Waste Management Review November 2020 by Prime Creative Media

NOVEMBER 2020

Landmark legislation Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley on prioritising circular economy investment

FEATURES Sustainable infrastructure The wastewater loop Secure site access The role of reuse

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COVER STORY

LEYING OUT LEGISLATION Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley sits down with WMR to discuss the landmark legislation that will see Australia take onshore responsibility for its waste.

PAVING THE WAY TO GREENER ROADS Two years on from Melbourne’s first ‘green road’ with PolyPave Asphalt, Alex Fraser shares the road ahead for sustainable infrastructure.

“THERE ARE INCREDIBLE IDEAS AND INITIATIVES THAT COME FROM CONSULTING WITHIN INDUSTRY. THE PASSION FOR RESOURCE RECOVERY IS CLEAR AND I’M EXCITED TO SPEARHEAD THE MOVE TO A CIRCULAR ECONOMY WITH A STRONG MARKET FOR RECYCLED MATERIALS.” - Sussan Ley, Federal Environment Minister.

In this issue

Features

NLOCKING THE 18 UVALUE IN WASTE

WMR explores the appetite, barriers and opportunities for boosting the use of recycled content material in infrastructure and civil works projects.

WASHING AWAY THE PLASTIC PROBLEM

Aerofloat’s Michael Anderson outlines a closed loop washwater treatment solution for the water intensive process of plastics recycling.

ECURING SMART 26 SACCESS

48 ACCURATE POWER

R EUSE, REPAIR, 30 RECYCLE

DECADES OF 56 EJECTION

WMR speaks with Banana Shire Council about its plans to drive regional investment through industrial resource recovery.

Product stewardship success shouldn’t be measured by simply tonnes collected, but also how the lifecycle of products is extended. MobileMuster explains.

ATER MANAGEMENT 34 ITALIAN MADE 24 WEXTRACTION By ensuring up to 90 per cent of process water is recycled, CDE’s AquaCycle system works to minimise costly water consumption.

Tutt Bryant’s newest distribution partnership will see Venieri wheel loaders on Australian shores for the first time.

After upgrading its weighbridges with POWERCELL technology, a major Australian recycler saw ROI in less than two months.

With 10 Clearline waste trailers delivered, a long-time industry stalwart outlines his 20-year relationship with Wastech Engineering.

Regulars

45 P RODUCT SHOWCASE 61 LAST WORD

www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 3

PUBLISHER

Christine Clancy christine.clancy@primecreative.com.au

MANAGING EDITOR

Melanie Stark melanie.stark@primecreative.com.au

EDITOR

From the Editor

End-market opportunity

Holly Keys holly.keys@primecreative.com.au

JOURNALIST

Brittany Coles brittany.coles@primecreative.com.au

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

ART DIRECTOR

After years of discussion, parliamentary inquiries, government reports and industry led advocacy, Australia is finally on track to take responsibility for its waste. The August passing of the Recycling and Waste Reduction Bill 2020 could not have come at a better time, as COVID-19 supply chain disruptions place renewed emphasis on the role of onshore infrastructure and processing capacity. Additionally, Chinese customs authorities further tightened enforcement of existing regulations regarding imports of recycled plastic pellets in September â&#x20AC;&#x201C; with penalties ranging from $97,000 to $1,000,000 for violating the three uniformities: colour, size and packaging. While significant work is needed to build the end-markets required to fully realise the proposed effects of the Recycling and Waste Reduction Bill, measurable progress is taking place in the infrastructure sector. Research, development and trials of crumb rubber asphalt have proved successful in recent years. In Western Australia alone, crumb rubber consumption has doubled in two years. The Australian Road Research Board is currently testing the use of plastic waste in high temperature bitumen production, while a local Queensland company is transforming 45,000 tonnes of glass that would otherwise have been sent to landfill into environmentally friendly sand products for the construction industry. Despite the promise of these projects, utilising the 64 million tonnes of waste Australia generates each year will require wider end-markets than infrastructure. As such, for the Recycling and Waste Reduction Bill to meet its lofty objectives, the Federal Government must place investment focus on the product. When the waste industry is supported to deliver material that adds value, functioning not as commodity traders but rather recyclers, opportunities are endless. As highlighted by Environment Minister Sussan Ley, we have a once in a generation opportunity to remodel waste management, reduce pressure on the environment and create economic opportunity, as Australia transitions to a circular economy with a strong market for recycled materials.

4 / WMR / November 2020

Blake Storey blake.storey@primecreative.com.au

DESIGN

Kerry Pert, Madeline McCarty

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Chelsea Daniel-Young chelsea.daniel@primecreative.com.au p: +61 425 699 878

CLIENT SUCCESS MANAGER

Justine Nardone justine.nardone@primecreative.com.au

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ARTICLES

All articles submitted for publication become the property of the publisher. The Editor reserves the right to adjust any article to conform with the magazine format.

Waste Management Review is owned by Prime Creative Media and published by John Murphy. All material in Waste Management Review is copyright and no part may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means (graphic, electronic or mechanical including information and retrieval systems) without written permission of the publisher. The Editor welcomes contributions but reserves the right to accept or reject any material. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information, Prime Creative Media will not accept responsibility for errors or omissions or for any consequences arising from reliance on information published. The opinions expressed in Waste Management Review are not necessarily the Â opinions of, or endorsed by the publisher unless otherwise stated.

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News

EPA Victoria boosts resources to tackle waste crime In the largest recruitment of specialists in EPA Victoria’s history, more than 70 officers will join the new Waste Crime Prevention Inspectorate. The major recruitment drive will hire forensic accountants to tackle illegal phoenix activity, surveillance officers, intelligence analysts and more environmental protection officers to reinforce the EPA’s “zero tolerance” approach to waste crime. The Waste Crime Prevention Inspectorate will work with WorkSafe Victoria, Victoria Police, emergency services agencies, local government and other regulators to streamline intelligence sharing. According to Environment Minister Lily D’Ambrosio, the new officers will target activities like illegal waste dumping, the unsafe storage and transport of waste and landfill levy fraud. “We are tackling waste crime head

on. These new experts will detect, combat and help prevent waste crime, and hold waste criminals to account,” she said. The Victorian Waste Management Association (VWMA) has welcomed the formation of the directorate. “Superfunds, institutional investors and families need to be confident that when they invest in high quality waste and recycling companies, their operations will not be undermined by rogue operators illegally dumping waste,” Alex Serpo, VWMA Executive Officer said. “Many VWMA members are family businesses that work diligently every day to meet the highest safety and environmental standards, and we commend this initiative from the Minister to stop illegal dumping.” The recruitment drive follows an audit into the EPA’s systems and process relating to chemical waste

management. Released in May, the audit was prompted after more than six million litres of chemical waste was discovered stockpiled in several sites across northern and western Melbourne. The audit found that the EPA has inadequate record keeping and failed to properly monitor the transport of hazardous waste. In a statement addressing the findings, EPA Chief Executive Cathy Wilkinson said the challenges facing the EPA had evolved rapidly in recent years. “Combating growing waste crime will require new technologies, intelligence capability and specialist surveillance experts,” she said. “We are working more closely than ever before with Victoria Police and WorkSafe to protect the community from pollution and waste.”

The EPA’s new experts will detect, combat and help prevent waste crime, while holding waste criminals to account.

6 / WMR / November 2020

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News

SSROC launches landmark recycled road procurement tender

Paving the Way is expected to create a market for over 20,000 tonnes of glass waste each year.

Sixteen metropolitan Sydney councils have joined forces to recycle nearly 100 million glass containers per year into local roads, through the largest local government-led procurement of recycled road-making materials in NSW history. A request for tender, released in September by the Southern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (SSROC), seeks to initiate a new age of road-making by using recycled crushed glass as a substitute for natural sand in roads and footpaths, in line with Transport for NSW and AUS-SPEC specifications. The initiative, Paving the Way, is expected to create a market for over 20,000 tonnes of glass waste per year – approximately one-third of participating council’s household glass recycling collections – without compromising existing recycling of glass into beverage containers. “This is a game-changer that puts every household on the frontline of a stronger, more sustainable society and

8 / WMR / November 2020

reinforces the critical role played by the community in separating their recycling,” SSROC President John Faker said. “Our councils are working hard to ensure that every single recyclable material put into the yellow-lidded bin is used as a resource.” By signalling ongoing aggregated demand, SSROC aims to stimulate end markets for recycled glass, as well as support local jobs and the development of recycling infrastructure. The use of recycled crushed glass is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by avoiding the transport of virgin sand from distant quarries. The procurement’s contract model will track emissions and volumes of recycled materials to help councils report on sustainability targets. “Local governments, especially when working collaboratively and buying wisely, can support growing and new markets and therefore the industries and jobs that result,” SSROC Acting General Manager Helen Sloan said.

“Paving the Way is a great model for the future, and we welcome other councils to join the resulting contract.” Paving the Way is the first project under SSROC’s Procure Recycled memorandum of understanding, signed by councils in November 2019. Developed in response to China’s National Sword policy and COAG’s forthcoming export ban, Procure Recycled seeks to prioritise recycled materials in council procurement. Since November, SSROC has worked closely with Transport for NSW, the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment and the NSW EPA to refine specifications and align policies on recycled civil works materials. Procure Recycled will also identify more council procurement opportunities for other materials from kerbside recycling, including products made from recycled plastics such as polyethylene, polypropylene and expanded polystyrene.

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News

RMIT researchers develop novel solution for cigarette butt waste Researchers have shown how industries could work together to recycle cigarette butts into bricks, in a step-by-step implementation plan for saving energy and solving a global littering problem. Over six trillion cigarettes are produced globally each year, resulting in 1.2 million tonnes of toxic waste dumped into the environment. RMIT University researchers have previously shown fired-clay bricks with one per cent recycled cigarette butt content are as strong as normal bricks and use less energy to produce. Analysis showed that if just 2.5 per cent of global annual brick production incorporated one per cent cigarette butts, this would offset total cigarette production each year. The research team has now developed a detailed plan for bringing the brickmaking and waste management industries together to implement cigarette butt recycling into bricks at mass scale. Lead researcher Abbas Mohajerani said cigarette butts were saturated

with toxic chemicals, including over 60 known to cause cancer. “Firing butts into bricks is a reliable and practical way to deal with this terrible environmental problem, while at the same time cutting brickmaking production costs,” he said. “We need to do far more to stop cigarette butts from polluting our streets, rivers and oceans, and prevent them leaching harmful toxins into our environment. “Our ultimate goal is a world free of cigarette butt pollution: our industry implementation plan outlines the practical steps needed to bring this vision to reality.” The plan, published in a special issue of the journal Materials, shows how cigarette butts can be collected and recycled on an industrial scale. Different incorporation methods are outlined – using whole butts, preshredded butts or a pre-mix where the butts have already been incorporated into other brickmaking materials. Requirements for maintaining health

Abbas Mohajerani has developed a plan to implement cigarette butt recycling into brickmaking at mass scale.

10 / WMR / November 2020

and safety are also detailed, with analysis showing how risks can be mitigated for both industrial brickmaking and handmade bricks. The new study also details the types of harmful bacteria found on cigarette butts, analyses how heavy metals can leach from them into the environment and examines the energy value of butts in the brickmaking process. By analysing the butts’ energy value, the School of Engineering team at RMIT showed the incorporation of one per cent cigarette butt content would reduce the energy required to fire bricks by 10 per cent. “It takes up to 30 hours to heat and fire bricks, so this is a significant financial saving,” Mohajerani said. It can take many years for cigarette butts to break down, while heavy metals like arsenic, chromium, nickel and cadmium trapped in the filters leach into soil and waterways. During firing, however, these metals and pollutants are trapped and immobilised in the bricks. According to Mohajerani, bricks made with cigarette butts are also lighter and provide better insulation – meaning reduced household heating and cooling costs. About 25 to 30 billion filtered cigarettes are smoked in Australia each year, with roughly seven billion butts littered. Mohajerani, who has spent over 15 years researching sustainable methods for cigarette butt recycling, has also developed technology for incorporating butts into asphalt concrete.

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Queensland Govt awards $27 million to recycling projects

Queensland’s Resource Recovery Industry Development Program diverts 1.3 million tonnes of waste from landfill each year.

The Queensland Government is investing nearly $27 million into recycling projects through the Resource Recovery Industry Development Program. According to State Treasurer Cameron Dick, the funding will see more than 957,000 tonnes of waste diverted from landfill each year, and result in $126 million in additional capital investment from industry. “By reusing materials, the resource recovery industry directly contributes at least $830 million to the Queensland economy – turning

12 / WMR / November 2020

rubbish into economic prosperity and jobs,” Dick said. “This funding will support the creation of 303 new jobs in Queensland – and that’s just the start of the economic benefit.” Dick made the announcement at Enviro Sand, a Wacol-based glass recycler that will create 11 new jobs while turning nearly 45,000 tonnes of glass that would otherwise have gone to landfill into environmentally-friendly sand products for the construction industry. The state government has awarded

Enviro Sand $1.2 million through the program. Enviro Sand Chairman Jim McKnoulty said more than 60 per cent of the world’s glass waste ends up in landfill, representing one of the waste industry’s biggest unsolved problems. “Our recycled glass sands can be used in road surfacing, pool filtration systems, countertops and furniture,” he said. McKnoulty added that using glass sand instead of quarry sand reduces the workplace risk of Silicosis by 90 per cent. “This new $3.4 million project will allow us to increase our production capacity to meet the demand for this product,” he said. State Development Minister Kate Jones said investing in resource recovery initiatives makes sense economically and environmentally. “Each year, our investment in the Resource Recovery Industry Development Program diverts 1.3 million tonnes of waste from landfill, creating over 360 jobs and reducing total landfill by 11 per cent,” she said. “We have a real opportunity to push this industry forward and seize the employment opportunities associated with the resource recovery industry as we unite and recover.” Additional funding recipients include ResourceCo, which received $8 million, Downer EDI Works, which received $2.5 million and Veolia Environmental Service Australia, which received $500,000.

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COVER STORY

Leying out landmark legislation HOW WILL POLICY TRANSFORM THE NATION’S RESOURCE RECOVERY SECTOR? FEDERAL ENVIRONMENT MINISTER SUSSAN LEY SITS DOWN EXCLUSIVELY WITH BRITTANY COLES TO DISCUSS THE LANDMARK LEGISLATION THAT WILL SEE AUSTRALIA TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS WASTE.

ecycling and resource recovery is taking a front seat,” Federal Environment Minister, Sussan Ley says. In early October, at the time of the annual federal budget release, Ley sat down with Waste Management Review while she was in her electorate of Farrer, New South Wales, to discuss the government’s agenda to remodel waste management. Despite the ongoing emphasis on economic recovery following COVID-19, Ley converses on the economic opportunities ahead for Australia’s resource recovery sector. In August, the Federal Government introduced the Recycling and Waste Reduction Bill 2020 into parliament. At the time of the announcement, Ley labelled the bill “landmark legislation” that would see Australia take responsibility for its waste by establishing a national industry framework for recycling. “We’re changing the focus on recycling in a way that has never been done before by a Federal Government,” she says. The Bill brings together a number of different initiatives in pursuit of resource recovery, according to Ley. This includes the Federal Government’s

14 / WMR / November 2020

new $190M Recycling Modernisation Fund, which will generate $600 million in recycling investment and drive a billion-dollar transformation of Australia’s waste and recycling capacity. “The Recycling Modernisation Fund is the centrepiece in what we are currently doing in line with waste export bans,” Ley says.

“Along with the Product Stewardship Act Review, waste reduction strategy and working with manufacturers to take responsibility for the life cycle of product production, we’re bringing all these waste initiatives together to one place, in one bill. That’s why it’s such an exciting time for change in the sector.”

Sussan Ley confirms that the Federal Government is on track to commence COAG’s export bans in January next year.

ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL STRATEGY “We as a Federal Government have never had waste as a pinned area of policy ever before,” Ley says. She credits past policy and action in the industry to state and local governments and agrees a national industry framework for recycling is well overdue. On 9 August 2019, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agreed to establish a timetable to ban the export of waste plastic, paper, glass and tyres, while building Australia’s capacity to generate high value recycled commodities and associated demand. Ley says just over 18 months ago, Prime Minister Scott Morrison took the leadership to determine “it’s our waste, it’s our responsibility”, and announced a phased export ban approach. “The export bans essentially drove this national legislation and brought the waste export bans to reality,” Ley says. The disruption to domestic recycling caused by Asian restrictions on imports of waste-derived materials continues. The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment commissioned environmental consultants Blue Environment to produce analysis of Australian Bureau of Statistics data on national exports of waste. According to the 2018-19 annual audit, scrap plastics, paper and cardboard are the most affected materials, especially lower grade mixed products. Indicated in the most recent data of exports of Australian waste-derived products and wastes from May 2020, Australia exported roughly 312,000 tonnes of waste, with a value of $198 million. About 89,000 tonnes were exported in May in codes that could be affected by the COAG export bans. With two months of substantial decline, we may be seeing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ley says that after consulting with industry and as a result of restrictions related to COVID-19 impacting Parliament’s ability to pass legislation by 1 July, the ban will now commence on 1 January 2021. “The government is on track to commence the ban on time, as of 1 January next year,” she confirms. However, with a few months left of this pandemonium packed year, Ley agrees there is no time to waste in delivering strong environmental outcomes. “This is about tackling a national environmental issue that has been buried in landfill or shipped offshore for far too long,” she says. “This is a once in a generation opportunity to remodel waste management, reduce pressure on our environment and create economic opportunity, as we move to a circular economy with a strong market for recycled materials.” LEGISLATION TO INFRASTRUCTURE The National Waste and Recycling Industry Council considers the introduction of the Recycling and Waste Reduction Bill as a significant element of the reform process that can contribute to achieving a circular economy. “The raft of measures and initiatives currently in play are creating much needed momentum for positive systemic change,” the Council stated in August. Ley says the Bill is a once in a generation opportunity to remodel waste management. “That is why the Morrison Government is the first Federal Government to place waste firmly on the national agenda,” she says. Ley wants to create economic opportunity with a strong market for recycled materials, so how will the Bill achieve this?

In September, Shadow Assistant Environment Minister Josh Wilson told Waste Management Review that Australia needs national leadership through effective policy and matching resources. “You can’t say those things have been delivered in full yet and the waste crisis is well and truly with us,” he says. Ley says in response, “It’s in our legislative changes to transform the current waste industry. “In partnership with the states, our Recycling Modernisation Fund is $600 million in new investments, facilities, re-processing ventures to create new industries that weren’t there before in the sector.” Ley emphasises the tandem legislative measures with the $190 million Recycling Modernisation Fund and National Waste Policy Action Plan in establishing a national industry framework for recycling. “All these policies will help create 10,000 new jobs over the next 10 years. That is a 32 per cent increase in jobs in the Australian waste and recycling sector,” she says. Further on matching resources, Ley says in the last decade, Australia spent 30 to 40 million dollars on waste management. “In the next 10 years, we are spending close to $400 million. That really demonstrates our approach to tackling this priority area,” she says. “That’s proof in the way the Federal Government is stepping up and taking leadership.” In terms of actioning key aspects of the reform process, Ley draws an example to ongoing investment in recycling capabilities and infrastructure. “The recent partnership between Cleanaway, Pact Group and Asahi Beverages to build a plastic pelletising facility is an excellent example of industry-led innovation and investment,” she says.

www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 15

COVER STORY

Sussan Ley says she is committed to spearheading the move to a circular economy with a strong market for recycled materials.

Set to open at the end of next year, the proposed $45 million facility will be located in Albury/Wodonga to service markets across the east coast and create approximately 30 local jobs in regional Australia, Ley says. Over 900 million plastic bottles will be recycled and reused as raw material for the production of food and beverage packaging. The partnership will see Cleanaway supplying feedstock through its collections network, with the new plastic pelletising facility processing used PET bottles into pellets then made into new containers by Asahi Beverages and Pact Group. Ley says the major environmental benefits it will deliver include reducing Australia’s reliance on virgin plastic, the amount of plastic waste sent overseas and the amount of recycled plastic Australia imports. “We’ve seen firsthand the importance of container deposit schemes that encourage consumers to separate recycling at the point of disposal. Industry and governments recognise the importance of investing in the local recycling economy,” she says. “When I speak to people who have worked in waste all their life, they tell me that is the key. We need clean

16 / WMR / November 2020

streams of waste that can be turned into value. Container deposit schemes are playing their part, states are playing their part. I am sure recycling manufacturing will continue to take a front seat too.” THE AGENDA AHEAD Ley is passionate about turning packaging into packaging. “We had industry step up and promise investment, quite separate from government funding at the National Plastics Summit. Both industry and government know that it’s the consumers that are essentially leading this, which is the secret in our recycling agenda,” she says. “There is no doubt that soft-plastics are a problem child to recycling capabilities. Now is the time to invest in research and development. It’s about discovering new purposes for materials. For example, we’re finding new ways to use the material in outdoor furniture, roads, steel and more, to essentially close the loop for recovered materials,” Ley says. She admits that investment, research and development won’t hold all the answers to transforming the national waste sector.

“I think we have to look at all this legislation and policy as not something the government just provides for the industry, but supports and partners with industry,” Ley says. “This isn’t about somebody doing a task to remove waste streams for the good of the environment or because we don’t want them cluttering up landfill. This is about turning our waste into a resource that has value.” Ley says consultation with industry has determined that reprocessing innovation is a proactive goal to increase recycled content in products and packaging. “Partnerships in new capabilities and infrastructure are being done. We’re certainly assisting industry through government leadership and kickstarting sensible processing activity for manufacturers to recycle and repurpose,” she says. Ley pinpoints demand from consumers who are embracing a welcomed transformation of the national recycling framework. “It’s a really happy coincidence of what rate payers are demanding, what industry is supporting and what makes economic sense,” she says. In the immediate future, Ley says the focus is on turbocharging initiatives ahead. “I’m very interested in product labelling to give consumers clearer information. We’ve also got a huge food waste strategy and essentially, a lot of work to do to minimise food waste following stay at home restrictions. But always – our most contaminated product, plastics, will heavily be focused on too,” she says. “There are incredible ideas and initiatives that come from consulting within industry. The passion for resource recovery is clear and I’m excited to spearhead the move to a circular economy with a strong market for recycled materials.”

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Unlocking the value of waste WASTE MANAGEMENT REVIEW EXPLORES THE APPETITE, BARRIERS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR BOOSTING THE USE OF RECYCLED CONTENT MATERIAL IN INFRASTRUCTURE AND CIVIL WORKS PROJECTS.

n mid-September, the NSW Government released new guidelines to boost the use of asphalt containing recycled crushed glass in infrastructure projects across the state. Specifications were amended to allow up to 10 per cent recycled crushed glass in asphalt base course, up from 2.5 per cent. According to Andrew Constance, NSW Transport and Roads Minister, the guidelines will help industry navigate the steps for establishing and operating glass-recycling facilities, and processing glass to the standard required for use by Transport for NSW. “Transport for NSW has already incorporated the use of recycled crushed glass on a number of its construction and maintenance projects and has the potential to use up to 45,000 tonnes in the next three financial years, which equates to 234 million glass bottles,” Constance says. While 234 million glass bottles is impressive, the estimate appears somewhat conservative, with the Southern Regional Organisation of Councils (SSROC) alone aiming to recycle nearly 100 million glass containers per year into local roads. Through the largest localgovernment-led procurement of recycled road-making materials in NSW history, SSROC’s Paving the Way initiate is expected to create a market for over 20,000 tonnes of glass each

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year – approximately one-third of participating council’s household glass recycling containers. By signalling ongoing aggregated demand, SSROC aims to stimulate end markets for recycled glass, as well as support local jobs and the development of recycling infrastructure. Transport for NSW’s specifications update and SSROC’s Paving the Way are just two of many new initiatives seeking boost the use of recycled content material in infrastructure and civil works projects across the country. In August, for instance, the Victorian Government opened its $2.6 million Sustainable Infrastructure Fund grants program, which aims to increase the use of recycled materials in local infrastructure projects across the state. Grants of up to $300,000 were made available to local councils to use recycled materials to build new infrastructure. The program followed the launch of Sustainability Victoria’s Buy Recycled directory, which is designed to provide government buyers with easy access to suppliers and recycled material options when considering products for purchasing and infrastructure projects. The Victorian Government’s Social Procurement Framework requires government buyers to consider opportunities to deliver social and sustainable outcomes in

every procurement activity. Where appropriate, this includes sustainable material choices and buying products made from recycled content. While these initiatives highlight a substantial economic and social shift, with governments and the wider community beginning to understand the latent value hidden in waste material, it should be noted that they build off years of research and development. Tyre Stewardship Australia (TSA), for example, has been undertaking crumb rubber market development activities since it formed in 2014. In 2015, it launched its key investment mechanism, the TSA Research Fund. To date, TSA has committed almost $6 million to development projects, which includes funding for projects aimed at removing barriers to help drive a viable market for surface asphalts containing crumb rubber from end-of-life tyres across Australia’s road network. Lina Goodman, TSA CEO, explains that a strong roads market is a critical component of a strong tyre resource recovery sector. Tyres service the roads industry, she adds, so finding productive uses for end-of-life tyres in roads infrastructure incentivises industry takeup. TSA is currently leading one of the most aggressive transformations of the roads market globally. Its strategy is as simple as it is transformational: change the

specifications, create potential demand, demonstrate the benefits and enable supply. In removing these barriers within state road markets, an estimated 21,500 tonnes per annum of crumb rubber could be absorbed, additional to pre-existing demand. At an estimated price of $650 per tonne for crumb rubber, this demand equates to a potential annual market turnover of $14 million for the resource recovery sector. “TSA plays a central role in bringing together government, road authorities, researchers, recyclers and industry,” Goodman says. “Through those partnerships and projects, we’re clearly demonstrating how crumb rubber improves the performance, longevity and environmental impacts of Australian roads.” That, in turn, is encouraging

governments to set specification frameworks for new, cost-effective products containing crumb rubber, Goodman says. She adds that it is also increasing investment in sophisticated recycling infrastructure in Australia and creating more local processing capacity and competition, so processors can supply competitively priced products to diverse markets such as civil infrastructure and advanced polymer manufacturing. “While the progress is exciting and the impacts significant, there is still plenty to do to support road markets in absorbing crumb rubber – particularly in converting potential demand into actual consumption,” Goodman says. “Through our partnerships, we’re striving to strengthen road supply chains and build scale economies so that crumb rubber roads are accepted as the reliable and cost competitive option.”

One of said partnerships is with the Australian Road Research Board (ARRB), which focuses on supporting the commercialisation of intelligent transport solutions. Through its Port Melbourne research lab and partnerships with the roads sector, ARRB has been testing recycled crushed glass, crumb rubber asphalt, reclaimed asphalt pavement and a range of other materials. TSA and ARRB have worked together on a number of projects in recent years, notably a demonstration project of crumb rubber asphalt in metropolitan roads. While crumb rubber is routinely used in rural road surfacing, Goodman explains that more testing is needed on highly trafficked roads. As part of the demonstration project, funded by TSA, ARRB and the Victorian Department of Transport, crumb rubber asphalt

To date, Tyre Stewardship Australia has committed almost $6 million towards crumb rubber market development.

www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 19

UPFRONT

In late 2019, ARRB CEO Micheal Caltabiano took Waste Reduction Minister Trevor Evans on a tour of the National Transport Research Centre in Melbourne.

was laid on a 1.4-kilometre section of East Boundary Road in Melbourne’s Bentleigh East in April. This includes four separate crumb rubber mixes and two asphalt control sections, with the equivalent of 1600 car tyres used. Lab and field testing is being conducted at regular intervals, with a final report due by mid 2022. SPECIFICATIONS AND UPTAKE According to Michael Caltabiano, ARRB CEO, waste stockpiles are increasing as sources of virgin construction material deplete, making roads a promising opportunity for the use of recycled materials. Through the design and application of robust research methods, ARRB ensures that recycled and alternative materials meet the same or better engineering outcomes as standard materials, without creating legacy issues for future generations. Caltabiano highlights what is an often-overlooked facet of the sustainable infrastructure conversation, that all roads in Australia today are 100 per cent recyclable. As such, when looking at incorporating recycled material into roads, it’s critical to ensure that the addition of waste products does

20 / WMR / November 2020

not impact future road reclamation. Caltabiano stresses that ARRB is driven by a belief that the addition of recycled products in road base must add value. “We don’t believe that you can add recycled products and get a similar or worse outcome, it must be at least equivalent and preferably a better outcome,” he says. “When you add crumb rubber to asphalt you end up with a superior performing product. ARRB’s applied research findings show that crumb rubber asphalt lasts longer, performs better and delivers a better economic outcome for the community.” Much like Goodman, Caltabiano highlights the importance of developing guidelines and specifications for Australian conditions. By the end of this year, ARRB and Austroads will release national crumb rubber standard and specifications, which Caltabiano says will work to remove any barriers to the incorporation of crumb rubber. He adds that ARRB is also working with Queensland and Western Australian road agencies on a guide for the incorporation of plastics into bitumen, which will be released before

Christmas, with specification to follow in 2021. “We’ve gone out to market and partnered with waste industry associations and the private sector to really understand waste stream plastics, with the goal of seeing whether it can be incorporated into bitumen at high temperatures,” Caltabiano says. Initial investigations are complete, with ARRB now looking at whether the polymetric matrix can dissolve enough to be successfully immersed in bitumen. “We’re discovering that right now and once we’ve discovered that process, we’ll incorporate it into asphalt products to see what changes it makes to the asphalt’s strength, cracking resistance and durability,” he says. Using its expertise in this space, ARRB has also developed a new initiative that seeks to further remove barriers through knowledge transfer: The Transport Infrastructure Product Evaluation Scheme. “When the private sector wants to develop a new product, process or service, they can come to ARRB and we can certify whether or not it does what it says it’s going to do,” Caltabiano says. “They can then take that certification to the road agencies and local government and say, we would like to incorporate this product that has been certified by ARRB into our tenders.” While the certification scheme extends beyond simply recycled content products, Caltabiano says it will give road agencies and local governments 100 per cent confidence that what the private sector is offering will produce a good outcome. “Governments, industry and the community are calling for the increased use of recycled materials in roads, less waste and a sustainable circular economy. ARRB’s expert engineers and sustainability professionals are working to help make this happen,” he says.

We recover over 95% of materials in every mobile to the highest environmental standards.

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FEATURED TOPIC – WASTEWATER

Water management and extraction BY ENSURING UP TO 90 PER CENT OF PROCESS WATER IS RECYCLED, CDE’S AQUACYCLE SYSTEM WORKS TO MINIMISE COSTLY WATER CONSUMPTION.

t’s incomprehensable to most. The notion that regions around the globe face issues arising from water stress on a planet whose surface area is made up of over 70 per cent water and whose total water volume – a staggering 96.5 per cent – is contained within oceans. Whether for consumption or sanitation, clean water in some parts of the world is taken for granted, as society fails to recognise the processes and infrastructure needed to maintain a clean water supply. CDE recognises that the benefits

Daniel Webber says water management and water recycling are prevalent issues that will only become more tightly regulated in years to come.

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CDE’s AquaCycle accelerates return on investment by maximising production efficiency, minimising the loss of valuable fines, and reducing water and energy costs.

arising from sustainable water practice and processes are two-fold: they are economically advantageous and minimise environment impacts. Indeed, they are green from both perspectives. Innovations in the washing sector and the continued advancement of CDE’s pioneering wet processing solutions are supporting waste, quarry and materials processors to overcome the challenges stemming from water management; cost-based, efficiency, sustainability and regulatory. CDE’s modular wet processing equipment can contribute to the easing of water scarcity issues arising from the materials processing industry’s consumption of water resources, while greatly improving water efficiency and wastewater management practices. Developing technological solutions to tackle these mounting challenges

is paramount for many materials processors seeking to boost the profitability of their operation by minimising the consumption of costly water resources. Daniel Webber, CDE Regional Manager for Australasia, reports increasing regulations governing the responsible use and management of water in the industry, including those aimed at protecting marine environments and water sources from pollution. Webber explains that the Australian mining industry has adapted to more regulations surrounding its water usage than most other industries. “Each stage of the mining cycle requires permits, including, among other utilities, water permits,” he says. “The impact of an operation is also subject to strenuous environmental assessments to evaluate the

management and use of water resources and the processes that will be employed to prevent the contamination of groundwater.” In terms of sector, agriculture remains the largest user of water in Australia, accounting for almost 70 per cent of total water footprint. Industry, however, including waste, mining and quarrying, is on the rise at a time when water storage levels hit a 10-year low in 2019/20. CDE consistently invests in research and development with the aim of enhancing the capabilities of its premier water recycling and management equipment. At the forefront of its water recycling systems is the AquaCycle, a single, compact and user-friendly unit that can be applied to high and low tonnages across many markets. Delivering competitive advantage

to its customers, CDE’s AquaCycle accelerates return on investment by maximising production efficiency, minimising the loss of valuable fines, and reducing water and energy costs. An alternative to water extraction and the costly process of pumping water to the plant, CDE’s AquaCycle is a highly efficient water management solution that minimises costly water consumption by ensuring up to 90 per cent of process water is recycled for immediate recirculation. After feed material has been washed and classified, waste is sent to the AquaCycle thickener tank. Here, a small amount of polyelectrolyte flocculant is added to the water via an automatic dosing station which forces fine particles to settle on the bottom of the thickener tank. The clean water on the top overflows the weir and is

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stored in the AquaStore tank before being re-circulated around the plant. The result is a highly efficient water recycling system that requires only a 10 per cent supply of top-up water. Webber explains that water management systems are becoming a must-have for waste, mine and quarry operations to comply with environmental regulations. Matters concerning the protection of finite resources on the planet will only become more prevalent, too. “Water management and water recycling are prevalent issues that will only become more tightly regulated and monitored in years to come. The AquaCycle ensures operators stay ahead of the curve while extracting maximum value from available resources and driving down operating costs,” he says.

WASTE MANAGEMENT IN ACTION – SOFTWARE

Smart access makes waste personal WASTE MANAGEMENT REVIEW SPEAKS WITH BANANA SHIRE COUNCIL’S DR KEITH HALFORD AND DES MACKELLAR ABOUT THEIR PLANS TO DRIVE REGIONAL INVESTMENT THROUGH INDUSTRIAL RESOURCE RECOVERY.

amed after a large bullock called Banana in the 19th century, Banana Shire is resource rich and steeped in agricultural and mining heritage. Situated in Central Queensland, the Shire is sparsely populated, with 15,000 people spread over a 28,550-kilometre squared landmass. Banana Shire Council maintains eight waste transfer stations and three landfills. Of the 11 sites, eight are unmanned, creating significant illegal dumping issues for council. Historically, the shire has also had limited access to recycling, which in turn has put stress on its landfill sites. Over the last year, however, council has started taking a proactive approach, with a suite of new initiatives set to transform waste management and resource recovery in the region. Developments include biosolid and green waste processing systems, and the introduction of paper and cardboard kerbside collection, which will be rolled out over the next 12 months. These initiatives have largely been spearheaded by council’s Environment and Planning Manager Dr Keith Halford and Principal Environment and Land Management Officer Des Mackellar. To support these developments, the pair have forged a collaborative partnership with waste management software

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Dr Keith Halford and Des Mackellar are working with Mandalay Technologies to implement an authenticated site access service at Banana Shire’s waste facilities.

provider Mandalay Technologies, working together to implement an authenticated site access service to provide auditable, controlled entry to sites previously unattended. The service, which operates through Mandalay’s Resident Access Control program, will deliver automated and

approved entry to unmanned facilities using unique resident codes, as well as reporting tools to analyse collected data. According to Mackellar, the partnership is the result of discussions council was having around its current systems in relation to landfill sites and reporting obligations.

Through those conversations, council identified that its existing software program was insufficient. “During those discussions Mandalay’s name was tossed around, and part of our thinking was to reach out with an idea of securing our sites and also getting a better software package that would flow into our reporting obligations,” Mackellar says. After initial engagement, he and Halford went to Mandalay’s head office in Brisbane. “They presented a package to us based on what our vision was, and we’ve now come up with this unique system, which is brilliant,” Mackellar says. He adds that the integrated system is the first of its kind in Australia. Mandalay’s Resident Access Control product, which is an extension product of its Resident Product Suite, manages access to unmanned sites, while capturing and processing vehicle movements. This enables council to keep waste sites secure and provide near real-time access permissions to customers from pre-allocated geographic areas, which in turn works to prevent unauthorised illegal dumping on site. As part of the system upgrade, Banana Shire has successfully integrated Mandalay’s weighbridge software at its landfill site, which Mackellar explains has been running successfully for three months. “The hardware for our unmanned transfer stations is being manufactured at the moment, as well as the considerable amount of peripheral infrastructure and power supply.” In addition to the security benefits of the Resident Access Control program, Halford highlights the system’s ability to segregate and track waste behaviour per person, household, street, suburb and township.

“That allows us to get more meaningful information on the behaviours of residents and how we can change those behaviours though education,” he says. “It also allows us to enforce the rules of council by limiting the amount of commercial dumping onsite and ensuring people aren’t abusing the system, which is facilitated through security mechanisms in the program.” Halford adds that the data capture functionalities of Mandalay’s system will enable better future decision making. “We don’t want to just follow what everyone else is doing,” he says. “We want to be innovative, think outside the square, and contribute to a more regional response to waste.” Mandalay has a similarly innovative mindset, Halford says. He adds that the team has been exceptionally proactive and easy to work with. “We don’t have to tell them what to do, they come to us with ideas and solutions, which is fantastic. That’s what you’re looking for from a business partner.” REGIONAL GROWTH Banana Shire is planning for a period of economic development, with projected that new industries progressively entering the region in the coming decade. For instance, a major tyre recycling plant is planned to open within 18 months. As more businesses are expected to move into the region, however, the downside is an increase in waste generation. Banana Shire Council is looking at these potential risks as opportunities to work with current and new businesses to find useful and innovative waste and recycling solutions. “Using cradle-to-grave planning

as a model, businesses should be considering waste in the first instance. What are the cost implications of poorly planning and managing your waste? What opportunities are there for these emerging waste streams? Is there a beneficial use for them here in the Shire or elsewhere?” Halford says. Halford’s line of thinking forms part of council’s impending Strategic Waste Management Plan. He explains that Banana Shire is in discussions with local industry to investigate opportunities to develop a Waste Management Centre that would eventually form part of an industrial waste and recycling hub. Treatment options include oil, tyres, green wastes and bio solids, hydrocarbon contaminated waste, leachate and glass, plastic and paper recycling, with the end result being the production of products useful for industries within the region. At present, most of these waste streams are transported out of the region to be treated at significant cost. “This may also provide opportunities for other Shires in Central Queensland or beyond that may have capacity or transportation issues in the future,” Halford says. “Council is also exploring potential renewable energy projects in conjunction, so a lot is happening in this space.” Halford’s sentiments are mirrored by Mackellar, who says despite the challenging nature of 2020, the time is right for investment and development. “Waste and recycling are hot topics on both a state and federal level, plus, COVID-19 has identified the need for more infrastructure capacity in this country,” he says. “We want to get more infrastructure and businesses into the region, and the work we’re doing with Mandalay is certainly creating a platform for that.”

www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 27

WASTE MANAGEMENT IN ACTION – ROADS AND INFRASTRUCTURE

Paving the way to greener roads I

TWO YEARS ON FROM MELBOURNE’S FIRST ‘GREEN ROAD’ WITH POLYPAVE ASPHALT, ALEX FRASER SHARES THE ROAD AHEAD FOR SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE.

t’s a common misconception that putting materials such as broken glass and soft plastics into the right bin won’t matter much as there is a high chance it will eventually be sent to landfill. In February this year, the Victorian Government unveiled Recycling Victoria, its sweeping plan of reform to establish a recycling system that Victorians can rely on. A key component of the 10-year policy and action plan is to change how Victorians recycle, so that materials collected from households are high quality and can be used again to make new products.

“Under the plan, we’ll support industry and innovation, advancing research and development and supporting clean technologies that will create new markets and new business opportunities for recycled materials,” Victorian Environment Minister Lily D’Ambrosio said. Brendan Camilleri, Asphalt GM at Alex Fraser, says the company is supporting Victoria’s circular economy through the ongoing rollout of its Green Roads PolyPave Asphalt. The innovative, high performance asphalt product contains recycled materials, including plastic, glass and reclaimed asphalt pavement,

Green Roads PolyPave developers Brendan Camilleri, Peter Lazarus and Nathan Delaney are committed to developing end-market solutions for problematic waste streams.

28 / WMR / November 2020

transforming Victoria’s busiest roads into some of its greenest infrastructure, built with high volumes of reclaimed materials. In the two years since its launch, Green Roads PolyPave projects have been successfully implemented across nine municipal councils across Victoria and three local government areas in Queensland, resulting in overwhelmingly positive feedback. Alex Fraser has many more projects in the works, paving the way towards sustainable infrastructure. Reflecting on the initiative, Camilleri says there is a project that resonates highly with him. “The resurfacing project in Yarra City Council was one of our first and most memorable PolyPave projects,” he says. Camilleri credits ongoing collaboration with government, industry and community as key to this successful initiative, which is effectively closing the loop on the recycling of multiple problem waste streams. Stanley and Margaret Streets in Richmond were repaved with PolyPave, containing recycled glass, reclaimed asphalt, and HDPE plastic amounting to almost 100 tonnes of recycled waste. The premiere project reduced landfill by 97.3 tonnes and carbon emissions by 633 kilograms. Approximately 7,300 two litre plastic bottles and 55,000 glass bottles

were repurposed – equivalent to 1500 wheelie bins of waste glass and plastic, or the annual kerbside recycling collection for every household in the street. “I will never forget the residents’ surprise when they realised that they had helped to build their own street with what they put in their recycling bins. Yarra City Council received incredible feedback from their community who were proud to see their recycling efforts were making a difference to the circular economy and the environment,” Camilleri says. He highlights PolyPave as a standout example of how local communities can play an active and important role in sustainable outcomes. “Local governments’ and communities’ role in recycling goes far beyond kerbside collection. None of us want to see tonnes of useful and reusable materials end up in landfill. That’s what drives Alex Fraser to keep innovating and finding new ways to recover, recycle and reuse problem waste materials,” Camilleri says. “We’re diverting more than three million tonnes from landfill every year to manufacture the quality, sustainable construction materials needed to build greener roads.” Camilleri says that while the sustainability benefits of using PolyPave Asphalt are well recognised, the highperformance asphalt product has much more to offer when it comes to quality and longevity. The reuse of recycled material in PolyPave can reduce the carbon footprint of road projects by up to 65 per cent, and results is a considerably stronger pavement. “Laboratory test results showed increased fatigue life, improved asphalt rut resistance, increased asphalt modulus/stiffness and a better resistance to moisture ingress,” he says. “The research and development

The reuse of recycled material in PolyPave can reduce the carbon footprint of road projects by up to 65 per cent.

behind PolyPave has ensured it performs well on heavily trafficked roads and that – dependent on individual operating conditions – our customer can expect greater durability and a longer lifetime from their green roads.” When it comes to development of Green Roads asphalt mixes, Camilleri says it’s a thorough process that is highly bespoke. “Before we can start producing PolyPave the plastics must be recovered, sorted, washed and shredded; the glass must be carefully separated from co-mingled paper, metals and plastics, before the resulting fines can be processed into the specified aggregates approved for the asphalt mix design,” he says. Back in May 2019, Alex Fraser opened its new high recycled technology asphalt plant along with an innovative glass recycling plant at the company’s Sustainable Supply Hub in Laverton North. Camilleri says the new facilities have been pivotal to the ongoing innovation behind Green Roads products. Camilleri notes that PolyPave is just one product in a broad suite of sustainable civil construction products recycled and manufactured by Alex Fraser. The recycling leader has continually evolved to innovate recycled materials over several

decades. “Back in 2018 when we first paved Melbourne’s greenest Road with Yarra City Council, we revolutionised plastic in asphalt by incorporating the stuff you put into your recycling bin into a quality product used to build the roads you drive on every day,” he says. Next up, the greener roads ambassadors are developing another Green Roads asphalt mix that aims to reuse volumes of soft plastics to markedly reduce the number of plastic bags and other singleuse plastics ending up landfill, and the contamination of oceans and waterways. “We are constantly working with our partners in industry and government to find innovative ways to lift the bar on sustainability and reduce the environmental impact of building and maintaining our cities. It’s part of our ‘green roads’ promise, and what makes us Australia’s go-to provider for sustainable construction materials,” he says. “PolyPave is a shining example of how we can close the loop on recycling; using recycled materials to build greener roads that deliver on sustainability, quality, cost and performance. With PolyPave, we’re literally paving the way to a greener future.”

www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 29

WASTE MANAGEMENT IN ACTION – PRODUCT STEWARDSHIP

Reuse, repair, recycle PRODUCT STEWARDSHIP SUCCESS SHOULDN’T BE MEASURED BY SIMPLY TONNES COLLECTED, BUT ALSO HOW THE LIFECYCLE OF PRODUCTS IS EXTENDED. MOBILEMUSTER’S SPYRO KALOS EXPLAINS.

hen the Federal Government released its review of the Product Stewardship Act 2011 in July, Environment Minister Sussan Ley highlighted the contentious issue of free riders. Notably, Ley said companies face being “named and shamed” for not participating in a product stewardship scheme. While free riding is a challenge for many voluntary approaches to product stewardship, MobileMuster

In 2019-20, MobileMuster achieved a recovery rate of 98 per cent.

32 / WMR / November 2020

has proved to be an exception. As the federally accredited product stewardship program for the mobile phone industry, MobileMuster is voluntarily funded by all the major handset manufacturers and network carries in Australia. Currently, 92 per cent of manufactures and 94 per cent of carriers participate in the scheme. According to Spyro Kalos, Head of MobileMuster, the notably high participation rate has been achieved though constant engagement with the

Spyro Kalos says MobileMuster is committed to motivating consumers to extend the life of their devices.

market. “The market is always changing with new brands coming in, so we are constantly working with the industry and reaching out to new entrants,” he says. “When you talk to these brands about the program it makes sense to them, and when we’ve got 92 per cent of the industry participating, that’s a real differentiator.” Under the Product Stewardship Act 2011, accredited voluntary product stewardship arrangements are required to provide audited annual reports for the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. And in late October, MobileMuster released its 2020 report. The annual report highlights the program’s positive performance against key indicators for the year, while also detailing the broader work MobileMuster undertakes to get more people making sustainable choices and recycling their unwanted mobile phones and accessories. “The real stand out for us is that we collected 84.7 tonnes of mobile phone components in the 2019-20 financial year,” Kalos says. “We also continue to have a high recovery rate – 98 per cent – which is something we’re very proud of and

have worked tirelessly to achieve with our recycling partner TES.” MobileMuster is committed to establishing trust in the program and increasing awareness around the environmental and climate change benefits that come from recycling. It has raised overall awareness, with 70 per cent of people now aware of mobile phone recycling. Another key indicator highlighted in the report is accessibility, which Kalos explains is a new KPI introduced after MobileMuster’s reaccreditation under the stewardship Act. “We have a target of 80 per cent of Australians living within 10 kilometres of a MobileMuster site, and have achieved a rate of 96 per cent,” he says. “We want to make it as easy as possible for people to recycle their mobile phones and we don’t want accessibility being a barrier. There are other barriers to recycling, but accessibility shouldn’t be one of them.” One of those barriers is data concerns, Kalos says. He adds that product stewardship schemes need to start playing a more tactical role in helping consumers make informed decisions. “Consumers tend to be unaware of how to transfer or delete their data, and because of that they store their old devices at home rather than recycling them,” Kalos says. “We’ve developed tools, resources and videos that help educate people on how to better manage their data so they can make the decision to either recycle their phone, sell it or pass it on.” MobileMuster estimates that 24.5 million phones are currently in storage, with 20 million still in working condition. Ensuring fewer working phones are left in storage is part of MobileMuster’s ethos. As highlighted by the Ellen Macarthur Foundation’s 2019 Completing the Picture report,

the more a product is utilised, the larger the savings are in terms of resources, labour, energy and capital. Furthermore, by keeping products and materials in use, greenhouse gas emissions associated with new material product and end-of-life treatment are avoided. Another key focus for MobileMuster is understanding the impact of reuse and repair on the market. Product stewardship success shouldn’t be measured by simply tonnes collected, Kalos says, but also how the lifecycle of products is expanded. “If we can motivate consumers to extend the life of their devices through reuse, that’s a really positive outcome,” he explains. “I’m an advocate for market forces when it comes to repair as well, and we’ve seen our repair network grow from 20 repair stores to over 250. It speaks volumes.” Consumers are repairing their phones more than ever before, with MobileMuster’s latest research showing that two out of three consumers have visited an independent mobile phone repair store. Additionally, the research shows that 60 per cent of younger Australians are embracing repair, and one in five Australians have brought a used mobile phone. Despite MobileMuster’s 2020 success, the program is not resting on its laurels. Kalos explains that there are two key projects forthcoming. The first is to go carbon neutral, and the second is to begin manufacturing MobileMuster’s collection units with the recycled plastic it collects. “The upcoming ban on plastic waste exports is a key motivator, but more importantly, it’s about highlighting the value of the material we collect. “I’m really excited to see how the project develops.”

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WASTE MANAGEMENT IN ACTION – EDUCATION

Future waste leaders THROUGH ITS FUTURE LEADERS PROGRAM, WRIQ IS COMMITTED TO MENTORING THE NEXT GENERATION OF CIRCULAR ECONOMY THINKERS AND WASTE EXPERTS.

t’s widely cited that the concept of mentoring originated in Homer’s Odyssey, with a character named Mentor guiding Odysseus’ son Telemachus through the Trogan War. While the idea of mentorship has certainly shifted since then, the power of the relationship continues. The Waste Recycling Industry Association of Queensland’s (WRIQ), Future Leaders program is set to deliver hands-on experience as it takes participants through a journey of self discovery, explores emerging waste and sustainability issues and equips participants with awareness and tools for the future workforce. The program is currently seeking expressions of interest from mentors and mentees nationally and from within Queensland. According to Mark Smith, WRIQ CEO, aspiring professionals within Queensland will be matched with experienced and thoughtful senior leaders for 10 months. “During this time, the mentee/ mentor relationship will be fostered through meetings and events. The mentee will have additional opportunities to grow their professional networks and skill by participating in unique learning and development experiences,” he says. “These experiences will also enhance their understanding of the attributes of the future leaders in not just our industry but the future workforce, which we know needs to

Mark Smith says WRIQ’s Future Leaders program will foster beneficial mentee/mentor relationships.

embed human connection, mental health and broader wellbeing as core leadership values.” The program is targeted at future waste, recycling and circular economy leaders, but with the sector connected to every aspect of the economy, Smith expects other participants looking to increase their sustainability credentials. “You will not find another leadership program like this,” he says. The Queensland waste and resource recovery sector employs over 12,000 people and indirectly supports over 1500 Queensland businesses. While providing an essential service to the state, Smith says the sector creates jobs and has vast environmental and social benefits.

“However, waste management is one of the world’s biggest challenges, with some global experts predicting a doubling of our sector over the next five to 10 years. We are a sector of the future in Queensland,” Smith says. “This trajectory drives the need for effective regulation and investment in local waste and resource recovery opportunities, but also in people to forge effective relationships, create solutions and work with every other part of the economy to achieve the outcomes we all want” Smith notes that the forthcoming ban on waste exports and the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly increased business costs and emphasised the need for Queensland to rebuild a safe, smart and sustainable local industry. “Our workplaces have already seen major disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic and this has provided a compelling real-time example of how our workplaces will need to be flexible and adaptive while maintaining connection and wellbeing,” he says. “These challenges, however, present a great opportunity for future leaders to step into the waste and resource recovery industry with confidence of growth and investment.” The Future Leaders program is open to WRIQ members, other Queensland businesses, residents and non-WRIQ members. Contact mark.smith@wriq. com.au for more information.

www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 33

WASTE MANAGEMENT IN ACTION – WHEEL LOADERS

Italian Made TUTT BRYANT’S NEWEST DISTRIBUTION PARTNERSHIP WILL SEE VENIERI WHEEL LOADERS ON AUSTRALIAN SHORES FOR THE FIRST TIME. BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER MARK EWAN EXPLAINS.

espite manufacturing in Italy since 1948, Venieri Earthmoving Machines might be a name unfamiliar to much of Australia’s waste and recycling sector. That is set to change, however, with the first Venieri wheel loader arriving on Australian shores in late September. After expanding its footprint in the United States and Canada, Venieri recently began eyeing the Australian market. At the same time, machinery and equipment supplier Tutt Bryant was looking overseas for a wheel loader range to complement its existing portfolio. From there, the partnership was born. According to Mark Ewan, Tutt Bryant Business Development Manager, the initial enquiry came through Tutt Bryant’s existing equipment partner Yanmar. He explains that Venieri and Yanmar had a joint venture agreement, whereby Yanmar would rebadge Venieri loaders for sale on the European market. Due to Tutt Bryant’s long-standing partnership with Yanmar equipment and their quality requirements, Ewan says the company felt confident about the

34 / WMR / November 2020

The special design of the Venieri loaders counterweight guarantees manoeuvrability and maximum drive angle.

Venieri product and its ability to meet the needs of the Australian Market. “Following the initial enquiry, we travelled to Italy for a week to demo the machines and assess how they spec’d up against major competitors in the Australian market,” he says. “We also spoke with a number of customers in Europe who were or had run with major brands in their fleet to get feedback on their experiences with the loaders, which was all positive.”

Venieri wheel loaders offer hydrostatic transmissions, Z and parallel front bar linkage, inching brake pedals, precisely balanced weight distribution and oscillating axles on the rear chassis section. Built for power, the new Deutz fouror-six-cylinder turbo charged diesel engines ensure high-level performance and reduced fuel consumption. Venieri’s next generation range brings significant stylistic innovations to its

“Because the loaders are hydrostatic, they can operate in small spaces efficiently, which are common in the waste industry.” Mark Ewan Tutt Bryant Business Development Manager

Ewan explains that the customers he spoke with all noted the durability, reliability and performance of the Venieri loaders and all believed they were as good, if not better, than any other brand they had used. “After further testing, we came to the conclusion that Venieri loaders were a good fit for our market,” he says.

cabin design, Ewan says. He adds that the loaders offer great visibility, reversing cameras, adjustable suspension seats and steering columns, and a single joy stick lever with a forward reverse switch. The loaders also have significant storage space and a good ventilation system with climate control.

“As anyone familiar with waste environments such as transfer stations understands, ventilation is critical due to the often hot and dusty conditions. This is also backed up by an automatic and inbuilt reverse fan and self-cleaning unit,” Ewan says. The air cleaner system offers two-stage filtration through high efficiency primary and safety filters, which can be integrated with a high efficiency precleaner removing dust from the filter automatically, via a scavenge linked to the exhaust line for maximum engine protection. Made with sound absorbent materials and special anti-vibration rubber shock absorbers, Venieri cabins facilitate significant noise reduction, thereby providing a comfortable working environment for operators. While suited to a range of industries, Ewan notes the loader’s hydrostatic transmission as a key benefit for waste and recycling applications. “Because the loaders are hydrostatic, they can operate in small spaces efficiently, which are common in the waste industry especially transfer stations and small yards,” he says. “It also drives power to the ground, making back and forward motion in tight areas more efficient compared to traditional drive loaders.” Tutt Bryant offers an optional waste package with the loaders, which Ewan says includes waste guards for the front and rear which can be tailored to suit various applications. The additional counter weights are useful for loading large buckets, Ewan adds, with an additional option of high lift booms available for hopper loading. The Venieri range is available through Tutt Bryant in four models, all of which Ewan says meet and exceed waste industry needs. For larger transfer stations or when dealing with glass and paper, Ewan recommends the VF 12.63 loader, which is fitted with a parallel linkage for powerful lifting performance. For smaller local government run transfer stations, he recommends the VF 7.63. “The special design of the counterweight guarantees manoeuvrability, maximum drive angle and protects the rear light system,” Ewan says. As with all Tutt Bryant equipment offerings, the Venieri range is backed up by 24/7 servicing and parts support. “The machines themselves are also fitted with Venieri global GPS, so we can diagnose any problem remotely and troubleshoot with the customer.”

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WASTE MANAGEMENT IN ACTION – ORGANICS

Maturing the market ELMORE COMPOST’S FRANK HARNEY SPEAKS WITH WASTE MANAGEMENT REVIEW ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF PASSIONATE PLAYERS AND GOOD QUALITY COMPOST.

ith government’s across Australia accelerating their efforts to divert organics from landfill, it’s an exciting time for the sector. In Victoria, the state government is targeting a 50 per cent reduction in organics sent to landfill by 2030. While this is a noteworthy target, Frank Harney, Elmore Compost & Organics Manager and AORA Victoria Chair, says for the organics industry to really expand, a number of key market issues need to be addressed. Despite seeing organics as the recycling industry’s success story, Harney notes concerns around contamination and large corporate players dominating the market. “A lot of the big players are waste processors not composters, so they get

Elmore Compost & Organics are proud holders of Australian Organic Certification.

paid the gate fee and ship the material off without much care for the product. If new legislation is structured around just those big corporate players, I can see the circular economy going square,” he says. Elmore Compost & Organics is a family-run business of fourth generation farmers. Harney explains that the enterprise evolved out of a happy coincidence, with a wet hay season resulting in spoiled hay and straw. A rich soil fertiliser emerged from mixing the hay and straw with manure from Elmore’s piggery. “Our composting process involves recycling green waste from Melbourne and returning it to consumers as a carbon source for paddocks, gardens

and pot plants,” he says. Harney got involved with AORA due to a belief that when you’re working in an industry you need to participate. As such, he is a passionate advocate for maturation and supporting the entry of small players into the market. “The market needs to push back, with operators getting paid to get product out of the gate as well as in the gate. When that happens, we’ll see a betterquality product downstream.” Harney draws parallels to the plastic problem and China’s National Sword. “China still wants our plastic, but they don’t want to be our waste tip. “When you make a good quality product there’s no issue selling it, and that’s where recycling lost its way. But there’s an exciting future on the horizon, we just need people that are passionate about good quality compost.” Looking forward, Harney says the organics industry needs to have a concrete plan in place whereby operators are rewarded for facilitating carbon improvement in soils. Once this is achieved, soil becomes more drought resistant and the true benefits of composting and organics recovery are realised. “When we’re providing gain for the agricultural industry through good quality products, the organics sector is poised to be in a really strong position,” he says.

www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 37

WASTE MANAGEMENT IN ACTION – HEALTH AND SAFETY

How one company handled the COVID-19 crisis UNWANTED DISRUPTION CAN BE A BLIGHT ON A COMPANY, BUT IT’S HOW YOU HANDLE THE INTERRUPTION THAT SHOWS WHAT THE COMPANY IS MADE OF.

ontracts are signed, tradies are ready to start, the building site is now open and there are deadlines to meet. Then a once in a century event happens – the COVID-19 pandemic. What happens now? Does the site close down? How long will government restrictions last? How are staff looked after? What about penalty clauses in the contract if deadlines are missed? These and a dozen other questions go through the collective heads of many executive committee members at construction companies. For engineering construction specialist Total Construction, it was a matter of building on health and safety procedures it already had in place before COVID-19 struck and restrictions were enforced. Total Construction has been operating since 1994, and after noticing opportunities in the waste-to-energy space, entered the waste market in early 2018. In regard to COVID-19, Jeff Jones, Total Construction CEO, says they were being proactive from the get-go. “We adopted temperature testing before it was put out there by the government,” he says. “We were testing every single person who came onsite. We asked people to sign declarations about whether they had travelled overseas. We did all the virtualisation of the office space – less people on site where possible. We had project managers dialling in – all that sort of stuff.”

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Jeff Jones says COVID-19 is likely to change the way companies conduct business in the future.

Throughout the first few of weeks, Total Construction did have a couple of scares, resulting in a site being shut down, and a hygienic clean of the whole area. However, there have been no reported cases on any of Total Construction’s worksites. Procedures put in place included the company’s Cod Red process, which is

part of its administration online tool. It elevates that Total Construction has a notification of an incident onsite and controls who communicates to the client and contractors. Because if it not controlled properly, issues will arise, according to Jones. “We decided early on there would be one source of information and that would be me for the vast majority of it,” he says. “There are updates for the staff throughout the process about an infected site or possible infected cases. They come to me and I was responsible for communicating to clients and subcontractors.” One of the key ingredients to making sure operations ran smoothly was how staff reacted to the changes. Without their cooperation and buying into the

Total Construction built on health and safety procedures it already had in place before COVID-19 struck and restrictions were enforced.

Solutions for Weighing Waste Efficiently new “normal”, Jones says it would have been harder to implement the new processes. As for the business itself, there was the expected downturn in terms of projects going ahead. Total Construction had almost 40 projects ready to go at the beginning of the year, but when COVID came around, only eight went ahead. The good news is that another 10 have started since the beginning of May. However, some of the issues were not so much if the client was ready to green light the project, but whether supplies – especially those sourced from overseas – were available. “We did have some early concerns about some supply items. We were caught short sometimes due to deliveries not arriving,” Jones says. “We were lucky. We didn’t suffer too much delay from that. We did see a little drop in productivity due to the social distancing. In its early stages, certain trades were finding it hard to get people to turn up to site if there was a concern about health. But by making our sites as healthy as we possibly could, we saw a swing around the other way, where we had contractors wanting to turn up to our site because they knew we protected their workforce better than some other contractors. It became an opportunity to have more resources on site.” With the construction industry, some builds have got underway while others have had to be put on hold, but not for reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic itself, but peripheral issues, too. “It’s been a mixed bag with engineering project builds,” Rob Blythman, Engineering Construction Group General Manager says. “When they are crucial projects, and when they are vital to their operation, time wise and production wise, they have all gone ahead. Whereas there have been others that have stalled because even though they’re sort of necessary works, they can wait. Some are sitting back and waiting for things to change in the general environment, particularly with regard to government stimulus and things of that nature, before they push the go button.” Looking forward, Jones says he believes COVID-19 might tweak the way some companies now do business. “It might even change the long-term employment relationship,” he says. “This is because we’ve talked in the past about how people used to work in one job for their whole life and how there was loyalty both ways. That has probably changed now with the flexible workforce. I think this pandemic has re-established the need to retain the muscle within the business.”

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WASTE MANAGEMENT IN ACTION – PLASTICS

Closing the onshore gap

MARTOGG GROUP OF COMPANIES IS LEADING THE WAY IN BUILDING LOCAL RECYCLING CAPACITY WITH EREMA VACUREMA PET TECHNOLOGY.

artogg Group of Companies is Australia’s largest privatelyowned polymer distribution, resin compounding and plastics recycling company. Manufacturing polymer compounds for the Australian plastics industry since 1975, Martogg LCM invested as early as 2006 in local plastics reprocessing and since 2015 specifically in PET materials. Martogg Group’s recycled polymer division Martogg LCM® takes a cradleto-cradle approach to the life cycle management of plastic products and is leading the way in investing in onshore re-processing. Using Martogg’s extensive knowledge of the plastics industry and polymer technology, along with the company’s compounding expertise, Martogg LCM® formulates and recycles endproduct plastic waste into value added, quality polymers to be used in the manufacture of new plastic products. Martogg LCM’s RECYCLENE® range of commodity recycled polymers includes PP, LDPE, HDPE, LLDPE, ABS, HIPS, and GPPS products that are

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suitable for a wide variety of industrial and durable end use applications. In 2015, Martogg commissioned their first VACUREMA® ADVANCED decontamination and recycling line, and after successful implementation and market development of the PET resin branded marPET®, invested in the second line in 2019. It is now commissioning the third and largest VACUREMA® ADVANCED, which will be operational in late 2020 with a collective production capacity of 23,000 tonnes of food grade rPET. The VACUREMA® bottle-to-bottle technology from the Austrian recycling machine manufacturer EREMA®, combines several advantages and functions in one. “The unique SafeFlake technology in the vacuum reactor, in particular the flake decontamination, drying and IV treatment prior to extrusion, enables immediate drying, fast migration of contaminants out of the polymer and flexible IV management at lowest energy costs,” Ben McCulloch, Martogg marPET® Product Manager says.

By pre-treating the PET flakes in a vacuum at the correct temperature, moisture and migratory substances are removed effectively as part of the process before extrusion. McCulloch explains that this prevents any hydrolytic and oxidative decomposition of the melt in the extruder. “This is a clear advantage in terms of melt quality, and therefore the basis for a stable, highly clean and foodcompliant end-product with the best colour results,” he adds. The simple operation and effective blending in the reactor, as well as the high degree of automation, allows production of consistent quality PET resin for direct food contact and IV values on par with virgin materials, even if the input material parameters change. “Therefore, the technology is ideal for processing in Australia and being able to deal with local challenges,” McCulloch says. Electricity accounts for around one third of the costs of bottle-to-bottle recycling. Technologies that use

energy economically therefore have a clear advantage. The VACUREMA® sets the standard with the VACUREMA® Prime’s energy demand as low as 0.30 kilowatt-hours per kilogram specific total energy consumption. For the VACUNITE®, demand is only 0.35 kilowatt-hours per kilogram consumption for the complete process – from ﬂake to finished rPET pellets, including solid state processing. The VACUREMA® range covers all applications of PET processing, from inline extrusion to thermoforming sheet, to high end bottle-to-bottle applications and capacities over 3000 kilograms per hour. With the latest addition of the VACUNITE® to the VACUREMA® range, EREMA now offers the unique combination of two technologies: the well proven and tested VACUREMA® technology, together with newly patented vacuum-assisted

V-LeaN Solid State Polycondensation (SSP), which Polymetrix developed for EREMA especially for this demanding application. VACUNITE® offers further enhancement of IV and colour management at lowest energy demand, where all thermal process steps take place in a nitrogen and/or vacuum atmosphere. After testing the first VACUREMA® line and finding it to suit their requirements, Martogg showed industry leadership and committed further investment in local re-processing, closing the gap for onshore processing. Now coinciding with the renewed recycling content targets released by APCO, Martogg’s PET resin marPET® has an annual capacity of 23,000 tonnes, which is being offered to Australian based packaging companies seeking a range of high-quality rPET

resins to meet the local recycling content targets. “The Erema technology has been instrumental in allowing the Martogg Group to produce and offer business and brands with the highest quality rPET for use into a diverse range of packaging applications,” McCulloch says. EREMA is represented in Australia by CEMAC technologies. “We are proud to be able to offer these advanced technologies to the Australian markets and to be able to assist in building local infrastructure in materials re-processing towards a circular economy,” CEMAC Managing Director Eric Paulsen says. “We applaud the initiative and dedication that Martogg is showing in this emerging market and are very grateful for being able to assist in the process.”

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COUNCIL IN FOCUS

Hobsons Bay goes digital WITH THE LAUNCH OF RECYCLING 2.0, HOBSONS BAY CITY COUNCIL OUTLINES AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO WASTE MANAGEMENT AND RECYCLING ENGAGEMENT. Q: What are some of the challenges surrounding collection and recycling in Hobsons Bay? A: As with any change, some residents are still adjusting to the new recycling requirements, but overall, our community has done a great job so far in familiarising themselves with the new service. As you could imagine, contamination rates have been a big challenge. Our community is doing very well in using the new glass and FOGO bins, but we are doing poorly with the comingled recycling system. We need to see a big improvement in sorting our waste from our recycling to reduce the high rates of contamination we are still seeing within our fourbin kerbside service. As with most municipalities, the Coronavirus pandemic has led to increased waste volumes for most households. In response, council has established a free interim weekly excess rubbish drop-off service. Q: What has been working well over recent years in terms of waste management services? A: In 2018 and 2019, we carried out significant community engagement on our Waste and Litter Strategy. This meant when recycling was hit hard with industry wide changes, we had a clear direction to follow.

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As a result, in October 2019 we were able to launch the Recycling 2.0 service and embarked on a community education program that had hundreds of local volunteers, known as Recycling Champions, at the heart of it. Through the months that Recycling 2.0 has been up and running, we have advanced our digital offering for a range of aspects of the service to deliver outcomes faster and more efficiently. This includes a digital tool to track contamination checks, a simple online ordering system to order bins, and our Recycling 2.0 App. The digitisation of bin orders, contamination inspections and bin management has enabled us to quickly analyse data and make changes to deliver positive recycling outcomes.

Q: Why Council choose to develop the Recycling 2.0 App? A: While not everyone uses a smartphone, more residents than not have one these days. The app complements other communication channels as a way to quickly get helpful information about their recycling service â&#x20AC;&#x201C; whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s checking the bin schedule or using the Which Bin Does This Go In? feature. The vision for the app is also to make recycling fun, with further releases planned that will be quite

interactive with both data on system performance, and games and targets that households and individuals can play to improve recycling. A collaboration with Code for Australia, the app was released with a Minimum Viable Product, with new features being added regularly. It has been built with an open source approach, and the architecture has been designed so other councils could easily pick the app up and tailor content for local reuse. Hobsons Bay is happy to share with other municipalities as the new four bin model begins to roll out state-wide.

Q: How has the Hobsons Bay community reacted to the new app? A: Since the launch of the Minimum Viable Product in mid-April, there have been 1160 downloads of the Recycling 2.0 App. Downloads are increasing each week, with residents frequently searching their addresses for bin schedules and using the interactive feature Which Bin Does This Go In? to search their household waste items. The community is keen for further releases and updates to come, including bin reminder notifications which should go live within weeks. As each new feature is released, we expect to see downloads grow.

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PRODUCT SHOWCASE – SCREENING EQUIPMENT

A German approach WITH THE EXCLUSIVE RELEASE OF GREMAC’S E2 TROMMEL SCREEN, GCM ENVIRO IS BRINGING GERMAN INGENUITY TO AUSTRALIAN SHORES.

ccording to 2017 data from the European Environmental Bureau, Germany is the world’s leading recycler, achieving a selfreported recovery rate of 66 per cent. Alternatively, Blue Environment Group figures from 2018 estimate Australia’s national recycling rate at 55 per cent, suggesting Australia could take cues from its northern European counterpart. While much of Germany’s recycling success is attributed to engaged citizens and strong policy settings, Australian equipment distributor GCM Enviro is capitalising on the German approach at the ground floor – via an exclusive distribution deal with machinery manufacturer Gremac. Gremac launched its E2 Trommel Screen to market in March, with the trommel arriving on Australian shores through GCM in September. According to GCM’s Adam

Krajewski, the advanced screening system is set to be a game changer for landscape companies, recycling businesses, contractors and farmers. Suitable for soil, sand, gravel, stones, green waste, wood chips, compost, recycled materials, glass and alternative fuel, the Gremac E2 has a maximum weight of 3.5 tonnes, making it small enough to be towed by car. Krajewski explains that the trommel can process up to 50 metres cubed an hour, featuring strong electric geared motors and a hopper with a capacity of up to 1.6 metres cubed. Screen segments can be changed with ease, he adds, with a large door providing ease of maintenance to the lower belt and cross belt. The trommel is electrically driven, with load sensing control for continuous workflow. “No material is lost during processing due to a one-piece fines discharge

The trommel has state-of-the-art control and set up, with the frame and all material guiding parts manufactured with galvanised steel.

conveyor, with four crank support winches for secure positioning,” Krajewski says. “The trommel has state-of-the-art control and set up, with the frame and all material guiding parts manufactured with galvanised steel for long machine life.” The drive is available as either a petrol or diesel generator or can be plugged into mains to power the internal electric motor. Since its founding in 2004, GCM has committed to providing its customers with cutting edge waste management technology, combined with state-ofthe-art control and monitoring systems. GCM’s ultimate objective is enabling its customers to increase revenue through the extraction of value from waste. As such, when GCM became aware of the Gremac E2 trommel, Krajewski says it made sense to update the company’s existing equipment portfolio and provide a new advanced solution for Australia’s waste and recycling sector. When operators invest in GCM equipment, Krajewski says they are guaranteed high-quality machinery that exceeds Australian standards, combined with efficient service back up and approachable personnel. “A constant dialogue between manufacturers and clients is maintained to ensure that design is governed by market requirements, particularly in the harsh climatic conditions we experience,” he says. Contact – GCM Enviro P 02 9457 9399 E sales@gcmenviro.com.au W www.gcmenviro.com

www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 45

PRODUCT SHOWCASE – SCREENING EQUIPMENT

TEREX ECOTEC’S VERSATILE PH1600T TROMMEL SCREEN The Terex Ecotec Phoenix 1600T trommel screen is versatile by design, easily screening a variety of material including topsoil, compost, sand and gravel, wood chip and construction and demolition waste. The trommel has been innovatively designed to provide excellent fuel efficiency and low operating costs, while also reducing emissions and noise levels due to the machine running at a low engine RPM. The trommel is available through Finlay Waste and Recycling either tracked or wheeled, with a 4.9 by 1.54 metre drum guaranteeing high throughput due to the large screening area. Woven mesh or heavy-duty punch plate panels can be fitted to the drum, ensuring all application requirements are met. A 180-degree swivel fines conveyor facilitates the creation of impressive stockpiles, with a discharge height of 5.9 metres. The swivel feature can be controlled via a remote while the machine is in operation to minimise downtime. A powerful four-wheel drive system with high performance friction wheels is used to turn the trommel drum, giving operators the ability to run bi-directionally.

A powerful four-wheel drive system with high performance friction wheels is used to turn the 1600T’s trommel drum.

Powered by a Caterpillar C4.4 – 130HP Tier 3 engine, the powerful hydraulics and intelligent feed control system ensure the Phoenix 1600 is always working at optimum levels. Contact - Finlay Waste and Recycling P 1800 777 300 E info@finlay.com.au W www.finlay.com.au

THE KOMPTECH MULTISTAR L3 Screening is a fundamental treatment stage in the processing of waste, recyclables and biomass. Star screen technology is increasingly used for separation work, and in most cases the screener is a Multistar. Komptech’s Multistar L3 – available in Australia exclusively through Kompech CEA – facilitates high throughput across a wide range of applications. One machine and one pass are sufficient to divide material into two or three fractions. The hopper, feed system and design and dimensions of the screen decks combine to form a compact unit with unbeatable throughput. Effective wear protection of all parts in contact with material and an efficient diesel-electric drive system ensure low operating costs. Very low dust emissions, largely screening internally also make this a strong competitor. The power for the drives can come either from grid electric power or the optional built-in diesel generator. The use of grid power reduces energy consumption by up to 75 per cent compared with diesel-hydraulic power. The cassette configuration of the screen decks facilitates rapid changes and flexibility, while particle size can be controlled by varying the rotation speed of the star shafts. In just seconds, particle size can be changed within the range provided by the star size using a touchscreen graphic

46 / WMR / October 2020

The cassette configuration of the Multistar’s screen decks facilitates rapid changes and flexibility.

control panel. Different star dimensions and arrangements cover screening sections from eight to 150 millimetres. Contact - Komptech CEA P 1300 352 378 W www.komptechcea.com.au

PRODUCT SHOWCASE – SCREENING EQUIPMENT

APPLIED MACHINERY’S GENOX TYRE RECYCLING SYSTEM Applied Machinery’s GENOX Tyre Recycling System is a fully integrated recycling line designed to simplify the heavy-duty process of rubber extraction. The system uses M and X-Series Pre-Shredders as powerful first stage size reducers, that are capable of processing whole car, truck and off-the-road tyres down into approximately 50-30 millimetres shreds. Next, material passes through a recirculation system that combines conveyors and disc screening units, before being transported to the Heavy Duty Rasper for secondary size reduction. S-Series Heavy Duty Raspers with serrated edge biades work to aggressively process the material. Overband magnets mounted above conveyor belts or vibratory feeders efficiently remove liberated steel wire from the rubber crumb, with high strength, rare earth magnetic elements ensuring effective separation. The system’s GXE-Series Granulators are ideal for the third stage reduction of rubber crumbs into high quality granules. Rubber granules from the fine granulation stage can be classified by size into different product streams, with oversized material then recirculated back to the granulators for further size reduction. The fine granulation system is equipped with a special rotor designed for tyre rubber size

The fine granulation system is equipped with a special rotor designed for tyre rubber size reduction.

reduction. It provides maximum throughput, while minimising the amount of fines created. The machine is also optimised for low operational and wear costs. Finally, a Zig-Zag separation system removes remaining textiles from the rubber granulate, with a motorised magnetic drum available to remove tramp metal fines and ensure a high-quality product. A control panel is supplied to provide full automation of the recycling system, with the option of touch screen displays to provide ease of access for system programming, maintenance and inspection. Contact - Applied Machinery P 03 9706 8066 E sales@appliedmachinery.com.au W www.appliedmachinery.com.au

PRODUCT SHOWCASE – WEIGHING SYSTEMS

The power of accuracy AFTER UPGRADING ITS WEIGHBRIDGES WITH POWERCELL TECHNOLOGY, A MAJOR AUSTRALIAN RECYCLING OPERATION SAW RETURN ON INVESTMENT IN LESS THAN TWO MONTHS.

s landfill levy rates surge across the country, waste operators are becoming increasingly conscious of ensuring they have accurate weighing systems in place. According to John Beard, METTLER TOLEDO Weighbridge Business Area Manager, vehicle weighing is key to managing operational profitability at waste and recycling facilities. He notes a recent METTLER TOLDEDO project, where the company helped a major Australian recycling operation upgrade several of their weighbridges with POWERCELL PDX load cells, driver control stations and security measures such as cameras and boom gates. “The operation had purchased weighbridges from a non-METTLER TOLEDO supplier a few years back and through an audit, identified problems around the weighbridge operations,” Beard says. “This was later identified as a combination of lack of accuracy around the weighbridge technology and cheating drivers using the weighbridge.” This yielded significant profit loss, Beard says, as well as traceability issues. He adds that drivers taking advantage of the old system were being paid for more than they

48 / WMR / October 2020

POWERCELL technology offers an additional level of filtering on top of a digital core.

delivered. “The solution to upgrade their existing weighbridges with new load cell technology, driver control stations and other accessories helped to provided alerts and safeguarding measures to improve daily operations,” Beard says. “By incorporating boom gates, cameras and traffic lights, the company reduced the risk of improper truck positioning, altering data, stealing at the weighbridge and load cell tampering. They now receive real-time alert notifications of any misconduct.”

After adopting these technologies, the recycling operation received return on investment in less than two months. “The company has been extremely satisfied with the upgrades and are continuing to implement more security measures to prevent cheating at their weighbridges,” Beard says. METTLER TOLEDO is a global manufacturer and supplier of complete weighing systems and precision instruments, offering reliable solutions and services for the waste and recycling industry. Kevin Diep, Systems and

Innovations Business Area Manager, says METTLER TOLEDO industrial weighing solutions work in two ways to help ensure accurate and efficient billing in the waste industry. “First, our solutions offer smart load cell technology to achieve the highest levels of accuracy at the scale. Starting with accurate weighments is the first step in ensuring accurate billof-sales,” he says. “Second, we offer user-friendly weight transaction systems that work to capture data automatically, eliminating the risk of human error. When combined, the result is a system with foolproof billing.” METTLER TOLEDO weighbridge designs are meticulously tested for durability before new designs are released into the market, Diep says. He adds that customers can be confident that their weighbridge will stand up to the harshest environmental conditions. Furthermore, Diep highlights a distinction between METTLER TOLEDO’s technology and traditional digital load cells. Proven POWERCELL technology offers an additional level of filtering on top of a digital core, he explains, which works to filter out environmental noise that affects the accuracy of a weight reading. “Additionally, POWERCELL load cells offer advanced diagnostics down to the specific load cell in a system, enabling an operation to catch any problems before it would cause a scale shutdown,” Diep says. “This helps to minimise unexpected downtime and provides customers peace of mind where they are always informed.” In addition to its trusted weighbridge systems, METTLER TOLEDO offers a range of floor scales and industrial weighing software solutions ideal for the waste

METTLER TOLDEDO systems send operators real-time alert notifications of any misconduct.

industry. For higher-cost waste and recyclables, Jim Lambros, Standard Industrial Product Manager, says a floor scale is necessary to get an accurate weighment. “POWERCELL technology is available in our PowerDeck floor scales, bringing accuracy, operator guidance and advanced diagnostics into your bulk-handling operation,” he says. “Our transaction software is available in standard versions for plug-and-operate simplicity, and customisable versions which can be designed to fit exact workflows.” METTLER TOLEDO sales and service personnel are available to help operators throughout their entire project, offering a consultative approach. “We can help from solution selection, to optimising site layout for maximised efficiency, through the

installation process,” he says. Lambros explains that professional weighbridge installation ensures equipment is ready for vehicle traffic, right from the start. “Our factory trained service technicians work to ensure a smooth installation, with onsite support including confirmation of weighbridge foundation quality, safe weighbridge installation consistent with site requirements and traffic control and peripheral devices that are ready for operation,” he says. “Our expert sales and service teams across Australia and New Zealand can help operations select from a variety of durable floor scales, indicators, weighbridges and software solutions. “These smart solutions are designed to maximise uptime and efficiency.” Contact – METTLER TOLDEDO P 1300 659 761 W www.mt.com/au/en/home.html

www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 49

PRODUCT SHOWCASE – WEIGHING SYSTEMS

The weight of expectations AS THE WASTE INDUSTRY MOVES INTO AN AUTOMATED FUTURE, EFFECTIVE TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION CAN TIP THE SCALES. TRIMBLE’S PAUL CORDER EXPLAINS.

rom smart bins to artificially intelligent waste sorters, waste management is undergoing a digital transformation. As waste haulers begin to make this shift with the adoption of more

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automated data systems, it’s a good time to learn from other heavy industries that benefited from the move to digital. According to Paul Corder, Trimble Head of Payload Technology,

experience shows that it’s not enough to simply automate a task – there must be certainty as to how data is gathered. Then, he says, operators can make the right decision at the bin pick up,

and sales or fleet managers have the confidence to make improvements using actionable intelligence at the office. “Analytics and business intelligence can be a competitive advantage to make the most out of fleet investments,” Corder says. “It enables answers to questions like: which bins are overloaded and costing you money? Where are the most profitable pickups? Is a pickup a safety hazard? How much profit does this customer generate? And what other prospects are in the same area?” To understand the potential of emerging systems, more advanced data systems look beyond the weight of a bin to deliver intelligence and drive operational profitability.

With a connected tool, fleet managers can evaluate and educate about incidents with clear visualisations and hard data.

“At present, waste haulers use traditional onboard scales to ensure safe lifts and measure bin weight,” Corder says. “They may integrate with route management systems that optimise drive routes, thus improving efficiency and reducing wear-and-tear on equipment.” Route management systems are feature rich, and a good first step to automation of waste management activities, Corder says. He adds, however, that many of these systems are focused on the pickup, not the profitability of processes. “For instance, route management systems may not convert bin weight data and locations into useful information to manage enterprise profitability,” Corder says. “In fact, in many cases, there is no real way to look at the individual profitability of each customer, or even overall profitability of a route. “Answering these questions using waste management system automation transforms waste haul and unleashes opportunity.” Furthermore, Corder explains that pick up locations, bin weights and truck totals do more than help operators complete their job – they drive business profitability, productivity and efficiency. “The ability to drill deeper into your waste collection operations and track profitability is a critical step in the technological transformation of any waste management organisation,” he says. With accessibility to data, an operation’s manager can see operational metrics and summarise key performance indicators to identify lost productivity and compare customer data in a visual environment. Access to customer data makes it easy for sales teams to identify

customers with heavier than expected bins, review customer activity and negotiate pricing with the confidence of accurate data. “They’re also able to identify profitable and unprofitable customers. And weight is just part of the makeup of cost,” Corder says. “Delays at the pick-up such as locked gates, awkward bin locations and time to forklift the bin out are all costs that are often invisible. “As performance managers have seen, a dashboard that compiles data into actionable intelligence provides value.” Waste stream monitor visualisation includes reporting tools to review the route, monitor pickups for overloaded dumpsters and plan route capacity. Safety is another invaluable benefit of waste stream monitoring. With waste data intelligence, it’s easy to prevent truck overloading and replay historical fleet activity to highlight issues, improve driver training, perform efficiency analysis and route reviews. With a connected tool, Corder says fleet managers can evaluate and educate about incidents with clear visualisations and hard data. They can optimise routes by expected payload weights to maximise tonnes per cycle. Operators can also make informed, ‘one-more pick-up’ decisions with confidence. “As the waste industry moves into the future with an increased focus on automation and data-driven decision making, tools can empower their teams to capture waste collection business opportunities, increase route profitability, improve safe loading and improve customer satisfaction – and most importantly gain competitive advantage,” Corder says. Contact – Trimble

P (02) 9531 6732 W www.trimble.com/waste

www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 51

PRODUCT SHOWCASE – WEIGHING SYSTEMS

AMCS’s Front End Loading system is intelligent and able to distinguish between a true lift and false lifts caused by partial arm movements.

Intelligent weighing AMCS INNOVATION IS REMOVING THE COST BARRIERS ASSOCIATED WITH FRONT END LOADING WEIGHING SYSTEM ADOPTION.

he new Front End Loading (FEL) system by AMCS Group is the next generation in weighing system technology, while eliminating the need for load cells and additional installation costs. Typical FEL systems rely on load cells that generate readings of the waste collected, but not without significant cost factors involving equipment, installation, calibration and the load cell technology itself. This, along with the long-term maintenance required, often makes FEL systems cost prohibitive. Currently, over 160 certified FEL systems are deployed worldwide.

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AMCS’s solution is expected to raise the numbers in Europe and Australia, with New Zealand next on the horizon. According to Michael Bates, AMCS Head of ANZ Region, the new system’s development was driven by the company’s experience using load cells on FEL and the cost of fabrication on the forks. Another consideration, he adds, were issues related to load cells being damaged by containers being shunted. “The industry challenge was to develop a system that could be easily retrofitted to FEL with no modification to the forks, that

was robust and also provided accurate weighing. The AMCS FEL extensometer solution delivers on all these challenges,” Bates says. AMCS’s FEL technology sheds load cells and uses extensometer technology. This in-motion, dynamic scale doesn’t require action from the driver. “It measures the extension in the FEL arms during lifting using tilt sensors, which enables a lift cycle customised for the customer’s needs,” Bates says. “This eliminates fixed-mount proximity sensors that communicate where the container is in the lift cycle.”

AMCS’s FEL system is intelligent and able to distinguish between a true lift and false lifts caused by partial arm movements. “Using our weighing algorithms, along with the tilt sensor to provide constant position of the lifter, allows AMCS to determine both the best position to weight and also to be able to identify what is a true lift verses a driver just moving a container position,” Bates explains. The system is also more accurate at recording weights than traditional FEL systems, he says. Bates adds that it can deliver +/- 20 kilograms on average per lift or better, compared to traditional systems that have weight accuracies of +/- 50 kilograms. As such, waste management companies will know the actual weight of each container. “They’ll no longer have to absorb the costs they don’t charge for,” Bates says. By generating real-time collection data with AMCS’s FEL system, companies can analyse their activity and container weights. This in turn enables actionable insight. “They can determine which customers are profitable and develop new strategies to increase revenue and customer satisfaction,” Bates says. “They’ll know if they’re selling the right container based on a customer’s actual composition data, weight data and disposal habits. They can also increase revenue by shedding unprofitable customers.” Additionally, companies can track lifts and verify collection on each route. “This ensures that collections are completed, which eliminates additional callouts. Higher fleet efficiency is another way to prevent revenue leakage,” Bates says. Where traditional load-cell FEL systems need intensive modification to vehicle forks, AMCS fits extensometers to the FEL arms, which represents a significantly lower hardware cost. Traditional systems require time investment for installation, set up and testing, particularly where calibration and frequent adjustments are concerned. The AMCS system requires little calibration or maintenance. “Our solution can work in standalone mode or integrate with AMCS On-Board technology options, including mobile tablets or 3rd party in-cab devices,” Bates says. “Our goal is to make technologies for the waste industry cost effective and easy to use. Our new system is one more way we’re doing that.”

Contact – AMCS Group P 02 9499 6222 W www.amcsgroup.com.au

PRODUCT SHOWCASE – BINS

Matt and Chris Calleija have been working with Bincorp’s Tony Nott since Dump It Bins’ 2006 inception.

Bins to last a lifetime DUMP IT BINS DIRECTOR MATT CALLEIJA SPEAKS WITH WASTE MANAGEMENT REVIEW ABOUT HIS DECADES LONG PARTNERSHIP WITH BINCORP.

n June, the NSW Government committed $3 billion to its infrastructure and jobs acceleration fund. The new funding will be used for smaller, ready to go projects across the state, and is anticipated to provide an extra 20,000 jobs for the NSW workforce. As the infrastructure pipeline expands, however, so too does the generation of construction and demolition waste. Regardless of the size of a construction site, sharp and dangerous materials such as glass, concrete, steel, plastic and wood quickly accumulate. This is a fact well understood by Dump It Bins Director Matt Calleija, who has been working in the waste management industry for over two decades. Dump It Bins operates extensively throughout the Sydney region, supplying skip bins to residential customers, tier one builders and major infrastructure projects. The company also run a recycling

54 / WMR / October 2020

centre and skip bin manufacturing plant, and are a proud member of the Green Building Council of Australia. Calleija and his brother Chris started Dump It Bins in 2006 with just one truck. The company has since grown to over 30 trucks and 2500 bins, with the ability to serve the entire Sydney region. “All our waste is tipped and sorted at our EPA licensed facility. Nothing is sent directly from our site to landfill, and anything we can’t process on site is sent to one of our recycling partners,” Calleija says. Calleija’s family has been working in the waste management industry for generations. His father owns and operates his own skip bin company, as do his uncles and cousins. Together, the Calleija family has decades worth of knowledge in the waste management industry. This industry stalwart status is mirrored by their friend and equipment

supplier Tony Nott, Bincorp Managing Director, who has been working in the waste management sector for 38 years. Calleija explains that Nott and Bincorp have been supplying Dump It Bins with hook lift frames and bins since the company’s inception. “In my opinion, Bincorp manufacture the best quality bins in the market. You pay more upfront, but we’ve got Bincorp bins in circulation that have been going for over 15 years,” he says. “You won’t get that sort of lifespan anywhere else.” Durability is particularly important when dealing with construction and demolition waste, Calleija explains, due the often abrasive and heavy nature of the material. Add to that the common presence of hazardous waste, and one can see that high-strength, heavy duty bins are critical. Bincorp manufactures hook lift bins in various sizes up to 60 cubic metres. The containers are designed to

suit individual customer transport requirements, with customisable hook height and rail spacing. Containers are manufactured to variable thickness and design, with different heavy-duty and door options with rope rails, ladders and tarps available. Similarly, Bincorp’s hook lift frames can be fitted to suit various hook heights and rail spacings, with a variety of controls and accessories available. With sliding and articulating jibs, Bincorp’s frames can facilitate loads from six to 35 tonnes. The frames come equip with an automatic centre framelock to secure containers stay in place, ensuring operates meet and exceed their safety requirements. “Over the years we’ve acquired two other styles of hook lift frames from other manufactures, and they didn’t

measure up. Nott’s products are a real industry standout,” Calleija says. In addition to hook lift frames and bins, Bincorp design and manufacture a range of containers to suit all environmental and waste requirements. The company’s factory is fitted to suit the manufacture of all container sizes, up to some of the largest built in the industry. Bincorp also offer customisable hooklift trays made to different lengths with chequer plate floors, rope rails, front load boards and hook lift pick-up depending on customer’s needs. Calleija says he looks forward to continuing his relationship with Nott and Bincorp. He adds that it’s not just the quality of the product that drives the partnership, but also Nott and his team’s commitment to customer service.

Bincorp’s hook lift frames can facilitate loads from six to 35 tonnes.

“We’ve had such a long relationship because Nott understands the industry and all the requirements it entails. You can’t go wrong with Bincorp.” Contact – Bincorp

P (02) 9756 3616 E bincorpequip@bigpond.com W www.bincorpequip.com.au/

How much profit are you making on each lift? THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GUESSING AND KNOWING

Choose Trimble LOADRITE Onboard Scales and information systems, learn more at trimble.com/waste

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PRODUCT SHOWCASE – TRUCKS AND VEHICLES

Wastech’s Clearline trailers incorporate high tensile steel plates in the body, reducing tare weight and increasing payloads.

Decades of waste ejection WITH 10 CLEARLINE WASTE TRAILERS DELIVERED AND NINE MORE ON THE WAY, A LONG-TIME INDUSTRY STALWART OUTLINES HIS 20-YEAR RELATIONSHIP WITH WASTECH ENGINEERING.

n 2017-2018, Victoria’s waste and resource recovery sector managed 12 per cent more material than the previous year, at over 14.4 million tonnes. The state achieved a 69 per cent diversion rate, recovering almost 10 million tonnes of material. Despite high diversion rates, as with anywhere, Victoria still has to

56 / WMR / November 2020

manage large volumes of waste that can’t be recycled. This reality is well known to council waste transfer station managers, with one such operator telling Waste Management Review that his transfer station moves 4500 tonnes of waste each month, equating to roughly 225 trailer loads. The transfer station he runs, which

was built in 1980, underwent a major refurbishment in 2000 with the intention of streamlining the delivery of essential waste management services to the Melbourne suburb’s residents. Prior to the refurbishment, the council representative says the transfer station moved waste with

trucks and dog trailers, with a mechanical system moving small containers in and out of compactors. While state-of-the-art when built, he explains that the process had become cumbersome and inefficient. The transfer station’s compactors are now lifted off the ground, allowing semi-trailers to drive up for filling. To achieve effective movement rates, council put a tender out for new custom-built trailers to fit the compactors. Through this, the council’s 20year relationship with Wastech Engineering was born, with a total of 10 trailers sold and nine more on the way. “Wastech are the only ones building this type of trailer, and they have a very clean design with lots of space on the side for advertising recycling and other council programs,” the representative says. Wastech’s Clearline rolled wall body design provides durability and integral strength to withstand the high compaction forces in waste transfer station applications. Built to withstand high piercing forces during compaction, the council’s trailers are used to manage green, hard and municipal solid waste. The Wastech designed trailers incorporate high tensile steel plates in the body, reducing tare weight and increasing payloads. Additionally, the smooth internal design, along with the hydraulic eject blade, safely and efficiently pushes waste loads out automatically. While many councils now use this type of hydraulic eject blade system, the representative explains that he and Wastech lead the charge over 20 years ago. “The reason for the change was the old system was falling apart, so we came up with this new concept. It allows us to transport 20 plus tonnes

of waste per load, while providing ease of operation,” he says. The representative adds that he had a lot of issues with the old containers, which had very large doors and required drivers to leave the hooktruck cabin for unloading. “The ground in winter is very uneven and boggy, so we wanted to move away from that for safety reasons,” he says. “Plus, when drivers have to get out to manually open the doors, it creates issues with injuries – when the wind catches a door of that weight it becomes like a sail.” During the initial collaborative design process, the council representative requested that everything be hydraulically operated, meaning the ejection process can be completed from inside the cabin. “Drivers just flick a switch and the waste is pushed out of the truck,” he says. “This is much safer for our drivers and is also a quicker way to move a large amount of waste at any one time. Wastech’s trailers have effectively streamlined our process.” Additionally, the representative highlights the trailer’s longevity, with

his first set now in its 20th year. “You won’t find any other council or transport business that’s still using 20-year-old trailers for this type of work,” he says. “They’re well-made, have good design and have been very well maintained.” Major repairs and refurbishments have been undertaken by Wastech, with maintenance done in-house at the council workshop. While the trailers longevity is striking, the representative says they are now coming to the end of their life, which was the motivation behind ordering a set of nine new trailers from Wastech. “Wastech do an outstanding job. If we have a problem – like a trailer goes down – they will fix it straight away,” he says. “We can’t afford to have trailers off the road as any downtime makes it difficult to complete our tasks, so it’s very important for us to have that good working relationship with Wastech.” Contact – Wastech Engineering P 1800 465 465 P info@wastech.com.au W www.wastech.com.au

Wastech worked with a Melbourne council to develop a hydraulic transport solution for its waste transfer station.

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EVENTS

Digital transition AUSTRALASIAN WASTE AND RECYCLING EXPO PRODUCT MANAGER MELISSA CLENDINEN OUTLINES WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE REIMAGINED ONLINE EVENT.

hile COVID-19 and associated movement restrictions continues to disrupt traditional approaches to business and social interaction, the team behind the Australasian Waste and Recycling Expo (AWRE) is committed to providing an essential platform for the waste and resource recovery sector to grow. After much consideration and consulting with industry, AWRE 2020 has been reimagined as an interactive online event. Set to run 25-26 November, the online format is a first for AWRE, with the team dedicated to providing a platform for industry to connect, do business and navigate the transition to ‘COVID normal.’ Melissa Clendinen, AWRE Product Manager, says the AWRE team believes that making the transition

Attendees will have the opportunity to put questions to speakers via a live Q&A.

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to online will offer all attendees the opportunity to be involved in an environment where they feel safe. “All of the AWRE partners have been extremely supportive from the outset as well, which made the decision to run a digital event over the existing two days of the show even easier and the obvious step to take,” she says. AWRE’s traditional education program over the past 10 years has been a popular focus for visitors, with 54 per cent of 2019 attendees coming to attend the speaker series and 74 per cent of them walking away highly satisfied. According to Clendinen, the 2020 online event will be no different. “The quality of all of our presentations is extremely high and it is great to have our association partners onboard to assist in the curation,” Clendinen says.

The event will be run with major partner the NSW EPA, with support from a number of key industry bodies including the National Waste and Recycling Industry Council, Waste Contractors and Recyclers Association, Australian Institute of Packaging, Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation, MRA Consulting Group and the Australia New Zealand Recycling Platform. Kathy Giunta, NSW EPA Circular Economy Programs Director, says the authority is proud to continue its major partnership with AWRE, as it has done over the event’s 10-year history. “In these changing times it is wise to go online and continue to provide the waste and recycling community with an accessible event,” she says. MRA Consulting Group Managing Director Mike Ritchie will act as host over the two days, moderating 20 plus keynote speakers across 10 sessions. NSW Environment Minister Matt Kean will open the event, providing attendees with an overview of the state’s 20-year waste strategy. Featured sessions include a deep dive into the NSW Circular Economy Program, a discussion on trending topics such as waste-to-energy, e-waste and its development in the industry, the implementation of sustainable packaging guidelines, the Recycling Modernisation Fund, and an outline of the food waste and compostable guidelines. Additionally, AWRE will provide meeting hubs for attendees to network.

AWRE 2020 aims to provide visitors and exhibitors with an experience as close to a live exhibition as possible.

“Attendees will have the opportunity to put their questions to the speakers via a live Q&A – exactly as you would have at the traditional AWRE,” Clendinen says. “We’re also very excited to introduce the inclusion of a live exhibition, product launches and technology and solutions

We are recruiting for tomorrow To register your interest email memberservices@wriq.com.au

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demonstrations over the two days.” Exhibitors will be showcasing their solutions to the online audience through 15-minute sessions, with attendees able to book appointments to speak with the exhibitors firsthand. AWRE 2020 aims to provide visitors and exhibitors with an experience as close to a live exhibition as

possible, Clendinen says. She adds that registration for the event will be opening soon. “We’re committed to bringing the industry a platform where they can re-connect and navigate the rapidly growing and changing landscape of waste and recycling,” she says. To register online go to awre.com.au

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The role of reuse within the circular economy SHIFTING OUR UNDERSTANDING OF CHARITABLE DONATIONS FROM RECYCLING TO REUSE WILL HELP EDUCATE CONSUMERS ON THE FUNDAMENTAL TENETS OF CIRCULARITY, WRITES OMER SOKER, CHARITABLE RECYCLING AUSTRALIA CEO.

efore we examine the role of reuse as a cornerstone of the circular economy, I have an admission. I’m confused about the commonly accepted definitions of the words waste and recycling, and the limiting narratives this creates. For example, if someone throws a brand new $2800 Louis Vuitton handbag into the red bin, is it waste? What if they donate it to a charity shop or put it in a charity donation bin? Is this waste or is it a resource? And then, when a lucky shopper buys it for $280 in an op shop, are they ‘recycling’, or is this actually ‘reuse’ in all its glory? At Charitable Recycling Australia – where we champion the circular economy for a sustainable environment and an equitable society – we have a view on this. Firstly, our credentials. We’ve been operating on circular economy principals for over a hundred years, since the first charity shop was opened in 1880 under the then progressive name of a recycling depot. Now, in 2020, our collective network of 3000 plus charity and social enterprise

Omer Soker, Charitable Recycling Australia CEO, says reuse creates up to 195 jobs per 10,000 tonnes of material.

retailers reuse 285 million products a year, divert 642,000 tonnes from landfill and generate $550 million in revenue to support the most vulnerable people in Australia. What we do, mostly, is reuse. These 285 million products – clothes, toys and homewares – are simply reused again and again by different people to maximise the life of these precious resources.

75,000 tonnes of these resources are also exported to developing countries, where they are also reused – as the clothes, toys and homewares they are. And yet, so many people define what we do in terms of waste or recycling. And that needs to change. In our National Textiles Reuse Policy recommendations to the Federal Government, we’ve asked them to redefine donation behaviour to charities

www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 61

LAST WORD

Charitable Recycling Australia’s network of 3000 plus charity and social enterprise retailers generate $550 million in revenue to support the most vulnerable people in Australia.

as reuse instead of recycling. We’ve asked them to re-define donations to charity as a resource and not accept anyone suggesting this is waste. Why? Because reuse is the cornerstone of any circular economy policy. And proper definitions of reuse and resources will help educate consumers and businesses on the fundamental tenets of circularity, just as defaulting from waste to recycling is simply an extension of limiting linear thinking. What you measure improves, so lets measure reuse and resources. Doesn’t it make sense to reuse products over and over again to extract the maximum value out of them, before we then break them down to their constituent parts and recycle them? Reuse also creates up to 195 jobs per 10,000 tonnes, which makes it up to twenty times as effective in job creation than recycling. Did I mention the half a billion reuse dollars raised towards social welfare programs? Recycling is absolutely essential.

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We must create the infrastructure and end markets to make this a profitable business for all the smart companies out there creating technology solutions. Charities are 100 per cent supportive and ready to collaborate collectively on raw material, sorting and logistics capabilities. We want to see more, better and cost-efficient recycling. All we’re asking is that reuse is prioritised first – so everyone gets the maximum value – before we invest to accelerate recycling at end-of-life. A perfect example of this is the Federal Government’s National Product Stewardship Investment Fund. It’s a brilliant and much needed initiative. However, if a product stewardship scheme misses the reuse opportunity by jumping straight to recycling, we all lose. Especially on products like clothes that can and should be reused. That’s why we’ve launched our National Textiles Reuse Policy. To call for a government endorsed, multistakeholder policy to get clothes out of

landfill – where the national resource recovery rate is 12 per cent – and into the charitable sector system where our resource recovery rates can reach 8090 per cent. Charitable Recycling Australia is also investing directly in quality research and data-led recommendations. We have commissioned a major research project to identify the triple bottom line impact of the charitable reuse and recycling sector using clothes as a case study. In addition to this, we are the Partner Investigator in a Monash University led ARC Grant project to measure the benefits of charitable reuse in the circular economy, together with the Department of Environment and Science, Green Industries South Australia and Sustainability Victoria. So, please let’s get clear on definitions, because language matters. And because the transition to a circular economy is driven by behaviour change. So, let’s change what we define and what we measure – and start talking reuse.

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Waste Management Review November 2020

Articles inside

ITALIAN MADE

ACCURATE POWER

DECADES OF EJECTION

SECURING SMART ACCESS

WATER MANAGEMENT EXTRACTION

REUSE, REPAIR, RECYCLE

WASHING AWAY THE PLASTIC PROBLEM

UNLOCKING THE VALUE IN WASTE