Waste + Water Management Australia V45.2 September 2018

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Editor's Column

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Industry News

September 2018 Volume 45 Number 2

10 Circular Economy 12

Cover Feature: WM Waste Management Casey EVs

16 Equipment Feature 20 Fleet Maintenance 22 Innovative Solutions 26 Product Focus 28 Special Feature: BKT partnership 30 Waste Management 34 Special Report: Drought-proofing

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42 Wastewater Management

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ISSN 1838-7098

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40 Case Study: Sydney Water Corp

44 ACA Corrosion Feature

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About the Cover In a move which looks set to change the face of the Australian waste and recycling industries, Melbourne-based WM Waste Management Services has become the first in Australia to introduce 100% electric-powered collection vehicles. Turn to Page 12 for the full story.


EDITORS COLUMN

Keep it Simple Making it easy is the key to recycling success Dear Readers, With most Australians now better informed than ever before in terms of the environmental impact of many of their actions, it's clear that most people are also prepared to 'do their bit' to improve the environment and reduce their environmental footprint. One only has to look at the participation rates that are being achieved by recycling services around the country to see that this is indeed the case. That said, it is also clear that despite the efforts of many manufacturers, industry groups, NGO’s, statutory authorities and recyclers, we still have a long way to go in terms of improving our overall recovery and recycling rates and reducing the amount of waste being sent to landfill - especially in terms of packaging waste. While there is clearly no ‘quick fix’ solution to this complex challenge, I do believe that one of the key issues still facing the nation’s recyclers, relates to the ease with which many packaging products and materials can be recycled. Despite the excellent work that has already been done by many councils, waste authorities, industry bodies and private sector companies in developing and implementing the array of innovative recycling and product stewardship programs now in place, it seems for many people, the time and effort involved with recycling some items has still not come down to a 'tipping point' where recycling is the preferred option. 2

Waste + Water Management Australia | September 2018

The success of any recycling operation, or for that matter, any task requiring widespread public participation and co-operation, undoubtedly lies within the speed and ease with which the task can be achieved. Even those who are keen to recycle will generally only do it if it is quick and easy to do. Today, most people lead busy lives with family and work commitments at a premium. This fact often makes them either unable or unwilling to invest their time in needlessly complex practices of any kind including recycling, even if they agree ‘in principle’ with recycling and waste minimisation. The bottom line is: if it’s not easy to do, it won’t be done. Importantly, this edict not only applies to the recycling and resource recovery systems in place, but also the design of the items to be recycled. This is particularly true when it comes to packaging design and methodology - where there is clearly still much to be done. For example, when faced with a combination of recyclable and non- recyclable packaging materials (including non-recyclable plastic film around a recyclable cardboard box or packing consisting of a mix of recyclable and/or non-recyclable materials), a large percentage of people will simply place all of the material into one group (even going so far as to stuff all of the smaller packing materials into the larger box for easy disposal) and then deposit it into one bin.

In situations such as this, it matters little into which bin the rubbish is deposited. The householder is either sending recyclables to the landfill, or contaminating the recyclables stream with non-recyclable material. What’s more, even if the person has the foresight to dispose of the outer plastic film packaging separately, they would still be unlikely to dismantle any combination packaging material in order to separate it into the correct processing stream. While I understand that the cost of designing, tooling and manufacturing suitable packing can represent a significant impost for manufacturers, good packaging solutions represent the first step in effective recycling. With that in mind, if we're indeed serious about increasing recycling rates, I believe that more must be done to actively encourage improvements - both in packaging design and purchasing habits. After all, the best way to maximise our recycling efficiency is to make recycling as easy as possible.

Anthony T Schmidt Managing Editor


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INDUSTRY NEWS

Rose Read appointed as new CEO of the NWRIC The National Waste and Recycling Industry Council recently announced the appointment of Rose Read as its new CEO. Rose is a seasoned CEO with experience leading both commercial and not-for-profit organisations including AMTA’s MobileMuster and Clean Up Australia. She has 20 years experience in the waste, recycling and environmental sectors. She is a recognised expert on recycling advocacy and community engagement. Prior to taking up her role as CEO of the NWRIC during August, Rose was the CEO of the MRI PSO - the product stewardship arm of MRI E-cycle Solutions. The MRI PSO is a government approved program for television and computer recycling Australia wide. “I am very excited to have the opportunity to work with Council members and State affiliates in addressing key national issues facing the industry,” Ms Read said. “As a key enabler of the circular economy the recycling industry has much to contribute to Australia economically, environmentally and socially. I look forward to being part of NWRIC and collaborating with members and key stakeholders to create a more vibrant and sustainable waste and recycling industry.” “Rose has played an important role in setting up MRI’s product stewardship arm over the past two years,” said Will LeMessurier, Managing Director, MRI E-cycle Solutions. “She will continue to be involved in MRI on a part time basis over the next six months or so as we transition to our new structure. We wish her well in her new role and the continued positive influence she has over our industry.” Rose’s appointment comes as a result of the retirement of Max Spedding. With more than 30 years experience in the waste and recycling sector, Max is moving on to enjoy retirement after a prestigious career. Alex Serpo will remain with the organisation as company secretary. 4

Waste + Water Management Australia | September 2018

“There are few in the industry who haven’t had the opportunity to work with Max and experience his patient and discerning management style,” said Mr Phil Richards, Chair of the NWRIC. “Over his 30 career he has contributed enormously to the development of the industry, and we wish him well in retirement.” “Setting up the Council over the past two years has been a challenge but now we have all of the key national companies and state associations on board we are starting to see real and positive outcomes,” said outgoing CEO Max Spedding. “With our current recycling problems and the urgent need for better infrastructure planning across Australia, Rose and her team have a busy time ahead. I wish them every success.” The appointment of Rose comes at a time when the NWRIC are stepping up to promote practical solutions for a circular economy. Key priorities for 2018 and 2019 include a national campaign to improve standards across the industry, working with the States to harmonise and improve regulation and continued campaigns for better recycling services in the wake of the Chinese import restrictions.

ABOUT THE NWRIC The National Waste and Recycling Industry Council (NWRIC) acts as the industry’s national policy setting body. Its core activity is to proactively engage with all of the industry’s key stakeholders to promote solutions to the regulatory challenges facing the sector. The founding members of the Council - Alex Fraser Group, Cleanaway, J. J. Richards and Sons, Solo Resource Recovery, Sims Metal Management, Suez, Toxfree, Remondis, ResourceCo and Veolia - represent the majority of the private capital invested into waste management and recycling assets in Australia. NWRIC members encourage and promote best practice and professional conduct; including a commitment achieving to the highest environmental, social and economic outcomes. While the Council is a national body, it also works proactively with Affiliates, which represent the interests of the industry at a State level. The NWRIC Affiliates represent every Australian jurisdiction except Tasmania. Through collective action, the Council and its State-based partners form a network representing the industry Australia wide. NWRIC’s state ‘Affiliates’ are; the Waste Recycling Industry Association of Queensland (WRIQ), the NSW Waste Contractors and Recyclers Association (WCRA), the Victorian Waste Management Association (VWMA), the Waste Recycling Industry Association of South Australia (WRI-SA) and the Waste Recycling Industry Association of WA (WRIWA) and the Waste Recycling Industry Association of the Northern Territory (WRI-NT).

Drinking water standard gets refreshed Every day, an Australian turns on the tap without a thought on whether the water is safe to drink. The products which impact the quality of this water coming out of taps across the country are the focus of a revised standard which has been recently published. Requirements on the products which come into contact with drinking water, such as pipes and fittings, have been outlined in AS/ NZS 4020:2018, Testing of products for use in contact with drinking water. “Trusting the water coming out of the tap to be clean and safe for consumption is a fundamental benefit to living in a developed country, such as Australia,” said CEO of Standards Australia, Dr Bronwyn Evans. “The health and safety of the Australian public was at the forefront of the technical committee’s work in developing this standard which so closely impacts the water coming out of the taps in our homes.” “This standard provides a way to test the products which assist the plumbing industry in meeting water quality values which are nationally recommended. It helps manufacturers, water authorities and regulators to identify the performance that can be expected when purchasing a product to be used in the delivery of drinking water.” “The plumbing products industry is committed to working with Standards Australia to ensure our technical standards align with the guidelines for drinking water quality in Australia and New Zealand,” said Mr Stuart Henry, Executive Director of Plumbing Products Industry Group. “In reviewing the standard, the committee was focussed on ensuring this standard results in the use of up to date test methods to provide comprehensive and reliable testing of products,” said Mr Chris Pipe-Martin, Chair of the Technical Committee responsible for the standard. “Doing so will position this standard as a vital and effective element in the provision of safe drinking water in Australia and New Zealand.”


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INDUSTRY NEWS

Sydney Water introduces leading edge technology in wastewater treatment process As part of the $450 million allocated to upgrade wastewater treatment plants in Sydney’s North-West, Sydney Water has adopted leading edge technology from the Netherlands that will revolutionise the way wastewater is treated in Sydney. The Dutch technology Nereda, unlike conventional processes, is an energy-efficient water treatment processes that can effectively extract nutrients and other chemicals from wastewater with a significantly lower carbon footprint. “It will help transform the way we manage our wastewater infrastructure, making us

more sustainable and enabling us to meet the future needs of a growing Sydney,” said Mark Simister, Head of Delivery Management at Sydney Water. “We’ve trialled the technology by installing and operating a pilot plant at Quakers Hill over the past 12 months. The results were impressive. Not only will this technology reduce Sydney Water’s carbon footprint, but the trial at Quakers Hill has saved us around $14 million in capital costs, which is a saving for all of Sydney Water’s customers,” said Simister. Nereda is an award-winning biological wastewater system that has refined the purification of wastewater, using aerobic granular biomass, which provides savings on energy demands and therefore cost. Nereda operates a cyclic process which allows the biomass to form granular structures. The developed biomass is denser when compared against conventional technologies, allowing the biomass to settle faster.

Whilst the existing technology ensures only clean and safe water is released back into our environment and ecosystems, the adoption of Nerada will provide similar quality results but with only a quarter of the footprint of conventional wastewater treatment plants, and without additional chemical (e.g. carbon or ferric) dosing to assist the treatment process. In addition, future proofing is catered for with Nereda providing Sydney Water with the ability to meet future more stringent water quality discharge requirements. Currently there are over 50 wastewater treatment plants operating, or in the process of implementing, the Nerada technology across Europe, UK, USA and South Africa. “It’s just one of the ways Sydney Water is using innovative technologies to deliver costeffective, quality services to our customers”, added Mark Simister.

VWMA seeks industry input for economic report The Victorian Waste Management Association is calling for input from Victorian waste and recycling companies into a report it has commissioned to highlight the economic and social contributions of the sector. The waste and resource recovery sectors benefit local, regional and national communities however it struggles to communicate consistently on the headline metrics these businesses generate, as a collective. The sector’s ability to champion and highlight these is an important contributor to building and restoring confidence and trust. With the Victorian election this year and a Government elected for a new four-year term, the VWMA believes it is vital that the sector communicates consistently about the issues and challenges it faces, as well as its importance and the contribution of its businesses to the economy. One of the ways to advance the industry's interests is to highlight its importance to the community in an environmental and health context, and in terms of jobs and investment created economic activity that is generated. Furthermore, the Industry is a substantial contributor of tax and rate revenue to the three tiers of Government enabling the delivery of core and essential frontline services. 6

Waste + Water Management Australia | September 2018

The VWMA is working with a leading economist, Mr Nick Behrens of QEAS to complete this project which replicates important work carried out by the Queensland Association and currently being completed in the Northern Territory. The VWMA is optimistic that each state will complete a similar exercise so the industry can start to communicate collectively on our sector’s importance. All data collected will be held in confidence and the VWMA will not disclose any individual corporate or business information, rather only aggregated high level industry statistics. These high-level industry statistics will be drawn upon to prepare various positions, communications and policy formation moving forward. Victorian operators can complete the survey by visiting: https://surveymonkey. com/r/VWMAsurvey To maximise people’s time, the survey also includes questions around insurance to inform the VWMA’s insurance package, general questions about government guidance and accessing government support. “It is really important for our sector to come together and start to shape our own story back to government. An

important element in that story involves the contribution made to the Victorian economy,” said VWMA executive officer Mark Smith.” “Most industry sectors publish their own data sets and reports into economic contribution and employee numbers to communicate and express their importance to local and state government and to the community. It is important our industry does the same. “With an election this year and a new 4 year-term state government elected, this report will be a useful resource for our sector in advocating for industry support, regional development and regulatory and insurance challenges into the future.”

ABOUT THE VICTORIAN WASTE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION The Victorian Waste Management Association (VWMA) is one of Australia’s oldest waste and recycling associations representing Australia’s largest membership of waste and resource recovery businesses including collection and transporters, processors, recycling facilities and landfills. For further information, please visit: www.vwma.com.au


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INDUSTRY NEWS

Grants awarded to WA waste reduction advocates A total of 26 community groups received a share of $242,657 in grants for projects to reduce waste, improve recycling and provide community education across Western Australia. The first round of the 2018 WA State Government’s Community Grants Scheme (CGS) was announced recently by Environment Minister Stephen Dawson. Projects funded include ‘The Salty Blue Creation Station for Ningaloo’ community recycling centre in Exmouth, which will transform plastic waste into products for resale. A total of $34,015 in funding will be provided to the Cape Conservation Group to establish the recycling centre, providing an opportunity for community engagement and education on how to live low waste, with less plastic. Another recipient, the Ravensthorpe Regional Arts Council’s ‘Art for Waste Awareness’ project, will receive $7,781 to put together community workshops focused on upcycling marine litter into decorative pieces in an effort to minimise single-use waste. Speaking about the grants, Western Australian Environment Minister Stephen Dawson, commented: “The 26 projects that received grants under this round of CGS funding are great examples of committed community groups seeking to reduce waste, boost recycling and protect the environment.” “Initiatives like these, help increase awareness and education around our understanding of the benefits of waste avoidance, reuse and recycling.” “Supporting these communities-focused projects will help the Government achieve the Western Australian Waste Strategy targets of diverting 65 per cent of municipal solid waste in the Perth metropolitan region and 50 per cent in major regional centres from landfill by 2020,” he said. “I commend these groups for their efforts and look forward to the outcomes of these innovative and engaging projects,” the Minister added. The CGS is administered by the Waste Authority and funded through the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Account. For further information and updates on future funding rounds, visit the Waste Authority’s website: www.wasteauthority.wa.gov.au 8

Waste + Water Management Australia | September 2018

Australia’s e-waste on track to tower over us all The amount of e-waste generated in Australia is on track to weigh more than Melbourne’s massive Eureka Tower in the next four years. By 2023 it’s estimated that we will have created 223,000 tonnes of broken and unwanted electrical items. Without the introduction of recycling programs, it’s thought there’ll be around 700 million e-waste items by 2020 alone -that’s nearly 30 times the population. Many of these electronic products contain hazardous materials such as lead, mercury, arsenic, phosphor, fluids and refrigerants. If dumped and left in landfills, or stored inappropriately, these materials can seep into groundwater and soil, or release into the air, creating long term contamination and human health issues. E-waste is now regarded as the fastest growing waste stream in the world and is quickly becoming a problem too big and heavy to ignore. That’s why the Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Sustainability Victoria and the Victorian Environment Protection Authority are working together to introduce important measures to tackle the problem before it causes irreparable damage. Sustainability Victoria’s new campaign “Take your e-waste to a better place” is educating Victorians about why it’s important to recycle e-waste, not only to avoid the toxins ending up in landfill, but also to aid the recovery of all of the many recyclable elements in these devices that can be reused. E-waste recycling organisations like TechCollect are able to ensure at least 90% of the commodities recovered from the e-waste they collect and dismantle are used as raw materials in the manufacture of new products. Sustainability Victoria CEO Stan Krpan said: “Because of the predicted rate of e waste growth, the Victorian Government is investing $15million in infrastructure improvements and banning on all e-waste from being accepted into landfill from July 2019.” “Recovering and reusing resources like gold, copper, silver, plastic and glass is a vital part of the sustainable future of some of our most important belongings like mobiles, tablets, laptops and TVs,” Mr Krpan said. Warren Overton, CEO at the Australia and New Zealand Recycling Platform, adds;

“Our vision is to create a community which collects, processes and safely recycles e-waste for responsible environmental outcomes.”

What can we achieve by recycling e-waste? The Victorian Government believes a commitment to recycling e-waste will achieve a range of positive outcomes for the Victorian environment, community and industry, which includes: • Increase community awareness of e-waste, its impacts, risks and opportunities. • Increase recovery of e-waste by ensuring greater volumes of e-waste are channelled through resource recovery processes. Current practices show that at least 95% of a computer, 75% of a washing machine and 84% of an air conditioner can be recovered. • Provide certainty for industry by setting a clear direction for e-waste in Victoria. Permanently diverting e-waste from landfill will ideally create a steadier stream of material to recovery centres, drive lower costs through improved economies of scale, and increase stability in the e-waste recycling sector. This in turn should enable more informed planning and facilitate more opportunities for new ventures and prospective investors. • Create more jobs in the waste and resource recovery sector. Studies show that the resource recovery industry employs 9.2 people for every 10,000 tonnes of waste, compared with 2.8 people per 10,000 tonnes of landfilled waste. The more e-waste available for recycling, the greater the need for employees to service the industry. • Improve recycling technology by encouraging investment into the trial and introduction of new and improved technology, and into best practice recycling operations. Currently, Victoria’s recycling capacity is based on manual processes, however, an increase in availability of e-waste through the government’s commitment will likely stimulate innovation in recycling technologies to achieve greater efficiencies. To learn more about e-waste recycling, please visit: ewaste.vic.gov.au


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CIRCULAR ECONOMY

From Farmer to Pharma Waste provides food for thought in South Australia Agricultural waste and products deemed not worthy of the supermarket shelf will be used to make a range of value-added products including pharmaceuticals, food additives and cosmetics. Quercetin from the skin of brown onions is one of the compounds being targeted in South Australia by the new Agricultural Product Development Research Consortium. Launched this month in South Australia, the $10.9 million Agricultural Product Development Research Consortium will be hosted at the University of Adelaide’s Waite Campus. It brings together 18 partners to develop high-value products from agricultural waste, including nine South Australian based companies from the agriculture and food sector and a further nine national and international academic institutions and industry partners. Research Consortium Lead Investigator Professor Vincent Bulone said he hoped the first commercial products would be ready for launch within 12 months. He said a prototype had already been made of a cartridge made of cellulose from crop waste, which can be integrated into air purification systems and used in piggeries or food storage rooms. Some biomolecules that can be derived from crop waste also have

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Waste + Water Management Australia | September 2018

anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-cancer or gut-health properties. Examples include the food colourant anthocyanin from apples and cherries, chitosan from mushrooms for use in skin care products, quercetin from onions, which has anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, sulforaphane from Brassica vegetables with potential benefits for diabetes patients and cellulose used for composite materials. Professor Bulone said the method for extracting various molecules from the different waste types he was targeting was often exactly the same because it targeted the same class of compound. “My idea is to scale up and have a manufacturing business established quickly to produce these molecules as commercial products,” he said. “We could then take all kind of biomass all year-round depending on the season whether it be cherries, onions or apples so we can have continuous production. “I already have two international players that have written letters saying that if we produce it they will buy it because there is a high need.” The consortium will also conduct research to discover compounds and molecules with potential to become new products in the longer term.

Research partners in the project include the University of Adelaide, University of South Australia, CSIRO and Sweden’s Royal Institute of Technology where Professor Bulone is a former director of the KTH Advanced Carbohydrate Materials Consortium. “The lab there specialises in the development of composite materials derived from carbohydrate so I’m involving the researchers from that university to help with the development of intelligent materials derived from carbohydrates in waste, potentially from cellulose but possibly also from the starch and the pectins to make intelligent packaging materials,” Professor Bulone said. “For instance, materials that will change colour depending on relative humidity – this can be very useful particularly if you are wanting to control the moisture content in your packaged foods or vegetables in the storage room.” Industry partners in the project include South Australian producers Filsell’s Orchards, Raw Nation Wholefoods, Ashton Valley Fresh, JVJ Co, SA Mushrooms and Potatoes South Australia. It also involves Denmark’s Carlsberg Group and South Australia’s Coopers Brewing along with American ingredients solutions company Ingredion. “Agriculture is already a key contributor to South Australia’s economy but its huge potential to generate high-value products and create new post-farmgate industries has not yet been realised,” Professor Bulone said. “Our agricultural and horticultural industries generate abundant waste biomass, which is currently disposed of at a cost to the producer, or only a low return. “At the moment we are importing some of these compounds that we have in our waste because we do not have the right industry to extract them and prepare them from waste. “By value adding to that waste with new products, the growers can keep growing, increase their margin and ensure the sustainability of rural activities across the country,” Professor Bulone concluded.


CIRCULAR ECONOMY

Applications open for recycling research and development grants Businesses, local government and researchers looking to develop opportunities for recycled content can apply for grants between $50,000 and $200,000 for projects that can increase the quantity of recycled products being sold in Victoria. Sustainability Victoria CEO Stan Krpan said that Research, Development and Demonstration (RD&D) Grants would stimulate markets for the use of recovered resources, increase job creation, develop quality products for end markets, and increase investment in products made from recovered resources. “Recent shifts in the current international recycling in gives Victoria greater impetus to develop local markets for the products we can recycle. “It is crucial such markets are developed so the value of recovered resources is realised,” Mr Krpan said. Sustainability Victoria is seeking projects that investigate one or more targeted

materials; that is, materials that have specific supply side or demand side barriers that could be overcome with the support of government. For the purposes of the RD&D Grants, the following targeted materials have been identified: • concrete and brick • electronic waste (e-waste) • glass • organic material like food and plant waste • paper and cardboard • plastics (flexible and rigid) • rubber (tyres) • textiles “This funding provides industry the opportunity to develop and trial new or existing products and specifications that use significant and reliable quantities of targeted materials,” he said. Investment in the programs developed

by successful corporate, industry or institutional applicants project would be matched dollar for dollar by the government. The grants are designed to support industry to progress commercialisation of new products and processing approaches; increasing end market uptake of, and demand for, targeted materials. Previous funded research projects investigated alternative uses for glass fines and flexible plastics in construction and manufactured products. These included the development of plastic railway sleepers, plastics in concrete footpaths, glass in lightweight (non-load bearing) concrete and roof tiles made from glass waste. More information on how to apply for a grant and previously funded projects can be found at: www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/ research-development-grants

Waste + Water Management Australia | September 2018

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COVER FEATURE

GAME CHANGER WM Waste Management Services Launch Australia’s First 100% Electric Waste Collection Vehicles 12

Waste + Water Management Australia | September 2018


COVER FEATURE

I

n a move which looks set to change the face of the Australian waste and recycling industries, Melbourne-based WM Waste Management Services has become the first in Australia to introduce 100% electric-powered collection vehicles. The new vehicles, which are being used to provide booked at call kerbside hard waste collection services for the City of Casey in Melbourne’s outer south-east, are not only significantly quieter and cheaper to run than petrol or diesel-powered vehicles, they will also deliver a substantial reduction in the company’s environmental footprint. Speaking about the new electricpowered vehicles, WM Waste Management Services Managing Director, Mark Jeffs, said that the new electricpowered vehicles represented a major milestone for the company, and the achievement of a long-term goal. “We’re extremely proud to be the first in Australia to introduce 100% electricpowered collection vehicles. We believe they’ll prove to be a real ‘game changer’ - not only for WM Waste Management Services and the City of Casey, but also in terms of the waste and recyclables collections sector as a whole.” “While it’s sometimes challenging to be the first to introduce something new, we’re dealing with proven, cutting-edge heavy vehicle EV technology and high quality, purpose-built vehicles, that are ideally suited to the task.” “Indeed, we believe that before long, rather than being the ‘exception’, 100%

Compact performance – the SEA Drive motor’s compact size belies its power and performance. electric-powered collection vehicles will more than likely become the ‘expectation’ - particularly for metropolitan and innercity services,” he added. Supplied by mobile waste equipment specialists Superior Pak, the three new 100% electric-powered trucks are the first to be built as part of an exclusive licencing arrangement between Australian Electric Vehicle technology company SEA Electric and Superior Pak, which has been appointed as the sole supplier of Electric Vehicles with SEA Electric’s SEA-Drive™ technology to the Australian and New Zealand waste industry. The 100% electric-powered trucks are ideally suited to kerbside collection work, with the ‘stop-start’ nature of waste collection providing additional charging via the truck’s regenerative braking system. What’s more, the fact that the trucks operate on pre-determined daily

routes and return to the depot at the end of each day not only means that total kilometres travelled by each truck can be easily managed, it also means that the trucks can be recharged while they’re parked overnight at the depot.

ALL OF THE PERFORMANCE NONE OF THE EMISSIONS

The trucks are powered by SEA Electric’s proprietary SEA-Drive™ high performance drivetrain, which delivers all of the performance of a diesel or petrolpowered truck, with none of the emissions. With a limited top speed of 100 km/h, the truck’s all-electric powertrain utilises purpose-designed 220kWh NMC batteries, capable of providing the vehicle with a range of approximately 250 kilometres at its full 23,500 kg GVM. The vehicles were delivered to SEA Electric’s Melbourne facility as ‘gliders’ (complete cab-chassis units without

Waste + Water Management Australia | September 2018

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COVER FEATURE

an engine or any other associated components such as fuel tanks, battery boxes, etc.) ready for installation of the SEA-Drive™ drivetrain and associated components. Not surprisingly, two major considerations when making such major modifications to a vehicle are safety and performance. With that in mind, all of the SEADrive™ components – from the batteries through to the engine and other subsystems, are positioned within the cab-chassis to ensure that the vehicle balance and handling integrity are maintained. From a safety perspective, the mid-mounted batteries ensure that they remain protected in the event of an accidental impact into the vehicle – a design which also pre-empts and futureproofs against the expected side-impact legislation. Together with the fact that it is virtually maintenance-free, another major benefit of the SEA-Drive™ design is that it eliminates the need for costly external charging infrastructure. Requiring only a standard 3-phase, 32A power point to charge, the trucks features a 22kW on-board charger, allowing them to be plugged-in and charged from any 3-phase power source. Battery charging time from totally flat to full charge is approximately eight hours. Battery life is calculated at 3,500 charge cycles which, based on a single charge, six days a week, results in an operational life of over 10 years.

INNOVATIVE COMBINATION REAR LOADER DESIGN

Built by Superior Pak, each of the vehicles for the new City of Casey contract feature a unique ‘combination rear loader/cage’ design. Specifically developed to meet the needs of kerbside hard waste collections, these innovative vehicles provide a 17m3 capacity rear loader compaction body for items that can be compacted, together with an 8.3m3 secure cage for items that are not suitable for compaction, such as fridges, televisions, computers and reusable goods The cage is also fitted with a hydraulic lifter to eliminate heavy lifting issues. 14

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The cage is fitted with a hydraulic lifter to eliminate heavy lifting issues with large items. “As with our other kerbside hard waste collection services, our focus is not only on maximising recovery and recycling while minimising the amount of waste being sent to landfill, but also on minimising the overall environmental impact of our collection operations, and having the right collection vehicle is a critical part of that,” Mark Jeffs said. “Simply placing everything into a compaction hopper would not only render a lot of perfectly reusable items completely unusable, it also makes a lot of other items significantly more difficult to recycle,” he said. “Whereas this issue has been traditionally overcome in many areas by running both a standard compaction body vehicle and a tray/tipper on each route, this also creates a number of significant problems.” From both an environmental and operational perspective, running two trucks on every route creates a number of issues. It not only doubles emissions

and operating costs, it also doubles the safety risks associated with truck movements in residential streets. What’s more, the fact that two trucks very rarely travel together means that residents often find that some of the items they’ve put out for collection have been left behind after the first truck has been past and remain uncollected on the day. This inevitably causes confusion amongst residents and generally results in a spike in enquiry calls and complaints as residents contact their council in an effort to find out why some of the hard waste was left behind by the first truck. “The combination collection truck overcomes all of the issues associated with having to run two trucks on the same route,” Mark Jeffs said. “Everything is collected at the same time. Things that shouldn’t be compacted are put into the secure cage section using the lifter, without being crushed. It’s fast, efficient and gets everything collected with one pass,” he added.


COVER FEATURE

NEW CASEY HARD WASTE COLLECTION SERVICE

Located in Melbourne’s outer suburban south-east, the City of Casey is Victoria’s most populous Local Government area. Home to over 320,000 residents, the City of Casey encompasses a number of Melbourne’s most rapidly growing outer suburban areas. With collections commencing during August, the new City of Casey Council hard waste collection service will involve approximately 62,000 booked pickups per year. Based on previous year’s figures, this is expected to result in the collection of over 22,000 mattresses and well over 10,000 tonnes of hard waste. The service is being provided with a fleet of five new Superior Pak ‘combination rear loader/cage’ vehicles, three of which are 100% electricpowered. WM Waste Management Services plans to transition the entire City of Casey collection fleet to 100% electric-powered in the near future. All of the materials and goods collected from the City of Casey are taken to WM Waste Management Services’ sister company KTS Recycling for processing. Recycling rates from the service currently stand at around 60-80% recycled, however, the goal is to improve the recycling/reuse rate even further thanks to a number of new enhancements to the KTS Recycling facility, which will ensure that it can handle and recycle the widest possible range of goods.

“As with our other kerbside hard waste collection services, our focus is not only on maximising recovery and recycling while minimising the amount of waste being sent to landfill, but also on minimising the overall environmental impact of our collection operations, and having the right collection vehicle is a critical part of that.”

All of the materials and goods collected from the City of Casey are taken to WM Waste Management Services’ sister company KTS Recycling for processing.

Items that are suitable from reuse are sold through KTS Recycling’s Reuse Shop.

Clean separated recyclable materials are baled ready for shipping to end users.

ABOUT WM WASTE MANAGEMENT SERVICES

The key to this success clearly lies within the company’s innovative approach to collections and focus on maximising the amount of collected material being recycled. In 2006, WM Managing Director, Mark Jeffs, established KTS Recycling, which now handles all of the resource recovery operations for WM Waste Management. The goal is to divert 90% of collected materials from landfill. In addition to its central resource recovery centre, KTS Recycling operates four transfer stations with reuse shops and a mattress recycling facility. For further information, please visit the website: www.wmwaste.com.au

Established in 1985, WM Waste Management Services is an Australian, family-owned business headquartered in Boronia, in Melbourne’s South Eastern Suburbs. From its relatively humble beginnings, WM Waste Management Services has grown to become Victoria’s largest kerbside hard waste collection and recycling contractor - providing services to a total of 17 councils across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria. In fact, WM is now responsible for over 50% of the Melbourne kerbside hard waste market.

Waste + Water Management Australia | September 2018

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EQUIPMENT FEATURE

Superior Pak and FAUN join forces for the Australian waste equipment market Superior Pak, Australia’s largest manufacturer and servicer of mobile waste equipment, has announced a joint venture with FAUN Group, part of the worldwide operating KIRCHHOFF Group, Europe’s leading manufacturer of waste handling equipment and road sweepers. With a history dating back to its foundation in 1845, FAUN produced its first “dust cart” especially for collecting rubbish in 1897. Production of refuse collection vehicles and sweepers commenced in 1908 with the name FAUN established in 1916. FAUN became a division of the KIRCHHOFF Group in 1994 and is today highly regarded for its expertise in manufacturing, selling, renting and leasing waste disposal vehicles and sweepers worldwide, and for its development of fuel cell and electric drive options which are state of the art. Superior Pak is the leading Australian manufacturer of waste collection and compaction equipment and works with vehicle suppliers such as IVECO, Dennis Eagle, Mercedes-Benz, Scania, Isuzu Trucks, Hino, Fuso, Volvo and DAF. The company's head office is located in Brisbane, with its manufacturing centre based in Bundaberg, Queensland. To coincide with the transaction Superior Pak will take over the FAUN distribution rights in January 2020. Announcing the joint venture, a spokesperson for Superior Pak said the current executive management team would remain unchanged, with Rob Wrigley as Managing Director and Dawid Botha (CFO), Garry Whineray (National Sales & Marketing Manager), Keith Clark (National After Market Manager), Mark Hamilton (National Manufacturing Manager) and Michael Pronger (National Engineering Manager). FAUN will join Rob Wrigley (original Superior Pak Shareholder) as joint shareholders of Superior Pak. FAUN will acquire the shareholdings of Rowley Errington (Retired Superior Pak Director) and Anne Barry (Non-executive Director). Patrick Hermanspann, CEO FAUN Group, comments: “We are very pleased to welcome Superior Pak in our Group. It is an honour for us to work closely together and to strengthen our 16

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business. All parties can learn from each other and we provide our customers with the best trucks and after sales services." Commenting on the new shareholding arrangements, which took effect during August, Rob Wrigley, Superior Pak managing director said, “The move will provide further depth to our business and product range.” “New technologies for vehicle drive systems combined with the expertise of both partners in the production of class leading waste disposal and collection equipment will reinforce the strong future ahead for Australian manufacturing and the abilities of our workforce,” Mr. Wrigley added. The FAUN joint-venture comes hot on the heels of another major agreement, in which

(L-R) Superior Pak Managing Director, Rob Wrigley celebrating the new joint-venture with Patrick Hermanspann, CEO FAUN Group.

Superior Pak has entered into an exclusive licence arrangement with leading Australian Electric Vehicle technology company SEA Electric. Under the terms of the agreement, Superior Pak has been appointed as the sole supplier of Electric Vehicles with SEA-Drive™ technology to the Australian and New Zealand waste industry. The agreement, which is expected to see a rapid increase in the number of 100% electric-powered collection vehicles being deployed across both Australia and New Zealand, gives Superior Pak the ability to provide full turn-key Electric Vehicle solutions direct from the factory. For further information, please visit: www.superiorpak.com.au


Australia’s largest manufacturer of mobile waste equipment

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EQUIPMENT FEATURE

Taking Electric Vehicles to the Next Level While most people tend to associate Electric Vehicle technology with the exclusive domain of cars and smaller passenger vehicles, nothing could be further from the truth… thanks in part to the technology developed by an innovative Australian company. SEA Electric is an Australian automotive technology company which has developed proprietary electric driveline technology for the commercial vehicle sector – and it’s changing the way that many people are viewing EV technology. At the core of SEA Electric’s technological advances are the five SEA-Drive™ drivetrains, which are targeted at electrifying the distribution vehicle segment of the automotive industry, from delivery van size up to 23.5t GVM 6x4 rubbish/agitator vehicles. More than just simply a case of ‘upscaling’ existing EV technology, the proprietary SEADrive™ technology has been specifically developed to meet the needs of large commercial vehicles, offering a number of unique features and benefits. First and foremost, it has been developed on flexible architecture, allowing the optimisation of the energy consumption for each sub-system (e.g. the air conditioning sub-system), whilst also providing a framework upon which new developments in sub-system hardware can be introduced and adapted in the future. This results in a ‘live’ system, whereby continuous improvement is possible, which ultimately de-risks the purchasing decision for fleet buyers. From a safety perspective, the midmounted batteries not only provide optimised vehicle balance and handling, they also pre-empt and future-proof against the expected side-impact legislation. SEA-Drive™ technology also delivers a number of significant benefits from an investment and fleet management 18

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perspective. The system’s on-board charger removes the need for external charging infrastructure, which is one of the most contentious purchasing issues with EV’s. The SEA-Drive™ system only requires a standard 3-phase, 32A power point to charge. These are readily available in commercial properties around the world and can be installed anywhere at very little cost. What this means from a practical standpoint, is that Electric Vehicles fitted with the SEA-Drive™ technology effectively have the largest charging network in the world at their disposal. There are other unique elements of the SEA-Drive design, including utilising a relatively low voltage range and NMC cells, which provide an extremely cost-effective solution, allowing high performance and class leading Total Cost of Ownership for current and future customers. With various pilot programs and trials already underway (with some of Australia’s largest companies), SEA Electric is very well

positioned to benefit from this burgeoning automotive sector and hoping to attract the development of component suppliers to supplement those currently imported for use. Tony Fairweather, Group Managing Director with SEA Electric, commented: “SEA’s vision is that every commercial vehicle in the world that travels less than 200km per day - and has a minimum 4-hour dwell time per 24-hour period - has a zero emission, 100% electric drive in the future. This transposes to most of the 350 million commercial vehicles in operation across the globe.” “Furthermore, SEA intends to lead the establishment and growth of this new sector for the Australian economy, and expects to see Australia become recognised as a leader in electric vehicle technology, with electric vehicles becoming commonplace across a wide range of commercial sectors including the waste and recycling industry,” he added. For further information, please visit: www.sea-electric.com



FLEET MAINTENANCE

Highlighting the Importance of Good Tyre Maintenance Despite the fact that most people are well aware of the critical role that good quality, well maintained tyres play in the safe operation of tyred vehicles, it’s also a fact that for many people, tyre care and maintenance is far from ‘top of mind’. That is, of course, until something goes wrong. If you’re lucky, the problem may be a puncture – and hopefully, the worse consequence may be the inconvenience of not being able to move the vehicle until the offending tyre is repaired or replaced. If you’re not so lucky, the problem – and the consequences – can be MUCH worse. Poorly maintained and excessively worn tyres can, quite literally, spell disaster on the roads and on the worksite. Together with the obvious risks posed by a lack of tread and the dangers faced if a tyre blows-out or shreds at speed, poor quality or badly maintained tyres on the worksite not only present a significant OH&S hazard, they can also end up bringing a site to a standstill, which can in itself end up costing many thousands of dollars. With that in mind, leading tyre, wheel and undercarriage specialists Titan Australia have developed a ‘Total Tyre Solutions’ approach to tyre supply, fitting and maintenance. Adam Oakenful, Chief Operating Officer with Titan Australia, explained: “Whether it’s on a large piece of equipment, a heavy-vehicle, 4WD or passenger vehicle, the greater majority of people barely give their tyres a second thought until there’s a clear visual indication that something is wrong – 20

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such as the tyre is flat or it’s so worn out that it’s impossible to ignore.” “Unfortunately, by that stage, in many instances it’s already too late.” “Rather than simply selling tyres based on the size, we work with our customers to select the most appropriate tyres for their specific applications and then develop an appropriate tyre care and maintenance regimen to help them get the most out of their tyres in terms of operating life and performance.” Not surprisingly, Titan’s ‘Total Tyre Solutions’ approach is proving to be extremely popular with an ever-increasing number of fleet and equipment owners and operators across Australia. From small private contractors, construction companies and operators in both the agricultural and mining sectors, through to large heavy vehicle fleet operators, major projects and Local Government fleet operators, Titan is leading the way across all areas of tyre, wheel and undercarriage manufacture, supply, fitting, maintenance and repair. “While it may be impossible to completely eliminate the risk of accidental damage, having well maintained, high quality tyres fitted to vehicles and equipment does help to minimise the impact of accidental damage if and when it does occur,” Adam Oakenful said. “Regardless of the type of tyre or wheel, our aim is always to help our customers get their vehicles and equipment back up and running with the shortest possible downtime.”

Focus on quality As a global leader and one of the world’s largest manufacturers of specialist tyres and wheels, Titan’s core focus is one of quality and performance. Importantly, this ‘quality ethic’ not only extends across the company’s range of tyres, wheels and tracks, but also to services such as fitting and maintenance. All Titan in-house wheel and rim inspection, repair and certification services are performed by fully-qualified staff in accordance with AS4457.1 and all other relevant standards in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia. Titan also owns and operates a large fleet of tyre-handler grab trucks. All Titan tyrefitting vehicles are manned by experienced CERT 2 Qualified fitters who are also inducted on a wide range of mining and construction sites. For further information on Titan’s full range of products and services, call: 1300 791 672 or visit: www.titanaustralia.com


GET SMART! KEEP SEDIMENT & SUSPENDED SOLIDS OUT OF DRAINS, TRADE WASTE AND GUTTERS From plaster sediment and non-toxic laboratory sediments and residues, through to sands, soils and even concrete washout sediments, the award-winning, Australian-designed Smart Sinks™ provide a highly-effective, affordable and easy-to-use method of preventing sediments and suspended solids from being washed into drains or disposed of on-site in gutters and stormwater side entry pits.

IN THE SURGERY

IN THE LAB

ON THE WORKSITE

• Prevents Blocked Drains • Reduces Drain Odours • Eliminates The Need For Traditional Plaster Traps • Easy To Use • Heavy-duty Performance • Ideal For Dental And Medical Surgeries • Mobile Smart Sinks™ Include Integrated Sink Unit And In-built Water Recycling System • A Must For Every Construction Site And Maintenance Department

Avoid costly drain blockages and the risk of penalties for non-compliant disposal of liquids and sediments with Patented Smart Sinks™ technology.

For further information on the Smart Sinks™ range, CALL US TODAY on 07 5488 4154 or visit: www.smartsinks.com.au for a full video demonstrations of Smart Sinks™ in action.

www.smartsinks.com.au


INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS

HOW DOES IT WORK? Patented Smart Sinks™ stainless steel sink filtration systems utilise a series of interlocking independent collection units joined by a valve system to collect particles, plaster and sediment from waste water. Waste sediment and suspended particles are collected via 3 disposable filtration bags, which can then be easily removed from the unit and disposed of independently of the system - preventing it from passing into the drainage system. Smart Sinks™ not only eliminate the high ongoing maintenance costs associated with traditional under-bench filters, they also help to minimise the environmental impact of a wide range of commercial and trade industry sectors - from dental, medical, pharmaceutical and food industries, through to construction, maintenance, mining and other heavy industry applications. With the primary filtration bag collecting up to 92% of waste material, the subsequent filters remove finer particulates from the wastewater prior to disposal or (in the case of the mobile Smart Sinks™) reuse. Smart Sinks™ are available in two models; a bench-mounted unit and a mobile unit (with built in water recycling), each of which has been designed to suit a variety of work environments and applications.

Innovative Australian filtration system goes from strength-to-strength With bench-mounted and mobile units out working successfully in the field for clients in a range of industries (and more units ready for delivery), two new major awards and strong demand across a range of industry sectors, the revolutionary Smart Sinks™ patented filtration system continues to go from strength-to-strength. And while the past few months may have been a whirlwind of awards ceremonies, accolades and new enquiries, Smart Sinks™ success, perhaps not surprisingly, is the result of over six years of R&D, product development and testing. In fact, for Smart Sinks™ co-founders Craig and Leslie Hanson, it’s fair to say that for the past six years, getting Smart Sinks up and running to where it is today, has been a task of truly staggering proportions. 22

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“The original idea came to me when we were completing a commercial fit-out project in a dental laboratory,” Craig Hanson said. “We immediately recognised the problems caused by plaster residues being washed down the sink, including the odours and of course blockages – even in facilities that were fitted with traditional plaster traps.” “After speaking to a couple of dentists and dental laboratory owners, we realised how wide-spread the issue was and, perhaps most alarmingly, how often they had to have a plumber come and clear the drains and just how much this was costing.” Armed with that information (and his not inconsiderable design and engineering skills) Craig set about finding a solution… and from that, Smart Sinks was borne.

Bench-Mounted Smart Sinks™ Initially designed to meet the needs of the dental and medical industries, Smart Sinks™ stainless-steel bench-mounted filtration system has also proven to be an invaluable addition to laboratories, workshops, art and design studios… the list goes on. In fact, bench-mounted Smart Sinks™ are ideal for any application where waste sediment is at risk of entering the sewer, drains or trade waste.


Patented Smart Sinks™ stainless steel sink filtration systems utilise a series of interlocking independent collection units joined by a valve system to collect particles, plaster and sediment from waste water.

5 GOOD REASONS

WHY YOU SHOULD USE SUPERIOR KOGA BLADES Higher Productivity Longer Lasting Value for Money Improved Wear

FROM THIS

TO THIS

Proven Quality

Blades for all shredders and granulators. Bench-mounted Smart Sinks™ can be installed into either existing or new benches, and plumbed-in as you would with a regular sink. The only difference is that the Smart Sinks™ unit will remove particles such as plaster and sediment from the waste water via disposable filtration bags. This not only eliminates the ongoing maintenance problems caused by sediment entering the drains, it also does away with the need for using messy, outdated under-bench plaster traps which can clog or leak.

Erema, Weima, Lindner, Genox, Untha, Zerma, Eldan, Vecoplan and more!

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Mobile Smart Sinks™ Designed as a fully self-contained, highly portable unit, Mobile Smart Sinks™ combine all of the advantages of the Bench-Mounted Smart Sinks™, with the added benefit of an integrated water recycling system and fold-out work trays – all in a fully self-contained 240 litre MGB (wheelie bin). Ideal for use on construction sites of all sizes, Mobile Smart Sinks™ are also a valuable addition to any building maintenance office, providing a portable wash-up station for cleaning up after plastering, concreting, tiling or even gardening work. Mobile Smart Sinks™ not only prevent sediments being washed into building sinks and drains or poured into the gutter or stormwater, they can also result in a significant reduction in the amount of water used on-site, as it filters and recycles the water, delivering it to the built-in trigger nozzle hose via the integrated 12V pressure pump. Delivering environmental compliance, with reduced water usage - a true win-win for on-site trades. For further information on the Smart Sinks™ range, including full video demonstrations of Smart Sinks™ in action, please visit: www.smartsinks.com.au

A Cut Above The Rest

Waste + Water Management Australia | September 2018

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INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS

Plastic eating system could help solve the recycling crisis by Andrew Spence As nations around the globe search for new ways of handling waste following China’s decision to stop processing the world’s rubbish, a South Australian man is searching for investors to help build a commercial system that converts waste plastic into biogas. South Australian Scientist David Thompson has filed an application for patent protection for his POET System, which uses anaerobic digestion technology to turn a range of plastics, including polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene and expanded polystyrene, into methane. The process also produces inert, organic by-products that can be used as garden fertiliser and mulch. Thompson is looking for an investor to help it build a demonstration plant capable of processing, initially, 5000 tonnes of plastic a year. He said there had been significant global interest in his invention but potential buyers generally wanted to see a working demonstration plant rather than just certified test results before committing. “Everyone wants to be the first to be the second in line” Thompson, the POET Systems CEO said. “Because we’ve done such an enormous amount of validation around controlling the degradation of plastics in a safe and environmental way, it’s led us to this position of being able to get the POET System up to a point where we now know what we need to put in and how to operate it. “The frustration has been in finding the person or company prepared to ‘take a punt’ and allow us to move forward.” The startup company is based in the South Australian capital Adelaide and is looking for 24

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an investment of about AU$2.5 million to help it build the 100-tonne a week plant. However, Thompson said this capital investment could be significantly reduced if the investor already had access to appropriate land and certain infrastructure. Thompson said the plant could be running six months after funding was secured. He said the system was ideally suited to operate alongside other anaerobic digestion systems such as a wastewater treatment plant. “We’ve already identified all the machinery we need – we’ve done the floor plans,” Thompson said. “Once we understand what the final and approved budget is going to be we’ll know what we can build. “The nice thing about the POET system is that it’s a really ‘soft’ system because, although there are some mechanical processes at the beginning to make plastics attractive to the bacteria that digest it, it’s the bacteria that do all the work.” The extension of China’s ‘Operation Green Fence’ policy came into effect in January, banning the importation of 24 categories of contaminated solid waste including paper, plastics, textiles and some metals. This caused prices for recyclable materials to crash and left waste management companies in the United States, Europe, Japan and Australia with vast amounts of unsaleable waste. Before the ban, China imported almost 30 million tonnes of waste paper and 7 million tonnes of “recyclable” plastic a year – including about 30 per cent of Australia’s waste paper and plastic. This is on top of the estimated 1 million tonnes of contaminated plastic that is deemed unfit for recycling and sent to landfill in Australia each year.

“What was recently deemed as being recyclable is no longer recyclable – there is no value in waste plastic because there is no viable waste processing capability in Australia and I’d like to think the POET system can meet a significant segment of that,” Thompson said. “This opens up doors for us, we have an awful lot of plastic that is going to landfill in Australia and that’s being replicated all around the world. “Once we get our demonstration plant built, order books from clients will open.” POET Systems was a 2017 semi-finalist in the Australian Technologies Competition, which assesses, mentors and promotes companies providing a uniquely Australian take on the future and is open to technologies that have global potential in a range of industries. Thompson has since been contacted by potential customers in the United Kingdom and Canada and is in talks with interested investors from Singapore and Australia. He said further research in recent months had shown promise with PET plastics. The company has also successfully tested a system that can process plastics, food waste and cardboard simultaneously, which Thompson said would be perfectly suited to the fast food industry. “We’re looking at different strains of bacteria but all the testing we’ve done has been with garden variety bacteria because we wanted to demonstrate that existing industry with existing anaerobic digestion systems can use the POET System in conjunction with that and get favourable results,” he said. POET is an acronym for Polymer – Organic – Energy – Treatment.

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THE KEY TO QUALITY

BY SCHWARZE


PRODUCT FOCUS

The Tsurumi UTZ automatic submersible pump is specifically designed for septic tanks and built for endurance and reliability.

Septic Pump Cuts Costs Reliability is key in the effluent business. Septic tank pumps operate out of sight and out of mind for most customers. Submerged in an aggressive environment, these pumps are crucial in keeping basic sewage systems working. Aussie Pumps supply Tsurumi UTZ series submersibles which are ideal for septic tank installations and pump replacements. “We are talking to plumbers every day that are fed up with reinstalling third world pumps that they know will only last a couple of years,” said Aussie Pumps’ Neil Bennett. Plumbers are telling him that they want to install a pump that they can be proud of. “Giving customers a reliable product is vital when handling effluent,” said Bennett. “Many septic systems installed use cheap pumps just to meet a cost point. We recommend they are replaced with Tsurumi UTZ pumps because of their quality and suitability. Their cast iron body outlasts rolled 304 stainless steel equivalents, they are easy to service and suit the aggressive pH levels found in the tanks,” he said. Designed specifically for effluent and sewage applications, the pump is fitted with a vortex style impeller that passes compressible solids of up to 35mm in diameter. The maximum flow available from the range is 440 lpm while the maximum lift, or vertical head is 12.5 metres.

“They aren’t the cheapest on the market, but the quality makes them the best value. What’s more, they’re backed up with a three-year factory warranty,” Bennett said. The automatic pumps feature a simple float control system that prevents dry running, reduces power consumption and extends operating life. The UT series’ vortex impeller design means performance is largely unaffected by minor wear. The unique vortex design allows solids in suspension to easily pass through the pump. Tsurumi incorporate a number of features that enhance the life expectancy of the pump and cut maintenance costs. These include a unique anti-wicking cable gland. Water is prevented from wicking down inside the cable. The motor is protected even if the cable is damaged or the end accidentally immersed. All Tsurumi pumps have a double silicon carbide mechanical seal. Both seal surfaces are submerged in an oil chamber, well away from the pumped liquid. A patented oil lifter ensures the mechanical seal faces are always lubricated and cooled, even if the pump is installed horizontally. For further information on Tsurumi’s range of wastewater pumps and equipment, please visit: www.aussiepumps.com.au) or phone Australian Pump on: 02 8865 3500.

Next generation floating solar The first Australian owned, designed and manufactured floating solar solution has been launched into the market after 4 years R&D, bringing this under-utilised renewable energy option into budget for many organisations. With key product benefits of 100% recyclability and a streamlined shape which is designed to reduce freight costs by around 30%, FloatPac Solar is not only environmentally innovative but highly costeffective. “It’s unfortunate that, as a nation plagued by water insecurity and blessed with an abundance of sunlight, we still aren’t capitalising on the potential of floating solar. There is a real onus on us to lead the global field, with regard to research, but also to find long-term solutions to rising Australian energy costs – the legacy of an ageing infrastructure,” says FloatPac CEO Gavin Hodgins “The prospect of an affordable, locally produced floating solar solution has already generated huge interest. As a broad concept, floating solar is an ideal proposition for any industry that has high water and energy usage, but uptake has historically been limited principally because of the cost of importation. We took on the challenge by not only manufacturing within Australia, but by designing a sustainable product which – even in its transportation – has a significantly lesser environmental impact than existing products in the marketplace. “You combine that with the inherent benefits of floating solar – including greater panel efficiency due to the cooling effects of water – and this is a really exciting step forward for the renewables sector.” Mounted on the surface of large bodies of water, floating solar not only maximises otherwise ‘dead’ space, but also reduces evaporation and suppresses algae. 26

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“The compact design of FloatPac solar has a direct impact on cost, as the reduction in freight charges directly impacts on the per kW costs of the product. Add that to the fact that FloatPac products don’t attract importation or sea freight costs – by virtue of being locally manufactured - and the potential savings are significant. “We have 35 years’ experience in flotation alone, and this design utilises the learning from our leading product which has, itself, carved a remarkable niche within the industry. The pods are UV stabilized, rot and mold resistant and 100% recyclable, and we’re passionate about working with Australian manufacturers with a vision of creating a completely Australian made product offering – from arrays and panels, right through to inverters and cabling. “ FloatPac built its reputation over three decades in the marine and aquatic sector, championing innovative design and manufacturing techniques. Now, turning attention to the creation of an environmentally sustainable solar solution, ideal for businesses with high water usage and in drought-prone geographies, the product’s design also increases panel efficiency, reduces evaporation and enhances water quality. For further information, please visit: www.floatpac.com


No-one in Australia goes further in recycling rubber. Every year, thousands of tonnes of tyres are dumped illegally. This is a major environmental and public health concern; but it needn’t be. In Australia, Tyrecycle is the market leader in tyre recycling, with a national network of collection and processing facilities. Our recycled rubber is used for sporting and playground surfaces, tile adhesives, brake pads and much more. It’s just another way of working towards our own goal of zero waste to landfill. To learn more about us visit tyrecycle.com.au call 1300 4 TYRECYCLE (1300 489 732) or email sales@tyrecycle.com.au


SPECIAL FEATURE

Celebrating the new sponsorship deal with signed commemorative mini bats. (From left) Mr Rajiv Poddar, Joint Managing Director, BKT; Australian cricket legend Ricky Ponting; Cricket Australia Head of Big Bash Leagues, Kim McConnie; and TFI Managing Director, James Saunders.

BKT partners with the KFC Big Bash League Partnership agreement announced between BKT Tyres and Cricket Australia’s KFC BBL for 2018-2021 On September 18, Indian multinational Balkrishna Industries Ltd. (BKT) became the first sub-continent group to partner with Australia’s KFC Big Bash League (BBL), signing on for three years as the new Off-Highway tyre supplier. BKT tyres have been available in Australia through its Australian distributor Tradefaire International (TFI) for almost a decade, providing large-scale, high-performance tyres to farmers, the mining sector and other industries including construction and waste management. As part of the BBL announcement, BKT and Tradefaire International also handed over cheques totalling $30,000 to provide support to the Australian charities, particularly the struggling farming community. A $20,000 cheque was given to Aussie Helpers, a charity based in Charleville in outback Queensland which assists struggling farmers, and $10,000 to Ronald McDonald House in Tamworth. 28

Waste + Water Management Australia | September 2018

The historic partnership announcement was held at the home of Australian cricket, the MCG, and attended by Australian cricket great Ricky Ponting, executives from BKT in India including its Joint Managing Director Rajiv Poddar, Cricket Australia Head of Big Bash Leagues, Kim McConnie and Mr Hari Parsad, India’s Acting Counsel General in Melbourne. The event was hosted by high-profile Indian actress, fashion designer and television presenter Mandira Bedi. BKT’s decision to partner with the BBL was motivated by the group’s passion and enthusiasm for cricket, and the BBL’s alignment to BKT’s “Growing Together” philosophy. In this specific case, growing together means to support and sustain cricket in Australia in order to see talent grow and attract attention for the competition on an international level – not least of all thanks to BKT’s presence in 160 countries globally.

PICTURED BELOW: (From left) Brian Egan and Tash Kocks from Aussie Helpers; James Saunders, Managing Director, Tradefaire International (TFI); Ross Bingham, Ronald McDonald House, Tamworth; and Sandesh Jain, General Manager, Exports, BKT India. As part of the BBL announcement, BKT and Tradefaire also handed over cheques totaling $30,000 to provide support to the Australian charities which provide essential support to struggling farming communities.


SPECIAL FEATURE

The agreement between BKT and Cricket Australia bears the signature of Havas Sports & Entertainment (Havas SE), a specialist team of Havas Media Group, which operates actively within sport and entertainment industries to implement effective marketing strategies with the aim of creating meaningful relations among brands and fan communities. The Italian team of Havas SE is the global advisor of BKT for the selection, negotiation and activation of sports sponsorship.

Celebrating what’s sure to be a winning partnership, cricketing legend Ricky Ponting and BKT Joint Managing Director Mr Rajiv Poddar.

Mr Rajiv Poddar, an ardent cricket fan, said: “I am really glad about this partnership since cricket has been my greatest passion ever. Being able to support it and cheer at a close makes us proud.” “Not only do we appreciate its dynamics, but also the team play and above all the spirit of the game ruling this sport, or else the unwritten fair play every player adheres to. On the contrary, unfair play means a damage for the game itself.” “Here in BKT, we have the same philosophy: to do our best paying full respect to everybody,” Mr Poddar added. Ms Kim McConnie said: ”We are very excited to be welcoming BKT as a partner of the KFC Big Bash League as we draw closer to the highly anticipated BBL|18 season.” “BKT’s decision to come on board as a supplier of the BBL shows the growing appeal of the competition not just in Australia but overseas as well, and also demonstrates the value partners see in being associated with Australia’s most exciting sporting league.”

These sentiments were echoed by Steve Ryan, the General Manager of Tradefaire International, who said that the agreement is invaluable and unprecedented. “Australia’s passion for cricket is timeless,” he said. “During summer all parks become crowded with children and teenagers playing cricket, whilst enthusiastic parents keep up with the game from the sidelines. And the family barbecue at weekends cannot be considered complete without the cricket match on lawn in the back garden or beach cricket on a sunny day on the beach.” “Whether it is in the farthest outback or in the big cities, all Australians have one great passion in common, namely cricket. A topic that inspires and thrills an entire nation.” “Indeed, one can listen and follow long and lively discussions on match days. Standing by the KFC Big Bash League, being associated to both its name and activities as well as benefitting from the high level of media attention especially on TV will certainly make the brand awareness of BKT in Australia fly high,” Mr Ryan added. BKT’s BBL partnership builds on its sponsorship of international sports worldwide. This includes an agreement it signed in 2013 with the Monster Jam circuit, the American live motorsport event with giant trucks performing stunts equipped with BKT tyres, as well as the recent sponsorship agreement with the Lega Nazionale Professionisti B, the governing body of the B football series in Italy, for the second division championship which is now called “Serie BKT” and la Ligue de Football Professionnel, the governing body of Professional French football, for the Ligue’s National Cup which is now called Coupe de la Ligue BKT.

Hosted by high-profile Indian actress, fashion designer and television presenter Mandira Bedi, the event took place at the iconic MCG, the home of Australian cricket.

ABOUT BKT Balkrishna Industries Ltd. (BKT) is an Indian-based tyre manufacturer. The BKT group offers a large and always updated production range of Off-Highway tyres specially designed for vehicles in the agricultural, industrial, earthmoving, mining, ATV and gardening sector. BKT’s innovative solutions designed for the most differing user needs include more than 2,400 products sold in over 160 countries worldwide. Visit the website: www.bkt-tires.com for further information.

ABOUT TRADEFAIRE INTERNATIONAL Tradefaire International (TFI) started as a small business and has grown over 25 years to become one of Australia’s major suppliers of Off-Highway tyres. Since its foundation in 1992, TFI has expanded its operations and services to meet the needs of diverse market segment. These include agriculture, forestry, mining, construction and material handling. Initially based in Melbourne Victoria, TFI has grown rapidly and has now a national distribution network with branches in all states in Australia. TFI has also expanded outside the Australian borders and will be shortly opening a branch in New Zealand. TFI and BKT have enjoyed a long-lasting partnership for 20 year and share the same objective - assisting users closely in order to better understand their needs and to provide best service. For more information visit: www.tradefaire.com.au

Waste + Water Management Australia | September 2018

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WASTE MANAGEMENT

STEP In:

Innovations in Solid-waste Treatment for Environmental Protection Nanthi Bolan, Global Centre for Environmental Remediation, University of Newcastle, Australia Dan Tsang, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China Australia produces about 64 million tonnes of solid waste. Solid waste is grouped into various categories based on the source and characteristics. The major sources of solid waste include municipal organic wastes derived from households (e.g. green waste) and wastewater treatment plants (e.g. biosolids), food wastes, construction wastes, hazardous chemical and biowastes derived from industries and hospitals. For example, in Australia, it is estimated that 35% and 21.5% of municipal and industrial waste is derived from food waste, respectively (equivalent to 2.675 and 1.388 million tonnes, respectively). Thus, Australia discards an estimated 4.06 million tonnes of food every year with a total annual value of $8.04 billion (Bolan and Tsang, 2018; Australian National Waste Report, 2016). These solid wastes represent a major environmental problem, but innovations in the treatment and sustainable management of these waste resources can provide economic and social benefits.

China’s ban sent shockwaves

The contamination level in our kerbside recycling averages between 6-10% and even after sorting at a recycling facility, the level is generally well above China’s 0.5% acceptable threshold (Downs and Dominish, 2018). Losing such a major market for our solid wastes is a major challenge to our recycling industry, and hence the government and research organisation need to ‘STEP-In’ to provide Innovative solutions in Soil-waste Treatment for Environmental Protection in Australia. For example, the Waste Management Association of Australia (WMAA) has been lobbying for a A$150 million action plan to invest in infrastructure and innovations in recycling quality, and for the promotion of beneficial utilization of recycled products (Downs and Dominish, 2018).

Waste management Sustainable solid waste management strategies include source reduction, value addition and beneficial utilization (Figure 1).

China’s recent ‘ban’ on import of recycles has sent shockwaves throughout the global recycling and waste management sector. The ban is a set of import restrictions imposed by China under its Blue Sky/National Sword program, which tightens inspection efforts to reduce the amount of contaminated materials entering the country by restricting the importation of 24 streams of recyclable materials (Downs and Dominish, 2018). This ban is imposed by setting stringent ‘maximum contamination thresholds’ and limiting the number of import permits provided to Chinese businesses. Australia has limited local markets for recyclable wastes such as paper, plastics and glass, relying heavily on overseas markets to buy and reprocess these wastes. China provides the major market for our solid waste recycling. For example, around 29% (920,000 tonnes) of all paper and 36% (125,000 tonnes) of all plastics collected were exported to China in 2017 (Pickin, 2018). Figure 1. 30

Waste + Water Management Australia | September 2018


WASTE MANAGEMENT

Examples of these management strategies for various solid waste streams are given in Table 1. Source reduction which refers to consuming less, is the most successful and sustainable method of reducing solid waste generation. Common examples of source reduction include household backyard composting, information digitisation instead of printing, and utilizing durable, long-lasting environmentally friendly goods. By promoting source reduction, we are directly saving resources by avoiding waste collection transportation and disposal costs and decreasing costs through decreased pollution control, liability and regulatory compliance costs. As our former Prime Minster, Sir John Howard said ‘when you can’t measure you can’t manage’, measuring source reduction and impact is critical. Without analysing where our waste streams need to be reduced, there is no way of knowing what actions and tactics will be essential for the successful outcomes. Source reduction prevents emissions of many greenhouse gases, saves energy, conserves resources, and reduces wastes for new landfills and combustors. Value addition refers to increasing the utilization and commercial value of waste resources through creating new generation products. Organic solids wastes including food chain wastes are emerging as a resource with a significant potential to be utilized as a feedstock material for the production of fuels, chemicals and biomaterials given the presence of diverse functionalised chemical components (i.e., carbohydrates, proteins, triglycerides, fatty acids, phenolics).

Table 1. Examples of solid waste treatment and management Solid waste streams

Examples

Source reduction

Value addition

Beneficial Utilization

Municipal waste

Greenwastes, biosolids

House composting

Nutrient extraction

Soil amendment – nutrient source

Agricultural wastes

Straw, fruit peel

Soil incorporation

Biochar production

Soil amendment – nutrient source

Animal farming waste

Manure, blood and bone

Open grazing

Nutrient extraction, bioplastics

Soil amendment – nutrient source

Construction industry

Steel, timber, bricks

Long-lasting construction materials

Biochar production

Soil amendment – nutrient source

Heavy industry

Slag and flyash

Nutrient enrichment

Soil amendment – liming material

Extraction of chemicals

Niche chemicals (e.g., aconitic acid)

Food chain waste

Food scraps

In-situ composting


WASTE MANAGEMENT

However, when using these wastes as a feedstock for electricity generation (i.e., through anaerobic digestion) or fuel generation (i.e., conversion of cellulosic biomass to bioethanol), those chemical functionalities are lost or at best underutilised. An array of valuable chemicals can be synthesised from these wastes. The average value of bulk chemicals, transportation fuels and animal feed produced from wastes is estimated to be around $1000, $200–400 and $70–200 per tonne of biomass, respectively - which highlights the significant differences in economic value between final products derived from wastes. The biomass from wastes provides a major source of building block chemicals, which are molecules with multiple functional groups that possess the potential to be transformed into new secondary chemicals. For example, twelve major building block chemicals have been identified that can be produced from sugars (one of the dominant components of food chain wastes) via biological or chemical conversions (Figure 2; Bolan and Tsang, 2018).

“The average value of bulk chemicals, transportation fuels and animal feed produced from wastes is estimated to be around $1000, $200–400 and $70–200 per tonne of biomass, respectively...” Composts provides a valuable resource of nutrient and carbon inputs to improve soil health and productivity. Similarly, some of the slag materials can be used as a liming material to manage soil acidity and also for the remediation of metal contaminated soils including mine soils. Beneficial utilization through recycling generates a host of environmental, financial, and social benefits - prevents the emission of many greenhouse gases that affect global climate, saves energy, supplies valuable raw materials to industry, creates jobs, stimulates the development of greener technologies, conserves resources for our future, and reduces the need for new landfills and combustors.

Innovations in solid waste treatment and management

Figure 2. The twelve sugar-based building blocks are 1,4-diacids (succinic, fumaric and malic), 2,5-furan dicarboxylic acid, 3-hydroxy propionic acid, aspartic acid, glucaric acid, glutamic acid, itaconic acid, levulinic acid, 3-hydroxybutyrolactone, glycerol, sorbitol, and xylitol/ arabinitol. A second-tier group of building blocks chemicals include gluconic acid, lactic acid, malonic acid, propionic acid, the triacids, citric and aconitic; xylonic acid, acetoin, furfural, levoglucosan, lysine, serine and threonine. These building block chemicals can be subsequently converted to a number of high-value bio-based chemicals or materials.

Beneficial utilisation Beneficial utilisation of solid wastes is achieved through recycling and direct reutilization in various industries. Through recycling process, materials like glass, metal, plastics, and paper are collected, separated and sent to processing centres where they are processed into new products. A number of waste products including compost and biosolids derived from organic wastes, and slags derived from steel and coal-fired power plants can be reutilized as soil amendments. 32

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Innovation in solid waste treatment and management is critical not only for environmental protection but also for the beneficial utilisation of these wastes for sustainable production. Several strategies to utilise solid wastes have been implemented including recycling and composting, which however cannot achieve a sufficient processing of these waste resources. In this regard, advanced waste utilisation practices aiming to achieve sustainable development should focus on innovative technologies able to convert these waste resources into value-added products. These include integrated green chemistry technologies involving biochemical processes to synthesise highadded value chemicals, advanced materials and biofuel precursors, and extractive processes for the recovery of valuable compounds such as antioxidants. For example, organic wastes will play a key role in the near future around the biorefinery and bioeconomy concept to contribute to a greener and more sustainable future society. The diversity of functionalised chemical components found in organic wastes including food wastes reflects the range of chemical industry sectors that could benefit from using such a renewable feedstock, thereby improving its green credentials. Through the increased utilisation of wastes for non-food applications such as synthesis of chemicals, the public perception about wastes may change, thereby helping to establish the new supply chains we need to achieve for a future sustainable society. However, in order to achieve a truly bioeconomy for the utilisation of solid waste we also need governments to take this opportunity to go beyond recycling and invest in waste reduction and reuse through various incentive and support schemes such as carbon credit scheme.

REFERENCES: Pickin J. (2018). Data on exports of recyclables from Australia to China Version 2. Blue Environment Australian National Waste Report (2016). Blue Environment. Bolan, N.S. and Tsang, D. (2018). Royal Australian Chemical Institute Magazine Downs, J. and Dominish, E. (2018). The Conversation.


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SPECIAL REPORT

Drought Proofing Australia… Building the Nation by Warwick Lorenz, Managing Director, Australian Pump Industries

The story is contributed by Warwick Lorenz, Managing Director of Australian Pump Industries. Lorenz is a veteran of the water industry having been drafted out of an advertising and journalist’s career at what was the old Tutt Bryant Group into managing its water pump manufacturing division, Pacific Pump. He has lived through the destruction of Australia’s industrial manufacturing sector, experienced the challenges of the “recession we had to have” and tasted the temporary delights of the Australian mining boom. He has worked with farmers, miners, the construction industry, defence, marine and food processing. The story below may excite some people in both the for and against sectors!

A few years ago I picked up a book at a second hand book shop called “Australia Replanned”. Thumbing through it I noted that it was written in 1944 and published in January 1945. What drew me to the book was a fold-out map of Australia that showed an inland sea in North East South Australia with rivers draining into it fed from the north east sectors of Northern Queensland. The book was written by a gentleman writing under the name of Veritas. Veritas was a pseudonym for a journalist called Luscombe who also, as I recall as a kid, was writing for The Truth newspaper in Sydney. The book is a call to arms, warning Australians that they need to get with it and do something with this wonderful huge country of ours. Here’s the key points he makes:

Our opportunities Luscombe points out that in 1944, the war is effectively over and that we need to start thinking about what to do with our country. He draws a parallel with the United States, a country of some 3 million square miles and a population at that time of around 130 million. Australia, he points out, is 2.9 million square miles with a population of 7 million. Of that 7 million approximately 1 million are in uniform or working 100% in the war effort. Luscombe also points out that in the years of the 2nd World War we tripled the 34

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productivity of the country and of course asked the obvious question…. what next?

The dead heart Luscombe, writing long before climate change, refers to the central regions of Australia as the ‘Dead Heart’. He points out that this was once fertile land covered with dense and luxurious vegetation, evidenced by the fossilised remains found in the Diamantina and Lake Eyre districts.

Why not build an inland sea that becomes a vast “live heart”? It should be pointed out that Luscombe wrote at a time when horse-drawn graders were not that uncommon and crawler dozers used cable controls to raise and lower tractor blades! In spite of that he dared to dream that the parched and arid ‘Dead Heart’ of Australia could be brought to life! The vision was an inland sea of approximately 50,000 square miles. This sea would be fed by Northern and North Eastern rivers and the flood waters diverted through the Dividing Range to flow along the dry central river beds to the Inland Sea.

Let’s examine this hair brained scheme? In 1944 almost 90% of the total land area of Australia was put to very little use. Those huge areas of land, mainly arid, barren


SPECIAL REPORT

and useless, needed water security. The question we have to ask ourselves is, are we ready to carry out projects like that in Australia? Ion Idriess, one of the great Australian writers of the 20th Century, used the slogan ‘Water is Life’ in a number of his books. Idriess was a believer. In Luscombe’s plan, an inland sea would be created and connected to the Great Southern Ocean by a canal from the head of the Spencer Gulf via Lake Torrens. The canal would be up to half a mile wide by a depth of around 25 feet! The bed of Lake Torrens might be excavated and locks and pumping stations would be required in order to provide a shipping passage similar to the Panama Canal. Luscombe, of course, is writing at a time when the greatest civil engineering feats the world had seen were considered to be the Panama and Suez Canals. PICTURED ABOVE: 'Australia - Proposed Inland Sea and River System' Illustration from Australia Replanned (1944) by L.H. Luscombe

He must have been conscious of the Hoover Dam, draining approximately 100,000 sq miles across 7 states and capturing up to 740 billion cubic feet of water from the Colorado River each year. When you consider that the Hoover was built in around 4-5 years and think of the primitive equipment and methods used at the time, Luscombe’s plan, or something like it, seems absolutely achievable. Whether the drought proofing of the country, or large sections of it, can be achieved with an inland sea is questionable in today’s world. However, our 70 years of additional knowledge should enable us to use that updated machinery to achieve the same goal. That water storage and water security are essential for the progress of our agricultural industries and to foster population growth is beyond dispute.

Why bother? In a world where Australians appear to enjoy higher wages than just about anybody else on the planet, we are sitting on the biggest piece of unused real estate in the world. It's also possibly the greatest opportunity to provide food resources for a growing world population. It seems there’s plenty of good reasons to provide farms and cities with water security.

Waste + Water Management Australia | September 2018

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SPECIAL REPORT

From a political perspective, governments of either persuasion are and will be faced with financial challenges that must be addressed. The country clearly can’t rely purely on mined commodity prices to maintain our lifestyle, create employment or sustain our welfare programs. In other words, something has got to give! Imagine a drought proof Australia where we brought life back to country towns, provided farmers with water security, built processing plants to value-add raw product and at the same time provide the Greens with an environmental wonderland! Dropping back to Luscombe’s dream, he saw forests throughout the centre of

36

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Australia with consequential changes to rainfall patterns.

Is there a market for what we produce? When Luscombe wrote his book in 1944 the world population was three billion. Now we are seven billion and heading for ten so its highly likely there will be a market for top quality food and agricultural produce for at least the next thousand years! Governments like to preach jobs and growth. Well here’s a package that will deliver both big time! Okay, I have been talking this up with civil contractors, farmers, irrigation specialists,

water well drillers and a whole wide range of folk to test the water. What I got in return was astonishment that somebody had thought on this scale seventy years ago. I got excitement at the possibility of a vision that would change the country forever. I got one hundred percent unqualified support of the vision. Of course, the question everybody asks is “...who is going to do it?” Truth be known, there are many who would do it! Most of the people I talk to in the pump industry would certainly not only support it but would happy to be deeply involved. Would it rebirth our manufacturing industry? Maybe it would! Think about these statistics: 1. China had the same sized economy as Australia in 1990. 2. Twenty six years later, their economy is sixteen times ours and they are number two in the world. 3. They have 1.3 billion people, we have 25 million people. We produce approximately 60 million people’s worth of food per year (my rough calculation) and they produce 1.3 billion. In other words, they produce 22 times more food than we do but from about the same land mass. Let’s assume we drought proof Australia and can produce 5 times more food than we do at the moment, ie. 300 billion dollars worth.


Powering a Sustainable Future

Did you know you can access the latest issue of Waste + Water Management Australia via Informit? The Informit Engineering Collection is an ever expanding resource covering aspects of waste and water management – recycling, greenwaste processing, waste minimisation, planning, safety, water treatment and water sensitive urban design. The database offers an extensive variety of resources including journals, trade publications, reports and conference proceedings.

The Collection guarantees quality through partnerships with peak professional bodies including Engineers Australia and the Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand, as well as Content Providers including EPC Media Group. The Informit Engineering Collection delivers hard to find content designed to complete and complement all your waste and water management requirements. Other key titles published by EPC Media include:

Wow, that’s bigger than the iron ore business. Not only that, but it’s a much bigger employer and there are loads of benefits that we will get from employment, not the least of which is lower taxes for the rest of us!

Let's go! Luscombe prefaced his book with the comment that if he was wrong in his ideas, he would welcome correction. He also stated three principles that appear to be just as relevant today as they were in 1944. Here they are: 1. Think clearly… without prejudice 2. Think fearlessly… with regard for nothing but the truth 3. Think big… with the knowledge of the almost limitless possibilities of technology. As a simple man, I welcome the comments of my peers. Copies of Luscombe’s map (which is also published here with permission) are freely available from Australian Pump Industries and may serve to inspire some reader comments. I’d love to know what you think.

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Waste + Water Management Australia | September 2018

37


NATIONAL PRECAST FEATURE

“Here, the circular pit also offers better hydraulics and reduced headloss compared to square pits.”

NEW PERFORMANCE LEVELS WITH HIGH CAPACITY SEPARATOR

PRECAST STORMWATER SOLUTION FOR BOUTIQUE LIVING PROJECT: PROSPECT TOWNHOUSE DEVELOPMENT LOCATION: PROSPECT, VIC PRECASTER: ROCLA CLIENT: ID LAND BUILDER: ROKON ENGINEER: TGM GROUP The Prospect Townhouse Development is set to be the newest delight of residential luxury in the Melbourne suburb of Pascoe Vale. Located 10 kilometres north of Melbourne’s CBD, the project is a boutique development that will deliver 21 townhouses by mid-2019. Buildings in both residential and commercial districts need to meet the local stormwater detention requirements. Here, precast systems are critical components for stormwater best practice measures used to improve urban stormwater quality through mechanical or natural processes. Not only does precast withstand the volumes of water flowing within them, but it also withstands extreme external loading conditions. National Precast member, Rocla, is supplying a precast high capacity separator, which will play an integral role in the Prospect Townhouse Development’s stormwater management system.

AN EFFECTIVE PRECAST SOLUTION Designed specifically for stormwater applications, Rocla’s high capacity separator includes a circular precast pit of 0.9-metres in diameter and 2.0-metres in depth. Rocla’s Market Development Engineer, Andrew Clifton, says precast offers a simple, high-quality, and time-effective solution. “With manufacture taking approximately one week, the pit has been manufactured from high-strength, low-permeability concrete in accordance with AS/NZS 4058 for steel-reinforced pipe,” Mr Clifton reveals. 38

Waste + Water Management Australia | September 2018

The high capacity separator has been designed to remove coarse and fine sediment from the onsite stormwater runoff prior to discharge into the downstream drainage system. Mr Clifton says the separator comprises internal components that are designed to remove and retain gross debris from the road and footpath. “With a development like this you get a considerable amount of sediment, and so what the separator does is trap the sediment at the source before it eventually ends up in the Yarra River or the Port Phillip Bay,” Mr Clifton explains. The separator has been designed with flexibility in mind and to maximise space without compromising the treatment level. Rocla’s National Water Quality Manager, Steve Baker, says this allows it to work easily with large pipes, multiple inlet pipes, and inlet grates. “The device has a retrofit installation that means stormwater treatment can be placed on, or tied into, an existing stormwater line. This gives real flexibility for particularly challenging sites,” Mr Baker details. The precast separator comprises a long flow path through the device, which ensures extended residence time within the treatment chamber and enhances the pollutant settling. All higher flows bypass the treatment chamber to prevent turbulence and washout of any captured pollutants, protecting the surrounding environment.

INFRASTRUCTURE THAT LASTS The sustainability and longevity of new developments hinge on high-quality infrastructure—and it is this quality paired with Melbourne’s high standards of living that has seen the CBD and surrounding suburbs become vibrant residential and business hubs. In the building and construction sectors, compliance with Australian Standards helps to codify best practices, methods, and technical requirements. As a durable and efficient means of dealing with stormwater, precast elements manufactured by National Precast members, like Rocla, are compliant to the relevant Australian Standards. This gives developers and end users confidence in their built environment.


NATIONAL PRECAST FEATURE

NEW STANDARDS’ SERVICE FOR LEADING PRECASTERS A new service available to full Precaster Members of National Precast will empower them to access information they need to boost productivity, remain compliant, and gain a competitive edge. The Association’s Chief Executive Officer, Sarah Bachmann, says she is excited to have finalised an arrangement with SAI Global, which allows Members to download and print 36 precast-specific Australian Standards. “Fast access to Standards is critical for precast manufacturers, as it ensures they are manufacturing, transporting, and erecting precast concrete in ways that are compliant with the relevant Standards,” Ms Bachmann explains. The Association’s Members are highly regarded throughout the construction industry and ongoing compliance to Standards is a top priority. “Asset owners, both in the public and private sectors, need to be able to trust that the products they are buying and installing are Standards’ compliant, and this is just one way in which we are helping our Members to provide that assurance.”

SERVICE PAYS FOR MEMBERSHIP “This service not only saves our Members approximately $7,822 - if they were to purchase all Standards individually - but it also puts them one step ahead of their competitors by having immediate online access,” Ms Bachmann comments. “Aside from all the other services we offer, this one service could pay for a year’s membership for a small to medium sized precaster.” The announcement of the new Standards’ service comes ahead of a major overhaul of the Association’s structure, which will include new categories of Precaster membership on offer, along with other new highvalue services, which are currently being negotiated. To find out more about National Precast’s memberships and which Standards are available, contact Ms Bachmann at National Precast on (08) 8294 0833.

ABOUT AUSTRALIAN STANDARDS Australian Standards are in place to ensure that all suppliers are manufacturing, supplying and testing their products in accordance to strict guidelines. In the construction industry, compliance with the relevant Standards is paramount. While on their own compliance to standards is voluntary, government regulators and public health authorities often turn to Standards in their regulation to provide a baseline level of safety requirements for houses, buildings, infrastructure, and machinery. State and Commonwealth governments often refer to either Australian or joint Australian/ New Zealand Standards in their legislation. In these cases, Standards can become mandatory and are therefore considered to be a benchmark of acceptability. In the building and construction sectors, compliance with Australian Standards helps to codify best practices, methods, and technical requirements to create a safe and sustainable built environment. While the National Construction Code (NCC) is freely available online, the Standards that it references are not. More than 100 primary-referenced Standards are specified in the NCC, along with an another several hundred secondary-referenced Standards. With more than 25 years’ experience under its belt, the precast industry’s peak body has grown to become a respected and recognised voice for the Australian precast concrete industry. Representing the industry and promoting some of the country’s leading precast manufacturers, National Precast offers a range of beneficial services for its Members. Access to the Standards via SAI Global is the most recent service that the Association provides to their full Precaster Members. For more information on National Precast’s Member Services, head to nationalprecast.com.au/membership-info.

Waste + Water Management Australia | September 2018

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CASE STUDY PICTURED LEFT: The sewer overflow was located in dense bushland some 400 m from the nearest road access.

The Solution Downer PipeTech and Sydney Water investigated a range of site access methods to ensure that the most economical and zero harm solution was selected to move heavy pipe segments (up to 500kg each). The below matrix was used to identify the ideal site access option: Access Method #1

Access Method #2

Helicopter Aerial Crane

Land Reconstruction

Safety

Environment

Community

Quality

Zero Harm Criteria

Downer PipeTech goes ‘Over and Above’ by Paul Chalhoub – Downer PipeTech Downer PipeTech was recently engaged by Sydney Water to conduct urgent repair to a DN450 sewer overflow located in dense bushland with multiple cliff face and uneven terrain. The site was located approximately 400m away from the closest street and would have taken extensive land reconstruction to safely access the site, causing harm to the surrounding community and environment.

40

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Cost

Time

Together with Sydney Water, Downer PipeTech elected to use a helicopter aerial crane as it allowed us to safely access the site and repair the defected sewer asset with minimal impact. The use of a helicopter aerial crane proved to be more effective than conducting extensive land reconstruction, which would have taken multiple weeks of manual labour. Using the helicopter aerial crane required extensive planning, approvals, including a Construction Risk Assessment Workshop (CRAW) which resulted in risks being identified and mitigated to ensure the project was delivered successfully.

Conclusion Sydney Water and Downer PipeTech was satisfied with the delivery of the project as the job was delivered on time, below budget and with zero harm to our people, environment, customers. Downer PipeTech is always committed to offering innovative solutions to our customers and willing to go over and above. For more information please visit: www.downergroup.com PICTURED BELOW: The project team (from left) – Hugh Johnstone and Syd Bowers from Sydney Helicopters, Lee Nolan, David Stramandinoli, Kallard Ross, Brett Purser, Ammar Qarqour, Brendan Moran and Joshua Billyard from Downer PipeTech, Ryan McKenzie from Sydney Water Corporation, Juliana Martinez from Downer PipeTech and John Daoud from Sydney Water Corporation.


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ROBOTICS

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WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT

Wastewater drainage from start to finish: tradewaste management in buildings Floors and drains are an integral part of a commercial kitchen or food processing facility. From the point of discharge from equipment and washdown on the processing or commercial kitchen floor into the linear channels, grease separators and to the sewer, a complete drain solution from start to finish is imperative. Keeping drainage elements clean and hygienic is paramount to reducing the risk of food borne pathogens. For designers and plumbers, the story doesn’t start and finish with grease arrestors - there is a whole network of drainage upstream that needs to be considered from a more holistic view point. Understanding the level of hygiene risk, the volume of food production and the type of waste that is produced will determine the final drainage solution. In a food production facility such as a commercial kitchen that serves hundreds of meals per day, the system of grates, gullies and linear channels must withstand significantly more wear and tear than say, a small café.

ACO Australia’s fully-integrated drainage systems can play an important role in maintaining food production hygiene.

To meet those challenges, ACO offers a range of different grates, gullies, bucket traps, linear channels and grease separators to suit specific application requirements. Plumbers can be confident that fats, oils, grease and solids are captured to ensure that wastewater discharge meets trade waste specifications with the local authorities. “ACO’s product range for food production drainage systems is designed to give those who are conscious of the importance of high performance, hygiene and durability, peace of mind,” says ACO product manager, Kate Jennings. “For high volume or high-risk applications, stainless steel is the best option to minimise the risk of food-borne pathogens and to give the best possible cleaning outcomes. The

use of the Wexel range is equally as robust, but gives plumbers the option of using cast iron floor drains for low-risk environments, rather than stainless steel.” For further information on the full range of ACO food processing plumbing solutions, please visit: www.acoplumbing.com.au

ABOUT ACO ACO offers an extensive portfolio of building drainage systems, stormwater, cable pit and ducting systems and associated products. Headquartered in New South Wales, ACO supports the Australian market and supplies to South East Asia and the Pacific. ACO takes pride in providing excellent customer service and extensive technical support from specification to installation.

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Waste + Water Management Australia | September 2018

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A Smarter Solution‌ Introducing the new Clean Cube solar-powered compacting smart bin from Smart City Solutions – the first bin of its kind to use a standard 120L or 240L MGB wheelie bin inside.

Available in a choice of two sizes, the Clean Cube uses solar powered compaction to hold up to eight times more waste than a standard bin, while its smart technology monitors the fill level in real time, notifying operational staff when the bin needs to be emptied. And thanks to the fact that the Clean Cube uses either a standard 120 or 240 litre wheelie bin, emptying the bins is quick and easy, with no heavy carrying or lifting required. The Clean Cube also looks like no other bin! With solar-powered backlit ad panels and LCD screens, the Clean Cube can provide audio and video community messages or advertising opportunities. It can even be set up as a WiFi Hot Spot.

Visit www.smartcitysolutions.com.au or call 0417 546 977 today and discover how we can deliver a smarter solution for your city.

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ACA CORROSION FEATURE

Recent Corrosion Problems in SWRO Desalination Plants by Roger Francis, RFMaterials, UK Sea Water Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) desalination plants are increasingly being used in regions where freshwater is scarce, such as the Middle East, Australia, southern USA and holiday islands. The advantage of SWRO is that it can be turned on and off relatively simply and it can come in a wide range of sizes, from a small skid for a hotel, to a large multi-train system to supply a city. SWRO plants tend to be constructed mostly of stainless steels and Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP). Despite the fact that corrosion problems with such materials are well understood, failures still occur.

grades that are satisfactory are the superduplex grades (UNS S32760 and S32750) and the 6%Mo austenitic grades¹. The former are preferred because of their lower cost. The nominal compositions of the stainless steels discussed here are shown in Table 1. Table 1: Nominal composition of the stainless steels discussed in the text. TYPE

Aust.

The Process An SWRO plant can be split into two halves, the low pressure (up to 10 bar) and the high pressure (65 to 100 bar) sections (Figure 1).

GENERIC NAME

UNS No.

NOMINAL COMPOSITION (wt.%) Fe

316L

S31603

Cr

Bal

17

Ni

Mo

10

2

N -

Cu

W

-

-

904L

N08904

Bal

20

25

4

-

1.5

-

6%Mo

S31254

Bal

20

18

6

0.2

0.7

-

6%Mo

N08367

Bal

20

25

6

0.2

-

-

Duplex

2205

S32205

Bal

22

5

3

0.16

-

-

Super Duplex

Z100

S32760

Bal

25

7

3.5

0.25

0.7

0.7

2507

S32750

Bal

25

7

3.6

0.26

-

-

Cast Duplex

Grade 5A

J93404

Bal

25

7.5

4

0.25

-

-

J93380

Bal

25

8

3.6

0.25

0.7

0.7

Bal = Balance

In the first, seawater is taken in and is subjected to finer and finer filtration processes, to remove solids and organic material. The seawater may be chlorinated to prevent fouling. After this, chemicals are added to prevent scaling and remove any chlorine, plus a nonchlorine biocide may be injected, just prior to the high pressure pumps. In the high pressure section, the membranes allow water to pass while rejecting most of the chloride. After two passes the water is usually at a low enough chloride content for drinking water. The energy is recovered from the reject brine prior to disposal, and the permeate is usually chlorinated and may have salts added prior to distribution. In the low pressure section, it is essentially seawater, and seawater grade materials must be selected. GRP is often used for the larger pipe diameters and long straight runs, while high alloy stainless steel is used for smaller diameter piping and more complex configurations, as well as pumps and valves. The stainless steel 44

Waste + Water Management Australia | September 2018

700 600

2205

Superduplex/ 6% Mo

500 904L

Potential (mV SCE)

Figure 1. Schematic diagram of a typical SWRO plant

In the high pressure section, the filtered seawater is not as corrosive as natural seawater, owing to removal of much of the organic material in the filtration processes, and the typical potential of stainless steel is +200mV SCE compared to the +300 to +600mV SCE in natural or chlorinated seawater². This is still corrosive, and Figure 2 shows that at +200mV SCE alloys 2205 and 904L are only satisfactory up to around 22°C, while superduplex and 6%Mo alloys are needed at higher temperatures². Most SWRO plants operate in the range 20° to 35°C, where the higher alloy stainless steels are required. Potentials lower than +200mV SCE can be achieved but they require the injection of large quantities of reducing chemicals, such as sodium metabisulphite, to lower the redox potential.

400 300 Maximum SWRO Potential

200 100

Minimum SWRO Potential 316L

0 -100 -200

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Critical Crevice Temperature (°C)

70

80

90

100

Figure 2. Critical crevice temperatures of some stainless steels in seawater as a function of potential².


ACA CORROSION FEATURE

Case Study 1

Case Study 3 Some low-pressure feed pumps were supplied to a SWRO plant and they showed severe corrosion after a few months (Figure 4). The pumps were in ASTM A995 grade 5A with a wrought superduplex shaft.

Figure 4. Deep pits in the case of a grade 5A superduplex low pressure pump. Figure 3. Leaking seam welds in a 2205 dual media filter vessel. The dual media filter vessels (Figure 1) are usually carbon steel with a good quality neoprene rubber lining. This lasts about 10 to 15 years, before the lining must be replaced. A large SWRO plant in the Middle East had a 25-year design life and to avoid relining they selected stainless steel for the numerous filter vessels, in grade 2205. After 6 weeks in service at ~33°C there were numerous leaks at the welds (Figure 3) and also crevice corrosion occurred at the flanged joints. This corrosion was hardly surprising, as 2205 is not a seawater grade alloy³, but the solution to it was somewhat tricky. One option was to line the tanks with neoprene and accept that replacement would be necessary. Another was to weld overlay the internal welds and crevices with a more corrosion resistant alloy, such as nickel alloy C-22 (UNS N06022), as superduplex would not be satisfactory in the crevices in the as-welded condition at the service temperature (30 to 36°C). The other option was to replace the vessels with new ones in superduplex stainless steel.

Case Study 2 This case study involved an SWRO plant in Australia that selected 2205 duplex stainless steel for the high-pressure piping. The alloy suffered severe crevice corrosion under the rubber boots in the highpressure couplings. As the seawater temperature was mostly in excess of 22°C, these failures are not surprising as suggested by the data in Figure 2. The solution was to replace the pipes and fittings in superduplex stainless steel which was a costly exercise.

The following problems were found: • Parts of the pump did not meet the Pitting Resistance Equivalent Number (PREN) > 40, where PREN = %Cr + 3.3(%Mo + 0.5x%W) +16x%N. This is a standard requirement in NORSOK for seawater corrosion resistance³. • There were sigma and chi phases in some locations where corrosion occurred. These third phases are well known to reduce corrosion resistance. • The structure was very ferritic, which tends to lead to uneven partitioning of the elements between the two phases, and this reduces corrosion resistance. • There was a major weld repair that had no post welding heat treatment (PWHT). This would have had reduced corrosion resistance and contravened ASTM A995 requirements for PWHT after a major weld repair. • The shaft also contained sigma phase and had clearly been incorrectly heat treated. The castings were bought to a bare ASTM specification with no additional test requirements. There had been no QA/QC checks during manufacture or on receipt of the wrought and cast products. The heat treatments of both castings and wrought product had been totally inadequate and there had been no proper control over weld repair. The only solution was to procure new castings and bar to a proper specification and carry out quality checks during manufacture, repair and on delivery⁴. It was also suggested that the alloy be changed to grade 6A as this is easier to cast in thicker sections.

Waste + Water Management Australia | September 2018

45


ACA CORROSION FEATURE

Figure 5. Crevice corrosion at a flanged joint in a grade 6A superduplex casting.

46

Case Study 4

Conclusions

A number of grade 6A superduplex stainless steel pumps were suppled to a SWRO plant in the Middle East. There were corrosion problems, mostly with the low-pressure pumps before the plant was fully commissioned. The corrosion problems were largely: • Crevice corrosion at joints and flanges (Figure 5). • Clear evidence of poor quality weld repair. • Pitting associated with sigma/chi phases. Although the heat treatment of some components was not of the best, most of the crevice corrosion problems were associated with sound metal. This was puzzling as the seawater temperature was 25° to 35°C, where superduplex should perform satisfactorily. However, the LP pumps had spent 6 to 9 months full of seawater while the rest of the plant was installed and commissioned. From time to time the pumps would be run for a short interval while another part of the plant was commissioned. It has been shown that if superduplex stainless steel is left in stagnant seawater for 30 days with active Sulfate Reducing Bacteria (SRB) and nutrients, crevice corrosion can initiate at 30°C when the plant is started and receives continuous fresh seawater⁵. The water at the SWRO plant was biologically active, but was only treated with chlorine at infrequent intervals. Hence, it seems likely that it was the SRB activity during stagnation that produced films that were not very protective on start-up and led to crevice corrosion. The solution to this problem was weld repair, where the corrosion was not severe and replacement of some castings that were severely attacked. In addition, it was essential that the pumps be fully drained if left stagnant, or they should be run for several hours every day or two with fresh, chlorinated seawater.

These are just four examples of many more that could have been presented. The main problems seem to be specifying unsuitable low alloy stainless steels instead of superduplex or 6%Mo austenitic alloys, and procuring material without a proper specification or the application of suitable QA/ QC procedures. All of the problems presented here are well understood and could have been prevented. It is clear that there is still a role for experienced corrosion engineers in the desalination industry, not just in investigating failures, but also in the writing of suitable procurement specifications and helping ensure that they are followed throughout the manufacturing process.

Waste + Water Management Australia | September 2018

References [1] R Francis, The Selection of Materials for Seawater Cooling Systems: A Practical Guide for Engineers, NACE International, 2006 [2] R Francis, G Warburton, G Byrne and J Wilson, Electrochemical Potential and the Corrosion Resistance of Stainless Steels in SWRO Applications, IDA International Desalination Conference, Dubai, UAE, October, 2009 [3] NORSOK M-630, Material Data Sheets for Piping, Edition 5, September 2010 [4] R Francis and S Hebdon, The Selection of Stainless Steels for Seawater Pumps, Paper 5446, Corrosion 2015, Dallas, TX, USA, March 2015, NACE International [5] K Ohashi, R Kobayashi, J F D Stott and M J Schofield, Marine Crevice Corrosion of Stainless Steels Under Biofilmed and Sterile Conditions, Paper 7109, Corrosion 2016, Vancouver, Canada, March 2016, NACE International


PROUDLY PRESENTED BY:

MAJOR SPONSOR:

Standard

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11–14 NOVEMBER 2018 | ADELAIDE CONVENTION CENTRE CORROSION & PREVENTION 2018

C&P2018 INCLUDES:

The annual ACA conference is a 3 day gathering of world experts on corrosion mitigation. This will be a premium networking event as well as a source for the latest information concerning corrosion mitigation. Entitled Corrosion & Prevention 2018, the conference will comprise a program of keynote speakers and presentations under a range of industry ‘streams’, integrated with an exhibition that will showcase the latest products and services of the corrosion mitigation industry.

• Quality Technical Program

• Various Forums

• 72 Booth Trade exhibition

• Awards Dinner

Over 500 delegates and visitors are expected to attend from industries such as; protective coatings, water, defence, building and construction, mining, oil & gas, cathodic protection, power and more.

• Social & Networking functions • Partner Program

PLENARY LECTURERS Professor Brian Kinsella Deputy Director Applied Corrosion Research and Testing, Curtin Corrosion Engineering Industry Centre, Faculty of Science & Engineering | School of Chemical & Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University, Australia Dr Laura Machuca Lecturer, CCEIC, Curtin University

Miles Buckhurst Global Concept Director – HPI Jotun, Norway

Associate Professor Geoffrey Will Science & Engineering Faculty Queensland University of Technology

Paul Vince Associate Materials Engineer, Water, WSP

+ more to come

For more information and to register go to: conference.corrosion.com.au


ACA CORROSION FEATURE

Adelaide to host largest corrosion conference in the Southern Hemisphere In November, the Australasian Corrosion Association (ACA) will present its annual Corrosion & Prevention conference and trade exhibition in the Adelaide Convention Centre. This major event showcases the latest advancements in corrosion mitigation, which costs industry and governments around the world billions of dollars each year to manage and repair. C&P2018 is a practical multi-day experience and gathering of world experts on corrosion mitigation staged on 11-14 November 2018. Featuring engaging presentations from leading Australian and international experts, the conference is an important source of the latest information concerning corrosion prevention and management.

48

Waste + Water Management Australia | September 2018

The conference comprises a program of keynote presentations and technical papers under a range of industry ‘streams’, integrated with an exhibition that will showcase products and services of the corrosion mitigation industry. More than 400 delegates are expected to attend from industries including protective coatings, water, defence, building and construction, mining, oil & gas, cathodic protection, power and more. Industry experts will deliver five plenary addresses - including the P F Thompson Lecture - and 80 papers across technical streams focusing on; concrete, steel corrosion, water infrastructure, oil & gas, asset management and high temperature corrosion/non-ferrous metal corrosion.

These diverse technical streams will showcase the latest developments in corrosion prevention, management and mitigation. Plenary topics include corrosion management, microbiologically influenced corrosion, the circular economy from paint manufacturers point of view and the performance of geomembrane materials in floating cover applications in Australia. The 2018 Thompson Memorial Lecture will be delivered by Professor Brian Kinsella, Deputy Director Applied Corrosion Research and Testing, Curtin Corrosion Engineering Industry Centre at Curtin University. His lecture will detail how to address several critical issues on the mechanism of CO2 corrosion and its inhibition. The Thompson Memorial Lecture commemorates the work of corrosion science pioneer, P F Thompson, and has been delivered every year at the ACA's annual conference since 1951. C&P2018 is set to be a premium networking event as well as a source for the latest information concerning corrosion mitigation. For further information and registration, please visit: https://conference.corrosion. com.au


ACRS - The Australasian Certification Authority for Reinforcing and Structural Steels Ltd

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