 2022, we’ve commenced receiving a wide range of organics, including green organics and other agricultural organic by-products.
“We had our first finished, saleable product ready for the market just three months later.”
Leigh says most of the material received at Newbridge has already
been pre-processed at Bio Gro’s organics facility in Dandenong, in Melbourne’s south-east. However, some raw material is accepted through the gates at Newbridge.
On arrival, it’s windrowed for composting straightaway.
Leigh says the process from receiving organics to distributing the end-product can be technical, but a focus on quality is upheld through every stage.
Bio Gro produces a range of growing media, mulches and composts. The process involves various steps including source separation, composting and screening.
One of the key challenges in processing organics is decontamination, Leigh says. And although a small percentage comes through the facility, it is still a high priority for Bio Gro.
“The initial material that enters our receival facilities is generally a low contamination rate, ranging between 1.0 to 2.5 per cent. This small amount initially goes through a sorting station at our primary receiving facilities. We aim to remove the majority of contamination at the point of receipt,” he says.
“Any remaining contaminants will be sorted through a screening process for finished products.”
While Bio Gro has an established reputation for organics processing and compost, Leigh says the Newbridge location will allow the company to build on its origins in timber and forestry and go above and beyond for its customers.
“With our next investment in infrastructure, the Newbridge facility is set to produce packaged products by the end of 2023,” he says. “We are excited
IS CONTINUING THAT PASSION.
to have a packaging machine installed this year that is expected to allow us to produce about four to five million bags of compost in the 2024 fiscal year and nine to ten million bags the following fiscal year.”
Leigh says there’s an increasing shift in how to improve soil health through organics rather than synthetic process. On the back of that, Bio Gro will focus on the development of tailored products for the broadacre agricultural market.
“We have some of our partners involved to get trials on how we can do this, underway,” Leigh says.
Bio Gro is also branching out to new areas of waste management, receiving liquid waste such as grease trap waste and by-products from manufacturing. They will be processed to add value to organic material.
Food Organics Garden Organics (FOGO) is another area of growth, and Leigh says, it’s been a great aspect of the business so far.
“We invested a lot of time and effort into a state-of-the-art processing line at our Dandenong South facility to
accommodate FOGO needs. We are now processing three councils’ FOGO material,” he says. “Currently, we are working up to a fourth council –something we are really proud of. By the end of 2023, we will be processing FOGO material from seven councils.”
The Victorian Government’s circular economy policy, Recycling Victoria: a new economy, has set targets to cut waste generation by 15 per cent per capita over the next 10 years and halve food and organic waste going to landfill.
Leigh says Bio Gro’s Newbridge facility is helping to contribute to a healthier planet and is crucial to help meet diversion targets.
“Projections by the Victorian Government show there’s additional organics processing infrastructure required,” he says. “We are very grateful for partial funding assistance from Sustainability Victoria. It’s given us so many opportunities to move forward in business with environmental consciousness.
“We have a Group Sustainability Manager as a key member of the executive team to keep the business accountable. They oversee the operations and procedures we have and ensure we are providing good circular economy outcomes while considering our own sustainable footprint.”
Leigh says working towards national waste targets is one of many goals held at Bio Gro.
“Our Newbridge facility has the capacity to process about 60,000 tonnes of organics a year, we will be increasing that in the next 12 months to 150,000 tonnes a year,” he says.
“We have a view, over the next three to five years, to increase that number upwards of 300,000 to 400,000 tonnes annually.
“Our new facility and its capacity for processing organics is something we are very proud of, especially in reaching a more sustainable future for Victoria and the nation as a whole.”
For more information, visit: www.biogro.com.au
Organics processing is a growth area in Australia, but there’s currently a sizeable gap in market capacity, says Catherine Phillips, Commercial Manager of Organics for Cleanaway.
Seven years seems like a big window to reach national and state government targets of introducing food and garden organic (FOGO) collections to all households by 2030, but, Catherine says, there’s a lot of volume to come online in that time, and not enough infrastructure.
As councils navigate the path to FOGO collection, Cleanaway is committed to supporting them and providing the infrastructure required to safely and effectively process FOGO into organic products. Last year Cleanaway acquired the Global Renewables (GRL) alternative waste treatment facility at Eastern Creek for $168m, with the aim of transitioning it to be the largest FOGO processing facility in Australia.
“There’s a challenge for councils and processors to work together to understand when capacity needs to be available, and when feedstock volumes will come online,” Catherine says.
“There’s a lot of work being done to make sure we’re in a position to not only process the waste, but also to work with councils as they go through the journey to bring in FOGO.
“There are challenges for industry and councils to work through.”
GRL’s fully automated decontamination and composting process has been turning Sydney’s red-bin waste into compost for the past 20 years, and is currently handling 220,000 tonnes annually. The technology used is similar to what’s needed to process FOGO.
Cleanaway conducted trials at the facility in December 2022, processing kerbside FOGO material into an Australian standard compost product.
Catherine says the trial validated Cleanaway’s ability to transition the site from processing municipal solid waste to processing FOGO. There are now plans in place to complete required upgrade works in line with FOGO volumes coming online over the coming years.
Nathan Lopez, Cleanaway’s Regional Organics Manager for NSW, has been at GRL since the facility opened its doors.
“The Cleanaway team at GRL has nearly two decades of experience with producing organic products for soil amendment and will be using this expertise to ensure Sydney’s FOGO is processed into high value products that contribute to the circular economy,” Nathan says.
“GRL’s dynamic SCT Biomax composting process provides for a consistent and high quality product, all in a fully enclosed, odour managed environment.”
While Cleanaway is confident it will have capacity to meet demand in the Sydney area, it is also looking at other investments that will be needed to process the burgeoning organics sector by 2030.
The company has recently commissioned a new FOGO process facility at Mildura,
in north-west Victoria, which will provide a template for Cleanaway to continue working with other regional councils to process their organics.
The Mildura facility is processing up to 15,000 tonnes of FOGO using Covered Aerated Static Pile composting technology. Organic waste is placed in an aerated concrete bunker with a Gore cover on top.
Catherine says the technology provides the same environmental benefits as being fully enclosed, such as managing leachate and odour and mitigating environmental impacts, but can be done at a smaller scale.
The organic products created at Mildura will be returned to the community to improve soil health, closing the loop and creating a circular economy for the region.
Gavin Sedgmen, Cleanaway’s Operations Supervisor at Mildura FOGO, has worked closely with Sustainability Victoria and the site team to design, construct, and
commission the facility over the past two years.
“We’re really seeing what we’ve done in Mildura, using state-of-the-art technology for that scale, as a blueprint for what we can roll out elsewhere,” Catherine says. “We want to work with councils.”
Catherine sees contamination and education as the two main stumbling blocks on the way to introducing FOGO. She says helping people understand that what goes in their FOGO bin affects the quality of the end products will make a big difference to contamination rates.
What would also help is an alignment and consistency around the country as to what can and can’t be composted. Catherine says one of the challenges is the varying requirements from one area to another. Despite the obstacles, she says there’s eagerness about the opportunities within organics to close the loop.
“To be taking a huge volume of material out of landfill, and the carbon benefits that come with that, are exciting,” she says. “To be doing what you believe is the right thing while also delivering benefits to the community – it’s a very exciting time to be involved.”
For more information, visit: www.cleanaway.com.au
COOKERS BULK OIL SYSTEM PROVIDES AN ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS MODEL FOR THE HANDLING OF OIL AT ALL STAGES WITHIN THE FOODSERVICE INDUSTRY.
Since November 2000, Cookers
Bulk Oil System has offered reliable and environmentally friendly fresh and used cooking oil collection services to restaurants, pubs, hotels, cafes, fast foods, catering, and food manufacturers.
Traditionally, commercial cooking oil has been delivered in 20-litre tins which usually end up in landfill. Often up to 200 millilitres of residual oil can be left in the tins, which results in landfill.
Peter Fitzgerald, Director of Cookers, says its end-to-end solution is helping businesses work more efficiently by eliminating the need to continually order fresh cooking oil, manage stock and storage space and handle used cooking oil.
Peter says the solution came from the need to switch from single-use tins to a more sustainable option.
“Cookers found that there was a good model in providing stainless-steel equipment on a free loan basis, which offers a continual top-up, and eliminates tins going into landfill.”
He says that when making the change from tins to stainless-steel equipment, an initiative to address used oil was also considered.
“In the past, used oil had been put back into tins, processed and sold on to stock food or it was exported overseas. Our solution, again, was to provide a stainlesssteel system, suitable for food and kitchen, that we could collect oil in, process and
ultimately eliminate individual tins. This helped to streamline the handling of used oil, making it safer and traceable.”
The used oil journey doesn’t stop at collection. Peter says it goes through a heating process to recover used cooking oil, water, and sludge.
“The oil is lighter than water and sludge. When heated the sludge drops to the bottom and is then harvested off.
“This sludge and wastewater is then transferred to a processing facility before disposal into the sewerage system.”
Peter says after this process occurs; the oil that is left goes to multiple streams for a secondary purpose.
“The biggest market, internationally, for this oil is biofuels. However, the oil is also used as the fat ratio for stock food at feedlots and for alternative chemical-type uses,” he says. “Over the past few years there have been initiatives for it to be included in products such as cling wrap
and road base. These innovations continue to evolve and produce new markets for used cooking oil.”
Peter says Cookers’ complete oil management system has contributed to a stronger focus on sustainability within the foodservice industry and he’s proud of the environmental benefits it has brought.
“What we stop from going into landfill is significant. Each truck that we use to deliver fresh cooking oil, saves 300 tins, each weighing about a kilogram, going into landfill. Something we consider a great contribution,” he says.
It also benefits businesses that have signed up to the Australian Packaging Covenant – an agreement between companies in the supply chain and all levels of government to reduce the environmental impacts of consumer packaging – which has been brought into focus over the past few years.
Peter says businesses who use Cookers’ bulk oil solution reduce their overall packaging waste.
“A lot of businesses are now steering away from packaged goods, not only is it better for the environment but it’s more practical and saves money,” he says.
“Cookers also supplies to remote locations, such as mines. Our model allows businesses in these remote areas to not worry about what to do with packaging and oil waste. We have it covered.”
Peter says while this model is supported by the foodservice industry, Cookers is
always looking to improve its business model and reach in the community.
“There are opportunities right throughout the country to improve the density of our services and the coverage we provide,” he says. “We do logistics well. If we continue to adhere to a strong ethical business approach, provide excellent equipment, service, and oil, then we will continue to operate a good business model for the future.”
For more information, visit: www.cookers.com.au
ResourceCo is scaling up its presence in the Victorian market and expanding its business footprint through the acquisition of waste management provider Sunshine Groupe.
A leader in the recovery and remanufacture of primary resources, ResourceCo took the helm of the fifthgeneration business, based in Brooklyn, in Melbourne’s western suburbs, in December 2022.
Brad Lemmon, Chief Executive Officer of Recycling and Waste at ResourceCo, says the acquisition is an opportunity to extend Sunshine Groupe’s legacy with ResourceCo’s capabilities.
A strong platform, coupled with the already established network of ResourceCo’s Material Solutions business in Melbourne’s south-east, will enable the company to embrace growth opportunities in the Victorian market.
“Sunshine Groupe is very similar to ResourceCo in terms of its origins. It’s privately owned by a passionate owner who has built a great business,” Brad says.
“We want to bring the breadth, depth, and capability of ResourceCo to expand it into a broader business and facility, bringing our established processes and focus on quality, safety and environmental management into Victoria.”
The site in Brooklyn processes a variety of products including soils, concrete, rock, brick, asphalt, and timber, in addition to its core mixed heavy construction and demolition (C&D) material capability.
Brad says the crushing operations at Brooklyn will be focused on leveraging ResourceCo’s expertise and recycling
capability to produce a growing list of construction materials servicing the Melbourne market.
According to Sustainability Victoria, in 2018-19 the construction and demolition sector increased the recovery rate of materials to 87 per cent, up from 84 per cent in 2017-18.
In the same period, the sector recovered more than 6.3 million tonnes for reprocessing, 100 per cent of which was used in Victoria.
Brad says the Victorian Government has shown leadership and is well advanced in proactively seeking to use recycled
C&D waste, and the uptake of recycled products, through its Recycling Victoria –a new economy and Recycle First policies.
Since 2020, all tenders on Victorian major projects have been required to demonstrate how they could optimise the use of recycled and reused materials. This made the Victorian market all the more appealing when ResourceCo set upon implementing its growth agenda.
“There’s enormous potential when governments prioritise the use of recycled material in its procurement,” Brad says. “When it comes to achieving Australia’s ambitious 2030 waste reduction
targets, reducing the use of virgin material and taking practical action on delivering sustainable, publicly-funded infrastructure projects, Victoria’s Recycle First policy is undoubtedly positive.
“We’ve been involved in several key state rail and road projects, moving millions of tonnes of material around the Melbourne market. With the addition of the Brooklyn site, ResourceCo is well-positioned to service a wider part
of greater Melbourne, brings more than 30 years’ experience in construction and demolition recycling and is operating in a regime that has positioned itself as a leader in driving recycled content and sustainable outcomes for construction waste.
“We are a strong, credible, producer of products for the Melbourne market and support the ongoing growth of infrastructure and development in Victoria with products derived from recycled materials.”
Brad says ResourceCo is looking to build on the capacity and types of products the Brooklyn facility can produce and supply to market.
It’s already producing a range of road bases and rubbles and has commenced production of aggregates for use in concrete applications.
One of the benefits of the site is the opportunity to evolve into a fully integrated recycling facility able to manage a range of wastes from C&D to commercial and industrial and soils.
“Our experience in South Australia has demonstrated the benefits of integrating capabilities across a variety of waste streams and the acquisition of the Brooklyn site provides the ability to achieve this in one location,” Brad says.
Creating a circular economy for C&D waste minimises environmental and economic costs including reducing reliance on virgin materials, transport costs and landfilling, along with illegal dumping. Research has also found reuse of construction and demolition waste can save eight times as much energy and prevent carbon emissions up to 10-fold more than using virgin materials.
Brad says that as ResourceCo continues to actively expand its capabilities, it’s fitting that in the company’s 30th year it’s been able to leverage experience and capability with the acquisition of a great business in Melbourne.
For more information, visit: www.resourceco.com.au
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EXHIBITION SPACE NOW ON SALE
Mercury is in the top 10 chemicals of public health concern, according to the World Health Organization. If released, it’s toxicity in the environment can cause serious, lasting health problems.
But because of its unique properties, it’s been used in products including barometers and thermometers, switches and relays, batteries, cosmetics, and dental amalgam.
The Minamata Convention, a global treaty, was adopted in 2013. It’s named after the bay in Japan where, in the mid20th century, mercury-tainted industrial wastewater poisoned thousands of people, leading to health damage that became known as Minamata disease.
Since the convention came into force on 16 August 2017, countries that have ratified it have been working to control mercury supply and trade, reduce the use and release of mercury and raise
public awareness. Australia ratified the Minamata Convention on 7 December 2021. At the time, the Government’s Regulatory Impact Statement assessed the potential implication of the ratification and found a net benefit of more than $5.9 million over 20 years in direct economic value to Australia, as well as social and environmental benefits.
The ‘Recycling and Waste Reduction (Mandatory Product StewardshipMercury-added Products) Rules 2021’ came into effect nationally in March 2022, making it illegal in Australia to import, export, and manufacture a range of mercury-added products including batteries, switches and relays, compact fluorescent lamps for general light purposes, and pesticides, biocides and topical antiseptics.
Consumers, businesses, industry and governments are all accountable for the safe disposal, collection, storage,
transport, and treatment of mercurycontaining wastes.
Ecocycle is the only Environment Protection Authority-licensed processor of mercury wastes operating in Australia.
It has a processing plant in Melbourne’s north and has invested in a plant with significant recycling capacity in Western Australia that will start operations in 2024. This plant will predominantly process mercury-containing materials generated from the oil and gas, mining and metal producing sectors, as well as domestic and industrial lighting products, e-waste Hg, and contaminated soils, including from remediation works.
Doug Rowe, Director of Ecocycle, says the Minamata Convention is a positive step to increase mercury recovery and safeguard those working in the industry.
“For too long, mercury wastes have been going to landfills or into our sewer systems and waterways,” Doug says.
NATIONAL E-WASTE RECYCLER ECOCYCLE IS PLAYING A KEY ROLE IN ENSURING AUSTRALIA MEETS ITS REQUIREMENTS TO MINIMISE MERCURY RISKS UNDER THE MINAMATA CONVENTION.
“There are solutions and answers to these mercury problems. We hope the Minamata Convention highlights some positive actions.”
So where do we find mercury and what happens to the waste?
Lighting waste in the form of fluorescent tubes and mercury globes found in homes, businesses, and streetlights are slowly being phased out and recycled, making way for new energy-efficient LED lights.
The old tubes and globes are collected in stillages, boxes, and bins, and processed through Ecocycle’s state-of-the-art MRT equipment. Powder that contains mercury is recovered during the process then distilled and the mercury removed. Glass and metals are collected for recycling and reuse.
E waste can contain various amounts of mercury in the small fluorescent tubes found in TVs, monitors, and laptops. Robotics are used in a sealed, contained and filtered room to remove the tubes, ready for processing and mercury recovery. The powder that contains the mercury is then distilled, while the glass and metal are recycled and reused. The remaining carcasses are shredded and
recycled in a safe and environmentally friendly manner.
Dental Amalgam is a large contributor to mercury waste. As old fillings are removed the fine granule waste/paste is collected in separators, so the mercury doesn’t end up in waterways. These separators are changed over regularly, and the amalgam removed and distilled to collect any mercury and other metals.
Most dentists now have separators or collectors installed but there is still a way to go before they are installed in all practices.
Button cell batteries contain mercury and other metals. The batteries are collected, sorted, and then distilled to recover the mercury while the other metals are sent away for further refining.
Larger button cell batteries don’t contain mercury but are processed with heat, under vacuum, to gather the fine sand inside the case for further recycling and reuse.
Mining, oil and gas companies have varying amounts of mercury and hydrocarbons in their mercury removal units (MRU) that need to be treated, distilled, and the mercury recovered for stabilisation. This normally comes
in large wrangle bags or sealed 200-litre drums ready to be placed in the large distillers or retorts with heat, agitation, and under vacuum. The catalyst can be further recycled once the mercury has been removed and the metals within are recycled and reused.
Mercury is in accessories such as switches on transformers, car boots and bonnets, fire water sprinkler heads, blood pressure meters, thermometers, balancing equipment, and the list goes on.
Doug says more companies in the dental and lighting industries are committing to mercury recycling. The mining, oil and gas industry also is proactive, exploring disposal options and decontamination of sites.
“Generally, the miscellaneous items with mercury are processed correctly in Australia,” Doug says. “Unfortunately, much of the e-waste containing mercury is not. It ends up in landfills and exposes employees dismantling these units to mercury.”
He says dangerous practices handling mercury disposal could expose companies to risks that, he says, simply don’t need to be had.
“As seen in other countries around the world, e-waste recycling must be done responsibly, short cuts stopped, and employees protected and respected.”
Ecocycle has installed robotic, waste mercury removal stations that use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to handle television monitors and laptops. The stations have been successfully used throughout Europe, the United Kingdom, and United States for years.
“We are starting from a long way back, but the technology is here,” Doug says. “There are no excuses to not get this right.”
Ecocycle has established a national hotline (1300 326 292) to help industry and communities safely dispose of mercury.
For more information, visit: www.ecocycle.com.au
WITH A FRESH TAKE ON WASTE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES, THE NEWLY BRANDED OREZ IS WORKING WITH ITS CLIENTS TO FIND SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
CEA Environmental Solutions has changed its name to Orez, a name that embodies its dedication to a sustainable future of zero waste.
Orez is committed to creating sustainable and environmentally responsible solutions, and helping its customers reduce waste and minimize their impact on the environment.
Sean Galdermans, General Manager of Orez, says the new name reflects the direction they are heading and highlights its commitment to preserving the environment for future generations.
“Although we began as CEA Environmental Solutions, we realised the business had grown beyond our original vision. We needed a name that encapsulates our broader focus and unique value proposition,” Sean says. “Under the rebrand, our new name, takes a more solutions-based focus to waste management.”
Orez was established three years ago as a division of Construction Equipment Australia (CEA), a national capital equipment distribution business, distributing brands such as JCB, AtlasCopco, Dynapac, Ditch Witch
and Komptech. Orez’s close relationship with CEA means it can leverage CEA’s extensive national infrastructure and resources in its customer offerings.
Sean says the company’s unique capabilities in providing tailored solutions, not only focus on reducing waste, but on turning
waste into valuable products for its clients.
“We love it when a customer comes to us with a problem to solve,” he says. “We can provide an end-to-end service that covers everything they need, including facility funding solutions, preliminary and detailed design, facility construction and commissioning and ongoing service and maintenance.”
Sean says that Orez’s expertise in delivering comprehensive waste management solutions was first fully recognised through its partnership with design and construction company, COVA, to deliver the Dulverton Organics Recycling Facility in Tasmania.
“As the technology partner for the Dulverton project, we were really able to display our full potential
in project delivery,” he says. Orez’s package of work included the design and construction of the pre-treatment and feedstock mixing systems, invessel composting with integrated air and water management systems and compost refining.
“Orez’s ability to deliver this package as a single supplier is a unique offering. The quality of the end-product is always at front of mind for us,” Sean says.
One of the advantages of the Orez brand is its holistic ‘end-to-end’ approach to waste management. Sean says there was a gap in the industry for accountability to deliver a final product or outcome, one Orez has set out to fill.
“Orez offers a one-stop-shop, providing a diverse range of products and services within the one house, so once we’ve solved the waste problem and designed a solution, we provide exclusive access to leading equipment and technologies, meaning customers only need to deal with one provider.”
He says waste management isn’t a ‘one-size-fits all’ situation. By understanding customers challenges, Orez develops tailored solutions to ensure they receive the best outcome for their individual needs.
Sean says that Orez’s expertise and experience come from the strength
of the CEA business, which provides assurance to potential and future clients.
“CEA’s extensive footprint across Australia ensures that the Orez team is not only well positioned to assist customers looking for an end-to-end waste solution, but also has the capacity to service and support the project long after its completed and in operation. Providing peace of mind to customers,” he says.
“Orez is growing rapidly, and we are excited to expand and deliver projects nationally that add great benefit to communities wanting to have a sustainable focus and better manage waste.”
Sean says he is proud of the path Orez is taking in the waste management industry.
“Our model is something we’ve worked hard to build, develop and implement through every business we work with, and we could not deliver this without the strong brands and partners that are aligned with our beliefs,” he says.
“We look forward to sustainable growth and working towards a cleaner, healthier planet for years to come.”
For more information, visit: www.orez.com.au
TOMRA is no stranger to Australian waste management. Decades ago, it started its activities with the introduction of Container Deposit Schemes (CDS) to maximise beverage container collection for recycling before it entered the market as a provider of sensor-based sorting solutions for recycling industries.
Founded in 1972 by brothers Petter and Tore Planke from Asker in Norway, who invented the world’s first automated reverse vending machine, TOMRA has also pioneered the use of sensor-based optical sorting technology with its business stream TOMRA Recycling. Today, more than 9000 machines are installed across more than 100 countries.
TOMRA’s sorting systems are designed to recover secondary materials from waste and metal streams to create pure mono materials that can be further
processed and turned into highquality recyclates.
A range of sensor-based technology makes it possible to identify, and sort recyclable material based on type, colour, transparency, shape, density, surface, metal signal and other characteristics. Thanks to the machine’s capabilities, recyclers and sorting plant operators can maximise yield while minimising primary material use and keeping valuable resources in a closed loop for as long as possible.
To date, TOMRA Recycling has 160 optical sorters installed in Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) and plastic recycling facilities across Australia. With the introduction of the National Waste Action Plan in 2019, the Recycling and Waste Reduction Act 2020, and other policies, the Australian recycling industry has made considerable
progress. In addition, legislation and government funds support the establishment of the necessary infrastructure to further advance the industry, enabling it to meet ambitious waste management and recycling targets.
To support this growth and engage with end customers, Carina Arita, Sales Manager for TOMRA Recycling, has taken charge of the development of new projects in collaboration with local stakeholders.
Based in the company’s Sydney office, Carina is in contact with TOMRA’s local service team that consists of specialised engineers. Paired with a comprehensive stock of spare parts, TOMRA is wellequipped to best serve its customers and the local market.
Carina says that with 50 years’ experience in circular waste management, TOMRA has optimised its
technologies and extended its portfolio to solve sorting challenges across numerous applications.
For instance, the company’s AUTOSORT plays a key role in Australia’s largest PET (polyethylene terephthalate) recycling plant that opened in Albury-Wodonga in 2022. Thanks to the good results, the company is keen to broaden its reach nationally.
Carina says the Circular Plastics Australia (CPA) recycling plant, situated in Albury-Wodonga, incorporates some of TOMRA’s most advanced technology and helps establish a domestic circular economy.
According to CPA, the amount of locally sourced and recycled PET in Australia has increased by two thirds since the start of its operation. While it started with recycling about 30,000 tonnes, the plant now recycles more than 50,000 tonnes annually. Additionally, several other AUTOSORTs are being installed in two other CPA plastic recycling facilities in the Melbourne area.
Carina says that with a presence in more than 100 countries worldwide, TOMRA has multiple best-practice projects and successes.
As all material streams differ in composition, TOMRA offers various technologies that adapt to the specific mix of material, the local reality, and requirements.
“The optical sorting machines are the eyes and the brain of the sorting process,” she says. “The better the pre-treatment, the better the sorting performance. To support our customers in realising the best results, TOMRA draws on its global and local expertise to offer consultancy to optimise plant design and overall material treatment.
“Aiming to support Australia in realising a more circular material treatment, TOMRA closely observes the local market, turning challenges into opportunities wherever feasible.
“For example, it offers optional technologies for its AUTOSORT,
such as Deep LAIser that enables the identification of objects that are invisible to Near-infrared (NIR) technology. Moreover, it can detect the shape of different objects, thereby increasing sorting accuracy. Our SHARP EYE technology makes it possible to differentiate between PET bottles and PET trays with high accuracy, which for most technology still poses a challenge.”
TOMRA’s vision is to lead the resource revolution by transforming how the world’s resources are obtained, used, and reused.
Carina says it is TOMRA’s belief that businesses have the power and responsibility to help manage resources – today and tomorrow. Therefore, one of TOMRA’s commitments is to recycle 40 per cent of post-consumer plastic packaging worldwide and 30 per cent of those in closed loop, by 2030.
“That commitment,” says Carina, “can only be achieved with co-creation, close market collaboration, sharing of knowledge and new partnerships for circularity.
For more information, visit: www.tomra.com/en
The Cat 938K might be a small wheel loader by name, but it’s big on performance for a number of reasons.
Robert Mason, REMONDIS Operations Manager – Transfer Stations and Transport, Queensland, says the waste handler ticks the boxes for productivity, fuel efficiency and operator comfort – all key requisites when you’re working in an environment that’s tough on machinery.
“The Cat 938K has been designed with waste handling in mind, and is suited for transfer station requirements,” Robert says. “It’s the right fit for our application.”
The Cat 938K Waste Handling Arrangement is deployed at REMONDIS’ Raubers Road transfer station in Northgate, just 14 kilometres north of Brisbane’s central business district.
It’s a bustling operation, handling up to 160,000 tonnes of material each year, including a large amount of construction and industrial waste.
Robert says that while general machines may not suit the environment, the Cat 938K has proven it’s up to the task, notching up more than 18,000 hours’ operation since 2014.
It’s given REMONDIS such a good service life, a second machine is on order.
Robert says the Cat 938K offers some advantages to the waste industry, including additional guarding and debris management.
“At a transfer station there is all sorts of rubbish. When you’re pushing stockpiles with a loader you can never predict what you come up against,” he says. “Sharp objects, such as steel, can penetrate underneath the machine and can result in a lot of money for repairs
and downtime. Additional guarding fitted at the Cat factory as part of the Waste Handling Arrangement helps protect against that.”
REMONDIS has customised the Cat 938K, swapping out a general-purpose bucket for a multi-purpose one that gives
flexibility for the type of work that can be carried out.
Wayne Partridge, Resource and Ag Manager for dealer Hastings Deering, says multi-function work has never been easier with the Cat 938K quickloading performance series buckets, and improved Z-bar linkage.
“It combines the digging efficiency of a traditional Z-bar with tool carrier capabilities,” Wayne says. “The parallel lift and high tilt forces throughout the working range allow safe handling of loads with precise control. You can simultaneously lift, steer and drive.
“The K-Series small wheel loader does what you ask it to do.”
Caterpillar’s industry-first Hystat Operator Modes, featuring four power train settings, also ensures the Cat 938K is responsive to operator needs while delivering the right balance of fuel
efficiency and tractive power. Settings include classic Torque Converter for smooth rollout, conventional Hystat for aggressive engine braking, Ice Mode that maximises control on slippery ground, and Default mode, that blends the best of Hystat and Torque Converter characteristics.
“For the toughest and most demanding applications, a new Performance Mode will allow you to boost the power and hydraulic speed in all ranges to get the job done even quicker,” Wayne says. “You can fine-tune machine performance with adjustments at your fingertips through the soft touch buttons and optional secondary display.
“You can also quickly set hydraulic response, along with linkage kickout positions, maximum wheel torque and peak ground speed, to perform a multitude of tasks.”
The K-Series cabin is designed for all-round visibility and has low-effort joystick controls that move with the operator on a fully adjustable seat suspension. Automatic temperature control, external mirrors with lower parabolic and column mounted multi-function controls are standard inclusions.
Robert says another reason why REMONDIS stayed with Caterpillar was that operators enjoy using the Cat 938K.
“We did ask the boots on the ground team for their thoughts before we started the process of looking for another machine,” Robert says.
“If you’ve got that operator acceptance, it goes a long way to getting the best out of the machines.”
For more information, visit: www.hastingsdeering.com.au
2023 HAS BEEN PASSED BY PARLIAMENT AND TAKES EFFECT FROM 1 JULY 2023. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN AND WHY DOES IT MATTER?
The Safeguard Mechanism provides a framework for Australia’s large greenhouse gas emitters to measure, report and manage their emissions. Implemented in 2016, it requires facilities whose net emissions exceed the safeguard threshold to keep them at or below emissions baselines set by the Clean Energy Regulator (CER).
The mechanism applies to covered facilities with more than 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-e) per year – Scope 1 covered emissions. In addition, the rules cover fugitive and stationary emissions from fuel combustion, waste disposal by landfilling and wasteto-energy (WtE), and industrial processes such as cement and steelmaking.
Facilities that emit more greenhouse gases than allowed by their baseline must take action. They can reduce their emissions, buy reductions from another Safeguard facility, or buy Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs). Each ACCU represents one tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent stored or avoided.
A baseline defines the threshold above the action that needs to be taken. To maintain international competitiveness and help meet Australia’s climate goals, the Safeguard Mechanism is being reformed so that baselines are reduced over time.
This means Australia’s largest industrial facilities will be given new baselines at levels that better reflect emissions. In most cases, companies will be required to lower emissions intensity – how much they
release relative to production – by 4.9 per cent a year to 2030 and, as the Australian Government believes, this will put them
on a path
These credits can be bought by facilities that are above their baseline to reduce their net emissions.
Facilities that exceed their baseline would remain able to surrender credits to meet their compliance. Credits could be either ACCUs or the proposed new Safeguard Mechanism Credits (SMCs). SMCs are a new type of credit generated by facilities that emit below their baseline. The intention is to incentivise facilities to reduce their emissions below their baseline.
Currently, about 215 large industrial facilities are covered by the Safeguard Mechanism (producing 28 per cent of Australia’s emissions), including four landfills. Landfill baselines are based on ‘non-legacy waste emissions’ – that is only emissions from waste deposited after 1 July 2016 when the scheme was implemented – and on a ‘capture efficient rate’ that is set at 37.2 per cent. Landfills operators often claim to capture more than 50 per cent of the methane produced at their facilities and are therefore likely to have net emissions well below their baselines.
For the 2021-22 reporting year, the four landfills had a combined baseline of 670 ktpa CO2-e with reported emissions of 330 ktpa – just under 50 per cent of the combined baseline. Even with declining baselines, net emissions from these facilities will be well below their baselines even into 2030 – reaching just under 75 per cent of their combined baselines by 2030.
Dr Marc Stammbach, Managing Director at Hitachi Zosen Inova Australia, says a WtE facility based on moving grate technology, processing 300ktpa of residual waste, will produce about 340ktpa CO2.
“CO2 from a WtE facility is about 55 per cent biogenic and considered to be part of the natural carbon cycle, as it is constantly being cycled between the atmosphere, plants, and other living organisms,” Marc says.
“The distinction between biogenic and fossil carbon is important in the context of carbon accounting and carbon emissions regulations, as biogenic carbon is regarded
as carbon-neutral, and hence treated differently from fossil carbon.”
For new facilities, baselines will be set at ‘global best practice benchmarks’ which will fall over time.
Government plans to develop a framework for determining global best practice and will seek industry feedback. It will then apply the framework to develop benchmarks for the Safeguard rules.
Marc says the details of this process and how this will apply to WtE facilities is not clear. Furthermore, he says there needs to be clarity about how the Safeguard Mechanism covers baseload electricity production since there are differences in the Safeguard rules for power plants, metal recovery, and aggregate manufacturing at a WtE facility.
In Europe, the European Commission will report by July 2026 on whether municipal WtE facilities are to be included in the European Union Emissions Trading System with the aim of including them from 2028 and with a possible opt-out until 31 December 2030.
In anticipation, EU countries will be required to measure, report and verify the emissions from WtE facilities from 2024. The agreement reached in the EU is provisional and several questions remain, such as whether biogenic material will be excluded, will facilities below a certain thermal throughput be excluded, and the technical requirements for reporting.
Marc says the advantage Europe and the UK have over Australia is a centrally coordinated framework being developed for the transport and storage of captured CO2.
ESWET is the association representing the European suppliers of waste-to-energy technology and advocating for equal treatment of all waste sectors.
ESWET advocates the facts on the positive implications of WtE towards decarbonisation and the circular economy, both for the environment and the recovery of energy and materials, including:
• Decarbonisation: can be carbon negative, allows partly renewable
hydrogen, and capture and storage of CO2.
• Circular economy: Enhanced metal recovery, recovery of salts and metals, recycled CO2.
• Supply security: Raw material and energy, stability of the grid, synthetic fuels.
Marc says it’s important to avoid jumping the gun in Australia, and await what the leading WtE countries and organisations such as ESWET and the Australian Waste Management and Resource Recovery Association can contribute to the discussion.
“We always encourage decision-makers to personally visit the leading European WtE sites and discuss with the regulators their thinking,” he says.
Leading WtE technology providers are already piloting and marketing their decarbonisation technologies. Hitachi Zosen Inova, for example, has a dedicated decarbonisation department that is developing ‘ready-to-deploy’ carbon capture solutions for WtE facilities.
Marc says that while landfills have a clear set of Safeguard rules, without operational and environmental consequence, even with the amendments, new WtE facilities will be subject to a set of yet to be defined rules.
“It is imperative that legislators create a level playing field for the different disposal paths for residual waste,” he says.
“Landfills can never become carbonnegative or even carbon neutral because they always leak landfill gas. Even worse, they are highly greenhouse gas intensive. As a consequence, landfills will always remain net emitters. Both WtE and anaerobic digestion of food and green organics, on the other hand, can be carbon-negative solutions if we apply carbon capture.
“Hence, one cannot have a different set of rules for waste disposal that disadvantages one pathway over the other on an equivalent CO2 emissions basis.”
For more information, visit: www.hz-inova.com
Zero waste to landfill is Close the Loop’s (CtL) brand promise and what drives the company to help customers achieve their sustainability goals and participate in the circular economy.
The circular economy makes the most of valuable resources, transforming items that would normally end up in landfills and oceans into useful commodities that can be returned to the supply chain.
“A key role of CtL is bridging the gap between industry and the consumer,” says Jessica Ansell, CtL Marketing Manager.
“Our aim is to make the process accessible and encourage people and companies to take the next step to recover and recycle difficult products.”
Founded in 2000 by Melbournebased Steve Morriss, Close the Loop today has group facilities in the US, Europe, and New Zealand. After a merger with OF Packaging, the entity Close the Loop Group listed on the Australian Stock Exchange in 2021. The company’s investment potential and long-term prospects were confirmed when it was awarded the Initial Public Offering (IPO) of the year.
CtL has several recycling lines, a key part of which revolves around the challenging area of recycling soft plastics.
To protect products from deterioration, soft plastic packaging typically contains multiple types of plastic joined together in very thin layers. This creates issues at end-of-life, as these materials cannot be separated,
and hence provide a low grade of recycling feedstock with limited use.
CtL specialises in recycling imaging products; ink and toner cartridges, bottles, and the toner itself. It comes as a surprise to many people that toner powder is actually a finely-ground plastic. Close to 100 million cartridges have been recycled over the past 20
years, just in Australia. An impressive number, but tempered by the fact that many still end up in landfill.
The recycled raw material is supplied back to industry partners; cartridges are also returned to the original supplier for remanufacturing. CtL is also a manufacturer of recycled products itself, including mailing satchels and
horticulture bags. CtL’s merger with OF Packaging further complemented the company’s focus on more environmentally-friendly packaging products, with a key focus on the supply of recyclable packaging items.
“We are the largest user of postconsumer mixed soft plastics in Australia, taking large volumes of this highly contaminated material as a feedstock for our asphalt additive product – TonerPlas, and our recycled plastic injection-moulding resin rFlex,” Jessica says.
TonerPlas is a high-performance asphalt additive that improves the longevity of roads and has been used in resurfacing projects across Australia, including the Monash and M80 freeway upgrades in Victoria.
CtL recently installed a new Genox recycling line at its Somerton plant that will handle a diverse range of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) materials including bottles, retail displays, tubs and crates.
The end-product, called ‘flake’, will be supplied as a commodity to plastic trading companies – which in turn may be washed and turned back into bottles.
Genox is a combination of the words “Generating Oxygen”, which serves as the cornerstone of the company’s efforts towards creating a better environment through new and innovative technology.
Applied Machinery, one of Australia’s largest suppliers of recycling machinery, is the sole Australian distributor for
Genox recycling technology. More than 300 companies in Australia now have Genox equipment installed, making Genox one of Australia’s leading brands of recycling machinery.
“We always go into a competitive tendering process with any new equipment, but we place great importance on trust with any business relationship – and a longterm relationship like we have had with Applied is how that trust is built,” says Steve Morriss, who now goes by the title of Head of Circular Economy.
“Over the years we’ve done a lot of work with David Macdonald from Applied; and more recently with Peter Koueik. We know if there’s any issues they’ll be addressed straight away. That’s one of the key benefits of dealing with a local supplier who has access to full technical support and back-up.
“The installation of our new line was trouble-free; the Applied team was there to deal with any unforeseen issue. And with Genox, we have the reassurance that we are buying equipment that comprises the very latest technology and features.”
The new line includes a feeding platform, conveyor with metal detector, a single shaft shredder and granulator. All of the extraction along the line includes “de-dusting” which removes dust/dirt/fines from the material as it progresses along the line; this ensures the safety and health of the operators.
The dust-proofing also increases the life of the motors. A zig zag (ZZ) classifier separates the plastic from any paper labels and other fines.
Steve says that with the recent acquisition of another recycling company in the US, and the strong leadership of Group CEO, Joe Foster, the Close the Loop Group will continue to expand and remain at the forefront of circular thinking. People are realising that the world has finite resources and there needs to be a huge effort by all aspects of society to keep non-renewable resources in circulation for longer.
“For me this is not a job,” Steve says, “it’s my life and my passion: to work with like-minded people, companies and government at all levels to transition to a circular economy.”
For more information, visit: www.appliedmachinery.com.au
“For me this is not a job – it’s my life and my passion to work with like-minded people, companies and government at all levels to transition to a circular economy”
Steve Morriss Close the Loop Founder and Head of Circular EconomySteve Morriss, Close the Loop Founder, checks out the new line.
“For Australia to realise its circular economy ambitions, then the time for trial and error is over.” So says sustainability advocate Sally Williams, chair of Waste Expo Australia for the past three years.
As Melbourne gears up to host the 2023 conference and exhibition in October, she says one of the key takeaways from last year’s event was that Australia needs to now start thinking seriously about the end game.
“It’s wonderful to have innovation, but we must think it through to a positive conclusion so that we’re not wasting time and resources creating something that doesn’t have an end goal clearly in mind,” Sally says.
“We have run out of time for endless trial and error – we’re better than that now. Industry needs to design out waste, tick all the boxes and then launch it.
“We need ongoing and sustainable solutions targeted directly to end goal solutions.”
Sally believes that an end-to-end approach is resonating across all sectors of the waste and resource recovery industry.
Waste Expo Australia is providing the platform for collaboration, which is evidenced by industry’s willingness to share experiences, technology, and research.
The 2022 expo, the first live event back from COVID-19 lockdowns, attracted thousands of people. Sally
says: “you could feel the excitement.” And she expects that this year’s two-day conference program, which will include 60 sessions across four stages and involve more than 100 industry speakers, will be pivotal in establishing a formula for the future.
The exhibition floor will also feature more than 100 equipment and technology suppliers.
“As chair, it’s been amazing to see the sea of people attending sessions. Some of these speakers attract so much interest that there’s standing room only,” Sally says.
“They are all experts in their field, all collaborating, communicating, and putting their ideas forward.
“It’s a unique, national platform for people to share their voice and encourage difficult discussions.”
Sally says that while the circular economy is expected to be a key focus of the conference, waste-to-energy solutions, commercial and industrial waste management will be key subjects throughout the event. In addition, community engagement and education, FOGO waste management and government policy will also be high on the agenda.
“Government regulation needs improvement to reach a circular economy, and with a cross section of resource recovery professionals, government representatives and industry leaders in attendance, the 2023 expo will be a unique opportunity for local and federal government to learn directly from industry professionals,” she says.
“It is vitally important they learn from the experts, or at least network, and get to
know the people they need to be working with to meet our waste and resource recovery targets.”
Ben Morgan, General Manager for BINGO Industries, agrees. He’s been involved in several Waste Expos, both as a panellist and presenter, and says it plays an important role in showcasing available technology and what industry is capable of.
“There’s still a lot of inequality between what companies can deliver and transparency,” he says.
“It’s great when members of regulatory bodies attend these expos, and they can get an understanding of what’s needed to do a genuine job of recycling material.
“Waste Expo Australia brings a spotlight to things that the industry needs to have open conversations about. It’s a look under the bonnet of what industry can do and what we’re trying to strive toward.”
Ben expects construction and demolition waste to garner a lot of attention at the expo, particularly as the economy continues to tighten. He says that as construction works slow down there will be an incentive to “race to the bottom” on prices. Industry wants to be promoting the right pathway for building and demolition resources to be entering the circular economy.
Waste-to-energy and its role in Australia moving away from landfilling, will also be a key discussion point.
“We need to do everything we can to recover every single tonne of material we have and divert it from landfill,” Ben says.
“We’re a rich country, blessed with a lot of natural resources. Can we realistically deliver a waste free Australia?
“I think we can.”
Waste Expo Australia will be held from 25-26 October 2023 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.
For more information, visit: www.wasteexpoaustralia.com.au
Waste avoidance and a reduced reliance on landfills are key to Australia’s move to a circular economy.
Armidale Regional Council’s new landfill, commissioned in 2020, is believed to be the latest landfill approved in New South Wales.
Consisting of five cells, each able to hold 211,000 cubic metres of waste, the Armidale Regional Landfill has a projected lifespan of 50 years. Hightech lids and geosynthetic clay liners are used to maximise space, reduce demand on resources and increase environmental benefits.
Guada Lado, Manager Regional Waste, says the council is treating the new landfill as though it’s the last for the region.
“It’s very hard to find a location and get approval for a landfill,” Guada says. “A lot of neighbouring council’s landfills are nearing the end of their current lifespan.
The new Armidale landfill is based on the premise that although the population will increase our waste will stay roughly the same.”
Guada says the council is optimistic that through improved resource recovery, technology and as the circular economy progresses, it will be able to reduce the amount of waste it produces.
The national waste policy comprises ambitious targets to manage waste, including reducing total waste generated by 10 per cent per person by 2030, recovering 80 per cent all waste by 2030 and halving the amount of organic waste sent to landfill by the same time.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 27 per cent of solid waste generated in 2018-19 was sent to landfill for disposal where it can release leachate, toxins and greenhouse gases.
Traditionally, waste in a landfill cell is capped at the end of each day. That usually requires sourcing excavated soil to cover the waste in order to reduce windblown litter, dust and odour. The next day the cap is scraped back to expose the landfill face so that deposition of waste can continue. However, not all of the cap can be removed and reused, with the residual taking up landfill space.
The new landfill lids at Armidale will reduce the amount of daily soil cover required and the associated transport and resources used to move that soil.
The lids are lightweight, easy to manoeuvre, can be used in all weather conditions, are safe to use and are easily fitted to existing machinery.
The manufacturer predicts that council will save about 10 per cent of its airspace, hopefully extending the life of the landfill.
Guada says that the council is currently commissioning a mobile treatment plant to treat leachate containing PFAS and has
installed a solar system to provide 24/7 base load power at the landfill, reducing its carbon footprint.
It’s all part of the region’s journey to better environmental outcomes.
“Council does as much as it can to keep waste out of landfill. It has a top class, crate-based recycling program available to all residents, offers a food organics/garden organics (FOGO) collection from households which it composts and sells back to residents, and doesn’t landfill green waste unless it’s heavily contaminated,” Guada says.
However, there will always be some waste that needs to be landfilled, including medical waste, nappies, and sanitary items.
Down the track, optimistically there will be solutions for some of those things, but currently there is still a lot of waste that’s not recyclable.
“The advantage of being regional is that we have space, but the challenges are that we don’t have the volumes of potentially recyclable material, such as hard plastics, textiles, polystyrene and solar panels, to run additional recycling programs on our own,” Guada says.
“We are however exploring ways of working with other councils in the northern region to overcome this. In the city there is less space, particularly for waste facilities, but they potentially have the volumes and local markets for recycling and progressing in a circular economy.
“It’s going to take a lot of work, not just on council’s part but also by industry, government and the community working together to reach waste targets. We’re all on that journey.”
“Council is treating the new landfill as though it’s the last for the region.”
Guada Lado, Manager Regional Waste, Armidale Regional CouncilA solar panel system has been installed at the landfill to provide power.
Godswill has been supplying baling press machines worldwide since 1987 and, as such, has been part of the recycling industry for 36 years.
The twin ram baler is designed to bale high memory materials but can bale an array of other recyclable materials as per company needs.
Godswill balers are equipped with replaceable plates and hardened steel chain bars, for longevity, durability, and easy maintenance.
The baler throughput for plastic bottles, LDPR and hard plastics can be optimised to 5tons/h, 6tons/h or 8tons/h, with a finished bale size of 1.1m x 0.8m by typically 1.5m ~ 1.6m. Bales are sized to fit two wide and three high into a high cube container.
Godswill balers are exclusively represented in Australia and New Zealand by Material Recovery Solutions.
Marrel is one of the market leaders in industrial vehiclemounted equipment.
The Marrel Hooklift range, consisting of three lines of the Ampliroll Hooklift, allows containers of various lengths to be loaded from the ground onto a trailer, transported and tipped.
Offering versatility, power and reduced maintenance costs, the new Ampliroll Hooklift is equipped for any heavy lifting, and made to lift all kinds of machine bodies.
The Marrel AL26 has a tilting frame that is locked on the subframe in the loading phase. It offers customers best-in-class performance with its pin-mounted hook and easy to replace, pre-drilled subframe for quicker installation times.
The AL26 comes with rear hydraulic body locking, fast speed valve integrated as standard, integrated dashpot in main cylinders for end of stroke damping.
All of this, coupled with pneumatic controls in cab, adds up to high performance and maximum efficiency.
Since 1981, Peterson has specialised in developing and processing equipment that turns low-grade material into high value products.
The Peterson 2710D is designed for operations requiring high production and frequent moves between jobs. It’s powerful, with a Caterpillar Tier II C18 765 hp (570 kW) engine for export, heavy duty and mobile, and has outstanding production throughput for a machine of this size.
The 2710D’s large feed opening, measuring 153cm x 81cm, is ideal for processing odd-sized feedstock. When boosted by Peterson’s high-lift feed roll, the feed opening’s maximum lift of 112cm, is among the largest in its class.
A large grate area enables the 2710D to produce materials to exact specifications, and the quickchange multiple grate system makes it easy to customise grate configurations to produce a variety of finished materials. Grates are removed through an easy-access door on the side wall.
Triple grouser 50cm-wide tracks enable better handling on hills or rocky terrain, maximising productivity.
Peterson’s powerful up-turn three-stage grinding process provides better fracturing of material and a
consistent product, and the patented Impact Release System’s air bags provide uniform grinding and protection from contaminated feedstock, a feature unique to Peterson grinders.
Urethane cushions and shear pins offer a second line of defence, helping to protect the mill from catastrophic damage in the event of impact from contaminants in the feedstock.
The WA Government’s Waste Avoidance & Resource Recovery Strategy has been the bedrock of waste policy in WA since its inception. The strategy has wide support from WRIWA as it has provided strategic certainty for industry in WA; and industry in turn has invested extensively based on that certainty. A recent WRIWA analysis shows that members have contributed $283 million in waste and recycling infrastructure to support the strategy.
With its first targets due in 2025, the strategy is now under review. Mike says to date, most of the targets have not yet
Overall, so far, the state is achieving 60 per cent resource recovery, against the 2025 target of 70 per cent and the 2030 target of 75 per cent.
“Clearly time is running out to ramp up the recovery rate in order to meet the stated 2025 target,” Mike says.
WRIWA has questioned the 60 per cent figure, with industry reporting that levy avoidance is still exceeding one million tonnes per annum.
It’s an ongoing issue, Mike says. The levy in WA is restricted to the metropolitan area, so to avoid the levy, it is anecdotally recognised that C&D material is being sent to rural landfills, to unlicensed landfills that are operating illegally and not paying the levy; and to landfills that are fraudulently not reporting leviable material. The missing material distorts the claimed recovery figure.
WRIWA met with Minister for Environment and Climate Change,
Reece Whitby, and the Waste Authority Board to explore the opportunities and challenges it sees as necessary to deliver the objectives of the strategy.
“One of the strongest proposals by WRIWA is that the State Government include more specific target areas in the strategy,” Mike says.
“The more we know about how each area is performing, the more effectively resources can be applied to remedy underperformance and directed away from areas that are already performing well.
“The strategy depends on the levy, and while levy fraud continues the strategy is continually undermined. WRIWA has proposed that the levy rate be doubled, and the levy be extended statewide”.
Mike says WRIWA has expanded its advocacy into the federal arena, as it has witnessed a dramatic downturn in the value of recyclables in WA as a result of the implementation of the national export bans.
He says WA is not part of the east coast waste and recycling network, and distance precludes WRIWA members from accessing the synergies available there. Recycling tonnages in WA are small; while WA is 33 per cent of the total land area, it has only 10 per cent of Australia’s population with a commensurately smaller percentage of recycling volume.
“WA has always leveraged its natural advantages which are its proximity to Asian markets and a uniquely ‘get it done here’ work ethos,” Mike says. “A one-size-fits-all approach to the export bans is not going to work in WA and there is considerable concern that the Recycling Modernization Fund (RMF) process may be producing industries that are not viable and likely to require continuous funding”.
WRIWA is seeking broader involvement by WA waste and recycling operators in any future RMF funding
rounds, to ensure that operations will have long-term financial viability.
Mike says WA industry is pioneering recycling advances that address recycling in different ways, not conceived of by the draftees of the export bans.
Following a fire that destroyed the Cleanaway MRF, in November 2019, the company opened a rebuilt MRF in 2021. The $26 million facility has the capacity to process more than half of commingled recycling from residents and customers across the state, while delivering up to 90 per cent recovery of reusable products.
It includes optical sorting and screening configurations that deliver an output of up to 99.5 per cent purity across all fibre and plastic outputs. This is Australia’s first MRF post China National Sword and export bans.
REMONDIS has just announced the importation of a soft plastics pelletising plant that can process up to 5000 tonnes per annum. This is a WA-based solution to supermarket and industry generated soft plastics and produces a product that can be sold locally and internationally.
Mike says neither of these operations attracted any form of government funding.
“Secondary waste processing is going to be challenging here in WA. We have lobbied advisors of Minister for Environment and Water, Tanya Plibersek, to at least take a pause before charging ahead with the export bans without considering that the industry may not need more regulation,” he says. “What we want is recognition and support for WA-based solutions”.
“Problems have to be solved here on the ground. A fly-in flyout (FIFO) approach to waste policy doesn’t work here.”
Mike Harper President, Waste and Recycling Industry Association of Western Australia
Our solutions are based on efficient and environmentally sound in-house technology, and cover the entire life cycle of an Energy-from-Waste facility. Our proven technologies have been part of more than 700 plants worldwide. As a global leader in energy from waste we are proud to be able to say: We deliver. Check our references.
Right across Australia, REMONDIS supports 24,000 commercial and industrial customers to meet their waste collection, processing, recycling and circular economy ambitions. Since 1982 we’ve grown to 1,100 employees across 39 branches from Gladstone to Wingfield, Henderson to Seven Hills. We have the scale and expertise – both local and global – to make a difference and, best of all, we love what we do.
David Caramia is the National Business Development Manager – Manufacturing at Motion. He is responsible for the Waste and Recycling segment as the sector continues to grow with the circular economy. His areas of focus include plastic, glass, steel, tyre and construction material recycling. David brings 30 years of industry experience to these segments, and has reached over 18 years at Motion.
He is driven to provide customers in the manufacturing industry with the best solutions, working alongside subject matter experts, key suppliers, contracts and different product groups to achieve this at Motion.
David enjoys working with suppliers having travelled to Japan, China, Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore visiting supplier manufacturing facilities to identify solutions used to keep their assets running smoothly, and applying those learnings to the Australian market.
What’s your favourite word?
Excellent
If you could win an Olympic medal for any sport, real or fake, what would it be?
Tennis
If you could change your name, what would it be?
Nick Daicos
What was your favourite subject in school?
Maths
What’s your hidden talent?
Cooking
Waste not, want not’ is an adage many are familiar with – it means that if a person uses resources wisely, there will always have enough. It is also one that David Caramia, the National Business Development Manager for Manufacturing at Motion, says applies to a sustainable industrial future.
“When we talk about the circular economy, it is about how keeping materials in use for as long as possible,”
explains David. “That includes the parts in machines that are used to repair or recycle product. And this is where Motion can and does assist industrial companies in the waste and recycling sector – by ensuring they are keeping their machinery running optimally, minimising their own waste, and running more sustainably.”
David – who has over 30 years of experience in the field of waste management – has been
spearheading Motion’s efforts to provide comprehensive solutions to the challenges faced by the industry. From bearings, lubrication systems, and hydraulic hoses to engineering services and ongoing maintenance support, Motion is committed to providing customised solutions that cater to the specific needs of this industry.
David highlights there being various issues in this space, one is “the amount of waste generated by
Australian households, and the lack of education about how to recycle this waste.”
According to the National Waste Report 2021, Australians generated an estimated 75.8 million tonnes of waste over the course of a year, with around 56% of this waste being recycled.1 David discusses there being room for improvement here and notes simple things that can be done at home, “like removing lids from bottles, which is often overlooked when people are recycling in the home.”
This is crucial for recycling as machines rely on air pressure to sort materials by weight and size. Bottles with lids on can potentially damage machinery and cause delays, and this can prevent adequate emptying and lead to contamination.
David also discusses the utilising of other recyclable materials such as tyres. According to a report by the Australian Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, around 56 million tyres reach the end of their life each year in Australia, with only around 10% of those being recycled domestically. 2
The remaining tyres are either exported overseas, stockpiled, illegally dumped, or sent to landfill. This poses significant environmental and health risks, as tyre stockpiles can catch fire and release toxic fumes, and landfilled tyres can leach harmful chemicals into the soil and groundwater.
Overall, these two examples show proper education of individuals on sustainable waste management practices is critical to promoting a more sustainable future. David highlights with the growing awareness of the importance of sustainable waste management practices, it is hoped that more individuals and businesses will adopt these practices and work towards a more circular economy.
While David acknowledges that there is little control over the actions of individual households, he highlights some of Motion’s capabilities to support the industry, including providing both collective and individual education.
The ability to have instant access to such knowledge through the Industry inMotion Magazines is a significant benefit for customers regardless of their industry. The magazines are an
indispensable resource for customers of all types in the waste management and recycling industry, as well as other key industries.
Another Motion offering is ongoing monitoring and maintenance services provided by Motion Engineering, which can help in various ways.
“Plants often operate on a reactive basis, waiting for machines to break down before taking any action. This approach is not only inefficient and costly, but it is also detrimental to the environment. When equipment fails or malfunctions, it can lead to delays in waste processing and recycling, which can cause environmental pollution and health hazards,” David discusses.
He emphasises that by “adopting a proactive approach through ongoing monitoring and maintenance services provided by the Motion Engineering Team, plants can ensure that their equipment is running at optimal efficiency and safety, reducing the likelihood of breakdowns and the associated negative impacts on the environment.”
This type of educational support is a key feature of Motion’s offering and makes a significant difference in servicing the waste management and recycling industry.
Motion offers a diverse range of products, which includes lubrication
systems, bearings, safety products, hydraulic and industrial hoses, material handling equipment, and more. David highlights the unique competitive edge that Motion possesses in the market.
“Our customers can rely on us for a complete package – something our competitors cannot match due to the breadth of knowledge and engineering skills we possess, as well as the range of products we offer.”
This unique combination of expertise and products enables Motion to provide customised solutions that cater to the specific needs of the waste management and recycling industries.
Motion’s leadership in the waste management and recycling industry is strong, but as discussed, individual actions also have a positive impact on the environment. David states “by collaborating with companies like Motion, the waste management and recycling industry can make great progress towards a more sustainable future.”
References
1. https://www.dcceew.gov.au/sites/ default/files/documents/national-wastereport-2022.pdf
2. https://www.tyrestewardship.org.au/ news/turning-trash-into-treasure-howaustralias-tyre-stewardship-initiative-mustpave-the-way-for-a-circular-economy/
The waste management and recycling industry heavily relies on machinery to handle and process waste. In this sector, couplings play a crucial role, as they connect different components and transmit power between them. However, due to the harsh conditions that exist, including shock loads, high temperatures, and abrasive materials, couplings must be robust and of high quality to ensure reliability and efficiency.
Timken, a global leader in bearings and mechanical power transmission, is trailblazing with their QuickFlex® (QF) couplings, which are a valuable solution in this industry. The couplings are easy to install, require no lubrication, and can help reduce mechanical stress on equipment. Brad Hudson, a Key Account Executive with Motion and a 35-year veteran of the industry, explains how Timken couplings have been integrated into the sector.
“The coupling is versatile and can be used to connect and transmit torque between drive motors and
various equipment. As long as the torque rating matches the equipment being used, Timken QF couplings can be installed,” Brad says. When there is a large torque load, a more robust coupling may be necessary, but for most applications, the Timken QF coupling is an excellent solution.
The Timken QF coupling has been specially designed so that only one component needs replacing if the urethane element fails, rather than the whole machine. “The fitter only needs to remove the cover, clean it out, and replace the element with a new one, before putting the cover back on and getting the machinery up and running again within 30 minutes,” says Brad. This contrasts with a long and complex process which may result in a day of downtime for the customer. As Brad points out, by using Timken QF couplings, this is a low maintenance, cost saving solution where customers are saving valuable downtime costs and being way more efficient.
In addition to their use in the waste management and recycling industry,
Timken QF® couplings have proven to be a reliable and cost-effective solution in a variety of industries, from mining and construction to power generation and marine applications. These couplings offer a high degree of flexibility and can accommodate angular, parallel, and axial misalignment, making them ideal for use in harsh and demanding environments.
The benefits of Timken couplings are evident, as they offer an array of advantages to customers. With their global presence and expertise in bearings and mechanical power transmission, Timken is a renowned company in the industry. Moreover, Brad Hudson’s 35 years with Motion is a testament to their commitment to providing high-quality solutions to their clients. As Brad explains, “Timken is a strategic supply partner of Motion, with their solutions readily available on our shelves.” Thus, Motion is an excellent partner for companies in this sector, offering valuable insights and support to ensure their clients’ success.
• Minimise downtime and replacement costs
• No lubrication and low maintenance
• Rely on a trustworthy company
• Need minimal spare parts
• Capable of handling high speeds and high torque
• Built to last even in the harshest environments
Mechanical seals play a vital role in the waste management and recycling industry by preventing leaks and contamination, among other important things. David Surmon, National Technical Sales and Support at Seal Innovations, who has over 20 years of experience in mechanical seals, highlights the work of Seal Innovations in offering high-quality sealing solutions that optimise plant performance.
Seal Innovations is the first choice for sealing products in the Australian and New Zealand market, specialising in sealing applications across various industries such as water treatment plants, sewage treatment plants, and dewatering plants. They can design and install mechanical seals for a wide range of pumps, including submersible pumps, with in-house repair capabilities.
David explains that mechanical seals are used in rotating plant and equipment such as mixers or pumps, by allowing a rotating shaft to pass through a fixed housing. Thus, they are extremely useful in the waste management and recycling industry, that deals with a variety of harmful waste products.
Leakage from pumps and other equipment can lead to contamination and safety hazards. Therefore, mechanical seals are utilised to prevent
this hazardous leakage, ensuring proper containment and disposal of waste products.
Moreover, mechanical seals help to mitigate the risk of premature wear and tear on equipment. High-quality seals can prevent machinery from suffering abrasion, erosion, and corrosion, leading to frequent breakdowns and reduced lifespan. David states that the use of high-quality seals “helps to keep the plant running, greatly reducing downtime.”
David highlights the use of split seals in particular. Unlike traditional seals that may require a lot of inconvenience to replace them, split seals can be easily installed without disrupting operations.
“By simply bolting the seal onto the existing unit, businesses can avoid the hassle and costs associated with a plant shutdown,” David says.
David discusses the key benefits of working with Seal Innovations in “offering a full in-house sealing solution.” As the premier supplier of sealing products and services in Australia and New Zealand, Seal Innovations offers a comprehensive range of sealing solutions, including gaskets, hydraulics, rotary seals, and mechanical seals.
Providing a full in-house sealing solution ensures that customers have access to the highest quality
products and services, from initial design and consultation to installation, maintenance, and support.
This approach enables customers to streamline their operations, reduce downtime, and improve the reliability and performance of their equipment.
With multiple branches in its distribution network across Australia, Seal Innovations has extensive reach and remarkable growth, making them the largest and most reliable source for sealing solutions in the country.
David highlights the important relationship between Seal Innovations and Motion, acting as a “full spectrum service,” allowing both companies to provide top-quality industrial solutions to their customers.
By combining their expertise, this partnership has allowed customers in the waste management and recycling industry to optimise plant performance, reduce downtime, and improve the reliability of their equipment. With their extensive reach and commitment to customer service, Seal Innovations and Motion are valuable partners in the pursuit of safety, efficiency, and sustainability.
Contact Motion today to learn more about Seal Innovations and the wide range of high-quality sealing solutions they offer.
Reliability Engineer Daniel McEvoy has been working at Motion’s Specialised Engineering Services division for ten years. His role includes a number of responsibilities to ensure that machinery operates optimally. One of his main duties is equipment shaft alignment, machine alignment is an essential component of a viable maintenance strategy for rotating equipment. It helps reduce unexpected machine failure and ensures that equipment operates effectively and efficiently without causing any issues. He discussed his work on blower shaft alignment in particular, which has featured in many of his projects.
Blowers are critical equipment in plants and can run full-time. Daniel explains, “Our job is to check the alignment of the equipment and ensure it is within acceptable tolerance for operation. Tolerances required can either be specified by the OEM, customer or from a standard or tolerance table. We’ll work to the specified tolerances and perform alignments to achieve the best result. We do this to avoid stressing the shafts, couplings, bearings, and
seals.” He discusses proper alignment of blower shafts is crucial, as misalignment can cause premature bearing failure, high temperatures, excessive vibration, contamination and could possibly even lead to high power consumption.
Daniel recalled a job at a water treatment plant in Brisbane, where excess vibration was reported after a motor replacement. Motion engineers were called in to investigate and ensure the alignment of the motor and blower were correct.
Daniel emphasised the importance of this task, stating, “This specific plant was running 24/7, so the equipment could operate as reliably as possible to avoid unwanted or premature failures in the middle of the night.” In this case as with other comparable realignment jobs, Daniel mentioned that aligning the motor to the blower and carrying out all the essential checks takes about four hours. As per Daniel, “It’s not a lengthy process compared to the benefits of performing it The result of such jobs is that it should extend the life of those pieces of equipment or at the very least help them operate to the expected design life.”
The Motion team also uses vibration analysis to check the condition of machinery and to detect any potential issues before they become major problems. In conjunction with this they use Infrared Thermography to help identify hot spots in equipment which can be caused by friction or internal stresses. Thermography can also be helpful diagnosing defects such as misalignment that may not be visible otherwise.
In this case of this job, after successful machine alignment had been carried out, this ensured the plant could run to its full capacity. In the long run, Daniel commented the cost savings would have been substantial for something that was resolved over the course of a day.
Overall, Daniel and his team are committed to ensuring their customers have dependable and reliable equipment that operates smoothly and efficiently. Accurate machine alignment is a critical element in achieving this, and it can have a substantial impact on the equipment’s longevity. Misalignment is a major root cause of machine breakdowns and can account for a large amount of premature machine and component failures. Furthermore, he has expertise in offering technical guidance to customers, demonstrating how Motion provides an end-to-end, comprehensive service. Motion boasts a dedicated team of more than 250 engineers who perform a range of effective machine work, operating throughout Australia.
“Accurate machine alignment is a critical element in achieving this, and it can have a substantial impact on the equipment’s longevity.”
Motion Engineering, leading provider of industrial engineering solutions, recently came to the aid of a recycling plant in Geelong, Victoria, that was grappling with a major production setback. The plant was facing challenges with its woodchipper, which could halt production. Sales Representative, Brian Couch, part of the Motion Engineering Team, explained how they were able to provide an effective solution to the issue at hand.
The recycling plant relied on bark to produce compost and fertilisers, making their woodchipper an indispensable part of their operation. Woodchippers function by reducing wood or other organic material into small pieces, making it easier to handle and process. Due to this piece of machinery being so important to their plant, this issue had to be remedied quickly.
The engineering team conducted a thorough assessment of the machinery to identify the root cause of the problem. However, health and safety issues needed to be considered due to the nature of the machine.
“There’s a large amount of wood chips that fly around during operation, and the chipper weighs 8 tonnes, therefore it wasn’t safe for workers to be near the machine,” Chandra Rajackal, Engineering Service Manager, described.
He emphasised woodchippers typically operate at incredibly high speeds, ranging from 300 to 500 revolutions per minute. To take readings and conduct maintenance, workers need to enter the unsafe zone, leading to the machinery needing to be switched off each time.
As a result, the engineers installed sensors on the housing of the chipper that allowed them to collect vibration readings remotely, without needing to
access the machine or put anyone in harm’s way. Chandra highlighted “by utilising condition monitoring, safety was not compromised.”
It was discovered that the woodchipper was suffering from misalignment, causing excessive vibrations that were adversely affecting its performance.
Chandra emphasised the critical nature of such downtime, which not only disrupts production but can also lead to a substantial loss of revenue for plants. In this case, the loss of revenue could have been in the thousands.
To address this issue, Motion Engineering made the necessary adjustments to restore the proper functioning of the woodchipper based on their careful monitoring of the machine.
According to Chandra, condition monitoring allows for the early detection of potential issues with
machinery, enabling prompt repairs before they turn into major problems. This approach is known as “predictive maintenance,” which is highly recommended for businesses looking to prevent such issues from occurring.
This work was completed in under a week, which was a great result for the client, highlighting Motion Engineering’s expertise and ability to offer a time-efficient and comprehensive package of services, ranging from supply and installation to monitoring and maintenance. The team emphasised that this makes them the ideal partner for clients seeking to optimise their machinery’s performance and ensure a safe working environment.
For any industrial plant looking to reduce downtime, boost their machinery’s performance and ensure a safe working environment, Motion Engineering is the ideal solution.
introduced breathers to the housings to assist with moisture level,” stated Sinisa.
Following this, Motion Engineering introduced condition monitoring to conduct 24/7 shock pulse monitoring of the 16 bearings. At any point, if there were issues with the bearings, the team was notified. Moreover, Motion Engineering also introduced single point lubricators to the seals, which ensured that there was constant grease applied. Sight glass was installed for monitoring oil levels, and it assisted in oil samples when they were taken.
Motion Engineering plays a critical role in helping industries resolve issues with their machinery.
Motion’s Key Account Executive for CBC Malaga, Sinisa Petkovic, highlights how Motion Engineering helped resolve an issue with the digester at an organic recycling plant in WA, saving the business a substantial amount of money.
According to Sinisa, “this was a fairly new plant. They hadn’t even been opened for 12 months until they started experiencing issues with the digester.” He continued, “a digester is a machine that breaks down organic waste materials using microorganisms, which release a gas that can be used for energy. The solid material left over can be used as fertiliser,” says Sinisa. The recycling plant had 16 bearings in total relating to the digester, which would have needed replacement every 12-18 months, costing the business a lot of money.
The Motion Engineering team
investigated the issue and discovered that the bearings were undersized, and incorrect lubrication was being used. Undersized bearings can have a significant impact on machinery, leading to reduced performance.
Incorrect lubrication is also problematic, which the plant was using in this case. Sinisa stated “oil is the best lubrication for bearings. Grease is probably not the right choice in this application.” Grease can break down at high temperatures, reducing its effectiveness as a lubricant and significantly reduce the bearing life.
Sinisa highlighted “the first thing we did was worked out the correct bearings they were going to need, designed the housing seals to accommodate oil lubrication and selected appropriate lubrication that is designed specifically for high loads.” He continued, “housing seals play an important role in machinery by helping to contain oil lubricants and prevent them from leaking out. We also
“We also introduced oil analyses every 6 months, with samples collected and sent for inspection produced,” said Sinisa. This ensured the business received end-to-end support from Motion. According to Sinisa, the support they received culminated in a substantial cost saving for the customer.
Furthermore, Sinisa confidently highlighted “if the plant didn’t go into care and maintenance eventually due to unforeseen circumstances, I’m confident that the bearings would still be going strong as there was no indication that there was any damage/ fatigue with the machine parts.”
Motion Engineers play a critical role in ensuring that industries’ machinery is functioning optimally. The support they offer can mean the difference between businesses succeeding or failing. The expertise and insights that they bring to the table are invaluable, and they help businesses save money in the long run by introducing improvements that are sustainable and long-lasting. Businesses can benefit from the Motion Engineering Teams’ expertise and insights.
Afundamental component to Australia’s waste and recycling industry is the cleaning of wastewater. The cleaning processes undertaken at a wastewater treatment plant improves its quality before it is recycled and reintroduced back into the environment.
During secondary treatment, the level of oxygen in wastewater is altered to create aerobic and anaerobic environments to create bacteria that remove pollutants from the water. This stage of the wastewater treatment removes soluble organic matter and solids that remain following primary treatment. When in anaerobic conditions, hydrogen sulphide (H2S) gas naturally forms. H2S can be corrosive to components and machinery during this stage of treatment. Typically, standard bearings can rust in such conditions, making bearings ineffective once in a corroded state.
Schaeffler, a leading global supplier to the automotive and industrial sectors, has been pushing ground-breaking technology and developments in the fields of motion and mobility for more than 75 years. Founded in 1883, the brand first originated under the name Fischers Aktien-Gesellschaft, which was the name of the company that originally founded the FAG brand. First known for
their production of steel balls for use in ball bearing, the company expanded its product line and became known for its high-quality bearings.
Today, FAG is one of the brands owned by the Schaeffler Group. The company provides several bearing solutions that suit the needs of waste
FAG Black Series Radial Ball Bearing:
• Feature a Durotect BS surface treatment which offers some corrosion resistance meaning less maintenance and downtime.
• Used in various applications, to support shaft rotation.
• Low frictional torque of the radial insert ball bearings; minimum heat generation resulting in maximum grease operating life.
• A single piece seal vulcanised seal lip and outer flinger shield.
• Pre greased with relubrication via two holes in outer ring
• Units available pre-assembled, meaning ease of installation in inch and metric sizes
management plants struggling with maintaining the integrity of their equipment. The FAG Black Series Radial Ball Bearing and FAG Split Spherical Roller Bearings offer premium results for wastewater plants.
Quality bearings help to preserve machinery and equipment in the maintenance of quality and consistency in the breakdown of wastewater.
Motion is equipped with extensive industry-based knowledge – connected to more than 90 branches Australia-wide. Expert advice on Schaeffler products can be provided by contacting your local Motion branch today.
FAG Split Spherical Roller Bearings:
• Accommodate misalignment and are appropriate for use in heavy-duty applications.
• Equivalent to the unsplit standard types, which means no additional modifications are required to the shaft or its mounted location.
• Can achieve a high load carrying capacity due to the maximum number of rollers with the largest possible dimensions.
• The range of FAG split spherical roller bearings include standard series like 222, 230 and 231 and starts from 55mm and 2 3/16 inch.
• Can be mounted into split plummer block housings without requiring any further machining of the housing.
• Significant reduction in maintenance cost and time using FAG split spherical roller bearings.
In the waste management and recycling sectors, conveyors play a crucial role in the sorting and recycling of household and commercial waste. These machines need to be carefully maintained to ensure each piece of equipment works efficiently and safely.
Conveyors are used in recycling operations to move materials like plastic, paper, and metal. They are typically designed to handle a variety of materials and are specifically designed to increase efficiency, reduce manual labour, and improve safety by reducing the need for workers to move materials. Without proper lubrication of mechanical features, these machines are subject to system failures and total breakdowns.
Shell have been providing high-quality fuels and lubricants to the transport, mining, aviation, marine, manufacturing, defence, and construction sectors in Australia for over 100 years. Shell provides several hydraulic fluid solutions that can meet a variety of mechanical needs for use in conveyor and sorting systems.
The Shell Tellus range has been developed to allow equipment operators to select the right oil to ensure delivery of optimum value to their operations. Machines are precisely engineered, which is why it is important to choose a lubricant that is designed to protect and ensure each
Tier 1: Shell Hydraulic S1 M
• Reliable protection
• Industrial applications
• Mineral, zinc-based
• ISO viscosity grades: HM/46, 68
Tier 2: Shell Tellus S2 MX
• Extra application
• Industrial applications
• Long life
• Mineral, zinc-based
• ISO viscosity grades: HM/22 32, 46, 68, 100
V Range:
Shell Tellus S2 VX:
• Extra protection
• Versatile applications
• Long life
Tier 3: Shell Tellus S3 M
• Long life
• Industrial applications
• Mineral, zinc free
• ISO viscosity grades: 46, 68, 100
Tier 4: Shell Tellus S4 ME
• Extra-long life
• Energy saving
• Synthetic, ashless, zinc free
• ISO viscosity grades: 46, 68
compartment works efficiently.
For advice and information on Shell products, get in touch through Motion –a leading supplier of industrial products and solutions in Australia.
Wear protection:
• Offer a range of hydraulic fluids, including the synthetic, ashless technology that can help extend pump life – under severe conditions.
• Is cost effective with zinc-based additive technology for general use.
Hydraulic oil life:
• The Shell Tellus range enables users to match the oil life of the fluid to their operational needs.
• Includes extra-long-life synthetic technologies, capable of up to four times standard life.
System efficiency:
• The hydraulic fluids can maintain or even improve the efficiency of hydraulic systems.
• Shell Tellus S4 ME can help improve the energy efficiency of many hydraulic systems. Shell Tellus S2 MX and Shell Tellus S2 VX provide reliable air release, water separation, filter ability, cleanliness and stick-slip performance.
The range of products:
• Looks at hydraulic systems more broadly to ensure each machine is cared for according to its uniquely engineered makeup.
• Are designed to benefit the complete system.
• Prolong equipment life through superior hydraulic pump wear protection through providing fluids that can help improve the energy efficiency of a system.
The waste management industry is constantly seeking new, innovative, and effective solutions to manage the ever-increasing waste production, while keeping staff safe and reducing the environmental impact. The CRC SmartWasher is one of those innovative solutions, according to Steve Keown, Motion’s National Product Manager of Lubricants & Lubrication Equipment. In an interview, he explained how this bio-remediating parts washer system can revolutionise the waste management industry.
The CRC SmartWasher is a waterbased system using microbes in the filter membrane to clean parts. According to Steve, “the microbes eat through grease and oil, eliminating the need for monthly solvent changes.” The system also filters and regenerates itself through bioremediation, reducing waste costs. As Steve discusses, the various benefits of reducing waste and being more mindful of the environment ensure the SmartWasher is leading the way in this type of technology, not only locally in Australia but globally as well.
“The CRC SmartWasher really
• Eliminates need for monthly solvent changes
• Portable and can be taken to equipment
• Eliminates use of flammable solvents which emit harmful vapours
focuses on waste reduction,” says Steve. “It eliminates the need for using flammable solvents which emit harmful vapours, dangerous for staff and the workplace.” Steve highlights that solvents can be inhaled, leading to health issues for the staff – especially if there’s an ignition point. “Whether that be a spark from a grinder or from some other source, you’re going to find that you can’t easily extinguish a solvent fire you may lose the building.” Therefore, this solution gives the user added peace of mind by making safety paramount.
One of the benefits of the CRC SmartWasher which sets it out from many competitors is its mobility. Steve explains that it’s challenging to move large equipment like compressors, generators, production lines, or conveyors to clean parts. However, the SmartWasher has wheels, so it can be taken to the equipment. “You can put it right next to your workplace,” says Steve. “You can’t move a large compressor or large generator. You can’t move your conveyer line to your maintenance store. So, you’ve got to go backwards and forwards or somehow try
• Reduces waste costs
• Leading the way in waste reduction and environmental mindfulness
to degrease and clean those parts you’re maintaining or changing out in place.” Steve continues, “and then everything that comes off, if you’re doing it in one place, you’ve got to try and collect that solvent, that grease, that oil, that run off. And you’ve got to clean that up. With this solution, you’ve got the joy of having a mobile unit.”
Motion has a national network and operate in every state and territory in Australia. Steve highlights “we’ve got hundreds of staff that are trained on this particular CRC SmartWasher system, working extremely closely with CRC so customers can be assured that if they’re talking to us, they’re getting the best information.” He continues “we’re one of the leading streams to market for CRC products in the Australian marketplace, and the knowledge of our staff and the back-up of CRC is second to none.”
Steve advises any potential customers to contact Motion today to learn more.
Waste management and recycling are an integral aspect to today’s society. From collection and disposal constraints, to lack of technological advances, the nature of effective waste and recycling disposal can be met with varying challenges. A widespread issue in this sector continues to be equipment failure due to excessive loads in the transportation of waste and recycling.
Regal Rexnord’s Falk Wrapflex
Elastomeric Couplings act as a solution in providing adequate load protection for equipment that is consistently put under heavy load constraints. These couplings are non-lubricated and flexible and come in a variety of different applications.
Increased productivity
• The couplings provide increased productivity through quick and easy installation – reducing the downtime between replacements.
• Nine different close-coupled coupling designs are available, catering to different industrial needs.
• Wrapflex couplings have a capacity of up to 133,000lb-in (15,028Nm) and cater to 7¼ inch (188mm) shaft and torque loads .
Cost-effective
• The innovative materials used to create the couplings, offer higher capacity ratings at a competitive price, making it an affordable choice for individuals or businesses wanting superior connectivity without the price tag.
Easy to install
• The couplings are manufactured with increased flexibility due to the
compound root radius in the element teeth. This feature provides opportunity for quicker installation when replacement is needed.
• The couplings can be assembled from either direction without removing the hubs or realigning the motors during the replacement phase.
Durable and maintenance-free
• Wrapflex Couplings are made with polyurethane which has superior wear and chemical resistance, and an operating temperature of -40 degrees celsius to 95 degrees celsius, making it a tough and long-lasting device.
• Zero maintenance is required due to the non-lubricated design of the flexible and durable polyurethane element, which overall lowers the maintenance costs on equipment.
Safe and effective
• Regal Rexnord wants to ensure that equipment is protected through special hub features that reduce reaction loads transferred to connected equipment.
• The flexible nature of the element is retained after failure, minimising damage to equipment or personal injury.
An integral aspect in preventing machine elements from moving out of position from increased weight are robust locking devices. Tollok has partnered with Regal Rexnord in manufacturing extraordinarily engineered shaft locking devices for power generation and process industries. With over 40 years of application experience, Tollok’s products are used to secure rotating shafts, manage torque
transmission, and counteract shaft bending and vibration.
Reliability and versatility
• The robust product offerings include a wide range of options from simple to advanced designs and features.
• Locking assemblies can be customized to fit changing application needs and are ideal for use in heavy-duty and specially engineered environments. Low cost of ownership
• Tollok uses specific engineered analysis tools to assure designs are as accurate as possible.
• CAD drawings are directly integrated in a production system through CAD-CAM technology.
Application solutions
• Broad range of internal locking assemblies, shrink discs and rigid couplings to fit varying applications.
• Provides an alternative to a shaft/hub connection such as: key, splined, press fit, QD bushing or taper Lock bushing. Technology coupled with quality service
• Each unit is protected, packed and prepared for shipping with the utmost care.
• Tollok products are distributed worldwide.
• No matter the location, reliable experienced application engineers are there to provide technical support. The Regal Rexnord Wrapflex and Tollok products are available through Motion –a trusted supplier of industrial solutions with a nationwide footprint. Readers can contact their local Motion branch for more information or advice.
According to Clean Up Australia, 89 per cent of Australian’s believe recycling is important, and 74 per cent think they have moderate to high recycling practises. It is essential that as a nation, Australia keeps up efficient waste and recycling habits both at home, and in the greater waste management recycling sectors.1
Tony Tormey, Motion’s Product Manager, believes keeping rotating equipment at recycling plants in good working order is the key in ensuring longterm waste and recycling goals.
“The NTN Ultage spherical roller bearings are a popular choice among clients in the recycling sector because they offer superior longevity – up to five times longer service life than other spherical roller bearings,” says Tony.
NTN deliver premium quality bearing products to customers in the automotive and industrials sectors. Backed with more than 100 years of experience, NTN spherical roller bearings are the perfect solution to waste and recycling plants needing reliable, robust solutions.
“NTN Ultage should be the bearing of choice offering extended maintenance intervals. They are available for a number of applications,” says Tony.
Spherical roller bearings allow for self-alignment between the inner and outer rings of the bearing, meaning bearings can accommodate misalignment, sometimes caused by factors such as shaft deflection, thermal
expansion, and mounting errors. These bearings are used in all recycling material recovery facilities. Typical applications include conveyor rolling systems, vibrating screens, sorting machines, shredding machines, grinding machines and crushing machines.
“The Ultage is the ultimate spherical roller bearing that NTN produce,” National Business Development Manager at Motion, Fabio Rebecchi says. “This series provides an industry-leading performance with dynamic load ratings of up to 65 per cent more than NTN conventional spherical roller bearings, in addition to an increased service life of up to five times more than our traditional spherical roller bearings and at least one and a half times increased fatigue strength. With environmental demands being more prevalent and the recycling sector growing so rapidly, we’re seeing a significant increase in demand for these spherical roller bearings.”
The Ultage range provides optimal capacity in temperatures up to 200˚C. Cost savings can be seen from a total cost of ownership perspective.
“The service life that operators are getting from the NTN Ultage series is just first-class. Not only do operators within the recycling sector get increased productivity from their equipment, these high-performing Ultage bearings also reduces the amount of maintenance needed on machinery,” says Tony.
“There are six types of Ultage bearing that we stock for use in various recycling plant applications. In fact, the name ‘Ultage’ is a combination of the words ‘ultimate’ and ‘stage’, which indicates NTN’s intention in designing an industry-leading performance spherical roller bearing that can be employed in a diverse range of applications,” says Fabio. “The Ultage series bearings have the world’s highest standard load capacity. This has been achieved by maximising the roller diameter as well as the number of rollers and roller design.”
As part of Motion, CBC take pride in their understanding of their customers’ needs when it comes to waste and recycling plants. From on-time delivery to a full range of engineering services, Motion’s CBC is equipped in the ability to improve the uptime of rotating equipment. References:
Efficient waste removal and material breakdown require specialised equipment for machinery operating under consistent load constraints.
For waste management and recycling sectors, equipment such as shredders that operate at high and low speeds, are essential to shred waste based on its size and textural variability.
The importance of high-quality motors and drives in these machines is paramount to achieving dependable results across waste management and removal zones. TECO provides a stateof-the-art solution in motors and drives performance technology.
TECO Te3 motors are high-quality, Totally Enclosed Fan Cooled (TEFC), Squirrel Cage Induction motors designed, manufactured, and tested to the latest International and Australian Standards, offering high efficiency and reliability.
With a variety of electrical design standards and features, TECO Te3 Motors provide a comprehensive solution for
heavy machinery operations.
They can operate at altitudes up to 1000 meters above sea level, allowing for extensive coverage areas for equipment.
TECO Te3 motors are designed to operate in ambient conditions of -20°C to +40°C as standard. They have a maximum continuous duty rating of S1 to IEC/A560034-1 and are designed for operation on a 380-415 Volt 3 phase 50 Hz supply and are also suitable for a 440480 Volt 3 phase 60 Hz supply.
All motors meet exceed the Minimum Efficiency level requirements of the Australian/New Zealand MEPS and IEC/AS60034-30-1 Standard where applicable.
TECO Te3 Motors offer numerous mechanical benefits for those seeking immediate results in power and machine leverage. These motors can be configured with TECO Variable Speed Drives (VSD) which available with singlephase input, 3 phase output, making them a versatile tool for working at high and low speeds. TECO Te3 motors are
suitable for VSD duty, subject to torque and speed limitations depending on the load characteristics and correct installation of motor and drive. The motors are available in various sizes with single or multi-speed drives, and they have been tested in conjunction with TECO VSDs.
The TECO Te3 Motors are constructed from high-quality steel, which enhances the overall mechanical quality and consistency of waste and recycling machinery. In Australia, the effective breakdown of waste and recycling is crucial to achieving consistent results for waste sites and plants.
With industry-related knowledge, combined with a network of more than 90 branches Australia-wide, Motion can provide TECO electrical solutions to customers, regardless of their location. Contact your local Motion branch to speak to a motor expert.
• Metric frame motor to AS1359, IEC60034 frame allocation
• 0.55kW to 500kW
• Totally Enclosed Fan Cooled (IC411)
• Meets IEC60034-30-1 (IE3)
Efficiency
• 380-415 Volts 3 Phase 50Hz (other supplies on request)
• Class F insulation with a Class B temperature rise
• Continuous rated, duty type S1
• Cast Iron construction with top mounted terminal box.
• IP55 protection rating standard
• Finish colour Teal T63 to AS2700
• Mounting available - Foot, Foot and flange (C* and D types), Flange (C* and D types)
• (C type flange on frame sizes D80-D132 only, Severe Duty, Glass H Insulation, IPbb available)
• Wide range of options available
• Two-year warranty
Belts play a critical role in the waste management and recycling industries. These industries require equipment that can handle the tough demands of transporting and processing materials. Without reliable belts, the equipment can break down, leading to costly downtime and lost productivity.
Rob Michelson, Motion’s Product Manager - Belts, has over 35 years of experience in the Power Transmission industry. Rob explains that Gates® Predator™ v-belts are a high-end product that offers exceptional performance compared to traditional v-belts. Gates®, the inventor of v-belts back in 1917, has been at the forefront
of belt technology, and the Predator™ belt is no exception.
“With their robust, abrasionresistant outer layer, the cords are made out of an aramid or Kevlar cord, which is a lot stronger,” says Rob.
This provides excellent resistance to oil, heat, and other harsh environmental conditions, making
• Superior power transmission: Predator™ v-belts can transmit up to 50% more power than conventional belts
• Higher resistance to wear and tear: The use of aramid or Kevlar cord in Predator™ v-belts allows for higher tension
• Positive environmental impact: Longer equipment life means fewer replacements and less material waste
• Reduced downtime and maintenance costs: With their high strength and durability
them ideal for the tough demands of waste management and recycling plants. Equipment in this industry often operates for long hours at high speeds, which can cause belts to heat up.
When belts are exposed to high temperatures for extended periods, they can become brittle and susceptible to cracking, which can cause the belt to fail. Belt failure can result in equipment breakdowns, unplanned maintenance, and even safety hazards for employees. In addition to the direct costs associated with downtime and maintenance, equipment failure can also lead to indirect costs, such as lost revenue and damage to the company’s reputation. Therefore, this solution effectively resolves these issues.
Predator™ v-belts can transmit up to 50% more power than conventional belts, and their reduced number of belts. “You can tension the belts up to a higher degree, which then gives you more power from one pulley to the next,“ Rob highlights.
This means less wear and tear on equipment, lower maintenance costs, and less downtime for repairs.
One of the significant benefits of Predator™ v-belts is that they reduce the number of belts required for a drive system. As Rob notes, “Using something like a Predator™ belt, you can reduce the number of belts by up to half. So, it not only provides a more cost-effective drive, but it also has the load closer to the bearings so that the overall equipment lasts a lot longer as well.”
Longer equipment life has several benefits such as positive environmental impacts by reducing the need for new equipment production, which can lead to lower energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
The production of new equipment requires a significant amount of energy and resources, from the extraction of raw materials to the manufacturing process and transportation of the finished product. By extending the lifespan of existing equipment, we can reduce the environmental impact associated with these activities. Additionally, extending the life of equipment reduces the amount of waste generated from equipment disposal, further reducing environmental harm.
Ensuring that a business has Predator™ v-belts in their inventory is a step in the right direction for promoting sustainable practices and reducing environmental impact.
Motion is the largest distributor of Gates® products, and they offer technical support to customers who need help with their drive systems. “We have technical people like myself able to support the customers with the technical experience and help them reduce downtime in their plant and uptime in production,” says Rob.
Motion also has access to Gates®’ design programs, which they use to analyse a customer’s drive system and offer better options.
“From there, we can do a health check on the drive itself and come up with a better option for what they might currently be using. If they are having issues, we can then assist in providing longevity in that drive.”
Motion’s commitment to providing exceptional customer service enables them to offer Gates®’ solutions with unparalleled expertise and support. Their dedicated team is readily available to address any inquiries or concerns from customers, ensuring a seamless experience and maximum satisfaction.
In the waste and recycling management sectors, machines and equipment are frequently put under heavy weight constraints. The repetitive nature of waste and recycling disposal can lead to failure in machinery when inadequate tools are used to maintain equipment. Baling presses are dedicated waste management machines that compress recyclable materials like paper, cardboard and plastics, into compact bundles. These machines come in either hydraulic or pneumatic compositions, with both needing robust assembly to maintain their long-term use.
Troy Markland, Motion’s Product Manager for Drive Systems andPower Transmission, says the future of manufacturing is soaring to new heights.
“Technological advancements in the industrial landscape have come ahead in leaps and bounds,” says Troy. “More and more, factories are
looking to increase the rate of their productivity through high-speed applications.”
For industry workers in waste and recycling management, seeing longterm results from their machines can be achieved using robust, industry engineered couplings. Fenner, a leading name in power transmission, has been providing industrious solutions in engineering drive systems for more than 150 years. The company demonstrates an understanding of these needs through its range of couplings, dedicated in providing individual and business solutions.
Fenner supplies four different types of couplings, Fenaflex couplings, jaw couplings, rigid coupling and HRC
“End-users will get the best results from Fenaflex Couplings if care is taken on installation.”
couplings. Fenaflex tyre couplings provide an excellent solution in preserving the structural integrity of a Baling Press.
“The Fenaflex tyre couplings are unique in their design because they have a doughnut-style rubber tyre between the two flanges of the coupling arrangement that has vibration dampening properties and torquing ability that allow for shaft misalignment on operations,” Troy says.
Heavy vibrations occur during the compacting phase in a baling press, meaning cracks and fractures can occur, which can lead to equipment failures.
“The Fenaflex Tyre Couplings do a good job of softening the impact of heavy manufacturing through shock absorption,” Troy says.
The couplings can accommodate up to a 4-degree misalignment on an application, which is above a standard coupling. However, careful calculation of the gap between the shafts and any end-float is required in ensuring the flanges are parallel with the shafts.
“The most common cause
of a coupling failure is improper installation,” says Troy. “There are times when maintenance and repair staff have not received proper training on how to install the couplings, or the instructions are overlooked. The result is that a coupling will be implemented on a high-speed, high-impact, application incorrectly, which can cause cracks, fractures or
breakdowns.”
Fenner provides knowledge and training hubs online to ensure users can successfully administer and use their coupling range appropriately for desired outcomes.
“Fenner produces a lot of instructional videos and training resources,” Troy says. “My advice to operational managers would be to train up staff properly and ensure they have access to these channels. Alternatively, our team at Motion is always happy to make a site visit to assess the requirements for a drive system and assist in the installation process.”
Troy emphasises the importance on performing test runs after installation and says monitoring the performance will ensure the torque is correct for the application.
“End-users will get the best results from Fenaflex Couplings if care is taken on installation,” he says. “It is important to keep installation resources close, make sure the Fenaflex tyre is seated correctly, check the gap, check the torque, and adjust the screws accordingly.”
During the primary stages of wastewater treatment, solid materials go through a process of screening, grit removal, comminution and sedimentation. Settling tanks remove the solids through the process of sedimentation, gradually causing solids to sink to the bottom. The sludge at the bottom of the tanks move along to mechanical scrapers where the waste is pumped out and removed. It is crucial during this stage that contaminants are kept securely in place to prevent pollutants from causing harm to workers or the surrounding environments.
Machinery used during this stage
should be kept in good working condition to avoid downtime caused from breakdown of equipment. Timken is a globally recognised leader in friction management, power transmission and metallurgy. Partnering with a range of global customers, Timken prides itself that it has spent more than 120 years in innovative problem solving with some of the most complex applications worldwide.
Timken’s range of spherical roller bearings offer a bright solution in mechanical technology, providing bearings that can operate under extreme conditions. The Timken spherical
roller bearing solid-block housed units (formerly known as blue brute bearings) act as an excellent solution to protection against contaminants.
Other than the spherical roller bearing solid block housed units, Timken provides a variety of other bearings
• Pre-assembled – meaning the shaft can easily fit and tighten up during installation.
• The sealing design provides protection against contaminants compared to normal bearings that typically need to be packed with grease.
• Features machined feet, black oxide inner rings, tapped puller holes and multiple shaft-locking choices –making installation even quicker.
• Due to the lower risk of contamination, the bearing is more likely to last – increasing standard bearing life expectancy.
• Made of cast-steel – further enhancing the bearing capabilities in handling extreme environment of wastewater plant clarifiers.
• Primary and secondary seals offering fillable grease cavity for added protection.
• Multiple cage designs – including a range of steel and brass options – help reduce stress at high shock loads or speeds and provide strong contaminant purge.
including tapered roller bearings, thrust bearings, cylindrical roller bearings, ball bearings and other housed units.
Tapered roller bearings, for example, are ideal for use in heavy-duty applications such as mining equipment, construction machinery, and industrial gearboxes. Their design allows them to handle both axial and radial loads efficiently, making them highly durable and reliable.
Thrust bearings, on the other hand, are specifically designed to handle axial loads. They are commonly used in applications such as automotive transmissions, steering systems, and machine tool spindles.
Cylindrical roller bearings are mainly used in applications that require high radial load capacity, such as pumps, compressors, and machine tools. Timken’s cylindrical roller bearings are available in a range of configurations, including single-row, double-row, and four-row, making them suitable for a wide range of applications.
Ball bearings are commonly used in applications that require high-speed and low-friction operation, such as electric motors and automotive applications.
Timken also offers other housed units that cater to specific applications. These include flange units, take-up units, and cartridge units. These units are designed to be easy to install, maintain, and replace, resulting in lower downtime and increased productivity.
Timken has a unique and valuable relationship with Motion, an expert supplier of industrial products and solutions. With a nationwide footprint
and an extensive range of products and services, Motion provides access to Timken’s products and expertise to customers across Australia. Timken works closely with Motion to ensure that its products are readily available and easily accessible to customers, providing timely support and service to help businesses optimise their operations.
The partnership between Timken and Motion is founded on a shared commitment to quality and customer satisfaction, with both companies working together to provide tailored solutions that meet the unique needs of their customers. This collaboration ensures that customers can access a comprehensive range of high-quality products, services, and expertise to support their operations and help drive their success. Reach out to Motion for more information or advice.
• Industry-specific training programs are available and designed for plant professionals, as well as on-site customised training to meet specific needs.
• The company’s training programs are available at select locations and cover every phase of bearing performance.
• Contact Motion for more information about training programs available in your region.
Ground water acts as a major contributor to streams and rivers and plays a huge role in wetland habitats for Australia’s flora and fauna. Individuals have been using ground water for thousands of years – making it a major contributor in the use of drinking water and irrigation today.
Dewatering pump technology can gather and remove water in areas where it is not needed and can take it to plants where it can be recycled and distributed to state and local areas. Particularly, in areas such as building and construction projects, the waterfront, or places that receive regular heavy rainfall – dewatering is critical.
Australia has seen an increase in rainfall over the past few years in areas positioned in low lying land. Further to this, flood recovery projects have heightened the demand for effective dewatering pump solutions.
Dewatering pump manufacturing involves complex engineered parts, including motors, seals and bearings. As with any rotational moving equipment, bearings play a key role in the successful operation of dewatering pumps.
Nitin Verma, General Manager Sales for Industrial Solutions at NSK, says the type of bearings on pump applications can make a real difference to the pump’s performance.
“The type of bearing chosen has the ability to improve a pump’s performance, reliability and efficiency” he says, “which is why it’s generally best practice for manufacturers to consult with a trusted industrial solutions provider when determining the right bearings for a dewatering pump arrangement.”
Probably the most common type of dewatering pump is a centrifugal pump, be it an above ground or submersible type. An impeller attached to a shaft in the dewatering pump is supported by bearings and powered by a motor. The impeller creates thrust propelling
the movement of water forward or upward. Generally rotational speeds on a pump impeller sit between 1500rpm and 3000rpm at 50Hz.
“Dewatering pump bearings must have the ability to handle axial and radial loads generated from the impellor. It is also critical that the bearings can handle variable forces as a result of the different pumped fluid viscosity” Nitin advises.
It should also not be forgotten that good seal performance is a requirement to avoid the ingress of water and contaminants that could cause corrosion.
From the NSK range, Nitin says suitable bearings for dewatering pump applications are Cylindrical Roller Bearings, Angular Contact Ball Bearings in both single and double row configuration and Deep Groove Ball Bearings.
“By consulting with a bearing expert and an industrial solutions provider such as NSK, they can assist with determining the right design to suit every pump application,” he says.
For advice and more information speak to Motion today.
At Motion, engineering experts provide the waste management and recycling sectors with leading knowledge and expertise around personalised solutions for individual and business needs. Alan Phillips, New South Wales’s Engineering Service Manager, has been providing diverse solutions at Motion for more than 14 years. He has been specialising in bearings since 1981 and has developed a sound understanding of the way they can resolve common issues faced in many industries, including waste and recycling plants.
Impactors are machines commonly used in recycling plants to breakdown and repurpose concrete. Once concrete is broken down, it can be repurposed into a useable product, commonly used in landscaping, construction, and civic projects. Due to the nature of the materials being broken down, mechanical failures are common, creating downtime and cost issues in waste and recycling plants.
Alan and his team were recently faced with a client experiencing this issue.
“In this particular case, they had an issue with the bearings and the housing that were on the impactor,” he said.
Alan discovered that the impactor was failing every six to eight weeks, in one case leading to one of the bearings catching fire.
This posed a health and safety risk to the workers as well as an unprecedented cost for the recycling plant.
“Not only did it cost the guys each time they changed the bearings, but there was also a lot of downtime, too,” Alan says. “Each time the impactor was
pulled apart, the recycling plant incurred $10,000 to $15,000 in cost due to lost production.”
To address the issue, Alan used a series of tests to get to the root cause of the breakdowns. “We obtained some failed bearings and analysed the damage they had sustained. We also obtained a grease analysis as well and found was silica dust in the grease, which meant crushed concrete dust was getting into the bearings resulting in contamination of the lubricant in the bearings –essentially turning the grease into a grinding paste,” he says.
During the repair process, the team fitted a new FAG bearing and redesigned the seals on the housing to stop the concrete dust from getting in. Due to the lack of space on the impactor, the team custom designed a special housing unit to fit into the available space.
“Everything was designed and made in-house. Once supplied to the customer, we also went to the customer site and installed the bearings and the housings to the impactor shaft,” Alan says.
The solution increased the bearings
life span to 12 months before needing replacement again, which resulted in lasting trust between the customer, Alan and his team.
“Since then, the customer has bought bearings from us, plus we have supplied spare housing and seal components, so they always have a spare set available. We’re now actually refurbishing the housings as well,” he says.
Motion’s engineering’s department encompasses over 250 professionals proficient in delivering outcomes in assessment, review, design, and analysis. They can repair, refurbish, manufacture, and assemble new equipment, as well as offer site services for installation, commissioning, and testing.
“It’s a one-stop shop delivering designs, manufacturing, supply and installation” Alan says.
Through providing a multitude of services under the one roof, Motion engineers can be the go-to for all needs and concerns – making them a significant contributor to the waste management and recycling industry.
Drive shafts are crucial components of machinery in the waste management and recycling industries, keeping equipment running and functioning effectively. Martin Hellings, the Technical Support Specialist at Hardy Spicer, specialist in industrial drive shafts, shared a recent success story where he and his Product Manager - Off Highway & Industrial Driveline, Russell Plowman helped a Lavertonbased recycling company who required
an important shredder machine upgrade.
“The company had purchased a new shredder machine with the capacity to run up to 8000hp 25% more than their existing shredder. However, an upgrade to the drive shaft applications in the machine was required,” Martin shared.
The drive shaft is extremely important in shredder machines, responsible for transmitting power from the motor to the shredder blades. Typically made of high-strength steel, it
must be designed to withstand the high torque and bending forces generated by the shredder blades.
“Upgrading these components has two significant benefits. First, it improves the bearing life of the drive shafts, ensuring a longer period between replacements,” Martin explained.
“Furthermore, upgrading the drive shafts increases their functional limits, allowing the upgraded machine to handle greater loads and operate with
improved efficiency,” Martin continued.
Martin says, with the ability to handle greater loads, the company can increase its production capacity and handle larger workloads without the need for additional equipment. This means that the company can scale up its operations and meet the growing demands of its customers, resulting in increased revenue and profits.
Moreover, by improving the machine’s efficiency, the company can reduce energy consumption, which can result in cost savings over time. In addition, improved efficiency can lead to less wear and tear on the machine, resulting in lower maintenance costs and longer equipment lifespans. This, in turn, can lead to better return on investment
and lower total cost of ownership.
Martin worked closely with the business’s engineering department to identify the best drive shaft for the upgraded machine. Once the upgrade was completed, Martin continued to work with the business to ensure that the drive shaft was maintained correctly, maximising the lifespan of their equipment, and allowing the customer to continue enjoying the benefits of the upgrade.
This is an example of preventive maintenance, which involves taking proactive measures to ensure that equipment and machinery are regularly maintained and serviced to prevent issues before they occur. This will help prevent any unexpected breakdowns or malfunctions that could lead to downtime and lost productivity. By conducting regular maintenance and servicing, the business can ensure that their machinery continues to operate efficiently and effectively, ultimately resulting in cost savings and improved performance.
Downtime could have also negatively impacted the company’s ability to meet their production targets, potentially leading to missed deadlines and customer dissatisfaction.
Therefore, reducing likelihood of these events occurring through upgrades or regular maintenance is crucial in maximising the longevity and efficiency of machinery in the waste management and recycling industries.
He continued, “The customer was very happy with the outcome and bought a spare shaft as well,” showing they were extremely satisfied with the service they received.
Hardy Spicer specialises in providing high-quality hydraulic and industrial hose and fittings, driveshafts, and universal joints to the Australian market. With over 70 years of experience in the industry, their products and services are specifically designed to perform in the toughest environments, such as mining and heavy industrial settings.
The work carried out by Martin Hellings and his team at Hardy Spicer is an example of the company’s commitment to providing customised solutions to its clients. With successful collaboration providing a tailored drive shaft solution, they completely boosted the machine’s performance, resulting in increased productivity and efficiency.
“It’s the service we offer from a Motion point of view. We can service the customer in so many ways, and Hardy Spicer fits into one of those baskets very successfully,” Martin describes.
This is just one of many success stories from the Motion-owned organisation Hardy Spicer, and this successful partnership greatly benefits their customers in the waste management and recycling as well as various other industries. If you’re interested in increasing your company’s production capacity, get in contact with a Motion expert today.
When it comes to paper and cardboard recycling rates, Australia has a reasonable record, recycling 62 per cent of all paper and cardboard wastage1. The importance of consistent cardboard and paper recycling practises in Australia will ensure a cleaner, energy efficient environment for future generations to come.
Currently, paper and cardboard are delivered to local recycling plants, which are located all around the country. The waste is broken down by machines, resulting in paper fibres being bound together.
The Gates Corporation has played a pivotal role in the development of engineered rubber products, essential to the boost in efficiency seen in paper recycling operations. In 1917, John Gates developed the v-belt, which transformed the capabilities of power transmission in industrial and automotive machinery liabilities.
Overloading or feeding wet cardboard into a mulcher can create a hammering effect to the machine, resulting in the drive not performing to its optimum capacity. A plant operator experienced this issue when operating a 250-horsepower mulcher. An existing v-belt repeatedly slipped under heavyload constraints, resulting in the belt’s failure, ceasing to work prior to its required service life.
The customer got in contact with Motion’s CBC, a leading industrial
products distributor, and got to work on resolving the issue related to the mulcher. The Motion Engineering Team linked up with the plant operator and recommended replacing the existing v-belts with new Gates® Poly Chain® synchronous belts to allow the mulcher to operate at its desired capacity.
The Poly Chain® belt is a polyurethane belt that replaces traditional roller chain applications for power transmission. It increases the capabilities of carbon fibre tensile cords to provide further power carrying capacity and extended flex fatigue life, helping it withstand shocks, surge loading and heavy abrasion.
Today, Gates® is in partnership with national distributors like Motion who offer customers with leading range industrial belt products such as v-belts, v-ribbed belts, synchronous belts, tensioners, pulleys, sprockets, and complete drive solutions.
“The Gates® Poly Chain® GT™ Carbon™ belt gave the site the ability to operate the mulcher at their desired level of severe shock loads,” says Motion’s National Product Manager for Mechanical Drives, Steve Hittmann. “The belts have been working without any slip under high-load conditions, resulting in maintenance-free and higher capacity operations.”
The Gates® Poly Chain® synchronous belts offer energy saving benefits when replacing v-belts, older synchronous
belts, and chain drives.
“Since v-belts have thicker cross sections than synchronous belts, they need more energy to bend around sheaves. Gates® Poly Chain® synchronous belts offer up to five per cent energy savings over v-belts,” Steve says.
The nature of the product means operators will have less downtime on faulty machinery, resulting in an increase in productivity of equipment,
“The Gates® Poly Chain® synchronous belts require minimal maintenance and re-tensioning and run slip-free,” Steve says.
Gates® distributes its power transmission products through Motion –both companies work closely to support the Australian market with their technical skills and expertise.
Motion has over 90 branches that operate across Australia, and each branch has access to a network of qualified product managers and engineering support teams to ensure everything from design, installation and fitment is undertaken with the utmost care.
Recycling plant owners can trust that the Motion support team will conduct a thorough survey to come up with the best solutions geared at creating the best outcomes for each customer’s needs.
“The combined expertise of Motion and Gates® specialists ensures that customers get the best belts and drives solutions for their plants,” says Steve.
References:
1. National Waste Report, 2022 www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/protection/ waste/national-waste-reports/2022
In the waste and recycling management sectors, maintaining the integrity of the environment is an important component to preserving land infrastructure and equipment vitality. Disruptions to concrete and other permeable surfaces can be a reoccurring issue for those who operate heavy machinery in this sector.
ITW Polymers & Fluids is a company that prides itself on providing a wide variety of chemical construction products available for use in industrial areas. One of the ITW hero brands, Epirez, pioneered the development of epoxy-based adhesives and coatings for use with concrete in Australia.
Manufactured in Australia since 1955, ITW Polymers & Fluids products continuously develop their epoxy and allied technology development for contractors in the Australian building and construction industry. The Epirez product range is aimed at repairing concrete and hardened surfaces, making it an ideal solution for damage incurred from heavy machinery use.
Issue: Slip Issues
Anti-slip floor coatings
Safe Step 100
Safe Step 100 is a single component, epoxy ester non-slip floor and outside surface coating designed for application in areas of heavy pedestrian traffic. It is both easy and fast to apply and offers optimum adhesion to concrete and metal surfaces.
Safe Step 550
Safe Step 550 is a high solids, heavy
duty, non-slip coating for application in slippery areas to make them safer for both pedestrian and rolling equipment traffic.
QA2/QA30/SIL-CARB
QA2 Aggregates - A range of inert granules that have been washed, kiln dried and graded and can be used to improve the performance characteristics of structural grout and flooring systems.
Issue: Heavy traffic Highway Patch Highway Patch - A patented hydraulic rapid set cement repair mortar that provides high early strengths, high bonding strengths and precision non-shrink performance. It provides users with the economic advantage of adding up to 60% pea gravel (6-10 mm) extension without forming excessive voids, reduced workability or long-term durability deterioration.
Ezirender High Build (HB)
Ezirender® High Build (HB) - A versatile one-part polymer modified lightweight repair mortar enabling high build concrete repairs in both overhead and vertical applications. It offers the unique advantage of shrinkage control in both plastic and hardened states, so that repairs will maintain long term durability.
QA2
QA2 Aggregates - A range of inert granules that have been washed, kiln dried and graded and can be used to improve the performance characteristics of structural grout and flooring systems.
Issue: Concrete Abrasion
General Purpose Epoxy Mortar Binder (133)
General Purpose Epoxy Mortar Binder (133) is a two part epoxy liquid which when combined with aggregate (graded sand) produces concretes and mortars exhibiting excellent adhesion, high compressive and tensile strength and exceptional resistance to the entry of water and other causes of concrete cancer.
Non-sag Epoxy Mortar Binder (633) Non-Sag Epoxy Mortar Binder (633) is a solventless, non-sag epoxy paste which can be used in vertical or overhead applications. When combined with graded sand, it produces a stiff mortar for larger volume applications.
Crack Repair Epoxy Sealer (123)
Epirez Crack Repair Epoxy Sealer (123) is a high strength epoxy injection grout offering low mixed viscosity and fast hardening to produce a bonding matrix exhibiting excellent adhesion and high compressive and tensile strength.
Multi-Purpose Epoxy Concrete Repair (Multi II)
Multi-Purpose Epoxy Concrete Repair (Multi II) is a multi-purpose epoxy for the repair of concrete and bonding of various construction materials. Its 1:1 mix ratio makes it easy to use and water clean up prior to cure eliminates the need for the use of solvents.
The Timken spherical roller bearing solidblock housed units are pre-assembled bearings that operate under extreme conditions. They provide protection against contaminants, have a sealing design, and are made of cast steel with multiple cage designs for high shock loads or speeds.
Gates®Predator™ V-Belts are a highly durable and reliable solution for heavy-duty equipment. They are designed to withstand tough industrial environments, including high powered motors, sudden starts and stops, heat, dirt, and contamination from oil or solvents. They can also reduce the number of belts required for a drive system, resulting in cost savings and a positive environmental impact.
Timken Quick-Flex® (QF) couplings are a durable and low-maintenance solution for transmitting power between components in harsh environments. They require no lubrication and only one component needs replacing if the rubber urethane element fails. Timken QF couplings can handle high speeds and torque and are versatile enough to accommodate misalignment.
Wrapflex Elastomer Couplings by Regal Rexnord are a flexible and cost-effective solution for heavy-load equipment in various industrial applications. These nonlubricated couplings are easy to install, require no maintenance, and are made of polyurethane for superior wear and chemical resistance.
TECO Te3 motors are high-quality, Totally Enclosed Fan Cooled (TEFC), Squirrel Cage Induction motors designed, manufactured, and tested to the latest International and Australian Standards, offering high efficiency and reliability. Designed for operation at an altitude of up to 1000 metres above sea level and can be customised for higher altitudes.
NSK spherical roller bearings are strong roller bearings designed to withstand tough industrial conditions such as contamination, moisture, and high pressure. They are ideal for use in dewatering pump technology, waste management, and recycling equipment, and other industrial applications.
The unique design consists of a tough polyurethane exterior, a tailored curvilinear tooth profile, and is reinforced in the centre with carbon fibre tensile cords for more carrying capacity and resistance to fatigue. In addition to the belt’s robust design and ease of maintenance, the Gates Poly Chain® GT® Carbon™ can also conveniently be coupled with some stainless-steel sprocket and bushings for an all-in-one high performance drive solution.
The Shell Tellus® range of hydraulic fluids covers a wide range of equipment and customer needs and offers improved wear protection, oil life and stick-slip control. It includes different tiers of products with mineral, synthetic, and ashless formulations, providing wear protection, improving hydraulic oil life, and system efficiency.
NTN Ultage spherical roller bearings offer superior longevity and reliability for waste and recycling plants. They accommodate misalignment and provide optimal capacity in high temperatures, resulting in increased productivity and reduced maintenance.
ITW’s Epirez a range of epoxy-based adhesives and coating. These products are designed for use in industrial areas, particularly in the building and construction industry. They are known for their excellent adhesion properties, high strength, and versatility in repairing concrete and hardened surfaces.
The CRC SmartWasher systems employ a natural process called bioremediation which is the use of microbes to break down and “eat” oil, grease, and carbonbased contaminants. This proven biotechnology is used to assist in the clean-up of wastewater treatment ponds and delivers exceptional cleaning without the health risks associated with solvent and aqueous based parts washers.
The Schaeffler FAG Black Series Radial Ball Bearing is a durable and corrosionresistant bearing solution designed for harsh environments such as wastewater treatment plants. Its low frictional torque generates minimum heat, resulting in maximum grease operating life.
