Waste Management Review August 2022 by Prime Creative Media

AUGUST 2022

Taking charge A new environment and new opportunities energise the team at Ecocycle FEATURES Rapid response to hazardous incidents New agent takes sting out of lithium-ion batteries Greasing the wheels of sustainability Unlocking the circular economy

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COVER STORY

TAKING CHARGE A new environment and new opportunities energise the team at Ecocycle

LOVIN’ IT

Telford Smith is the special source behind a successful McDonald’s recycling solution.

In this issue Features

EVERYONE WANTS RELIABLE, EFFICIENT, AND SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS. WE KNOW THIS IS WHAT ECOCYCLE CAN OFFER NOW AND WELL INTO THE FUTURE. – Doug Rowe, Director Ecocycle

40 PEOPLE POWER

Three years after introducing the Power Pickup, RecycleSmart is delivering results.

ON SHOW ‘DIRTY END’ OF 42 21 THE WASTE MANAGEMENT REMONDIS looks to international success to make a difference to hazardous waste management Down Under.

25 CHEMICAL CONTAMINATION Enviropacific embraces new technology for full on site destruction of PFAS.

28 STRIKING OIL

National Resource Recovery has lead the charge to find solutions for Melbourne’s automotive waste.

RAPID RESPONSE

Cleanway Group’s expert team handles the pressure of hazardous waste incidents.

Isuzu prepares to show its FVY Dual Control model at the Australian Waste and Recycling Expo.

A BURNING ISSUE

Fire Protection Technologies tackles lithium-ion battery fires.

46 ON RED ALERT

Teledyne FLIR early fire detection systems can stop fires before they start.

NOT, 48 WASTE WANT NOT Repurpose It helps local councils unlock the opportunities of a circular economy.

50 WHEELS OF 34 GREASING SUSTAINABILITY 52 LOVIN’ IT 37 A NEW WAY 54 GROWING CAPACITY KICKING GOALS

Marvel Stadium is crushing it when it comes to sustainability.

Cookers’ sustainability values has guided the business from strength to strength.

STG Global’s new partnership is bringing a futuristic waste collection truck to Australia.

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56 BEYOND RECYCLING

AgSafe explains why product stewardship is about more than just recycling.

58 ALL GREEN

Komptech’s Crambo 5200 Direct offers efficiency without compromising productivity.

WORK 60 LIGHT OF WASTE Applied Machinery’s Genox shredders can tackle all kinds of waste products.

Events COLLABORATIVE 62 CHALLENGES 2022 Australian Waste & Recycling Expo to include a new Resource Recovery Summit.

64 EXPONENTIAL EXPOSURE Waste Expo Australia exhibitors fly the industry flag.

Telford Smith and McDonald’s think outside the box.

Regulars

AORA releases the second edition of its economic report.

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COO

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

From the Editor

Danger zone The remote gives up as you’re about to settle in for a night in front of the TV, you change the batteries and toss them aside. The kids’ toys stop working and despite wanting some quiet, you scrummage around for some AAs. It’s a scenario repeated often in households across Australia and, unfortunately, most of those batteries go from being tossed aside on the kitchen bench to the rubbish bin. While they may seem innocuous, all used batteries are classified as a hazardous waste in Australia because the chemicals they contain pose a fire or explosion risk. Doug Rowe, the director of specialist recycler Ecocycle has been at the forefront of battery and mercury recycling. He says while advances in technology are making processes safer, there’s been a gross underestimation of the dangers, particularly of lithium batteries, and how they should be transported. As Ecocycle enters an era of expansion at new sustainable headquarters, Doug is taking his role in the Battery Stewardship Scheme seriously, investing millions of dollars into collection, sorting and processing all battery types (page 16). But it’s not just used batteries that have sent Australia’s hazardous and liquid waste outputs rising in recent years – chemicals, paints, oils, caustic materials and contaminated soils are at what Jürgen Feiler, Director of Remondis Australia Industrial Services Division, calls the “dirty end” of waste management (page 21). Like with battery disposal, there can be an out-of-sight-out-of-mind mentality in the general population, but the waste industry is investing in hazardous and liquid waste solutions that will make a difference, whether it be forming rapid response teams (page 31), finding new ways to extract the resources of automotive waste (page 28) or changing the way PFAS is treated (page 25).

Lisa Korycki

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EDITOR

Lisa Korycki lisa.korycki@primecreative.com.au

JOURNALIST

Leon Cranswick leon.cranswick@primecreative.com.au

DESIGN PRODUCTION MANAGER Michelle Weston michelle.weston@primecreative.com.au

ART DIRECTOR

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Kerry Pert, Aisling McComiskey

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Chelsea Daniel-Young chelsea.daniel@primecreative.com.au p: +61 425 699 878 Stephanie Suzuki stephanie.suzuki@primecreative.com.au p: +61 0422 046 711

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News

Sustainability Victoria delivers $10m for bioenergy investment A record-breaking $10 million in Victorian Government funding is available to encourage investment in the state’s bioenergy sector. The Waste to Energy Fund: Bioenergy will support projects that create bioenergy from organic waste. The output of which may be electricity, heat, gas or liquid fuels. The fund is expected to deliver an additional 5000 kW to Victoria’s renewable energy production. Funding is also available to develop end uses for the residual products created by the treatment process. The program will support organisations to dispose of waste

in an environmentally friendly way while reducing their operational costs, including energy bills. Projects will process waste that would have otherwise gone to landfill or been disposed of in a way that does not leverage its value as an energy source, such as crop residue burning. A wide range of sectors will be supported by the fund, including agricultural and livestock, forestry, food production, food retail and wastewater management. Residential kerbside waste is not included. Eligible organisations can apply to Sustainability Victoria for grants to scope out and implement projects

that use organic waste to produce bioenergy. Funding will support projects at different stages of their development through two streams: Stream one will support projects to scope, test and gain approvals to achieve the pre-financial close phases of a bioenergy project. Applicants can apply for grants of between $20,000 and $250,000. Stream two will support projects with a proven business case to purchase, construct, and commission infrastructure to convert organic matter into bioenergy. Applicants can apply for grants of between $50,000 and $1 million. Applications close at 11.59pm on 26 August 2022.

Coles launches recycled plastic wine bottle A wine bottle made entirely from Australian-sourced 100 per cent recycled PET plastic is helping to reshape the carbon footprint of wine. A collaboration between sustainable packaging company Packamama and winemakers Accolade Wines and Taylors Wines, the eco-bottle made its Australian market debut in June. Banrock Station wines and Taylors’ One Small Step range is available for sale in eco-bottles through select Liquorland and First Choice Liquor Market stores nationally. With a nod to tradition, the eco-bottle shares the classic high-shouldered silhouette of a traditional Bordeaux wine

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bottle. But side-on it has a slimmer, flatter profile that allows twice as many bottles to fit in a standard wine case – which means it’s much more efficient to transport. Using recycled PET also saves weight. The bottles are 83 per cent lighter, reducing transport emissions as well as the energy in production and recycling. If both Accolade Wines and Taylors Wines switched entirely to ecobottles, it would cut 250,000 kilometres of road freight a year or the equivalent of a semi-trailer travelling from Melbourne to Broome 50 times. The empty bottle is fully recyclable, apart from the lid.

Santiago Navarro, Packamama’s Chief Executive and Founder, said he is confident the time is right for Australian winemakers to challenge tradition. The PET plastic wine bottle is on the shelves now.

Hazardous waste? No problems REMONDIS Australia provides hazardous and liquid waste management to thousands of businesses right across Australia – including education, healthcare, government, manufacturing, mining and industrial sectors, large and small. With our own collection fleet, NDD, processing and resource recovery facilities, we find safe and compliant solutions to complex hazardous waste and Dangerous Goods management challenges. Solving problems is what we do best. T 13 73 73 // remondis-australia.com.au

News

Re.Group acquires Polytrade Australian recycling and resource recovery specialist Re.Group has acquired Polytrade. The investment creates a network of recycling facilities operating from coast to coast and servicing communities in metropolitan and regional locations. Re.Group operates material recovery facilities (MRFs) for mixed recyclables in the ACT, Queensland and South Australia. It also processes food organics and garden organics (FOGO) in New South Wales, and operates a network of 10-cent container refund depots through Return-It, with refund points across the ACT, QLD, WA and NSW. David Singh, Re.Group Managing Director, said the company was

Polytrade will join the Re.Group fold.

deliberately established as a values-led organisation, seeking a balance between people, the planet and prosperity. “We are very proud of what we have achieved and we are excited for the next phase of growth as we integrate Polytrade’s assets, people and knowhow into Re.Group.” Founded by Louie Cheng, Polytrade has a 25-year track record

in Australian recycling, including as one of the leading recycling service providers in both the Melbourne and Sydney markets. With the acquisition, Re.Group now provides kerbside recycling services for more than 4,000,000 Australians across more than 35 council areas, with 13 operating facilities and a number of additional sites coming online within the next year.

$7.4m boost for solar panel recycling More than 12,000 additional tonnes of solar panels and batteries will be diverted from landfill every year thanks to five projects receiving a total of $7.4 million in New South Wales Government funding support. The funding includes support for the first three solar panels and battery recycling facilities in NSW, which are being built in Bankstown, Fairfield and Albury. James Griffin, Minister for Environment, said while the amount of solar panel and battery storage system waste is low at the moment, the government wants to make sure New South Wales is ahead of the curve with innovative ways of managing the emerging waste stream.

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“With this funding, we’re supporting the construction of the first three recycling facilities for solar panels or batteries in New South Wales, and two other projects that will divert more decommissioned solar panels from landfill so they can be reused,” he said. PV Industries will receive $2.3 million in round two of Circular Solar funding to scale-up its solar panel recycling technology and build a new solar panel and battery recycling facility in the Bankstown area, which will process up to 8000 tonnes per year. Tes-Amm Australia will use $1.9 million to build a new lithium-ion battery recycling facility in the Fairfield area, processing up to 800 tonnes per year of batteries from solar panel systems.

Scipher Technologies’ $1.7 million will be used to construct a solar panel recycling facility in the Albury area, which aims to process up to 2000 tonnes per annum, with the recovered materials going back into local markets. Blue Tribe is receiving $400,000 to investigate a process to divert serviceable decommissioned solar panels from landfill for reuse in community solar gardens, which has the potential to divert 10,000 tonnes per year of end-of-life solar panels by 2030. The University of New South Wales will use $1 million to complete research and development activities for a prototype recycling technology that can recover valuable metals, glass, and silicon from solar panels.

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FEATURE NEWS

Nature’s way

INDIGENOUS PLANTS COULD HOLD THE KEY TO REMOVING PFAS CONTAMINANTS FROM AUSTRALIA’S WATERWAYS.

hile the staying power of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) was once revered – it’s the non-stick on Teflon cookware and the suppression factor in firefighting foam – it’s now infamous as it continues to infiltrate the environment and affect human health. But new research from the University of South Australia (UniSA) is showing that native plants in floating wetlands can help remediate PFAS pollutants. UniSA and Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) researcher Dr John Awad says the research could alleviate many environmental and health risks by

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providing a clean and green method to remove PFAS from the environment. “Constructed floating wetlands can be readily installed into existing urban environments, such as holding reservoirs and retention basins, making them highly manoeuvrable and adaptable to local waterways,” John says. “Plus, as this innovative water treatment system does not require pumping or the ongoing addition of chemicals, it is a costeffective remediation system for PFAS removal. “Add native plants to the mix and we have delivered a truly clean, green and environmentally friendly method

for removing toxic PFAS chemicals from contaminated water.” According to the Australian Department of Health, PFAS has been found to contaminate sites where there has been historic use of firefighting foams that contained PFAS. Over time, the chemicals have worked their way through the soil to contaminate surface and ground water and migrate into adjoining land areas. The chemicals are highly persistent and are toxic to fish and some animals, and can accumulate in the bodies of fish, animals and people who come into contact with them. Conducted in partnership with CSIRO and the University of Western

Research has shown that native plants in floating wetlands can help remediate PFAS pollutants.

UniSA and CSIRO researcher Dr John Awad works on a floating wetland.

Australia, John’s research shows that PFAS chemicals can be removed from contaminated water by using Australian native rush including the common reed (Phragmites australis), jointed rush (Baumea articulata) and salt marsh or sea rush (Juncus kraussii). Using a floating wetland, similar to a hydroponic system, the roots of the rush are placed directly into the water. Micro-organisms and bacteria draw the PFAS from the water and store it in the rush. When the rush is harvested, the PFAS is removed from the water system. Currently the harvested rush is incinerated, but John says the research will be extended to focus on converting the plant tissue

to biochar which can be reused as an absorption material. He says he was confident the wetland would work, based on previous efforts to remove nutrients to control blue green algae growth on surface water, but did not expect how effective it would be. The common reed removed legacy PFAS contaminants by 42-53 per cent from contaminated surface water (level: 10 µg/L). “While working on nutrient removal in water I found some research about heavy metal removal which prompted the idea to use the same technology to remove other contaminants,” John says. “We knew it would take PFAS but were surprised by the uptake.” John says there are about 4000 compounds of PFAS and very little is known about many of them. The research focused on two compounds which have been in the environment the longest and are considered the most resistant to remediation. The types of plants used are native to Australian wetland areas which, John says, meant they could be grown hydroponically. Their ability to remove nutrients has also previously been proven. The time required to remediate a site is

dependent on the covered surface area of the contaminated water, the density of planting and the concentration and type of PFAS present. So far, the floating wetlands system has only been examined under controlled laboratory conditions at the UniSA Mawson Lakes campus. (PFAS has not been detected in or around Mawson Lakes.) John says the team will install the system in an outside environment and continue to monitor its results. He’s hopeful the findings will help the water treatment industry and landowners remove legacy PFAS safely. There has been widespread national and international interest in the research and the team has received inquiries from stakeholders with interest in funding further collaborative research projects.

Fast Fact Using a floating wetland, similar to a hydroponic system, the roots of the rush are placed directly into the water. Microorganisms and bacteria draw the PFAS from the water and store it in the rush.

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COVER STORY

Taking charge A NEW ENVIRONMENT AND NEW OPPORTUNITIES ENERGISE THE TEAM AT ECOCYCLE.

The new Ecocycle office showcases the recycling company’s story and its relation to sustainable outcomes.

orty years ago, Doug Rowe was involved in changing out car battery cells from tar-topped, lead acid battery cases to give them new life. Fast forward to 2022 and a similar process is being used to revive faulty Electric Vehicle (EV) batteries while using the unwanted EV cells to store energy for reuse. The Director of specialist recycler Ecocycle has invested millions of dollars into research and development and collection and sorting processes to ensure Australia gets e-waste recycling right. In June, he unveiled the new Ecocycle headquarters in Campbellfield, Victoria which embraces the virtues of creating

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a better environment. It also sends a message that the company is determined to be an integral part of the nation’s recycling evolution. “It’s been a challenge, but we think we’re approaching e-waste recycling the right way,” Doug says. “When companies see what we’re capable of they’ll want to deal with us because we’re doing it right and safely. “From a social point of view, they’ll see we are walking the walk. We’re trying to work with the environment.” Ecocycle’s two-storey green headquarters was designed by McCade Architects who were given the brief to showcase Ecocycle’s story and its relation to sustainable outcomes.

Recycled materials are prominent, from the terrazzo floor made from glass bottles to the reclaimed timber handrails, gabion (or caged) walls filled with recycled crushed concrete and perforated steel panelling. An eco-garden water course and a mammoth interior green wall are standout features. Windows are double glazed and tinted, and a contained power storage unit has been installed for EV battery cells. The batteries are charged by solar power from the factory roof and the power generated is stored, then fed to EV charging units in the car park. Doug says the reception area gives an inviting and eco-friendly welcome,

“It’s been a challenge, but we think we’re approaching e-waste recycling the right way. When companies see what we’re capable of they’ll want to deal with us because we’re doing it right and safely.” Doug Rowe, Director at Ecocycle

while a large open plan common area on the second floor will help build a team environment for staff to brainstorm ideas. “It’s a great place where staff can give our clients the service, time and attention they need,” he says. After two years of operating in portable buildings while dealing with

the interruptions and challenges of COVID-19, Doug says the team is ready to look forward and welcome clients into new conditions and a better environment to do business. The headquarters will also provide the space to increase the services offered and employ extra staff needed as Ecocycle enters a new era of expansion.

BREAKING THE CYCLE Battery Stewardship started from 1 January 2022, and while Doug says EcoBatt – the battery collection, sorting and processing arm of the business – has had a slow start, things are progressing. “The community will start to see the roll out of our battery recycling collection points in the major supermarkets around Australia, including regional and remote areas,” he says. “All Australians will have access to a local solution to recycle all their old batteries, only a few minutes from their homes and businesses.” The Campbellfield site will soon be the processing and sorting facility for all batteries and is expected to process about 200 to 300 tonnes per month. The metals from smaller household and power tool-type batteries through to

Ecocycle’s green credentials are evident from the moment you enter the building.

www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 17

COVER STORY

Doug Rowe, Director at Ecocycle.

large EV and storage batteries will be recovered for recycling. Doug also has plans to establish a fully automated sorting plant in Brisbane to capture batteries from surrounding islands that won’t be part of the stewardship scheme. Another plant could be established in Western Australia, depending on the results of the scheme. “We’ve invested close to $7.5 million into the collection roll out and automation because we’re serious about what we want to do, and it has to be done right,” Doug says. Use of recycled materials is showcased at the new headquarters.

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“Australia’s amazing environment is such a special place. We need to ensure we have the answers to protect and preserve that. Recycling provides those answers.” Doug Rowe, Director at Ecocycle

“Batteries are dangerous. There’s been a gross underestimation of the dangers of lithium batteries and how we should be transporting them. We’ve invested heavily in processes and safety.” Each of Ecocycle’s 4000 battery collection cabinets has a GPS system to track where they are. Sensors monitor how many batteries are being disposed of and heat detectors send an alert if a battery is in distress. These specialised cabinets will be available in most major supermarkets nationwide, as well as other specialist

stores. Doug hopes there will be more uptake as companies that sell products with batteries consider the social and environmental outcomes of the products. He also believes better recycling rates will come with greater public awareness about the scheme. He’s watched the battery recycling and resource recovery landscape evolve overseas and likes what he sees. “We’re working with an overseas colleague who has had a lot more experience in battery recycling and has worked with a bigger range of batteries,

some of which we’re just starting to see in Australia,” he says. “We want to have a plant that can handle the complete range of batteries.” EV batteries are part of the new generation and Doug is keen to repair, reuse and recycle as much as possible. It’s here he’s drawing on techniques from his past to ensure the batteries stay in circulation. “EV batteries are so new. Five years ago if one failed it was just replaced,” Doug says. “But now we can pull it apart, replace the damaged cell with a new one and the battery is back to full life again. For others, you might not be able to use it in a car again, but they can be used as storage.” Doug says while he sees a future in reusing and repurposing EV batteries, it was also a natural progression of the company’s e-waste recycling.

ECO E-CYCLE Ecocycle’s e-waste collection, sorting and processing business has been processing e-waste for third parties for years but from 1 July became part of the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme (NTCRS). Doug says it’s a positive vote of confidence for the group and the network it has developed collecting e-waste nationwide. “The efficiencies will be huge and the services we can offer will be tailored to suit the needs of our clients,” he says. “We will be focused on the destruction and recycling of all e-waste.”

Fast Fact Ecocycle has introduced robotics, automation and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help reclaim valuable materials from e-waste. Flat Panel Display (FPD) processing technology is making mercury and chemical recovery safer.

The new headquarters includes a communal work space.

There’s a lot to learn to be part of the scheme, Doug says, but staff are already fielding inquiries about the service. More staff will be recruited and trained to ensure Ecocycle can fulfil the need.

A NEW ERA Eco Plastics, which will convert hard and soft plastics into plastic pellets and new products, is a recent addition to the Ecocycle group. Doug says it seemed a natural inclusion as the company aims for circular solutions to waste. Plastic waste is generated from Ecocycle’s copper granulating business, battery recycling process and from e-waste recycling. “The processing plant which removes and separates the non-ferrous metals from e-waste, generates plastic feed stock,” Doug says. “This extra plastic material fits in well with what we do, and we only see this side of the business expanding. “We need this new area at head office to bring in a sales team to sell the materials and products, while developing new products we can make and market.” FULL CIRCLE While eyeing new markets, Ecocycle’s traditional mercury recovery and recycling business continues to grow.

Ecocycle has introduced robotics, automation and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help reclaim valuable materials from e-waste. Flat Panel Display (FPD) processing technology is making mercury and chemical recovery safer. Doug is looking to invest in more state-of-the-art facilities to ensure the company remains ahead of the pack for use of best practice technology. He says it’s more important than ever now that Australia has ratified the Minamata Convention, a national treaty aimed at protecting human health and the environment from emissions of mercury. “We need to ensure that we have the answers and solutions for our clients around Australia. Everyone wants reliable, efficient, and sustainable solutions. We know this is what Ecocycle can offer now and well into the future. “Australia’s amazing environment is such a special place. We need to ensure we have the answers to protect and preserve that. Recycling provides those answers.” For a list of battery collection locations and more information, visit: www.ecocycle.com.au

www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 19

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FEATURED TOPIC – HAZARDOUS AND LIQUID WASTE

A REMONDIS liquid tanker servicing a naval vessel.

The ‘dirty end’ of waste management REMONDIS IS COMBINING INTERNATIONAL SUCCESS AND A SPECIALIST LOCAL COMPANY TO MAKE BIG DIFFERENCES DOWN UNDER FOR HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT.

ith Australian hazardous and liquid waste output rising significantly in recent years – increasing at a compound growth rate of nearly ten per cent per year since 2014 – strategies about how to manage such materials have become a bigger priority across the waste sector. REMONDIS Australia has tapped into years of international experience to enhance its local hazardous waste management division, REMONDIS Industrial Services, to better service commercial and government clients. Hazardous and liquid waste management is truly at the ‘dirty end’ of

the waste management spectrum. We’re talking about stuff the average mum and dad won’t, and probably wouldn’t want to, see up close – from chemicals, paints, acids and contaminated soils to oils, slurries, glue and caustic materials. All underpin commercial and industrial progress, although among the broader public there can be an outof-sight out-of-mind mentality when it comes to collecting, transporting, treating, storing, reusing and disposing of such materials. Jürgen Feiler, Director of REMONDIS Australia Industrial Services, says REMONDIS took a global

lead by ramping up its hazardous and liquid waste management capability in Europe more than 20 years ago. “Many would say it’s appalling that such items could end up going to landfill, but that’s exactly what’s still happening too often around the world, including in Australia, and on a large scale,” Jürgen says. “Another scourge is illegal storing and dumping, including hazardous liquids ending up in waterways, which is often what happens when cost-effective management solutions aren’t available. “The investments global waste management leaders such as

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FEATURED TOPIC – HAZARDOUS AND LIQUID WASTE

Jürgen Feiler, Director, REMONDIS Australia’s Industrial Services.

REMONDIS have put into hazardous and liquid waste solutions are paying off in improved management practices, but there’s still a long way to go.’’ The German market take-up of REMONDIS’ hazardous waste offerings tells a promising story. In 2001 the business started with revenue of Euro 55 million, which has grown to more than Euro 650 million today. That’s a success story REMONDIS is looking to replicate in Australia where the company’s Industrial Services division has a diverse customer base including chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturers, food and beverage manufacturers and utility providers. REMONDIS Industrial Services also works closely with schools, universities and other scientific organisations, collecting surplus and obsolete laboratory chemicals. Investment in new technologies and automation to enable safer processing and less manual handling is a recurring theme. A big step was the acquisition of local company Environmental Treatment Solutions (ETS), a four-year process finalised in May 2022. One of Australia’s foremost hazardous waste and dangerous goods processing and disposal operators, ETS is headquartered at Minto in Sydney and has regional arms at Blayney and Rutherford in New South Wales. Treating waste across Australia, ETS operates multiple end-to-end hazardous waste and dangerous goods disposal

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facilities with a focus on packaged waste streams and specialising in chemical and hazardous waste, contaminated soil, bulk liquids, industrial services and product destruction. It is expanding through the commissioning of new equipment and acquiring new technologies, including the addition of wastewater treatment operations. “ETS is a respected and established business that can be taken to whole new levels to service the Australian market, especially when dovetailed with REMONDIS’ global experience and expertise’’ Jürgen says. “Beyond bringing such broad hazardous waste management and treatment capabilities to the local portfolio, ETS brings highly skilled and critical skill sets including chemists, Dangerous Goods-trained operators and drivers. “So many existing and new customers across Australia will benefit as ETS rolls out improved and new services. The acquisition will see us remain cost competitive across the Australian dangerous goods management landscape.” REMONDIS Australia emphasised that despite many strides in terms of handling hazardous waste, there was an onus on industry and governments to work more closely to address problems such as landfill and illegal storage and dumping. “A landmark report prepared for the Australian Government’s Department of the Environment and Energy in 2019 showed that of the top ten hazardous or harmful wastes, 57 per cent were going

to landfill, while only 19 per cent were recycled,” Jürgen says. “That’s despite so much effort and progress by private waste management leaders to keep hazardous materials out of the ground. “REMONDIS has no doubt that Australia needs to follow countries all over America, Europe and Asia and embrace rotary kiln technology, whereby waste is safely combusted, and the heat produced used for electricity generation. “This is tried and tested in the world’s biggest cities including London, Paris, Copenhagen and Singapore. It stands out significantly that Australia is lagging on this front.” He says other challenges include differing and contradictory legislative restrictions between the states and territories. A unified federal position on waste licensing, treatment and management would be welcome, along with legislation enabling safe technologies in use overseas to be embraced here. Jürgen says such things would enable better policy making and better position the hazardous waste industry to respond to issues and challenges. “Perhaps one of the biggest needs in Australia is better education around waste management. It’s far easier for decision makers to make smarter decisions when communities are informed and on board. Undoubtedly, industry leaders including REMONDIS can play a bigger role here.” For more information, visit www.remondis-australia.com.au

Hazardous liquid waste processing at REMONDIS Dandenong South.

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FEATURED TOPIC – HAZARDOUS AND LIQUID WASTE

Clearing chemical contamination Membrane Systems Technology has patented technology to treat PFAScontaminated water on site.

ENVIROPACIFIC IS EMBRACING NEW TECHNOLOGY THAT ALLOWS FOR THE FULL DESTRUCTION OF PFAS ON SITE.

ore than two billion litres of PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) contaminated groundwater has been treated by Enviropacific in the past nine years. And that’s just skimming the surface of the amount of contamination throughout Australia, according to Sagar Adhikari. The General Manager of Enviropacific’s water division says the specialist environmental service has refined an effective treatment process since it began treating PFAScontaminated water in 2013 and

consistently achieves water quality well below discharge criteria. However, a commitment to preventing, stopping, and reversing environmental damage means the company continues to look for advanced treatment methods. Sagar says Enviropacific’s subsidiary company Membrane Systems Australia, in partnership with the University of South Australia, has patented technology that will change the way PFAScontaminated water is treated.

“This technology does full destruction of PFAS on site,” he says. “It strips PFAS from contaminated water and the resultant by-product. “It’s a huge advantage compared to what’s been done in the past.” PFAS have been used in a variety of applications over time. Because they don’t fully break down naturally, they persist in low levels almost everywhere in the environment, according to the Australian Government PFAS Taskforce website. It states that increased levels of PFAS can be found near sewage

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FEATURED TOPIC – HAZARDOUS AND LIQUID WASTE

The new treatment removes greater than 99 per cent of both short and long chain PFAS precursors from water.

“Most conventional technologies are batch process that aren’t physically capable of treating large volumes of water. Our system is a continuous process and completely sustainable and it’s available now.” Sagar Adhikari, General Manager of Enviropacific’s water division

treatment plants, landfills, and places where fire-fighting foams have been used, including mining operations, fuel refineries, airports, and firetraining grounds. The taskforce was set up in 2016 to guide the government’s response to rising concerns about PFAS and related health issues. The Department of Defence has its own PFAS Investigation and Management Program which, as of January 2022, had spent $540.2 million in the past six years on PFAS remediation. State and territory governments throughout Australia are also conducting their own investigations into contamination. Sagar says Enviropacific is working to remediate many defence sites of legacy PFAS. The treatment includes conducting groundwater sampling and testing to determine not just the PFAS contamination but other water pollutants including total suspended solids, hydrocarbons, and ammonia.

He says the company’s intellectual property has developed over the past 10 years, with lessons learned from each project allowing site specific treatment plants to be designed by Enviropacific engineers. While the use of activated carbon and ion exchange is a proven method to remove PFAS from water, Sagar says the process produces a contaminated by-product that is either transferred to landfill or destroyed using thermal desorption. He describes it as contaminated water being fed into a “black box”, which contains PFAS absorption medium. The water at the end of the treatment is clean but the PFAS is stored in the bed and over time it becomes saturated and is thrown away. Membrane Systems Australia technology uses a process to strip the PFAS absorption medium of PFAS so the absorption medium can be reused. The concentrated PFAS goes through

another process which breaks the carbon-fluorine bond in PFAS, and the products of destruction will be fluoride and carbon dioxide with minimal waste. While the technology doesn’t completely end the need to replace the bed, at some point it will no longer be able to be regenerated, Sagar says it is minimising the volume of waste that goes off site. He says the technology has been in development for several years and was recently successfully applied at what is believed to be one of Australia’s biggest PFAS remediation projects. “The patented technology within the PFAS removal system currently treats up to 2ML/day of contaminated ground water and successfully removes greater than 99 per cent of both short and long chain PFAS precursors in a single pass,” he says. “Undetected levels are being achieved once the water has passed through its polishing stage.” He says the project consists of a feed tank, two containerised patented technology pods and a filtrate tank on a relatively small footprint. The system can be scaled to treat from 100kl/day to 2ML/day while still removing more than 99 per cent of PFAS contaminants. The system can also be used to remove other contaminants including trichloroethene (TCE), pesticides, herbicides, and hydrocarbons. Sagar says the resultant water is suitable for irrigation or use as potable water subject to local approvals. “We’re the only ones using this technology,” he says. “Most conventional technologies are batch process that aren’t physically capable of treating large volumes of water. Our system is a continuous process, is completely sustainable and it’s available now.” For more information, visit: www.enviropacific.com.au

26 / WMR / August 2022

Waste Ma

Waste Management review.indd 1

7/07/2022 12:48

FEATURED TOPIC – HAZARDOUS AND LIQUID WASTE

Striking oil

National Resource Recovery is recognised for recycling hazardous waste.

NATIONAL RESOURCE RECOVERY HAS DRIVEN CHANGE TO FIND SOLUTIONS FOR MELBOURNE’S AUTOMOTIVE WASTE.

im Isherwood remembers the days of rainbow oil slicks on garage floors and used oil pooling in gutters. “Workshops would have front-lift bins full of oil filters,” the Managing Director National Resource Recovery says of the days before the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) banned their disposal from landfill in 2007. “You could see the oil running down the driveway. “There’s definitely been a massive awareness in the past 30 years of recycling, especially hazardous waste.”

28 / WMR / August 2022

Tim says National Resource Recovery was one of the first to begin recycling oil filters and was a key voice in advocating for oil filters to be classified as hazardous waste. “National Resource Recovery was started with EPA approval because they saw a need for the recycling of used filters,” he says. Thirty years ago, Tim’s father John cold-called hundreds of automotive dealerships, pedalling the benefits of recycling used oil filters. He spent five years building the business. Today, it employs 18 people and has a fleet of vehicles that collect

and transport both liquid and solid waste, as well as a licensed facility in Bayswater, Victoria where waste is sorted, treated and converted to various products for reuse. “We’re recognised as one of the few businesses that specialise in recycling, not landfilling,” Tim says. “None of the waste we bring in will be resold as is. It’s all treated and on-sold to be made into something else. “Whatever can be reused is taken off, shredded and pelletised to be made into other products.” Tim says the company spent years proving how much oil can be

“It’s an interesting industry that continues to grow. My philosophy when I came on board was that if you don’t grow you end up fading away. We’ve continued to grow at a managed pace.” Tim Isherwood, Managing Director National Resource Recovery

retrieved from old filters. In 2011 it expanded its processes to recover other components. Used oil filters are now stripped down to recover the primary elements and extract the oil for recycling. “Recycling for reuse is our primary goal,” Tim says. “We offer drum, filter, oil and plastic recycling.” National Resource Recovery services metropolitan Melbourne and some regional areas. Tim says the company often works with other waste contractors and has been involved in several Victorian major works projects. Regardless of the customer or the job, National Resource Recovery takes responsibility for the waste from the moment of collection. It is all documented and tracked until treatment has taken place. Tim believes it’s a strict adherence to regulatory policy and electronic tracking that has helped the company build a reputation for providing specialist advice to the automotive, construction and aviation sectors. “We’ve used an electronic system from the outset to provide a trail,” he says. “Now a tracking system is mandated but we were at the forefront of it.” Changing regulations and finding new solutions for various waste streams has, and continues to be, one of the biggest challenges of the job.

Tim says the COVID-19 lockdowns and now labour shortages have intensified these challenges. But the challenge is also part of the attraction. Tim, a former engineer with Melbourne Water, says he never would have predicted working in the hazardous waste industry but after 22 years wouldn’t be anywhere else. “I think it’s one of the best industries to work in,” he says. “The knowledge and insights I’ve gained, I never would have imagined. It’s an interesting industry that continues to grow. “My philosophy when I came on board was that if you don’t grow you end up fading away.

National Resource Recovery offers drum, filter, oil and plastic recycling.

“We’ve continued to grow at a managed pace.” Tim recognises the changing nature of the industry, including a growing market for Electric Vehicles, and continues to look at new technology to move the company forward. He says there are several new areas to consider. Whatever the future holds, National Resource Recovery will always be in hazardous waste. For more information, visit: www.nationalresourcerecovery.com.au

National Resource Recovery has a fleet of vehicles that collect and transport liquid and solid waste.

www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 29

FEATURED TOPIC – HAZARDOUS AND LIQUID WASTE

Rapid response CLEANWAY GROUP’S EXPERT TEAM HANDLES THE PRESSURE OF HAZARDOUS WASTE INCIDENTS.

n May 2022, a Cleanway Group emergency response team pumped 100 tonnes of canola seed from the carriages of a derailed train in New South Wales that was blocking the tracks. At a chemical manufacturing plant in Victoria earlier this year, crews contained the pollution from a factory fire. The clean-up and ongoing emergency management is expected to continue for months. And just recently, Cleanway Group provided spill management and remediation after an industrial fire swept through a Melbourne business. It’s situations like these, says Peter Dickey, Cleanway Group Chief Commercial Officer, that continue to motivate him after decades on the job. “Every single day is different,” Peter says. “Of the hundreds of incidents we have responded to, no two are alike. There’s always a difference in where it happens, how it happens, the conditions, the elements involved and the timing. “We can use our experience from similar situations, but every incident has that little bit of difference that we have to be prepared for.” Cleanway Group has built a reputation as a leader in hazardous and chemical waste disposal over the past 20 years. It provides a full suite of services from tailored waste management solutions to contaminated soil, chemical, hazardous, and liquid waste disposal. The specialist spill and cleanup response service has evolved in answer to customer needs.

Cleanway’s David Smith and James Porter respond to a call-out.

Peter says it’s an area that continues to grow. “We were servicing existing clients for chemical and hazardous waste disposal and found that as they had incidents, we were the ones they would go to,” he says. “Because we already had a good rapport with them, when something went wrong in a spill sense, they would call us. We decided to strengthen the business and invest in rapid response teams.”

Those incidents can be anything from a broken hydraulic hose on an excavator that is spilling oil, to a cocktail of chemicals at a factory fire. While the management of each spill is different, Peter says response time is critical in all. Which is why Cleanway Group has a team available 24/7. The team will first access spill containment and management before starting clean-up, disposal, and site decontamination.

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FEATURED TOPIC – HAZARDOUS AND LIQUID WASTE

An increase in chemical imports has resulted in more incidents in transit.

“Companies are coming to us with environmental, hazardous or chemical waste issues. We take that liability off them and put it in the best place for that waste type to be treated.” Peter Dickey, Cleanway Group Chief Commercial Officer

Cleanway Group has staff trained in chemistry, transport and safety. They work closely with business owners and any agencies involved, such as the fire authority or Environment Protection Authority, to ensure all safety and environmental regulations are followed.

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Peter says a good rapport and emphasis on customer service plays a vital role in successfully managing incidents. It’s something the company has emphasised since its beginning. “Our focus is all about service,” he says. “We’re really customer focused and aware of fostering a strong company culture.” Cleanway Group started as a family business that aimed to help mid-tier markets dispose of hazardous and liquid wastes. Today, the company has a long list of tier 1 clients nationally. Some of the hazardous chemicals dealt with on a daily basis include polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), heavy metals, acid sulphate or pesticides, oil and fuel contaminants. Because of the range of waste disposed of, the company has several treatment processes including chemical treatment, recycling and energy recovery. “Companies are coming to us with environmental, hazardous or chemical waste issues,” Peter says. “We take that liability off them and put it in the best place for that waste type to be treated. “We cast a wide net to accept a whole range of chemicals and waste streams and then the treatment can be just as wide.” And while Peter says every company generates some type of hazardous

waste or requires product destruction, the market space has changed over the past 10 years. He says as Australian manufacturing has tapered off and chemical imports increase, spills and incidents are more frequent on transportation such as ships, trucks and trains, providing a new set of challenges. Another challenge, Peter believes, is a lack of investment in new technology for the hazardous and liquid waste sector. “I feel there is quite a lot of investment in other areas of waste, such as recycling plastics and organics, but when it comes to chemical and hazardous waste there has been a lack of investment across Australia for the past 10 years,” he says. “That pushes the cost of disposal up and limits the capabilities of companies to be able to process some of the harder waste types.” He says Cleanway Group has invested in best practice systems and continues to employ technology to operate safer, faster and efficiently.

For more information, visit: www.cleanway.com.au

“ Cleanway Group crews respond to a train derailment.

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FEATURED TOPIC – HAZARDOUS AND LIQUID WASTE

Greasing the wheels of sustainability Cookers optimises its delivery routes to avoid fuel wastage and traffic jams.

COOKERS IS A COMPANY BUILT WITH SUSTAINABILITY AT ITS CORE. NATIONAL QUALITY AND SAFETY MANAGER HARI SRINIVAS EXPLAINS HOW THAT HAS HELPED GUIDE THE BUSINESS FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH FOR TWO DECADES.

owering above the Cookers head office in Derrimut in Melbourne’s west, the site’s 25-metre-tall wind turbine can’t be missed. Not only does it supply the office with 30 per cent of its power, it’s a proud statement of dedication to the environment from a business built on a foundation of sustainability. Since the year 2000, Cookers has evolved into one of Australia’s leading bulk cooking oil suppliers, currently servicing all major cities and select regional areas. The company prides itself on a reliable, sustainable end-to-

34 / WMR / August 2022

end model that benefits its customers, its employees, and the environment. Oils are delivered by tankers directly to specially designed dishwashersized storage units. Once the used oil has reached its end of life, separate tankers collect and transport it to processing facilities where it is turned into biodiesel fuels. Hari Srinivas, Cookers’ National Quality and Safety Manager, has nearly 30 years’ experience across every aspect of the food industry. “If you are handling any commodity, the toughest one to handle is a

liquid,” Hari says. “And when you are talking about oil – that’s a real headache to deal with. “If your water leaks you can mop it up, it evaporates, or it soaks into the soil. But if oil spills, it will stay there. It’s greasy and it’s a safety issue. It needs to be handled very carefully – for both safety and the environment.” Hari says the same goes for packaging. Any packaging used for oil retains residue that will either end up soaking into the land via landfill or flushed into waterways, where it’s difficult and costly to remove.

“We upgrade our trucks frequently, and they are consistently serviced and maintained. They’re energy efficient and their emissions are as low as possible.” Hari Srinivas, Cookers’ National Quality and Safety Manager

Traditionally, cooking oil would be delivered to food vendors in 20-litre drums. According to Hari, even a small restaurant could use five of these in a week, which very quickly causes storage and disposal issues. “We looked at all this 20 years ago when we entered the business – how could we make the product easy and safe to handle with very minimal environmental impact?” he says. Hari says that Cookers’ ongoing growth as a business requires it to iterate and build on its sustainability principles and practices. “We do consistent reviews, research and development behind the scenes to see how smart we can make our processes – from sourcing the fresh cooking oil, collecting the used oil, to what goes to our biodiesel customers,” he says. “Everything is constantly being optimised. The processes we have now are much smarter than five or ten years ago. That’s how we make sure our emissions and energy usage is under control.” Hari says where drivers once relied on a list of deliveries on a piece of paper, they now run on a system that will adapt and reorder deliveries on the fly to avoid their trucks idling in traffic jams and wasting fuel. Emissions from every Cookers vehicle across the country are also monitored and measured in real time. “We upgrade our trucks frequently, and they are consistently serviced

and maintained,” Hari says. “That way, they’re energy efficient and their emissions are as low as possible.” The business is establishing a second Melbourne site in the eastern suburbs to minimise unnecessary travel across the city. Hari says that with each new Cookers’ site comes the opportunity to put sustainability learnings into practice. Recycled water tanks are standard at Cookers’ sites across the country, and research is underway into the viability of solar panels to further reduce reliance on the grid. Changes in customer expectations, government regulations, and accreditations have forced suppliers across most industries to consider their impact on the environment, and how to minimise or offset it. Accreditations in the food industry have evolved to incorporate everything from environmental initiatives in the office to the business practices of suppliers. Hari says that having sustainability at the heart of its business model

has given Cookers a head start in this regard. “We always want to learn too,” he says. “We want to make our processes smarter and more environmentally friendly. We talk to our people; we go to the customers and ask if there’s anything we can do better for them.” Hari says it is a critical part of his job to go into the field to better understand how systems are working and what can be improved. “If I’m just sitting in my office developing truck optimisation programs, there is no meaning,” he says. “I need to sit in the truck, I need to talk to the driver, I need to see what challenges he faces day-to-day.” It’s this attitude that ensures Cookers’ dedication to sustainability doesn’t stop with wind turbines and fuel management. The business is always searching for ways to reduce its impact, including providing each Cookers employee with two reusable coffee cups. “Otherwise, when a truck driver stops four times at a coffee shop, they’ll generate four cups,” Hari says. “We want to teach our staff the discipline around our environmental impact – which they can then pass on to their family and children. “Every individual can generate a lot of waste, and every small change has an impact.” For more information, visit: www.cookers.com.au

Cookers’ wind turbine supplies its head office with 30 per cent of its power.

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HOUSEHOLD RECOVERABLES & PROCESSING SOLUTIONS The APR Kerbside Material Recovery Facility (MRF) in Truganina is the only one in Victoria that doesn't accept glass. For Municipal Councils that have partnered with APR Kerbside in the Glass-out program, their recyclables are now being received with less than 1% glass. These remarkable results have directly contributed to reducing contamination levels and further diverting waste from landfill. Improving the separation of household recyclables and having no glass in the kerbside commingled stream has led to a significant improvement in the quality of all recyclables. Key learnings and invaluable experience gained throughout the program well positions APR Kerbside to best support the needs of Municipal Councils who are preparing to implement 'glass out' of the commingled stream, transition smoothly and re-educate residents.

Such benefits include: Eliminate the issue of glass shards that get into all the other recyclables and resources such as paper, cardboard, plastic and aluminium Significantly recover more recyclable materials Reduce contamination levels and further divert waste from landfill Address and combat the limitations presented to approachable end market outlets for recyclable products due to glass shards Increase the value of recyclables and quality of end product

The value-added sorting facility site has the capability to process: Recyclables from Metropolitan Melbourne and Regional councils that have removed glass out of their yellow-lidded recycling bins Paper and Cardboard Plastics such as HDPE, PET, PP and Soft Plastics The APR team are strongly focused on circularity and working in collaboration with industry partners to explore and seize opportunities that will maximise resource recovery and further divert waste from landfill. After glass, soft plastics was identified as the biggest contaminant of kerbside, yellow-lidded bins in Victoria. As an innovative company, the APR Group continuously looks for different ways to achieve and support zero waste strategy goals and give the end user a quality material with minimal contaminants. APR Plastics has brought to market, an advanced recycling solution for the soft plastics stream with the Soft Plastics to Oil initiative. Robotics will also be utilised to pick off Tetra Pak cartons from the Kerbside MRF line for use in saveBOARD.

APR Kerbside Pty Ltd 9 Felstead Drive Truganina VIC 3029

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FEATURED TOPIC – WASTE COLLECTION AND TRANSPORTATION

A New Way to do business

From left, the Roto Pac, the Viper, the Diamondback and Mamba.

STG GLOBAL’S NEW PARTNERSHIP IS BRINGING A FUTURISTIC WASTE COLLECTION TRUCK TO AUSTRALIA.

new partnership is reinforcing the global in STG Global. The Australian truck building company is joining forces with New Way Trucks, the largest privately held manufacturer of refuse equipment in North America. Ross Yendle, Managing Director of STG Global, says the joint venture will expand the range of waste trucks STG can offer and introduce a breadth of products never seen in Australia. “It will bring Australia to the forefront of the waste collection industry,” Ross says. “We’ve always been innovators, but it’s exciting to bring another stream of waste trucks and equipment to Australia that can handle the environment.” Ross says the partnership has been nine months in the making. It began with a search for a new design truck to tackle Australia’s burgeoning

organic waste market. He found what has been described as the most futurist waste collection truck currently available. New Way has the rights to the ROTO PAC, an auger-driven collection truck that “crunches” organic waste. The auger works just as well on municipal solid waste, effectively creating a dual stream truck. “They’ve put in a lot of innovation and tried to bring waste collection

trucks to the next level,” Ross says of New Way. “They have some of the best body designs around the world.” Ross reached out to New Way and travelled to Iowa to meet the team. He liked what he saw. The ROTO PAC, as well as a New Way Diamondback mini rear loader, VIPER rear load and MAMBA small mini side loader, are now being converted to right hand drive and will be on the ground for launch in Australia by October.

“Partnering with New Way gives us access to a new line of mini bodies to complement our range. We’ll have a full range of side, rear and front loaders from mini through to large.” Ross Yendle, Managing Director of STG Global

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FEATURED TOPIC – WASTE COLLECTION AND TRANSPORTATION

Mike Dryden, Director of Export Sales New Way Trucks, Ross Yendle, Managing Director STG Global, Mike McLaughlin, Chief Executive Officer New Way Trucks and Don Ross, Vice President of Sales and Marketing New Way Trucks.

“It’s amazing how our stories are very similar. It’s a company built on values and one that looks after its employees.” Ross Yendle, Managing Director of STG Global

“STG has its own range of waste trucks, but up until now we have been focused on the bigger trucks that carry a heavier load,” Ross says. “Partnering with New Way gives us access to a new line of mini bodies to complement our range. We’ll have a full range of side, rear and front loaders from mini through to large.” STG Global has built a reputation for building trucks to navigate Australia’s versatile and sometimes tough conditions. The very first truck, a water tanker, was the combination of ingenuity and grit. More than 30 years ago, Ross and his brother were tinkering in the shed

Fast Fact STG Global has built a reputation for building trucks to navigate Australia’s versatile and sometimes tough conditions. The very first truck, a water tanker, was the combination of ingenuity and grit.

38 / WMR / August 2022

trying to think of ways to save the family farm which had been hit by drought and hard times. They noticed a huge amount of dust coming off a construction site in town and, eager to make some money, approached the site foreman looking for work. The foreman said: “There’s no work here, but if you know anyone with a water truck, let me know”. Desperate, Ross and his brother said they had a water truck at the farm ready to work. After negotiations on the rate, a deal was struck, and the water truck was due to start work the following day. There was one slight problem – there was no water truck. But within 24 hours, using spare parts lying around the farm, a water truck was born. The brothers kept the contract, saved the family farm, and have spent the past 30 years manufacturing and producing water tanks and other truck bodies to fill a need in the waste market.

The STG Global product range now includes garbage trucks, water trucks, tilt tray and vacuum trucks. The company’s rear loader is a favourite among councils Australia-wide. While Ross describes it as a long apprenticeship, it’s also been a journey that has allowed the brothers to work in a good industry, with good people. He says the STG Global story resonated with New Way, a thirdgeneration business that began with agriculture machinery 20 years ago and is now the fastest-growing company in the $80 billion North American solid waste industry. “It’s amazing how our stories are very similar,” he says. “It’s a company built on values and one that looks after its employees. “It’s a good business opportunity but it’s also a good value-add to work with us.” And while Ross says the new partnership will open plenty of new opportunities, STG Global is not about to forget its roots any time soon. That very first water truck, a 2001 Stirling, was recently brought back to be refurbished. For more information, visit: www.stgglobal.net

FEATURED TOPIC – WASTE COLLECTION AND TRANSPORTATION

Power to the people THREE YEARS AFTER INTRODUCING THE POWER PICKUP, RECYCLESMART IS DELIVERING RESULTS.

he past three years have been a period of enormous growth for Sydney start-up RecycleSmart. The self-confessed Uber of Waste has forged partnerships with national brands MobileMuster and the Australian Red Cross as it continues a mission to encourage people to recycle more. In April 2022, RecycleSmart was named among the top 50 fastest growing tech companies in Australia, ranked 14th in the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Rising Star award. And as the company celebrates the third anniversary of its popular on demand recycling service, the Power Pickup, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder Giorgio Baracchi’s vision to take the service Australia-wide is a reality. RecycleSmart officially launched in West Torrens Council in South Australia in June 2022 and is expected to begin services in Queensland and Victoria within weeks. “It’s a great feeling,” Giorgio says of RecycleSmart’s success.

From humble beginnings ...

Fast Fact The Power Pickup started with soft plastics, e-waste and a limited list of ‘misfit’ items such as batteries. Now everything from printer cartridges to coffee capsules and polystyrene is collected, depending on the council area and its recycling needs. As of June 2022, the service employs about 50 drivers and up to 800 bags per day are collected across Australia.

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... to 800 bags collected daily.

“This generation is much more aware that waste is a massive problem that’s going to affect us and our children. It’s a problem we have now and the sooner we take responsibility for our behaviour the better chance we’ve got of fixing it.” Giorgio Baracchi, RecycleSmart Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder

“It’s one thing imagining it, but another thing to do it. “It’s all about consistency and never giving up. You have to keep going until you find the way to do it.” As with most ‘overnight’ success stories, there’s been years of hard work behind the scenes. In this case, seven years of trial and error and testing various platforms before finding the right formula three years ago. Giorgio believes a big part of that formula is the RecycleSmart app, which puts recycling at your fingertips. “We live in a generation where everything is tech-enabled, we want it straight away,” he says. “We’re trying to bring that same convenience to the waste industry.” RecycleSmart targets hard to recycle items and takes the hassle out of residents having to visit multiple collection centres. Tailor-made for participating councils, materials collected are taken to processing facilities or resource recovery centres within individual Local Government Areas (LGA) When councils sign up to RecycleSmart residents in their LGA are given free subscriptions to the service which entitles them to several free recycling collections or they can book a Power Pickup. The app is customisable to individual councils and

can include information about local waste management services and a bin collection calendar. A comprehensive recycling database, it also provides information on more than 240 separate waste items. RecycleSmart also captures real time data, giving councils and individuals an overview of what is being recycled. The Power Pickup started with soft plastics, e-waste and a limited list of misfit items such as batteries. Now everything from printer cartridges to coffee capsules and polystyrene is collected, depending on the council area and its recycling needs. As of June 2022, the service employs about 50 drivers and up to 800 bags per day are collected across Australia. For Giorgio, success is measured in the number of bags being picked up. Hitting high numbers was always the end game. “It pleases me to be able to say how much waste we’re saving from landfill,” he says. “It shows the impact of what we collect. “We’ve had big growth in three years, but I think we’re going to do much better in the next three years. People are really excited by what we do.” One of the main drivers of RecycleSmart is convenience, to make recycling accessible and

easy, no matter where someone lives or what they want to recycle. Giorgio says councils have embraced the idea of offering a new and diverse service to their residents. The uptake by residents is proof the service is fulfilling a need. He says that within weeks of offering the service in the Central Coast Council area, the first outside of the Sydney CBD, there was incredible traction for Power Pickups. It’s also validation for Giorgio and the team that RecycleSmart will work anywhere. “We’ve seen the results,” he says. “Our solution works for regional councils as well. It’s so flexible and can be launched within two weeks anywhere in Australia, helping give regional areas options for waste management. “We always wanted to really help mainstream Australia. It’s important we embrace regional communities, not just city dwellers, and make recycling simple and seamless from any user’s point of view.” Giorgio is keen to build on the momentum of the past few years and continue to work with councils to find the right recycling solutions. New services could include white goods and furniture packaging. With expansion in Australia under way he’s also casting the net wider and is in discussions to introduce RecycleSmart to New Zealand. “This generation is much more aware that waste is a massive problem that’s going to affect us and our children,” Giorgio says. “It’s a problem we have now and the sooner we take responsibility for our behaviour the better chance we’ve got of fixing it. “There is no later. The time is now.” For more information, visit: www.recyclesmart.com

www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 41

FEATURED TOPIC – WASTE COLLECTION AND TRANSPORTATION

Isuzu prepares for waste expo THE ISUZU FVY DUAL CONTROL MODEL WILL BE ON DISPLAY AT THE AUSTRALASIAN WASTE AND RECYCLING EXPO (AWRE) IN SYDNEY FROM AUGUST 24-25.

42 / WMR / August 2022

The Isuzu FVY Dual Control model is proving popular.

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Axles – Front

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Axles – Rear

Meritor MT44-144GP tandem axle set. Interaxle lock and cross locks on both axles

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Single stage alloy steel taper-leaf springs. Double acting shock absorbers. Stabiliser bar

Suspension – Rear FVY

Hendrickson HAS230 airbag. Outboard mounted double acting shock absorbers

Suspension – Rear FVY

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Brakes

Meritor ‘Q-Plus’ dual circuit full air ‘S-cam’ front and rear drum brakes

suzu Australia Limited (IAL) has long held a presence in providing road transport solutions to the waste and recycling industries and the brand has enjoyed the privilege of holding the position of Australian truck market leader for 33 consecutive years. This year Isuzu’s stand at the AWRE at the International Convention Centre Sydney will showcase the FVY Dual Control model, which is specifically designed for kerbside waste applications. The truck’s fully integrated, factorybacked dual control functionality has been well received, with several waste and refuse fleets turning to the market leader for their transport solutions. The new Dual Control range boasts Isuzu’s much-lauded six-cylinder, 24 valve 6HK1-TCC and TCS engines, renowned for their power, performance, economy and efficiency, especially under high idle conditions. On its AWRE stand, Isuzu will have a work-hard, work-smart FVY 240-300 model from the 16,500 kilogram and 24,000 kilogram GVM dual control line-up, featuring industry-leading componentry designed to deliver substantial tare weight advantages and better fuel efficiency. The model’s standard offering includes rugged Meritor Q-Plus dual circuit full air ‘S-cam’ front and rear brakes with auto slack adjusters and anti-lock braking system (ABS).

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The FVY Dual Control comes with highly visible safety grab handles and steps, large electric mirrors and cornering lamps for urban laneway safety. The model is easily integrated with a selection of Superior Pak compactor bodies. Les Spaltman, Isuzu Australia Limited (IAL) National Sales Manager, says the factory-developed range was thoughtfully designed for rugged Australian conditions. “We have a highly competitive, low tare weight solution on offer here – ticking some key boxes for Australian operators,” he says. “I’m pleased to say that since updates were introduced in 2019, we’ve enjoyed some great sales success across the dual control range, with many finding a home in waste fleets across Australia.” He says the comfort of ISRI 6860 pneumatic lumbar support driver

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Ray Pawa, East Waste Operations Co-ordinator.

seats on both sides of the cab has been particularly well received. “We’ve worked really hard to develop a compelling total cost of ownership argument and I think we’ve hit the nail on the head this time.” South Australia’s East Waste, which services seven local government areas around Adelaide, is one of the many Australian waste and recycling collectors to chose the new Isuzu FVY 240-300 Dual Control trucks to expand its fleet.

Ray Pawa, East Waste Operations Co-ordinator says Isuzu’s Dual Control range was chosen because of the weight savings, new technology, safety and driver comfort. “We’ve also experienced around an eight per cent reduction in fuel costs with the new Isuzus,” he says. “You do the sums, it’s pretty straightforward.” For more information, visit: www.isuzu.com.au

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FEATURED TOPIC – FIRE MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGY

A burning issue L

A NEW FIRE-EXTINGUISHING AGENT TO TACKLE LITHIUM-ION BATTERY FIRES IS SET TO REVOLUTIONISE THE INDUSTRY. FIRE PROTECTION TECHNOLOGIES’ CHRIS TRAPNELL EXPLAINS.

ithium-ion batteries are a growing source of fires. Sensitive to high temperatures and damage, they can degrade quickly and burst into flames. Yet despite their known danger there is no proven way to extinguish lithium-ion battery fires – until now. Chris Trapnell, National Sales Manager Fire Protection Technologies, says newly formulated fire extinguishing agent Aqueous Vermiculite Dispersion (AVD) is a ground breaker in fire management. He describes it as a first attack on lithium-ion battery fires. “Lithium-ion battery fires require copious amounts of water to control the fire. This of course isn’t practical plus the water run-off contains toxins and heavy metals which can be detrimental to the environment” Chris says. “With AVD, it hardens and creates a crust around the battery which extinguishes the fire and prevents reignition and propagation to adjacent cells or other materials, allowing for safe remediation and disposal of the battery.”

Thermal monitoring of a waste stockpile can detect hotspots.

44 / WMR / August 2022

Ideally, camera layout will provide 3D coverage of the facility and area to be monitored.

Chris says AVD has been developed over several years in response to the demand for fire-fighting agents that can deal with high temperature flammable metal fires and lithium-ion and lithium polymer battery fires. It’s a natural, mineral-based agent comprising of vermiculite particles in water. Vermiculite is the name given to a group of minerals or silicates of aluminium, iron or magnesium that expand when heated.

The vermiculite particles are deposited on the surface of the burning fuel to create a film over the top of the fire. The film instantly dries and, because the high aspect ratio platelet particles overlap and bind together, a non-flammable oxygen barrier between the fuel and the atmosphere is produced. The process has a cooling effect and, as the water content in AVD evaporates, the vermiculite platelets begin to build up and the fire is brought under control. AVD offers a significant performance improvement over available conventional extinguishing agents when applied to these very particular fire types. Chris says AVD is chemically and physically inert, only releasing steam when exposed to raised temperatures. It is non-toxic to humans, plant life

“To have a hand-held extinguisher available that can knock down a battery fire and prevent reignition is an industry changer.” Chris Trapnell, National Sales Manager Fire Protection Technologies

and animals and is suitable for use in standard fire extinguishing equipment with a specialised misting nozzle. He says AVD extinguishers have been on the market for about 12 months and are currently going through Australian standards approval. Fire Protection Technologies, which is part of the Battery Stewardship Council, are the exclusive national distributor. “We like to think we’re innovative and in front of the latest technology for fire risks. AVD is certainly one of those products,” he says. “To have a hand-held extinguisher available that can knock down a battery fire and prevent reignition is an industry changer.” The technology is also being used in a range of battery fire blankets, capable of withstanding high temperatures for a prolonged time. AVD is just one piece in an arsenal of equipment designed to protect waste and recycling facilities. Fire Protection Technologies focuses on unique and special hazard applications with expertise in providing design and engineering solutions. Flame detection, linear heat detection and spark detection and suppression systems are proven technologies to protect waste transfer stations, waste stockpiles and recycling facilities. Chris says thermal imaging is also playing a key role because of its early warning ability. He says working environments in waste and recycling facilities can be challenging. If biological processes

exist inside the waste, the movement of oxygen and air over the surface of the pile or bunker causes oxidation which heats up the waste This heat is transferred both inwards and outwards but the heat that travels inwards can build-up within the pile and lead to the formation of a

AVD extinquishers target lithium-ion battery fires.

high temperature hotspot. This hotspot will then continue to spread until it reaches a point on the surface. Here it will interact with oxygen in the air and this can lead to actual ignition of the pile or bunker. Thermal imaging detection systems use infrared cameras, coupled with a software package, to analyse thermographic images

to detect any hotspots before they ignite. “Thermal imaging provides the earliest warning possible of that type of heating phenomena above and beyond what other technology and the human eye can do,” Chris says. The cameras can be fixed or mounted as a pan-tilt arrangement which automatically monitor a defined area, continually measuring the surface temperatures. Hotspot differentiation is possible to prevent false alarms caused by other heat sources such as exhausts from plant machinery or motors. Chris says the system can also be directly integrated to operate with fire-fighting monitors to automatically attack a fire incident. “These fires can typically escalate quite quickly given the combustible nature of waste, which can be anything from tyres, used oil and green waste to woods, solvents and plastics,” he says. “We can target a hot spot that’s been detected, and monitors can directly deploy water or fire-fighting mediums to the area. It eliminates the need for human intervention.” Chris says systems are completely customisable depending on the environment, including the type of waste, external influences, and site size. Fire Protection Technologies conducts a site survey to determine the appropriate camera layout. Ideally, the resultant layout will provide 3D coverage of the facility and area to be monitored. Technical support, design and engineering assistance is provided during the development, installation and commissioning of a project. Chris says it’s part of the company ethos to provide every solution for special hazard problems. For more information, visit: www.fire-protection.com.au

www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 45

FEATURED TOPIC – FIRE MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGY

On red alert TELEDYNE FLIR EARLY FIRE DETECTION SYSTEMS CAN STOP FIRES BEFORE THEY START.

hermal imaging camera technology is a widely accepted tool for the early detection of fires and potential fire hazards. Teledyne FLIR was a pioneer in the development of infrared imaging systems for airborne applications and for the past 40 years its technology has been used in waste facilities across the globe for fire prevention. Many companies use FLIR thermal imaging cameras to monitor waste transfer stations, stockpiles of biomass such as mulch, wood chip and fertilisers, solid fuel storage facilities and incineration plants. Sean Towner, Sales Manager Teledyne FLIR, says FLIR understands that protecting a site from fire damage is integral to keeping insurance premiums down. “We develop, manufacture, market and distribute technologies that enhance perception and awareness,” Sean says. “Thermal imaging can detect potential fire threats earlier than other monitoring systems – potentially before a fire can even start. This enables actions to be taken sooner, which can prevent the fire occurring, or at a minimum lessen its impact, improving safety and reducing cost to business.”

A variety of thermal imaging cameras are available.

46 / WMR / August 2022

Thermal imaging can detect potential fire threats earlier than other monitoring systems.

Spontaneous combustion, heat development due to pressure, chemical reactions between disposals and methane gas-building are all potential fire hazards in waste stockpiles and facilities. Thermal imaging cameras can help prevent fires by identifying hotspots with the potential to flare up by providing continuous, remote monitoring of temperatures. They’re also less susceptible to airborne dust and particles, which can cause false alarms from traditional smoke detectors and visual smoke detection camera systems to fail. Teledyne FLIR has a long-term partner in Australia. Sean says Industrial Monitoring & Control (IMC) has installed many systems in the waste industry nationwide and has saved those customers many dollars by preventing costly fires. Tim Snell, Managing Director of Industrial Monitoring & Control, says

every site has different requirements and operating conditions and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to early fire detection systems. Things to consider when designing a system include the type of thermal imaging camera, accuracy of temperature measurement, line of sight, camera resolution and alarm configuration. “Dynamic waste management sites have lots of moving vehicles and infrastructure. Roof mounting thermal imaging cameras to provide a top-down view can be a very good option in some circumstances because it reduces the risk of a camera’s view being impeded by vehicle or machinery movements,” he says. “The goal is to make the thermal camera alarming as sensitive as possible while minimising any false alarms.” The over temperature alarm is the most basic and is raised when a temperature within the camera image range exceeds 150 degrees Celsius.

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While effective, they are prone to false alarming because mobile machinery often has exhausts venting higher temperatures. Temperature differential alarms trigger when the difference in temperature between two points exceeds a defined threshold. Tim says this type of alarm can be effective in a stockpile situation by setting the alarm to trigger if any spot within the stockpile rises above the average temperature by a predefined threshold. Rate of change alarms are based on a rate of temperature rise. They are useful for monitoring a static stockpile for temperature build-up that is a precursor to combustion. “On very dynamic sites with lots of vehicle movements this type of alarm can reduce false detections while

An early fire detection system should offer multiple tiers of alert.

offering an effective way to monitor for ignition, typically identifying a fire significantly earlier than a traditional detector would,” Tim says. He says that ultimately, an early fire detection system should offer multiple tiers of alert. Because of the advanced analytics required, and rapid communication to operations once an alarm is triggered, it’s important to ensure installation of a system is carried out by experts in thermography as well as customised

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integration. Tim says the financial cost and pain of not having a FLIR early fire detection system installed to mitigate risk is usually the best driver for a company to consider installing a system. “The big question that needs to be asked is, what is the cost of not having a system installed in the event of a fire?” For more information, visit: www.flir.com.au

WASTE MANAGEMENT IN ACTION – CIRCULAR ECONOMY

Compost and soil were recently donated to six community gardens in the City of Whittlesea.

Waste not, want not REPURPOSE IT IS HELPING LOCAL COUNCILS UNLOCK THE OPPORTUNITIES OF A CIRCULAR ECONOMY.

ocal government is being challenged to take a leading role in resource recovery. George Hatzimanolis, Chief Executive Officer of Repurpose It, says councils are in a prime position to drive change as Australia moves toward national waste targets and a circular economy. He’s encouraging councils to look beyond traditional procurement models and give more weight to businesses that can give something back to the community. “Historically, waste service procurement was just that – a need to dispose of waste,” George says. “Repurpose It is challenging local government to not just dispose of waste but have a service that can close the loop and supply materials back.”

48 / WMR / August 2022

Australia’s National Waste Policy Action Plan wants Food Organics, Garden Organics (FOGO) collection services available for every household by 2030 and to halve the amount of organic waste sent to landfill for disposal. Repurpose It has invested in preparing for the shift to FOGO collections and is building capacity to cater for the needs of Melbourne councils. A 3000-square metre decontamination hall for packaged and unpackaged food waste at its Epping site will process up to 215,000 tonnes per annum of organics. An open windrow compost pile is also operational, and a decontamination hall for in-vessel composting tunnels is expected to be commissioned later in 2022.

The processed organics will be used as compost and high-quality soil amendments. Repurpose It acquired organic landscape supplier Bark King in July 2021, adding decades of knowledge to the business to produce a range of VicRoads and Australian Standard soils, composts, barks and mulches. George says the company is also partnering with Melbourne Polytechnic to bring in more horticultural expertise. He sees the move to FOGO collections as the impetus for councils to look at procurement models across their entire organisation and points to the City of Whittlesea and Hume City Council in Melbourne’s north as examples of what can be achieved. Repurpose It has a long-term partnership with the City of

“It’s fundamental to Repurpose It’s beliefs that all waste can be converted to a valuable resource.” George Hatzimanolis, Chief Executive Officer of Repurpose It

Whittlesea, processing the food and organics waste of more than 62,000 households. The processed FOGO is turned into compost and can be mixed into soils. Recently, compost and soil were donated to six community garden projects to help grow food and plants in the local community. “Residents could see that what went into their green bin was able to be supplied back to them to help the local community,” George says. “It was a really powerful message.” Repurpose It has also worked with the council on construction projects, supplying almost 3500 tonnes of recycled quarry products in the past three months. These materials are made from recycled products usually destined for landfill. “We are really proud of our partnership with the City of Whittlesea and helping them reduce their reliance on virgin materials,” George says. “Transition to a circular economy is happening at a rapid pace. Consumers are wanting to buy recycled content and understand the importance of resource recovery. “We’re showing councils there is a way to procure differently. Obviously, the recycling industry hasn’t always had the capacity to offer

George Hatzimanolis, Chief Executive Officer, Repurpose It.

these services but more investment in a circular economy is driving bigger opportunities.” In April 2022, Repurpose It began a long-term contract to receive and process FOGO and street sweepings and drain cleaning material in the north-east of Hume municipality. George says FOGO material from Hume will be processed to create soil amendments for supply back into local communities. Repurpose It will also supply the council with quarry products and landscaping materials. “Whittlesea and Hume are big advocates of promoting a circular economy,” he says. “They deserve kudos for their willingness to look at outbound and inbound products. “They’re targeting several different areas within council. There’s been

amazing interest in inquiries about raw materials, compost and landscaping materials and we’re really starting to see a lot of traction. “We’re seeing a want, and recognition of the need, to change.” That change is not just in local government. Larger, commercial customers are more incentivised to buy recycled content and look for ways to recover resources. Repurpose It has been involved in major Victorian projects including the North East Link, M80 and various Level Crossing Removal projects as well as the Melbourne Airport rail works. George says the roads sector is ahead of the game in resource recovery and government agencies are looking to adopt similar criteria for infrastructure projects. “It’s exciting to see learnings around advanced procurement starting to drive change and be applied across industries. It’s something we’ve spent a lot of years advocating. “It’s fundamental to Repurpose It’s beliefs that all waste can be converted to a valuable resource. Promoting relationships that are different to traditional waste disposal is important, and councils are resonating with that concept.” For more information, visit: www.repurposeit.com.au

Donating compost to local community gardens shows residents’ circular economy in action.

www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 49

WASTE MANAGEMENT IN ACTION – GLASS RECYCLING

Kicking goals MARVEL STADIUM IS CRUSHING IT WHEN IT COMES TO SUSTAINABILITY.

he crowd erupts and chants of ‘Buddy’ reverberate around the stands as Sydney forward Lance Franklin sends another one sailing through the goal posts. But there are more than the on-field super-star moments to be celebrated at Marvel Stadium. Behind the scenes, the AFL is kicking its own goals in sustainability. Marvel Stadium is on track to recycle 60,000 kilograms of glass in a 12-month period, equivalent to 157 cubic metres of landfill saved or removing 10 cars off the road, through the introduction of BottleCycler – a behind-the-bar system for hospitality venues to manage glass waste. David Hrabal, Technical Venue Manager for AFL House, says introducing BottleCycler is part of an ongoing commitment to environmental transformation at the stadium by the AFL and contracted cleaners Quayclean. “It’s a good story for everyone involved,” David says. “We needed to reduce our waste that was going to landfill. One of the biggest hurdles was everything going into co-mingled bins and the labour costs involved in sorting it into waste streams. “Since bringing in BottleCycler, I love that there isn’t a mountain of waste going into the co-mingled bins.” Marvel Stadium has 11 BottleCycler machines on site, each one can crush about 80 bottles a minute and store up to 300 crushed bottles. The crushed glass is dispersed into a bin that sits inside a stainless-steel cabinet. Sensors detect when the bin is full, and staff simply attach a handle to the bin and wheel it outside to be

50 / WMR / August 2022

BottleCycler is helping achieve sustainability targets at Marvel Stadium.

collected by BottleCycler. A new empty bin goes inside the cabinet and the process starts again. Once collected, the crushed glass goes to one of two recycling plants in Melbourne where it is processed into cullet and used to produce new bottles. Because the glass is being collected as a single waste stream, businesses are aware of exactly how much glass they are recycling and the benefits that go with it, a key when reporting environmental, social, and corporate governance outcomes. The BottleCycler portal allows customers to see their statistics in relation to how many bins have been collected, glass volumes in kilograms, how much carbon dioxide emissions have been stopped, and how many

cubic metres of landfill they’ve saved. Reports can be generated and uploaded directly to social media. David says Marvel Stadium, and the AFL, are pleased with the results. “About 98 per cent of our waste was going to landfill, now it’s down to 63 per cent. There’s still more work to be done but with Quayclean and BottleCycler’s support we’re achieving a better outcome. “For a lot of stadiums built in the 1990s, such as Marvel Stadium, environmental issues were not even considered. We’re currently redeveloping and sustainability is a big part of that, including creating more room for recycling and waste diversion.” Zac Larmer, Quayclean Contract Manager who oversees Marvel Stadium,

“For a lot of stadiums built in the 1990s, like Marvel Stadium, environmental issues were not even considered. We’re currently redeveloping and sustainability is a big part of that, including creating more room for recycling and waste diversion.” David Hrabal, Technical Venue Manager for AFL House

says BottleCycler not only delivers on the recycling front, but has resulted in improvements in efficiency. “When a large bin gets full it becomes almost impossible for staff to move,” Zac says. “With the BottleCycler, staff can manoeuvre the bins quite easily. “It’s also quick and easy to use, which is enabling us to capture more glass overall. A five-minute demonstration and staff are on top of how to use it.” BottleCyclers are located within close proximity to bars on levels C and D at Marvel Stadium. The compact nature of the machines mean backof-house operations are also safer from an occupational health and safety perspective. Zac estimates staff have gained about 20 per cent additional workspace because BottleCycler helps keep pathways clear. Regularly scheduled collections by BottleCycler ensure it stays that way. BottleCyclers were to be installed at Marvel Stadium just before COVID-19 forced the cancellation of sporting and other events. Despite the delay, they’re now being put through their paces. But Zac had previously seen them in action at Caulfield Racecourse, which is also contracted to Quayclean. Since 2018, the five machines at Caulfield

have collected almost 1000 bins and up to 45,000 kilograms of glass annually. Zac says he’d like to see BottleCycler introduced across other major venues. “I really like the whole concept.” George Azzam, BottleCycler General Manager, says the company is proud to be associated with organisations such as Quayclean and the AFL through Marvel Stadium. “We take pride in being able to provide the service we do and work with forward-thinking, progressive organisations that are serious about sustainability, as well as making sure they provide a solution for their staff to be safe and efficient.” The BottleCycler works on a rental model. For a monthly fee the machine

The BottleCycler is easy to use and takes up minimal space.

is serviced and maintained regularly. A per bin collection fee is dependent on a venue’s volume and pick-up schedule. For more information, visit: www.bottlecycler.com BottleCycler is offering an exclusive two-month free trial for anyone who enquires about a machine and mentions Waste Management Review. George Azzam, BottleCycler General Manager with Milena Molano, Quayclean Functions and Events Co-ordinator.

www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 51

WASTE MANGEMENT IN ACTION - BALERS

Lovin’ it TELFORD SMITH IS THE SPECIAL SOURCE BEHIND A SUCCESSFUL MCDONALD’S RECYCLING SOLUTION.

ustainability has been a long-time commitment for McDonald’s Australia. Set on using its branding for good, the fast-food restaurant chain was a founding partner of Clean Up Australia more than 30 years ago and joined forces with Foodbank Australia in 2011 to manage food waste. More than 550,000 kilograms of edible goods has since been donated from distribution centres across Australia. Internally, the golden arches is also rethinking packaging and has made a commitment to make recycling easier. McDonald’s has looked outside of the box for recycling solutions with many stores across Australia installing an ORWAK baler from TELFORD SMITH. Greg Old is Store Supervisor of five stores across Melbourne’s south-east that each has a baler on site. He says, the balers have made a difference on several fronts including saving space, increased safety, and cost efficiency. “They’ve been a great introduction to the stores,” Greg says. “It’s an easier way to do things and saves room. We’ve also found there were cost savings of close to $1000 a month.” David Picone, General Manager TELFORD SMITH, says ORWAK balers

52 / WMR / August 2022

are designed to meet waste handling demands across multiple markets while saving time, space, and money. Empty cardboard boxes contain a lot of air, which translates to wasted space when they’re thrown out into traditional big bins. David says the ORWAK baler has a compaction rate of 5:1, meaning 3000 cubic metres of waste will fit into one, 660-litre wheelie bin.

as opposed to taking up space in customer car parks. Greg says some stores have minimal space for storage. For those without a baler, that space is reduced even further because of the need for larger bins for cardboard waste. “Our waste is mainly paper and cardboard, the more we can compact it and save room the better,” he says. “You’d be surprised how much cardboard can be compacted. A fair bit The ORWAK baler has a compaction rate of 5:1. goes into the baler. “They’re a good, space-saving idea.” From a safety aspect, the baler reduces the number of boxes left lying around a restaurant. It also stops the practice of a staff member “stamping down” cardboard in a big bin to make more room. Eliminating the need for open top bins also reduces contamination of recyclable materials The balers are dual-function and and prevents seagulls or vermin easy to use. Bagged waste is placed getting into rubbish. in a hopper at one end where it is Greg says the bins are collected compacted into a 660-litre wheelie bin. on a regular basis and the restaurant Cardboard is placed in the other end is charged per bin. Previously, the where it is compacted into a dense bale. restaurant was charged for a full pickDavid says the modular design allows up regardless of how much rubbish it additional chambers to be added for had. He estimates considerable cost further recycling points such as milk savings across the stores as a result. bottles or soft plastics. The baler’s Those savings also have an impact compact size means it can fit into a further down the supply chain. The secure corral at the back of restaurants, 660-litre bins can be collected by a rear

Multiple McDonald’s stores across Australia are installing on-site balers.

lift truck which is smaller and cheaper to keep on the road when compared with a front-lift truck required for bigger bins. Fewer trucks and pick-ups also means less traffic and emissions. Greg says while the balers were considered a new thing when first introduced at the Berwick

South store, they’re becoming the norm as social and environmental governance play a larger role in corporate responsibility. ORWAK has been a world leader in compaction and baling solutions for solid waste materials at the source since 1971.

“It’s an easier way to do things. We’ve also found cost savings of close to $1000 a month.” Greg Old, Store Supervisor, McDonald’s

TELFORD SMITH supply, service, and support a range of compactors, baling, and briquetting systems from pre-sales advice, through the selection process to after sales support. For more information, visit: www.TelfordSmith.com.au

26-27 October 2022 Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre wasteexpoaustralia.com.au

Face-to-face with over 6,200+ focused buyers

Waste Expo Australia 2019 at a glance

6,268* visits

*(CAB audited figure)

$142,000,000

combined value of purchasing authority from visitors at Waste Expo Australia

Interested in Exhibiting? Contact Us

Sherri Pearson

Account Manager P: +61 3 8669 3265 E: sherri.pearson@rxglobal.com

80%

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120+

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WASTE MANAGEMENT IN ACTION – ORGANICS

Growing capacity THE SECOND EDITION OF THE AUSTRALIAN ORGANICS RECYCLING ASSOCIATION’S ECONOMIC REPORT PAINTS A PICTURE OF AN INDUSTRY WITH INCREASING IMPORTANCE IN AUSTRALIA’S FUTURE.

arlier this month the Australian Organics Recycling Association (AORA) released the second edition of its Economic benefit of the Australian Organics Recycling Industry to the Australian Economy report, revealing a growing economic and environmental importance, despite the recent global pandemic. The headline metric is that in 202122 the Australian organics recycling industry (AORI) recycled 7.7 million tonnes of organic material – a 1.4 per cent increase on the previous financial year. Across the decade, AORI’s recycled tonnage has grown by 2.4 per cent each year and compares to Australia’s average population growth rate across the same time of 1.3 per cent. The noticeably higher amount of organic material recycled is attributed to a range of influences including population and economic growth; technological changes; access to recycling markets; local government collection changes and Australian and State Government waste and carbon reduction policies.

John McKew, AORA National Executive Officer, says the second edition of AORA’s report clearly highlights a crucial national industry on a trajectory of growth. “The opportunities for the industry are not quarantined to the industry itself but offer significant economic and environment benefits to the nation as a whole and more broadly, our growing international commitments,” he says. In 2021-22, Australia is estimated to have produced 14.8 million tonnes of organic waste of which 5.4 million tonnes was sent to landfill, 7.7 million was recycled and 1.6 million tonnes recovered through energy. Australia’s overall organic material recycling rate was 52.3 per cent (51.5 per cent in 2018-19) and the recovered rate was 63.2 per cent. South Australia currently has the highest organics material recycling rate at 79.4 per cent, followed by the Australian Capital Territory (68.9 per cent), New South Wales (57.9), Victoria (50.3), Queensland (39.2) Tasmania (38.8) and Western Australia (34.5). The Northern Territory had the lowest

The organics industry is providing more than 5000 jobs across Australia.

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organics recycling rate at 19.7 per cent in 2021-22. Garden organics continues to make up the largest portion of organic materials recycled nationally, comprising 41.6 per cent of materials, followed by biosolids (18.8 per cent), timber (13.7 per cent) and food organics with 7.2 per cent. The report, produced by Australian Economic Advocacy Solutions (AEAS) for AORA, indicated that the processing of waste materials and turning it into valuable products such as composts, soils and mulches, resulted in an important contribution to the Australian economy. Results of the latest macro-economic analysis revealed that in 2021-22 the organics industry provided 5032 jobs to Australian residents, paying more than $386 million in wages and salaries; enabled a livelihood to each employee within the industry of $76,650; and has a collective industry turnover of more than $2.1 billion. It also is sourcing $1.9 billion across its supply chain, investing $156 million in land, buildings, plant and equipment and vehicles each year; and is contributing $781 million in industry value add to the Australian economy. Furthermore, these economic metrics have collectively and progressively grown since last measured in 2018-19 and over the past decade. Growth over the decade has been in the order of 29.5 per cent. In tandem to this considerable economic contribution the industry is contributing significant benefits to the environment.

Australia’s overall organic recycling rate was 52.3 per cent in 2021-22.

The total estimated greenhouse gas savings from organics recycling of materials in Australia in 2021-22 is about 3.9 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-e) emissions. These savings are considered equivalent to about 5.8 million trees that would have to be planted to absorb the same amount of carbon dioxide or the greenhouse gas emissions produced by 902,311 cars in a year. AEAS also modelled what the economic and environmental

contribution of the organics recycling industry would be if the current organics recycling rates were increased under four different scenarios – to at least 70 per cent, 80 per cent, 90 per cent and 95 per cent. Under the 95 per cent scenario, organics recycling businesses across Australia would generate an extra $1.7 billion in sales, providing an additional $1.6 billion in supply chain opportunity with an extra $636 million in industry value add towards the Australian

economy and provide 4101 extra jobs paying $314 million. Furthermore, if all states achieved a 95 per cent recycling rate for organic material the environment would benefit from an extra 3,186,401 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions saved, which is equivalent to 4,764,649 trees planted and 736,441 cars taken off the road each year. For more information, visit: www.aora.org.au

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WASTE MANAGEMENT IN ACTION – PRODUCT STEWARDSHIP

Thinking beyond recycling ENGAGEMENT IS NEEDED AT EVERY POINT IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN TO ACHIEVE CIRCULAR OUTCOMES, SAYS AGSAFE’S DOMINIQUE DOYLE. SHE EXPLAINS HOW PRODUCT STEWARDSHIP IS ABOUT MORE THAN JUST RECYCLING.

ith circular economy discourse heating up in recent years, some industries have found themselves searching for ways to integrate sustainable practices as policies, targets and customer expectations change. In Australia’s agriculture sector, industry-driven stewardship programs such as AgSafe’s drumMUSTER® and ChemClear® have been laying the groundwork for circular outcomes for decades. AgSafe was established by CropLife Australia in 1993 to focus on safety in the agricultural chemical supply chain, and quickly evolved into an industryleading stewardship organisation. drumMUSTER, AgSafe’s longestrunning program, is approaching 25 years of operation and closing in on the momentous milestone of 40 million agricultural containers collected. Through partnerships with recyclers across the country, plastic from the collected drums is processed for reuse in everything from construction materials to wheelie bins. Participating product manufacturers are also involved from the start, their drums clearly identifiable by ‘drumMUSTER eligible container’ logos. Dominique Doyle, AgSafe General Manager, attributes part of the program’s success to this broad, life cycle approach to product management

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AgSafe keeps track of where processed drumMUSTER plastic ends up.

– and stresses the importance of approaching stewardship from many angles. “It’s not just about the recycling,” she says. “It’s about working with everyone in the whole supply chain, from the manufacturers through to the retailers, to the farmers, to the processors who recycle the material for reuse. “With drumMUSTER, we’ve been able to follow where the plastic has gone, and we’re very comfortable knowing that it’s getting recycled in Australia and being made into new things.”

A MODEL FOR CIRCULAR CHANGE Dominique points to WestonFence in Parkes, New South Wales, as a good example of agricultural waste being repurposed for use in the farming sector. The company uses resin from drumMUSTER containers in the

manufacture of posts for its specialised electric fencing system. “It’s great to be able to see a product which has been on farms be collected, processed, made into something new, and put back into use on farms,” she says. According to WestonFence’s Duncan Abbey, the whole operation came about through a combination of innovative problem solving and good fortune. “The Weston family had a problem they needed to solve, and a commitment to solve it,” he says. “When they couldn’t find what they wanted in the marketplace, they started manufacturing it themselves for their own farm.” Duncan says the system was not conceived with any commercial venture in mind, but the interest and market demand was there. Finding a lack of cost-effective external manufacturing options, the family purchased its own

“We’ve taken something that’s got a one-year shelf life and turned it into something with a 30-year life cycle – and counting.” Duncan Abbey, WestonFence.

plastic extrusion line and started the WestonFence business. As a bonus, the manufacturing material was already on their doorstep in abundance. “It just so happened that on the very landscape we were putting our product into use, there was a waste stream we could use to manufacture it,” Duncan says. “I think it’s a good circular story, that we can take farm waste and turn it into a farm management tool.” WestonFence used to buy recycled resin from a range of sources, but Duncan says availability, quality, consistency, and price were all out of

Collected drums are processed for use in a wide range of products.

WestonFence posts are fully recyclable once they reach their end-of-life.

the company’s control. He says the partnership with drumMUSTER, has helped ensure a more consistent stream of quality material. “Quality is key because that affects your production efficiency and the quality of your product,” he says. While pursuing recyclable, circular outcomes wasn’t the aim from the start, Duncan notes it has become a point of difference for their product. “For some larger farms, sustainability and total carbon footprint are all things that they’re now considering,” he says. “And we can assure them that our product is both recycled and recyclable. “We’ve taken something that’s got a one-year shelf life and turned it into something with a 30-year life cycle – and counting. And if you want to pull your fence down 30 years from now, you can chop it up and make something else out of it.” Having seen the potential of a circular outcome first-hand, Duncan would now like to see more effort and action put into recycling across the country. While expanding Australia’s capacity to recycle is important, he says increasing the demand for recycled products is needed to drive real change. “If a council is investing in recycling initiatives but then installing steel or wooden park benches, they’re not practising what they preach,” he says.

THE FUTURE OF STEWARDSHIP CropLife Australia has been looking for new ways to support the agriculture sector through circular solutions –

Dominique Doyle, AgSafe General Manager.

especially ahead of Australia’s 2025 National Packaging Targets. Enter the organisation’s latest stewardship program: bagMUSTER®. Developed in partnership with the Australian Seed Federation, the industry-led not-for-profit program is targeting a solution for agricultural bags. bagMUSTER, currently in preparation for the rollout of its pilot stage, builds on the established infrastructure that supports drumMUSTER and ChemClear. The program will process collected bags locally and as such, also support the development of new Australian recycling technologies. “I’m very excited about the initiative,” Dominique says. “I think it will be another successful all-ofindustry program that will provide a much-needed solution for farmers.” “What’s worked for drumMUSTER will work for bagMUSTER too. The program will engage with the manufacturers of the bags, and if the bags are manufactured overseas, engage with the importers too. “The key is to go as high up the supply chain as possible. You need to find where the products originate from and engage at that level.” For more information, visit: www.agsafe.org.au

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WASTE MANAGEMENT IN ACTION – SHREDDERS

All green, no compromise THE KOMPTECH CRAMBO 5200 DIRECT HIGH TORQUE SHREDDER OFFERS GREAT EFFICIENCY WITHOUT COMPROMISING PRODUCTIVITY.

omptech’s Crambo 5200 Direct is a versatile direct-drive high torque shredder designed to make processing organic and wood waste easy and efficient. Craig Cosgrove, Komptech National Sales Manager, says the shredder suits a wide range of applications, including processing green waste, woody biomass, tree stumps, as well as food organics and garden organics (FOGO). Powered by a Caterpillar C13 3a diesel engine, the Crambo 5200 Direct uses mechanical direct-drive technology, which translates to improved fuel efficiency. “Across a wide range of materials, we average around 35 litres an hour fuel burn – which is very low for a machine like this,” Craig says. “With the way prices at the pump are looking, fuel burn is now more of a consideration for people shopping for equipment.” He says that compared to the Crambo 5200 Direct’s hydraulic

counterpart, fuel consumption can be reduced by up to 25 per cent with low-loading applications such as waste wood, and up to 30 per cent with medium to high-loading applications such as green waste and rootstocks.

SLOWLY BUT SURELY The Crambo 5200 Direct’s twin threemetre drums run at a slower speed, but at a high torque. This reduces fine particle and noise pollution, allows for better separation of contaminants, and minimises the potential for damage caused by large foreign objects. When the machine encounters resistance from a foreign object such as a large piece of metal, the machine will automatically reverse to relieve the pressure. “It’ll do that a couple of times, and if it can’t dislodge the object, the machine will shut down before it starts damaging itself,” Craig says. “Normally

with a direct-drive machine, it’s a challenge to achieve that forward and back motion with the rotors. Typically, you’d need a hydraulic system for that sort of function, but Komptech made it work with direct drive. “This makes the Crambo quite a unique machine, which I think is part of the reason we’ve been successful with it.” As the introduction of FOGO collection services continue to ramp up across the country, Craig has seen a notable increase in demand for the Crambo 5200 Direct. He says one common issue with FOGO is that the material is often contaminated with plastic – an issue he thinks the industry could be dealing with for some time. This presents another situation where the Crambo’s slower operating speed is beneficial. “High speed shredders will pull the contamination further down in particle size, so you’ll end up with a plastic bag in 100 pieces,” Craig says. “The Crambo will tear at the bag, empty the content, but keep it in two or three pieces, which is much easier to remove down the track.”

The Crambo’s direct-drive technology improves fuel efficiency. 58 / WMR / August 2022

WORK ON IT, NOT IN IT Craig says everything about the Crambo is designed with both ease of use and access in mind. The engine compartment is fitted with large doors and foldable platforms, and all maintenance points are externally accessible. Craig says one of Komptech’s slogans is “work on the machine, not in the machine”. “Nothing is buried within the engine compartment,” he says. “So, there’s no climbing around underneath or inside.” The Crambo’s large hopper makes loading bulky items easy, while the remote-controllable hydraulic hopper sidewalls help reduce spillage. Inside, the large shredding drums feature bolton teeth, which makes replacing worn or damaged parts straight-forward. The Crambo also allows for the swift adjustment of particle

Low speed, high torque operation makes separating contaminants easy.

size, with a range of easy-swap screen baskets. The operating console’s large colour display makes things intuitive for new and inexperienced users, while giving seasoned pros the freedom to customise and optimise operation. As with all current Komptech products, the Crambo is compatible with Komptech Connect, the company’s wireless monitoring and diagnostics system. This gives access to real-time data from machines to smartphones, tablets, and computers.

“You can check hours, fuel burn, idle time and track your machine with GPS,” Craig says. “Some of these machines operate in quite remote areas, so it can be very handy for monitoring and optimising productivity.” The Komptech Crambo 5200 Direct is available in Australia and New Zealand as either a tracked or stationary unit. For more information, visit: www.komptechcea.com.au

WASTE MANAGEMENT IN ACTION – SHREDDERS

Making light work of waste GENOX’S EXTENSIVE RANGE OF SHREDDERS ARE SUITABLE FOR ALL KINDS OF WASTE PRODUCTS. APPLIED MACHINERY’S DANIEL FISHER EXPLAINS.

aste reduction and the associated recycling has become a crucial part of the Australian landscape over the past few years and plays a key role in minimising landfill and driving growth in the number of new products manufactured with recycled material. With the dual benefits of reducing landfill and lowering waste disposal costs, many businesses are looking for effective, reliable and cost-effective solutions for waste reduction. Applied Machinery, one of Australia’s largest suppliers of recycling machinery, is the sole Australian distributor for Genox Recycling Technology. Genox’s extensive range of shredders and granulators are perfect for reprocessing waste material for direct input into closed loop manufacturing, secondary processing or simple volumetric savings in recycling skip bins. Genox is a combination of the words “Generating Oxygen”, which

Genox shredders are perfect for reprocessing waste materials.

serves as the cornerstone of its efforts towards creating a better environment through innovative technology. Its range of shredders and granulators are suitable for all kinds of waste products. The Vision

“We don’t just sell machinery – we have specialist service engineers who install the machinery and, most crucially, train our customers and their staff to use it efficiently and safely. Daniel Fisher, Applied Machinery’s Sales and Marketing Manager.

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series comprises high quality, costeffective shredders, while the GranCalibur series granulators offer defined size reduction of various materials in a single pass. The range of products that can be size reduced and then recycled is substantial and includes soft and rigid plastics, plastic film, general plastics, wood, metals, textiles, tyres, e-waste and more. More than 250 companies in Australia now have Genox equipment installed, making Genox one of Australia’s leading manufacturers of recycling machinery. “While many customers are aware of our larger scale recycling

plants, our extensive range of shredders and granulators cater to just about every type of business, all budgets and practically all recycling applications,” says Daniel Fisher, Applied Machinery’s Sales and Marketing Manager. “Genox machines are extremely affordable and we usually have machines available in stock or on quick lead times, so customers can start reaping the benefits quickly.” The increasing need for material reduction machines and the crucial role they play in the recycling process is evidenced by the diverse applications in which Applied Machinery customers have put their Genox machines to use. “We have customers who use a shredder to cut down bulky items such as pipes and large off-cuts to allow them to be more easily packed for transport

Genox equipment is installed in more than 250 companies within Australia.

to recycling facilities,” Daniel says. “Many companies are also looking at Genox as a way of generating extra income from the waste reduction process. “One of our customers purchased a Genox granulator to granulate

fish waste from his restaurant so he could bag it and sell it as burley. This keeps this organic, odorous waste out of traditional landfill, while simultaneously generating extra income.” Applied Machinery also hold an extensive inventory of parts and accessories for quick routine maintenance, service and machine upgrades and add-ons so ustomers are never kept waiting. “We don’t just sell machinery – we have specialist service engineers who install the machinery and, most crucially, train our customers and their staff to use it efficiently and safely. We then provide regular servicing and follow-up,” Daniel says. For more information, visit: www.appliedmachinery.com.au

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EVENTS

A collaborative challenge THE 2022 AUSTRALASIAN WASTE & RECYCLING EXPO WILL INTRODUCE THE NEW RESOURCE RECOVERY SUMMIT. SUZANNE TOUMBOUROU, AUSTRALIAN COUNCIL OF RECYCLING (ACOR) CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, HOPES IT WILL HELP SPARK BETTER DIALOGUE ACROSS INDUSTRIES.

he Australasian Waste & Recycling Expo (AWRE) returns to Sydney this month at the International Convention & Exhibition Centre (ICC). One of the major annual events for the Australian waste and recycling sectors, the AWRE showcases the latest products, services, and technologies, while celebrating innovation and providing valuable networking opportunities. The inaugural Resource Recovery Summit: Getting to 80% will kick the conference off on the morning of 24 August. The National Waste Policy Action Plan’s target of an 80 per cent average resource recovery rate by 2030 is looming and the new half-day summit will explore how industry, governments, and waste generators can rise to the challenge. Hosted by the National Waste and Recycling Industry Council (NWRIC) and the Waste Contractors & Recyclers Association of NSW (WCRA), the summit will address topics across three sessions: Municipal Solid Waste, Commercial and Industrial and Construction and Demolition. Each session will feature a panel of industry leaders discussing the challenges and opportunities in their respective fields.

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The Australasian Waste & Recycling Expo runs from 24-25 August.

TIME FOR CHANGE Suzanne Toumbourou, ACOR Chief Executive Officer, will deliver the introductory keynote for the summit’s Commercial and Industrial session. She says there is no better time for the new summit and its message of collaboration. She says momentum has been building over recent years through increased attention to the need for better sustainability practices, and overseas scrutiny on the import of socalled waste materials. That momentum has been catalysed by policy such as that introduced in the National Waste Policy Action Plan, which mandated export bans on some

recyclable materials, prioritised on shore recycling, and delivered funding for local manufacturing. “All of these issues have come together at a moment when the world is interested in action on climate, sustainability and pollution – and there’s a very genuine interest in circular outcomes and the circular economy,” Suzanne says. “While the recycling sector is scaling up to meet all these interests and needs, now is the moment to think about a step change in how we operate and how we engage. For me, that means better collaboration across sectors.” The NWRIC estimates the 2030 resource recovery target of 80 per cent

will necessitate a 15 megatonne per annum increase on the current 43.5 megatonnes recovered – well beyond the current projected growth rate. This means something must change.

CLIMBING UP THE PIPELINE “If you’re looking through a circular economy lens, starting at end-of-pipe is far too late,” Suzanne says. “You need to start at the beginning – at the design and manufacture or production or building process. That means we need to have the conversations and build good relationships at that point.” With experience in policy and stakeholder relations across government and industry, Suzanne is no stranger to such conversations. “Those relationships are fundamental,” she says. “Some parts of these sectors are fairly new to these dialogues and relationships, and some are still peripheral to them – although gradually beginning to come on board and learn.” Suzanne says it’s not just about encouraging industry to produce recyclable and recoverable materials, but also advocating for the use of that recycled material in their processes through policy as well as education. DEFINE AND CONQUER She says part of the challenge is in finding better ways to distinguish waste management from recycling, as

well as comprehending what recycling comprises and what is the recycling value chain. “Waste management at its core is about transporting unwanted materials and putting them where they need to go – and we have to do that to support a civilised society,” Suzanne says. “Recycling is about making stuff out of the recovered materials. Often those sectors are integrated and sometimes they can be quite separate.” She says ACOR’s members represent the whole spectrum – from what would typically be considered waste management organisations to large infrastructure and manufacturing organisations with no ostensible connection to waste at all. “From both a regulatory and investment perspective, we need to better distinguish between those types of operation and support them all in the different ways they need to be supported,” she says. Suzanne says the category of ‘recycling’ is so broad that it conceals the complex value chain of recycling activities. She points to how broadly the term ‘recycler’ is used as an example. A ‘recycler’ can be those collecting Container Deposit Scheme material, those collecting scrap metal, those who engage in sorting processes, businesses who refine materials for remanufacture, businesses who turn that recycled material into products, and those who use those products. The new Resource Recovery Summit will open AWRE 2022 on 24 August.

Suzanne Toumbourou, ACOR CEO.

“These are very different types of enterprise operating with very different levels of engagement to the resource recovery stream,” Suzanne says. “Even you and I are ‘recyclers’ because we put stuff in the yellow bin.” She also stresses that none of those elements can be discounted, and they need to be recognised as the very different and specialised fields that they are. “You can’t do one part of recycling without the other parts,” she says. “You can’t deliver good recycling outcomes for any material stream without it being collected, and collection is an extremely complicated, intensive, and expensive process. “We need to differentiate more clearly what we understand as waste, resource recovery, reprocessing and remanufacturing; and support all those elements individually. That’s going to require better knowledge of the sector within itself, as well as a better knowledge of the value and supply chains coming in and out of that.” AWRE 2022 runs from 2425 August at the ICC Sydney. The Resource Recovery Summit will kick-start the conference at 8.30am on 24 August. Tickets are available for $300 plus GST. For more information, visit: www.awre.com.au

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EVENTS

Exponential exposure

The 2019 Waste Expo attracted more than 6000 industry professionals.

THE WASTE INDUSTRY IS GEARING UP FOR THIS YEAR’S LONG-AWAITED RETURN OF WASTE EXPO AUSTRALIA.

aste Expo Australia has been described as the flagship event for the waste industry. Following a hiatus forced by the global COVID-19 pandemic, the expo’s return to Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre in October 2022 is attracting exhibitors keen to wave the flag. Attracting more than 6000 industry professionals in 2019, the expo will offer an expanded conference series and is being held alongside All-Energy

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Australia, the largest clean energy event in Australia. Robby Clark, Exhibition Director at Waste Expo Australia, says the expo has quickly become the mustattend event for waste management and resource recovery professionals, putting exhibitors face-to-face with potential customers from Australia and overseas. Attendees include local, state and federal government, waste service providers, consultants, engineers, technology and equipment suppliers,

project developers, facility managers, landfill owners/operators, nongovernment organisation’s and more. “The expo provides an unparalleled opportunity for brands to reach thousands of key decision-makers over two days,” Robby says. “We are very excited to be back faceto-face after three years, and this event could not come at a more important time; with the sector going through so much major transformation.” Ross Yendle, STG Global Managing Director, says Waste Expo Australia

“We have research that shows the benefits of how people change their behaviour and will deliberately go to a location that has those return points. It’s all about having those conversations with potential landlords and retailers.”

Waste Expo 2022 will bring together industry experts.

Martin Walters, Marketing Director, TOMRA Recycling

is the ideal launching pad for new innovations and technologies. He says the company had a great response to its vacuum trucks at the 2019 expo and will use the 2022 event to introduce a new stream of waste trucks and equipment to Australia. It will be the official Australian launch of the ROTO PAC, an augerdriven collection truck that is set to revolutionise organic waste collection. “We’ll have six trucks in all at the expo,” Ross says. “We’ll really show the range of products that we’ve got.” Representatives from STG Global’s new American partners New Way

will be in attendance. Ross says it’s an ideal opportunity for New Way to familiarise itself with the Australian market. It’s exposure to a broad audience that Martin Walters, Marketing Director of TOMRA Recycling, says is a drawcard of the expo. “Waste Expo Australia does attract the best mix of people from across Australia and overseas,” Martin says. “There’s always waste and industrial professionals and local and state government representatives. “If we want a broader audience to know who we are and New innovations and technologies will be showcased across the two-day expo.

what we do, there’s no better place to do it.” TOMRA is a leader in Container Deposit Schemes (CDS) and as schemes expand across Australia, Martin says the expo will provide an opportunity to increase general awareness and highlight some of the technology involved. “Given CDS is rolling out, some states have a limited understanding of the kind of technology involved in implementing a scheme,” he says. “We’re hoping to show them how technology solutions to CDS can offer significant advantages and help them understand the benefits of having a collection point. “We have research that shows the benefits of how people change their behaviour and will deliberately go to a location that has those return points. It’s all about having those conversations with potential landlords and retailers.” TOMRA will have a reverse vending machine on display at the expo so attendees can try it out for themselves and see how smart the technology is first-hand. Exhibitor bookings for Waste Expo Australia 2022 are open. For more information, visit: www.wasteexpoaustralia.com.au

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COUNCIL IN FOCUS

Talking trash

Wanneroo’s educational toolkit is available in 11 languages.

CITY OF WANNEROO IS ENSURING THE BENEFITS OF RECYCLING ARE NOT LOST IN TRANSLATION. DEPUTY MAYOR BRETT TREBY EXPLAINS THE COUNCIL’S AWARD-WINNING PROGRAM.

he first-of-its-kind ‘WasteSorted – Talking My Language’ educational toolkit was crowned Waste Initiative of the Year at the 2022 WasteSorted Western Australia Awards. Developed by the City of Wanneroo in partnership with the Waste Authority WA, the toolkit aims to help overcome language and literacy barriers to communicate the importance of responsible waste

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disposal to the City of Wanneroo’s culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) community. Brett Treby, Deputy Mayor, says that since the introduction of the toolkit, the contamination level of the city’s recycling has been reduced. And there’s been an unexpected advantage – an improved understanding of English is being reflected in the community’s purchasing strategies.

“One of the great benefits has been an improvement in how things translate into English,” Brett says. “That then goes back to influencing their purchasing. When people are shopping, they can better understand a product’s level of recyclability.” Brett says that more than 40 per cent of City of Wanneroo residents were born overseas – a higher percentage than the whole of Greater Perth – and about 20 per cent of the

“We’re looking at waste management in an environmental and financially sustainable way. It’s a socially responsible approach that the community is starting to see and appreciate.” Brett Treby, Deputy Mayor of the City of Wanneroo

city’s residents speak a language other than English at home. The toolkit uses colourful flashcards, iconography and annotations to teach residents about the importance of recycling and correctly sorting household waste, and helps people learn common English words and phrases. Suitable for both adults and children, the toolkit is designed for use with small groups. It was originally launched during the rollout of the City’s Three Bin System, when more than 60,000 households received an additional kerbside bin for garden organics waste. Through a series of games, puzzles and quizzes, participants are challenged to correctly identify household items and their English translation, before sorting them into one of three mini waste, recycling and garden organics bins that mirror their bins at home. Brett says that during the rollout of the toolkit, the City’s Waste Education team worked closely with CaLD community leaders, empowering them to share recycling advice with their community. The City also made the Talking My Language toolkit available to local schools to help develop students’ understanding of sustainability and recycling and learn a foreign language at the same time.

Kingsway Christian College in Madeley was one of the first schools to trial the toolkit. Participating students said pairing items with their corresponding colour was good for recall and made it easy to remember how to sort waste correctly. They also said the cards had helped correct misconceptions about how to dispose of items such as aerosol cans and disposable coffee cups, and that the interactive cards made classes more visually engaging and fun. It’s the consistency of messaging across the community that has made the project so successful, says Brett. “The process is not only educating adults but educating children so they can go home and practice what they’ve learned,” he says. “It’s delivering the same message to everyone in the community and providing clarity on some common misconceptions.” Toolkits are available in Arabic, Amharic, Burmese, Simplified Chinese, French, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Macedonian, Tagalog and Vietnamese. Translated documents can be downloaded from the City’s website and a non-translated version is available for verbal translation into other languages. “We’re embedding really good resources to assist our community in understanding how they can be

engaged and improve their recycling outcomes,” Brett says. The award win has raised the profile of the project and there has been increased interest from other cities considering similar programs. Brett says he’s proud of the City’s success and hopes others can follow their lead. For the City of Wanneroo, the toolkit is just one aspect of its strategy to reduce and minimise the amount of waste going to landfill. “The cost of landfill is expensive,” Brett says. “Everything we can do to divert waste from landfill and recycle it reduces the cost of waste management to the city, and ultimately those savings are passed on to the ratepayers. “We’re looking at waste management in an environmental and financially sustainable way. It’s a socially responsible approach that the community is starting to see and appreciate.” The City of Wanneroo was a finalist in both the Waste Team and the Waste Innovation Award categories at the 2022 WasteSorted WA awards. It was also a finalist in the community engagement success of the year category in the 2021 Waste Innovation and Recycling Awards announced in March 2022.

Fast Fact The toolkit was originally launched during the rollout of the City’s Three Bin System, when more than 60,000 households received an additional kerbside bin for garden organics waste. Through a series of games, puzzles and quizzes, participants are challenged to correctly identify household items and their English translation, before sorting them into one of three mini waste, recycling and garden organics bins that mirror their bins at home.

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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

GCM ENVIRO, E WENDER WINDROW TURNER The eWender is the world’s first completely electric and zero emissions windrow turner which has been developed by Austrian scientists alongside the company Pusch & Schinnerl. Composting plants and agricultural businesses use mostly tractor-drawn turners or diesel-powered compost turners. The operators of these machines are exposed to unpleasant conditions due to the slow travel speeds, high ambient temperatures, the gases released and the odours that occur during the turning process. The eWender’s modern design provides a solution to this problem by allowing operators to work at a distance – the turner is operated with a remote control or has the option of a lane assistant where the turner runs through the windrow automatically, steered by sensors. Measuring four metres wide by two and a half metres long, and powered by an onboard battery, the eWender is designed to handle both green and industrial composting for indoor and outdoor operations.

The eWender Windrow Turner.

Contact - GCM ENVIRO P 02 9457 9399 W www.gcmenviro.com.au

TELFORD SMITH, BALERS AND SIZE REDUCTION EQUIPMENT TELFORD SMITH offers turnkey waste handling solutions.

ORWAK vertical and horizontal balers make a significant contribution to effective and efficient waste management, sustainable business practices, the wellbeing of employees, and compliance with environmental regulations. ZERMA granulators are designed for the most extreme and universal applications required for today’s recycling facilities including size reduction of plastics, rubber, wood and e-waste. ZERMA shredders have been developed as extremely rugged machines suitable for heavy duty applications

including size reduction of materials such as plastic lumps, purgings, large hollow parts, film, fibre and paper down to a size of less than 25mm. TELFORD SMITH can offer turnkey solutions incorporating electronic materials sorting and separating, metal detection, dewatering and compacting, extrusion and pelletising lines, as well as materials handling, conveying and bagging systems. Contact - TELFORD SMITH P 03 6792 9777 W www.telfordsmith.com.au

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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

CJD EQUIPENT, VOLVO ECR145E EXCAVATOR The compact design of the ECR145E offers a short swing radius for operating in confined spaces without compromising on performance. The machine’s system design, specific to the ECR145E, offers a durable under carriage which provides more power for greater traction when climbing gradients and travelling over rough or soft terrain. The stage V engine boasts more power, while reducing fuel consumption and emissions. Volvo’s integrated working mode lets you select the best work mode for the task at hand, including Idle, Fine, General, Heavy and Power Max, which reduces running costs and increases productivity and performance. Enhanced hydraulics increase pump power for faster and smoother operation, resulting in quicker cycle times and higher productivity. A larger cab offers space, sight and sound advantages to help reduce operator fatigue including a low noise environment, better visibility and a shortcut button that can be assigned for windshield wipers, camera, audio mute or power max. A range of attachments can be added to increase versatility of the machine.

The ECR145E

Contact – CJD Equipment P + 08 9478 0000 W www.cjd.com.au

WATM CRANE SALES AND SERVICES, MULTILIFT HOOK-LIFT The MULTILIFT hook-lift has long been the market leader when it comes to performance and reliability. With options for basic through to extra demanding loading tasks, there is a MULTILIFT to fit any need, but the next generation in hook-lift technology is taking things further. MULTILIFT Ultima is engineered to ensure greater control, safety, and productivity in any loading duty. From Hi-Vision™ camera-guided functions and advanced connectivity, to a unique integrated weighing system and intuitive touchscreen controls, Ultima represents a new era for load handling – and your business. The Ultima 21Z V19 is the leader in the market, providing value for money without a loss in productivity or performance. Future Touch display provides diagnostic messages, additional function controls, and a three-inch display. Buttons can be configured by the user to provide information on hook-lift position, RPM, and PTO warnings, among other things. Other features include manually adjusted hook heights, hook with pneumatic latch for safety, front and rear body locks, second generation control systems, friction relief with middle frame body rollers and automatic sequence control.

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The MULTILIFT hook-lift. Contact - WATM Crane Sales and Services P 08 9271 8000 W www.watm.com.au

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

GCM ENVIRO, TANA X553T DISC SCREEN The TANA X553T

The TANA X553T disc screen is an excellent solution for those who are looking to screen a desired particle size for recycling and re-use, to improve quality in terms of particle size or simply to remove undesirable inorganic fines. The modular screening deck design takes adjustability to the next level as it can be easily configured for two or three fraction screening which allows for optimization based on

materials, feeding methods and other process requirements. Fitted with patented TANA screening discs the X553T allows for maximum performance with minimal wrapping. Contact - GCM ENVIRO P 02 9457 9399 W www.gcmenviro.com.au

TUTT BRYANT, SUMITOMO SH350LC-6 Renowned for fuel efficiency, productivity, and durability, the SUMITOMO SH350LC-6 offers practical and cost-effective waste solutions. Sumitomo’s unique design delivers ondemand automatic power for greater breakout force. Its durability is demonstrated with heavy duty boom and dipper arms while EMS (easy maintenance systems) as standard extend greasing intervals to 1000 hours. The Sumitomo unique Spool stroke control perfectly matches the engine and hydraulic power, further improving the operation and speed while maintaining smooth control of the machine. Contact - Tutt Bryant P 1300 658 888 W www.tuttbryant.com.au

The Sumitomo SH350LC-6.

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LAST WORD

Despite an agreed federal guideline to manage PFAS in Australia, states are setting their own rules.

Less talk, more action A LACK OF COHESION BETWEEN FEDERAL AND STATE ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS IS THREATENING BUSINESSES. RICK RALPH, NATIONAL WASTE AND RECYCLING INDUSTRY COUNCIL (NWRIC) CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER SAYS IT’S TIME FOR AN OVERHAUL.

ver the past two years as we all lived the COVID -19 experience, we have seen the challenges of how a federation of governments should work, witnessing how states have interpreted rules and then changed them. COVID-19 was not unique in terms of these federation arrangements, but for the first time it became clear to all how mature conversations and genuine collaboration between governments agreed one thing, then states did something different. Regrettably the same situation presents itself in terms of our industry’s environmental regulatory environment. In terms of waste and recycling policy formation and its waste diversion targets, the talk across government and community is constant. The conversation in terms of state and

federal targets being set, and policies articulating the benefits of having a ‘circular economy’ genuinely admirable. However, not a word in any of these conversations is any form of acknowledgement about how fragmented the industry’s regulatory system is. The disconnect between federal and state regulation is wider today than it ever has been in my 42-year career in terms of how the system is being managed, regulations implemented, or how this environment is policed. The lack of co-ordination between federal and state regulators, the setting of individual state rules without any evidence of science behind these, and the fact federal regulations are introduced but then fall over in their delivery is now fundamentally

threatening legitimate business owners’ current investments and its confidence. With the 2022 election out of the way, the new Federal Government is setting its legislative agenda, advocating reforms to many portfolios and department agendas. With respect to our business environment, it is welcome news that Tanya Plibersek, Minister for the Environment and Water, has committed to formally responding to Graeme Samuel’s 2021 review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act. Samuel’s review found that ‘the EPBC Act is ineffective. It does not enable the Commonwealth to effectively protect environmental matters that are important for the nation. It is not fit to address current or future environmental challenges.’ It reports ‘The EPBC Act

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LAST WORD

Rick Ralph, NWRIC CEO.

has no comprehensive mechanism to describe the environmental outcomes it is seeking to achieve or to ensure decisions are made in a way that contributes to them. Legally enforceable National Environmental Standards should be made as the centrepiece of effective planning, regulation, and investment. This will ensure that all decisions clearly track towards improved environmental and heritage outcomes. National Environmental Standards should be a set of binding and enforceable regulations. They should be one set of rules that apply nationwide. The Commonwealth should make the Standards, and a formal process for doing so should be set out in the EPBC Act.’ The review of the EPBC Act would set a new order in terms of us having legally enforceable national environmental standards and guidelines, and how these would then translate to interaction with state environmental laws. In terms of the waste management and resource recovery industry, one doesn’t have to dig very deep to see clear evidence of the systemic regulatory disconnect our members are challenged with daily. As example, The Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Waste has responsibility for the PFAS National Environmental

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Management Plan (NEMP). It provides nationally agreed guidance on the management of PFAS contamination in the environment, including prevention of the spread of contamination. Yet despite us having an agreed federal guideline to manage PFAS, state regulators and our elected state members are overriding these by setting their own rules. Evidence shows that in one state we have the regulatory scenario where you can purchase fresh fish fillets from a fishmonger and have a lovely meal, but the fish frame from which the fillets came, cannot be accepted for compost as it contains PFAS levels 16 times higher than state compost standards allow.

with the prospect of a private members bill being introduced that bans licensed landfill facilities from receiving and disposing of PFAS contaminated substances within 50 kilometres of land used for the business of primary production: or within a township or five kilometres from the boundaries of a township. That decision, if legislated, will mean the only disposal option for wastes of this type is in the centre of Australia. The cost to business, the community, and existing investments immeasurable. With respect to the recently introduced federal export waste bans, business owners already see evidence in the failure by federal regulators to enforce their own rules. Evidence

“In terms of the waste management and resource recovery industry, one doesn’t have to dig very deep to see clear evidence of the systemic regulatory disconnect our members are challenged with daily.” Rick Ralph, National Waste and Recycling Industry Council Chief Executive Officer

One must question why those same regulators are classifying PFAS contamination in parts per billion for composts when the current threshold levels of Arsenic in the Australian Standard for Compost (AS4454) is set at 20 parts per million. Other examples present where surface water held on some industry assets cannot be discharged to local waterways as it contains levels of PFAS that are below drinking water standards, but the regulator refuses to consider science. This creates genuine conflict to a business operating environment. In another state, our industry is faced

exists where rorting of the reporting system is occurring and waste is being exported against the guidelines under different classifications, yet regulators with evidence presented still fail to act against those responsible. The announcement by the Albanese Government to commit to establishing a federal Environment Protection Agency during its current term is welcomed, but simply replacing a broken regulatory model with a new agency won’t change a thing unless wholesale change occurs. NWRIC watches with interest to see if the newly elected federal government’s walk actually matches its talk.

Enviropacific has acquired Membrane Systems Australia, a South Australian based water treatment company, specialising in membrane-based systems and PFAS treatment technologies. This acquisition helps solidify our overall water treatment capability and capacity including our in-house equipment manufacturing capability and the delivery of packaged water and wastewater solutions. We understand Australia’s water treatment challenges, and can work to meet the specific requirements of every project utilising the latest technologies and industry knowledge.

www.enviropacific.com.au 1300 510 407

DELIVERING A GREENER FUTURE Komptech CEA is a leading supplier of machinery and systems for the treatment of solid waste through mechanical and mechanical biological treatments, as well as the treatment of biomass as a renewable energy source. Komptech CEA is proud to provide innovative solutions for handling waste and biomass. Komptech CEA’s extensive range of products cover all key processing steps in modern waste handling. At Komptech CEA the focus is always on innovative technology and solutions ensuring maximum benefit to the customer. Like to know more? why not speak to one of our team today?

SHREDDERS

TROMMEL SCREENS

TERMINATOR Where Function Meets Technology A slow-running, single-shaft shredder suited to all types of waste.

CRAMBO Less Fuel, More Power Ideal for shredding all types of wood and green cuttings.

STAR SCREENS

WINDROW TURNERS

MULTI STAR Screening with a Star Makes waste wood and biomass processing highly efficient.

NEMUS Robust and Reliable Combining the practice-proven virtues of its predecessors with new solutions for even greater performance.

TOPTURN X

AXTOR

The Ideal Combination of Performance and Design

Shredding and Chipping Made Easy

With a sturdy frame, powerful hydraulics and large drum, the Topturn X is ready to handle any work situation.

One of the most versatile machines around for processing wood and green cuttings.

1300 788 757 komptechcea.com.au