Waste + Water Management Australia V45.3 Oct/Nov 2018

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WASTE + WATER MANAGEMENT AUSTRALIA OCT/NOV 2018

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SAFE SHUT SETTING A NEW BENCHMARK IN SAFETY AND PERFORMANCE FOR LARGE BIN LIDS

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Editorial and Publishing Consultants Pty Ltd

ABN 85 007 693 138 PO Box 510, Broadford Victoria 3658 Australia Phone: 1300 EPCGROUP (1300 372 476) Int’l: +61 3 5784 3438 Fax: +61 3 5784 2210 www.epcgroup.com Publisher and Managing Editor Anthony T Schmidt Phone: 1300 EPCGROUP (1300 372 476) Mobile: 0414 788 900 Email: ats@epcgroup.com Business Development Manager Lawrence Whiter Mobile: 0418 543 821 Email: lawrencewhiter@bigpond.com National Advertising Sales Manager Yuri Mamistvalov Phone: 1300 EPCGROUP (1300 372 476) Mobile: 0419 339 865 Email: yuri@epcgroup.com Advertising Sales - SA Jodie Gaffney - AmAgo Mobile: 0439 749 993 Email: jodie@amago.com.au Advertising Sales - WA Licia Salomone - OKeeffe Media Mobile: 0412 080 600 Email: licia@okm.com.au Graphic Design Annette Epifanidis Mobile: 0416 087 412

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Editor's Column

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Industry News

Oct/Nov 2018 Volume 45 Number 3

10 Cover Feature: MASTEC SafeShut Lid 14 Fleet Maintenance

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16 Equipment Focus 18

OH&S

20 Focus on Water 23 Product Focus

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24 Innovative Solutions 26 E-Waste Feature 30 Waste Management 32 Renewable Energy 36 Special Report: Go West Young Man 40 National Precast Feature 42 ACA Corrosion Feature

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Copyright ©2018 - EPC Media Group

CIRCULATION 6,215 Registered by Australia Post Publication No. 100001890

ISSN 1838-7098

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About the Cover Traditional style lids for large commercial and industrial bins cannot not only be difficult and cumbersome to use, they can also pose a significant OH&S risk. The innovative self-closing MASTEC® SafeShut lid sets a new benchmark in safety and performance for large commercial and industrial bin lids.

Turn to Page 10 for the full story.

EDITORS COLUMN

IT’S ALL IN THE REPORTING… HIGHLIGHTING THE IMPORTANCE OF AN EFFECTIVE MEDIA MANAGEMENT STRATEGY Dear Readers, In this day and age, where everyone apparently has their ‘anger, offence and outrage’ responses set on a hair trigger, it’s more important than ever to make sure your plans and strategies are reported accurately.

In short, ensuring that you have an effective Media Management Strategy in place for every public announcement has never been more critical.

Now, while I admit that media strategies can sometimes be difficult to manage (especially given that once the information has been provided to the reporter and/or media outlet and is out in the public domain, it is effectively out of your control), it is still critical to remain at the ready and ‘on the front foot’, ready to respond if things go ‘pear shaped’.

(Let me take a moment to apologise for the excessive use of colloquialisms and inverted commas, but I’m ‘getting on the front foot’ to defend my writing style before I too, become a victim media backlash).

On a serious note, despite the slightly glib nature of the previous paragraph, failure to effectively manage media and messaging can, and does, have serious consequences, and can end up undoing a lot of good work in a very short time.

An alarming example of this - indeed, the example that led to this editorial - was seen recently, when the major television networks and several other media outlets, led with an extremely alarmist story about ‘…councils wanting to half the number of household 2

Waste + Water Management Australia | Oct/Nov 2018

garbage collections in an effort to get people to throw out less garbage.’

While I have paraphrased that from a number of reports, that was, in essence, the main message of all the reports.

Some of the media outlets even went as far as to have outside broadcasts with reporters standing next to ‘…already small bins that will be only collected every second week’ and then doing vox pop segments with passers-by to see how alarmed and outraged innocent members of the public were at this ‘…sudden halving of waste collection services’ while, presumably, getting them to reflect on how they were possibly going to cope and, more alarmingly, how they were now going to get rid of their garbage!

Now, as a member of the media, I am generally not given to criticising reporting styles and media content, but these reports threw up too much of a red flag for me to ignore.

The issue was, that in the search for a good juicy story that people could really get wound up about, some of the key facts - indeed, the most critical key facts - were relegated to a mere footnotes.

The actual story should have been reported as ‘…a number of councils are looking to introduce a weekly organics / food waste service which would divert kitchen and other household organics from landfill for processing and reuse, with non-compostable/non-recyclable waste being relegated to a fortnightly service’.

And therein lies the problem - an awesome good news story, turned into a

bad news excuse for a little bit more outrage.

Instead of making the reduction in landfill the focus of the story, the apparent reduction in services became the focus, even when there is an actual increase in service.

The result: a key message lost; another opportunity to kick into local government taken; a little more public outrage; and a lot of rebuilding to do.

While as a professional media advisor to numerous public and private sector organisations and individuals across Australia and around the globe, I will not use this as an opportunity to tout for business.

I would, however, like to offer this piece of basic advice…

Sometimes when it comes to breaking a ‘good news’ story, too much detail is not a good thing. Leave as little opportunity as possible for the story to be misinterpreted; and if someone still manages to misinterpret and misreport it, get on it immediately and set the record straight. Don’t wait for the start of the workday or for someone else to do it - it might just save you a lot of time trying to rebuild confidence in what you’re doing.

Anthony T Schmidt Managing Editor

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Curtin research finds new technology could transform stormwater treatment Curtin University research has found that a new stormwater treatment device improves treated stormwater quality by as much as 80 per cent, in a development that could prevent harmful pollutants from entering waterways and cut recycling and infrastructure costs for authorities globally.

In research published in Journal of Environmental Management, researchers demonstrated how a new design of catch basin insert (CBI) treated stormwater more thoroughly at the source by removing gross pollutants such as leaves and plastic, as well as smaller dissolvable pollutants, the vast majority of which are not captured by previous designs.

Researcher Dr Zahanggir Alam, from Curtin’s School of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, said the new CBI used a specifically developed filtration material and was shown to capture 95 per cent of waste entering the drain while improving treated stormwater quality by 80 per cent.

“By removing dissolvable pollutants such as nutrients from stormwater run-off, the CBI can help arrest the declining health of waterways such as Perth’s Swan and Canning rivers and the ocean,” Dr Alam said.

“Excessive nutrients in our rivers create a lack of oxygen in the water that can kill fish and also leads to algal blooms that block the sun and prevent photosynthesis by plants all of which harms entire river and marine ecosystems.”

Research principal supervisor Associate Professor Faisal Anwar, from Curtin’s School of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, said the new design of CBI offered economic as well as environmental benefits.

“This research and technology could potentially revolutionise the way stormwater is treated,” Associate Professor Anwar said.

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Waste + Water Management Australia | Oct/Nov 2018

“Government and local councils spend a lot of money trying to reactively manage stormwater contamination and this solution could possibly present a vastly more efficient and cost-effective way of treating stormwater when all reactive costs are considered.

“There are many billions of dollars’ worth of stormwater infrastructure already in the ground in Perth and this new technology has the potential to transform what is currently the major source of urban waterway contamination into a new water resource.”

Dr Alam said the CBI has the potential to be used as the primary treatment component of water sensitive urban designs, but further research was needed to explore this.

“While this research focusses on the removal of nutrients from stormwater now, it can be further developed to also remove heavy metals, hydrocarbons and other environmentally harmful dissolvable pollutants. This will be the focus of our research moving forward,” Dr Alam said.

The research was part of Dr Alam’s PhD thesis, for which he received a Curtin University Chancellor’s Commendation and was carried out in collaboration with UST Pty Ltd (Urban Stormwater Technologies).

The commendations are awarded to research doctoral students who submitted outstanding theses, judged to be in the top 10 per cent of theses examined for that year, and considered to have made a significant contribution to the field of knowledge.

PICTURED: (L-R) Urban Stormwater Technologies development manager Craig Rothleitner, Curtin researcher Dr Zahanggir Alam and research supervisors Associate Professor Anna Heitz, Associate Professor Faisal Anwar and Dr Dipok Sarker.

Home battery program to assure consumers about safety of products A new quality assurance program developed by the Clean Energy Council will provide consumers with independent information on the safety of home battery products.

The Battery Assurance Program was launched by Victorian Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio at the All-Energy Australia 2018 Exhibition & Conference in Melbourne during October.

Clean Energy Council Chief Executive Kane Thornton said the new program confirms which home battery products have been tested against the industry’s best practice guidelines.

“Simply put, products that qualify for the Clean Energy Council’s Battery Assurance Program meet the standard we should all expect for a major appliance we are installing in our homes. The products have been independently tested to confirm they are up to the necessary electrical safety and quality standards,” Mr Thornton said.

“I would like to thank LG Chem, Sonnen, Tesla and Varta, who have demonstrated that their products meet the best practice guidelines and qualify for the new program.

“Energy storage technology has the potential to completely revolutionise the way we use and think about energy. This program is part of a huge suite of initiatives, by the industry for the industry, to ensure the continued confidence of consumers long into the future,” he said.

The industry best practice guide which underpins the assurance program was developed by a collection of groups including the Clean Energy Council, the Australian Industry Group, the Consumer Electronics Suppliers Association, CSIRO and the Smart Energy Council, in collaboration with state electrical safety regulators.

The products which have qualified for the Clean Energy Council Battery Assurance Program will be available on the Solar Accreditation website: www.solaraccreditation.com.au

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3/6 Chullora Bend Jandakot WA 6164 Ph: +61 8 9414 1827

New Zealand Branch

6C Lorien Place East Tamaki, Auckland 2013, New Zealand Ph: +64 21 878 334

INDUSTRY NEWS

Knauf Insulation announces plans for new $189 million plant in Malaysia Knauf Insulation is to build a $189 million plant in Malaysia to meet soaring demand for its Glass Mineral Wool insulation solutions across the Asia Pacific region.

The new plant, which will be located in Johor Bahru in the southern part of the country, will have a capacity of 75,000 tonnes a year. The plant is scheduled to be completed in early 2020 and will create 180 jobs in Malaysia as well as a further 60 new positions across the region.

“We have seen record sales due to increasing energy costs across Asia and more stringent energy-saving building regulations in countries such as Australia, Japan and Korea,” said Stuart Dunbar, Regional General Manager for the Asia Pacific Region at Knauf Insulation.

“This is a reflection of the growing preference our customers have for the exceptional quality, performance, ease

of handling and sustainability of our solutions.”

The new facility will build on this success providing a major competitive edge for the company as well as significant advantages for Australian customers. It will feature state-of-the-art technology and control equipment making it one of the most efficient and sustainable insulation plants in the Asia Pacific region.

The plant will use up to 80% post-consumer recycled glass in the manufacturing process and feature Knauf patented high compression packaging. All products will be made using Knauf Insulation’s revolutionary bio-based binder, ECOSE® Technology .

The facility will offer customers enhanced services and a wider product range for residential and non-residential buildings specifically tailored for the Asia Pacific market, as well as solutions for HVAC systems

and domestic appliances such as ovens, cars and fridges.

Additionally, the plant will give Australian builders, installers and home owners access to even better competitive prices for Knauf Insulation’s high quality Glass Mineral Wool, known as Earthwool® in Australia.

Earthwool® has already set a benchmark for handling (soft to handle), sustainability (made using recycled glass and a bio-based binder, ECOSE® Technology) and inherent thermal, acoustic and fire performance (noncombustible).

Highly efficient shipping logistics from Malaysia will also enable Knauf Insulation to develop new distribution partnerships in South-East Asian countries and strengthen its presence in the major insulation markets of Japan, Australia, Korea, New Zealand and Singapore.

“The new facility will open many opportunities to our customers and partners to expand their participation in the developing market for sustainable and energy efficient buildings in the region,” said Mr Dunbar.

Knauf Insulation’s Group COO, David Ducarme said: “We are delighted to announce our new plant in Johor Bahru.

This investment testifies the long-term commitment of the Knauf Group to develop its insulation activities worldwide as one of its core business pillars. And it marks another major milestone on our company’s journey to become the world’s leading provider of innovative high-performance insulation solutions.”

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Waste + Water Management Australia | Oct/Nov 2018

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Traditional owners and regulators get the good oil on marine pollution shoreline clean-up Traditional land owners and employees from local government, and ports and harbours recently commenced training in marine pollution remediation at the OPEC Systems Shoreline Responders Course in Brisbane.

This fully-booked and nationally accredited course follows on from four successful courses held earlier in the year in Victoria and Queensland.

When marine pollution events occur, they come with a significant financial and environmental cost. In addition to a direct impact on fish, sea mammals, birds, habitats and breeding grounds, unresolved spills can lead to long term environmental consequences.

“Our training package is grounded in industry-leading practices for incident

response, allowing designated first responders to respond in an effective and efficient manner,” said Adrian Hawes, General Manager Marine – OPEC Systems.

“When designing the course, OPEC decided to take a more strategic and tailored approach instead of the traditional classroom environment. Each course is specifically tailored to the local area, with a large majority of the training spent on beaches and foreshores enabling participants to get maximum field time,” he said.

“In the event of an oil spill, we provide people with the skills to identity the oil type and foreshore substrates, and how to treat the impacted areas. Our strong focus on field training means that participants have the practical skills to coordinate an effective

response and return the marine environment to its original state,” he said.

“We are delighted to be working handin-hand with both regulatory authorities and traditional land owners, and recognise that this type of engagement allows for an optimal response.”

The course is run over three consecutive days, with participants gaining a ‘Certificate III - Shoreline Responder’, and a Statement of Attainment. It includes modules in health, safety and risk controls; assessment strategies; and team leadership.

OPEC Systems is a Registered Training Organisation with specialist trainers offering a range of training courses.

For further information, please visit: www.opecsystems.com

Industry Experts Weigh up Solutions for Sulphur Cap 2020

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Despite the different solutions available for the industry to comply with the impending 2020 Sulphur Cap, there is still no consensus from the industry on which works best for the long-run. This is outlined by industry experts in a newly-launched Sea Asia industry insights report, '2020 Sulphur Cap: Is the industry ready for the long-run?'.

Launched ahead of the biennial Sea Asia conference and exhibition, the report explores the long-term viability of the three main solutions that industry players are mulling over ahead of the new enforcement installing scrubbers, switching to low-sulphur fuel alternatives or running on liquefied natural gas (LNG).

The 2020 Sulphur Cap, which will be enforced by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) from 1 January 2020, will ban ships trading outside of the sulphur Emission Control Areas (ECAs) from using marine fuels with a sulphur content higher than 0.5 per cent.

Dragos Rauta, Technical Director at INTERTANKO, an association of independent tanker owners, pointed out that even with less than 18 months to go before the new sulphur cap is enforced, there are still not many viable solutions for the long-run.

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"Other than clean fuel, I do not see many other potential long-term solutions that the industry can implement for the sulphur cap.

Most of the solutions can work in the shortrun but will not be sustainable.

"For example, the use of scrubbers will not last for more than 10 years because the high acidity of the wash-water is a challenge for the integrity of the installation. There will still be some impact on the environment that will not go unnoticed.

"As such, it is clear that the industry still needs that silver bullet solution to comply with the 2020 Sulphur Cap - a solution that is both viable and sustainable keeping also in mind

the forthcoming developments on greenhouse gas emissions reduction from international shipping," said Mr Rauta.

According to Precious Shipping's Managing Director, Khalid Hashim, it is important that while looking for the best solution to adhere to the new 2020 sulphur regulations, the industry looks beyond that.

"With the IMO already looking to reduce total greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50 per cent by 2050, there is an opportunity for the industry to go back to the drawing board and see if there are innovative solutions that can be implemented to move the industry towards a zero carbon future," said Hashim.

THE KEY TO QUALITY

BY SCHWARZE

COVER FEATURE

SAFE SHUT

SETTING A NEW BENCHMARK IN SAFETY AND PERFORMANCE FOR LARGE BIN LIDS Traditional style lids for large commercial and industrial bins cannot not only be difficult and cumbersome to use, they can also pose a significant Occupational Health & Safety risk. Unfortunately, that also means for a large number of users, rather than having to risk handling the lids every time they use the bin, they simply leave them open or folded back – which in itself presents a range of other problems, including windblown waste, water ingress and issues with vermin.

Now, thanks to an innovative new bin lid system from leading Australian bin manufacturer MASTEC, these issues are set to be a thing of the past. Known as MASTECÂŽ SafeShut, the innovative new proprietary selfclosing lid system has set a new benchmark in safety and performance for large commercial and industrial bin lids, and looks set to revolutionise the large commercial and industrial bin lid market both in Australia and beyond.

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NO SERRATED PROPS

SAFE TO USE

DESIGN LEAVES BOTH HANDS FREE TO DEPOSIT MATERIAL INTO THE BIN

EASY TO USE

LIDS DON’T GET LEFT OPEN

SELF CLOSING

“If the lid is open, light-weight rubbish or recyclables can be blown out of the bin, water gets into the bin when it rains, and there’s also nothing to stop vermin and other pests from getting to the bin – all of which are things that both users and collection contractors are trying to avoid.”

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peaking about the new MASTEC® SafeShut lids, MASTEC Australia Pty Ltd Managing Director, Michael Brixton, said that the initial idea for the MASTEC® SafeShut lid came from seeing how many large commercial and industrial bins were left with their lids open.

“Being in the bin business, it’s fair to say that I notice bins wherever I go,” Michael Brixton said. “And it quickly became apparent that wherever I was in Australia, when it came to large commercial and industrial bins, a significant proportion that I saw had their lids open or flipped back – even when no one was using the bin – which basically eliminates the benefits of having a lid on the bin in the first place.”

“If the lid is open, light-weight rubbish or recyclables can be blown out of the bin, water gets into the bin when it rains, and there’s also nothing to stop vermin and other pests from getting to the bin – all of which are things that both users and collection contractors are trying to avoid.”

“Interestingly, while I suspected that a lot of this might be due to the fact that the old-style commercial and industrial bin lids are often heavy and cumbersome - and in some instances, can even represent a significant risk of injury - I found that even bins fitted with lids without props, were often left open,” he said.

“Basically, it seems that in many instances, people are unwilling to, or simply can’t be bothered, closing the lid once they’ve deposited waste or recyclables in the bin,” Michael Brixton added.

With that in mind, the team at MASTEC set about developing a new large bin lid solution which would not only address the occupational health & safety issues (including the risk of serious injury caused by heavy lids or serrated props) but also the problems associated with bin lids being left open.

In short, they set out to develop a self-closing, SafeShut lid system to suit 1.5, 3 and 4.5 cubic metre bins being used

Waste + Water Management Australia | Oct/Nov 2018

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COVER FEATURE

for a wide range of waste, recyclables and organics collection applications.

A lid which was both light-weight yet sturdy enough to prevent warping and/or damage, robust enough to deliver long-term performance in harsh conditions, incorporates an RFID/chip nest for bin ID systems, while at the same time being easy and safe to use – no mean feat you’d have to agree!

While this was clearly a significant design challenge, the team at MASTEC were up to the task - and the result is the new MASTEC® SafeShut lid system.

The culmination of over 2 years of research, development and testing, the MASTEC® SafeShut lid not only overcomes the safety issues associated with traditional heavy lids and lids with serrated props, but also the problems associated with lids being left open - which can even be an issue with ‘prop-free’ lid designs that still need to be closed by hand.

Not surprisingly, one of the major considerations in the design and development of the MASTEC® SafeShut lid was safety – both for bin users and collection contractors.

ARE YOU PAYING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS A YEAR TO DUMP WATER? It’s well-known that water ingress into large bins as a result of their lids being left open, ends up costing customers across Australia many thousands of dollars in disposal fees each year.

MASTEC® SafeShut’s innovative self-closing action helps to minimise the chance of water ingress into the bin… which not only helps to extend the life of the bin, but also helps overcome the extremely costly issue of paying to dump water!

SUITABLE FOR NEW OR RETROFIT BINS With kits available to suit 1.5m³, 3m³ and 4.5m³ bins with an inward facing (REAR) top lip, MASTEC® SafeShut’s proprietary Registered Australian Design – with Patents Pending – delivers the ideal combination of light-weight operation and a robust highly-stable lid design.

Supplied in kit form complete with the lid, mechanism, springs, bolts sets and instructions, fitting the MASTEC® SafeShut lid to a new bin or old bin in reasonable condition is a relatively straightforward procedure that can generally be carried out by two people in well under 30 minutes. For new bin installations, MASTEC can provide drawings to enable the required holes for the MASTEC® SafeShut damper mechanism to be pre-drilled during bin manufacture.

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COVER FEATURE

BUILT TOUGH FOR AUSTRALIAN CONDITIONS As with all MASTEC® bins and lids, MASTEC® SafeShut lids are manufactured in Australia, and are made tough to withstand the harshest Australian operating conditions. Manufactured using high quality UV-stabilised polymers, MASTEC® SafeShut’s innovative design incorporates two integrated strengthening rods to prevent the lids from sagging or becoming warped after prolonged use.

What’s more, MASTEC® SafeShut’s unique colour-coded identification insert, means that lids can be configured for waste, recyclables, green organics or any other colour-coded collection service quickly and easily.

The MASTEC® SafeShut damper mechanism and springs – which provide the self-closing lid action – are specifically tuned to suit each individual bin lid size, thereby ensuring the correct amount of resistance to allow for easy opening and self-closing.

Each MASTEC® SafeShut damper is individually quality tested and run through a series of performance cycles prior to distribution to ensure that it provides the correct resistance for the specified lid size, thereby ensuring that it delivers a smooth and safe closing action operation once fitted to the bin.

For further information, contact MASTEC Australia Pty Ltd, Phone 1300 MASTEC (1300 627 832) or visit: www.mastec.com.au

Every year there are numerous accidents and injuries associated with the use of large commercial and industrial bin lids, with injuries caused by either the lids themselves, or the serrated props which hold the lid open.

From bruises and crush injuries (especially to fingers and hands), through to broken bones and even severed fingers, the old-style lids and props can represent a major OH&S hazard.

One of the major OH&S risks with traditional large bin lids is the serrated prop system. With the user having to support the lid with one hand while at the same time moving the prop from the ‘locked’ position with the other hand to release and close the lid, one slip can, quite literally, result in a severed finger.

What’s more, using bin lids with serrated props becomes even more challenging for the larger 3m3 and 4.5m3 bins – especially for a shorter or smaller person.

“In some ways, it’s amazing to think that despite the raft of OH&S improvements that have been made in recent decades, the majority of large commercial and industrial bins still feature the old-style serrated lid prop system,” Mike Brixton said.

“It’s really no exaggeration to say that even when they’ve been fitted with warning labels, these old-style lids really are an OH&S nightmare,” he added.

Importantly, it’s not only about the serrated props, but also the lids themselves. While there are now very few bins remaining in service with the old style metal lids, many of the newer plastic lids still have enough bulk and weight behind them to do serious damage if they fall on someone’s fingers or hands from the open position.

With it’s revolutionary easy-open, spring-assisted design, and its innovative self-closing, action, the MASTEC® SafeShut bin lid not only eliminates the risk of impact and crush injuries associated with large bin lids and props, it also addresses the issue of bin lids being left open.

Extremely easy to open with only minimal effort, the MASTEC® SafeShut lid closes gradually, allowing time for waste to be deposited into the bin.

Once the waste is in the bin, simply walk away – the lid closes itself… preventing wind-blown waste and water ingress.

SUPER SAFE & EASY TO USE Bins fitted with a MASTEC® SafeShut lids are extremely safe and easy to use. Simply open the lid, deposit the materials into the bin and walk away!

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NO NEED TO PROP THE LID OPEN – leaving both hands free to deposit material into the bin

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LESS CONTACT WITH BIN AND LID - gradual self-closing action allows time for material to be deposited into the bin

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NO NEED TO CLOSE THE LID BY HAND – the self-closing action ensures the lid will close after use

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SAFE TO USE - Innovative SafeShut design and self-closing action minimises the risk of injury to hands or fingers

Waste + Water Management Australia | Oct/Nov 2018

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FLEET MAINTENANCE

Quality, Performance AND Value

Titan proves that you don’t have to sacrifice quality or safety to get better value from your tyre and wheel budget From private vehicle owners and owner/ operators with a single truck, van or piece of equipment, through to large commercial equipment and vehicle fleet operators, hire companies, councils and other authorities regardless of the size of the fleet or type of equipment involved - one thing they all have in common, is that they’re all trying to get the most out of their vehicle and equipment maintenance budgets.

In these days of tight budgetary constraints - both business and personal - and ‘having to do more with less’, vehicle maintenance, particularly things such as replacing tyres, can often be ‘put on the back-burner’.

Unfortunately, this can also result in a serious reduction in both safety and performance, as owners either choose sub-standard tyres simply based on price or, worse still, choose not to replace tyres which are often illegal and/or dangerous until they are quite literally unable to go any further.

Over the past decade in particular, easy access to global markets and internet commerce, and the accompanying boom in small-scale supply businesses, has seen an array of products flow into the Australian market, including tyres. As well as resulting in a seemingly endless array of brands and products, this new market expansion

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has also seen a significant reduction in traditional ‘brand loyalty’ as companies and individuals alike search for savings.

Unfortunately, as is the case with many business segments, some sections of the tyre market in Australia have now become little more than a ‘race to the bottom’ - not only in terms of price and service, but also, in some instances, quality and safety.

Be that as it may, leading tyre, wheel and undercarriage specialists Titan Australia, have set out to prove that when it comes to tyres and wheels, you don’t have to sacrifice quality or safety to get better value. Adam Oakenful, Chief Operating Officer with Titan Australia, explained: “While in the past there has been a tendency to associate cheaper-priced tyres with inferior quality or performance – a view which is perhaps not surprising considering some of the products that have managed to sneak under the radar over the years that’s certainly not the case with any of our products.”

“From the company’s earliest beginnings in the USA in 1890, Titan has built its reputation on delivering high quality products which deliver outstanding safety and performance, whilst also offering excellent value for money,” he added.

As a global leader and one of the world’s largest manufacturers of specialist tyres, wheels and tracks, Titan manufacturers all of its own products at facilities across the globe. This massive global manufacturing capability not only provides significant economies of scale, it also means that Titan is able to maintain strict quality control over the entire production and supply chain - from start to finish, including fitting.

“The shear scale of Titan’s global operations means that we’re able to provide outstanding quality products often at a fraction of the price of other brands,” Adam Oakenful said.

“Perhaps most importantly, rather than simply selling tyres based on the size, we work with our customers to select the most appropriate tyres for their specific equipment and applications.”

“After all, it doesn’t matter if it’s a passenger vehicle, 4WD, small truck, prime mover, construction machinery or even a forklift, it’s no good selecting a tyre simply based on the fact that it’s the cheapest available. You need to be sure that it’s fit for purpose, safe, and will deliver the long-term performance you need,” he added. “Anything else is a false economy that will likely end up costing more in the long run – and when it comes to safety, that’s a price you don’t want to pay.”

For further information on Titan’s full range of products and services, please call: 1300 791 672 or visit: www.titanaustralia.com

CHANGING THE FACE OF

WASTE MANAGEMENT Whatever your waste management needs, GCM Enviro can provide you with the equipment and expertise that you need.

From landfill compactors, shedders and compost windrow turners, through to state-of-the-art crushing and screening equipment, GCM Enviro has it all.

Top quality equipment from world-renowned manufacturers.

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The most versatile waste shredder on the market Applicable even for the most challenging materials Produce anything from 50 to 500mm particle size Mobile diesel and stationary electric models available

EQUIPMENT FOCUS

Electric Vehicle – the evolution to date Superior Pak’s new fully electric garbage truck penetration is off and running full steam ahead, or should we say full battery ahead.

It’s now over 12 months since the first fully electric side loader garbage truck was built in Queensland by Superior Pak and supplied to Envirowaste in New Zealand. Twelve months on, the in-field performance and data captured, along with the very positive financial modelling and ROI calculations, have seen interest in NZ and Australia skyrocket.

With the first Australian truck recently delivered in Melbourne, fully-electric garbage trucks are garnering extensive interest by both the media and the public.

This, together with Superior Pak’s extensive EV marketing campaign – which included a conference/expo road show - has resulted in a massive jump in interest in this viable, environmentally-friendly solution by councils and contractors alike.

Indeed, by the end of this year, there will be half a dozen EV’s on the road in Australia and NZ, with another dozen being built and dozens more in the pipeline.

The EV evolution has arrived in earnest!

Not surprisingly, the increase interest and demand for electric trucks is not something that has happened overnight. In fact, Superior Pak started working with some of 16

Waste + Water Management Australia | Oct/Nov 2018

their clients to develop suitable EV solutions over 18 months ago. Superior Pak Managing Director, Rob Wrigley, explained: “It started in New Zealand for us, where we had clients coming to us and asking what EV solutions we had available. Their primary focus was on reducing their carbon footprint by eliminating tailpipe emissions.”

“We did some investigating and came across SEA Electric who were providing EV solutions for buses and small vans. They had a system with a range of around 200 kilometres and we knew that ticked the boxes in terms of most of our clients' runs, but as was the case with all of the available EV solutions at the time, it was extremely heavy – and that was too-high a cost to pay in terms of losing payload capacity, which is critical in waste collection,” he said.

“So, we started working with SEA Electric on finding a light-weight EV solution, and ended up taking nearly 400 kg off the vehicle weight, resulting in a truck that was nearly 2 tonnes lighter than any other solution on the market,” Rob Wrigley added.

Importantly, as well as meeting all of the operational requirements, the new EV also stacked-up extremely well in terms of costs

and Return on Investment (ROI).

“The clincher for the industry has been the numbers. With no diesel fuel costs, reduced/ minimal chassis servicing cost (removal of ‘B’ Service and in some instances the ‘C Service’ as the units have no engine or transmission), and minimal brake wear (forecast replacement of pads and disks once every 4 years) the ROI is excellent,” Rob Wrigley said.

“In fact, based on these savings, the modelling to date is showing an ROI of approximately 4 years. Extrapolate that out over a fleet and your talking big savings.”

“In addition, there is also a push towards legislated relief on registration and stamp duty for EV’s, which will make EV's even more financially attractive,” he concluded.

The first fleet of Superior Pak EV hard waste Rear Loaders is about to start work in the City of Casey in Victoria. With Casey Council's proactive focus on ‘clean and green’ solutions, the EV solution was a perfect fit, and WM Waste Management successfully tendered for Casey’s kerbside collection service using an EV solution.

For further information, please visit: www.superiorpak.com.au

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IN

OO S G

N COM

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OH&S

The only thing that should fall is the statistics In 2017, a total of 32 Australian and NZ workers died as a result of falling from height¹, with countless others seriously injured².

The effects of a fall on a work site are far reaching and go beyond the company to the family members and even the community.

Most of these injuries and deaths are totally needless because they can be avoided with the right fall protection gear, used the right way.

The ABCs of Fall Protection

18

can be permanent or temporary and vary to suit the type of structure available. This can be a fixed point or a static line system, but it must be capable of sustaining a force of 15 kN for a single person application and 22 kN for a two-person application.

B – Body Support

devices working together. This can be a shock absorbing lanyard with a maximum working slack of 2 metres or a selfretracting lifeline (SRL).

D – Descent/Rescue Descent and rescue systems enable the retrieval of an injured or incapacitated worker. In the event of a rescue, this equipment facilitates rapid recovery of the worker without endangering other workers in the process.

Choosing the right equipment to use when working at height can be a difficult job. However, there are six fundamental components that should be considered to protect yourself, and those around you, when working at height: Anchorages; Body Support; Connectors; Descent/Rescue, Education and Fall Protection for Tools:

Full body harnesses connect the worker to the fall arrest system. They are specially designed to protect the worker against serious injury in the event of a fall, whilst also remaining comfortable to wear.

Use only a standards approved full body harness that is within service, inspected prior to use and correctly fitted and adjusted.

A - Anchorages

C – Connectors

F - Fall Protection for Tools

Anchorage provides a secure point of attachment (to an existing structure) for the fall arrest system. Anchorage devices

Connectors are devices that connect the full body harness to the anchorage system.

They can be single products or multiple

Fall protection for tools help make work environments safer and more productive by reducing dropped object incidents.

Waste + Water Management Australia | Oct/Nov 2018

E – Education Education is essential to ensure at height workers are thoroughly trained to carry out tasks in a safe and efficient manner.

OH&S

TRADE-IN + UPGRADE + ENJOY A CASH REBATE! 3M DBI-SALA® believes that everyone should be able to afford the very best in protective gear.

So for a limited time, they’re making it easier to access a vast range of premium fall protection products with an exclusive rebate offer.

All you need do is: 1. Identify the fall protection products you want to trade in* 2. Choose from over 400 eligible 3M DBI-SALA® Fall Protection products 3. Order from your authorised 3M distributor 4. Confirm your purchase to register for your cash rebate Rebate for each 3M DBI-SALA® product trade-in: 1 x Harness = $40 cash back 1 x SRL = $30 cash back 1 x Lanyard = $20 cash back 3M DBI-SALA® is committed to helping you get the job done safely.

Committed to your wellbeing Finally, and most importantly, never use fall protection equipment without first receiving competency based training in working at heights and with fall protection

equipment. This article is to be used only a general guide, reach out to a 3M Fall Protection Specialist if you’re unsure of any aspect of fall protection or fall protection equipment.

To know more about our Cash Rebate Promotion, call Customer Service on 1300 363 565 (AU) or 0800 252 627 (NZ).

And to initiate your rebate, visit: www.3MfallprotectionANZ.com *Terms & Conditions apply. Visit www.3MfallprotectionANZ.com for details REFERENCES: 1. Workplace Fatalities: Falls From a Height.

Source: Safe Work Australia, Notifiable Fatalities December 2017 Monthly Report.

Worksafe NZ - worksafe.govt.nz/dataand-research/ws-data/fatalities/: Table 2.

WorkSafe Fatalities Detail 2. Serious Injury Claims: Falls From a Height.

Source: Safe Work Australia, Australian Workers’ Compensation Statistics, 2015-16.

FOCUS ON WATER

Recycling stormwater to battle the drought Australia’s largest urban stormwater recycling scheme was recently switched on in Sydney’s newest town centre, Green Square. Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said thousands of Green Square residents will now be able to save tens of thousands of litres of precious drinking water.

Up to 320 million litres of polluted stormwater will be diverted from waterways each year as part of the $8 million scheme.

The stormwater will be treated and piped directly into residential, commercial and community buildings.

Up to 900,000 litres of treated stormwater will be provided daily for use in washing machines, to flush toilets, and in parks and gardens.

“Once this scheme is up and running, we expect the area’s consumption of drinking water will be reduced by half – a significant saving during this current drought,” the Lord Mayor said.

“Not only will we be saving water, but reducing costs as well – it’s expected water bills will be cut for residents and businesses by 10 cents a kilolitre.

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Waste + Water Management Australia | Oct/Nov 2018

“This ‘taps on’ moment in Green Square is a very significant milestone for local governments across Australia. It shows that it’s possible to become a water sensitive city and to set – and achieve – the most ambitious sustainability goals in major urban developments like Green Square,” she said.

“Growing populations and high-density living calls for an increased demand for water, not only to drink but to flush toilets, wash clothes, water gardens and irrigate parks. By treating polluted water so it can be used again, we are able to conserve our previous water supplies and prevent polluted water from flowing into our waterways,” the Lord Mayor added.

“As well as providing recycled water to our community and cultural precinct and the City West affordable housing development, residential buildings will also be connected to the network – which means for the first time in Australia, residents will be able to move into their new apartments and use recycled stormwater from their taps.

“It’s a win-win for the community and the environment – combatting the effects of our

changing climate, improving stormwater quality across our city and helping residents and businesses manage water prices,” she said.

Positioned above a major stormwater flow path, the Green Square town centre is the perfect location for a recycled stormwater scheme. Stormwater will be harvested from the two kilometre drain that runs underground from Epsom Road in Zetland to Alexandra Canal and pumped into a treatment plant at the former South Sydney Hospital site on Joynton Avenue.

The water will then be treated by a combination of high-tech ‘ultrafiltration’, which removes solids and pathogens, and ‘reverse osmosis’, which reduces its salt concentration, before being sent to two 500,000 litre underground storage tanks.

From there, the recycled water will be distributed around the town centre via a network of purpose-built purple pipes. Existing residential and City-owned buildings are already connected to the scheme, and new buildings throughout the area will be connected as they are completed.

The City contracted Flow Systems to build the scheme, and it will be operated by their private water utility, Green Square Water.

“It’s fantastic to be part of the vision created by the City – we are especially proud to be part of the pulse of Green Square.

The recycled water centre forms part of the beating heart for the town centre,” said Terry Leckie, founder, Flow Systems.

“The Green Infrastructure Centre is a wonderful example of repurposing an historic building to deliver sustainable water and energy for the people of Green Square.”

When fully developed, the 278-hectare Green Square urban renewal area will accommodate close to 61,000 people living in 30,500 new homes, and provide around 21,000 permanent jobs.

The City is spending $540 million on extensive infrastructure and streetscaping works across the precinct, as well as new community facilities including a library and plaza, aquatic centre, creative centre and a childcare centre. Once complete, Green Square will also be home to 40 new parks.

For more information, please visit: www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/vision/greensquare

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.

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• 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

FOCUS ON WATER

Global recognition for lifechanging water initiatives Professor Tony Wong, Chief Executive of the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Water Sensitive Cities at Monash University, has received the 2018 IWA Global Water Award for an initiative that has provided urban water security to millions of people across the world.

This biennial award, which was formally presented to Professor Wong by the International Water Association in Tokyo, Japan, during September, recognises global leadership and initiatives in water management.

In collaboration with his Monash University colleagues, Professor Wong has spent more than 30 years pioneering a program of work called the water sensitive cities approach that addresses the social, environmental and economic challenges of global water management.

Through a combination of science and hydro-engineering, Professor Wong says he’s been able to create blueprints for water security that can transform cities, and the health and wellbeing of their residents, globally.

“This work has advanced a new understanding of the relationship between the societal and biophysical dimensions of water security from drought, floods, environmental pollution and city waterscapes,” he said.

“Our aim is to deliver sustainable urban water outcomes underpinned by creative design, and technical and scientific rigour.”

Professor Wong’s strategy has been adopted in multiple cities across the world and led to sustainable water developments and projects that have changed the lives of millions living in densely populated areas and urban slums.

Singapore has been able to create a more self-reliant water supply by harnessing stormwater as a valuable resource. Similarly, the city of Kunshan – located between Suzhou and Shanghai in China – has achieved remarkable levels of sustainability, resilience and liveability by adopting this water strategy.

Working alongside Monash Professors Rebekah Brown, Karin Leder, Steven Chown and Diego Ramirez-Lovering amongst others, Professor Wong’s water research also extends to hygiene and disease prevention in some of the world’s most confronting slums in Fiji and Indonesia.

This five-year project will turn informal settlements into independent sites that recycle their own wastewater, harvest rainwater, create green space for water cleansing and food cultivation, and restore natural waterways to encourage diversity and deal with flooding.

“I am honoured to receive this award which acknowledges my lifetime work in water-sensitive urban design. Genuine collaboration holds the key and I hope this 2018 IWA Global Water Award will give projects of this nature further impetus for success.”

Cheryl Batagol, Chairman of the CRC for Water Sensitive Cities, said: “We are very proud of Tony’s enormous contribution to the global water community and we congratulate him on this well-deserved award.

“This award recognises Tony’s determination and vision to create the water sensitive cities approach to help overcome the obstacles we face in an increasingly urbanised world that is also tackling the effects of climate change.”

Cockburn Sound water quality improved significantly Water quality in Western Australia’s Cockburn Sound has improved significantly since the 1980s as a result of co-ordinated efforts to protect Perth’s coastal waters from pollution.

Announcing the release of the 2017 Cockburn Sound Drivers-Pressures-StateImpacts-Responses Assessment Final Report, WA Environment Minister Stephen Dawson said Cockburn Sound now has typically excellent water quality.

The report considered pressures and risks to the Sound including impacts from contaminants, invasive marine species, boats, commercial and recreational fishing, climate change and development on the mainland coast. It concluded that Cockburn Sound was generally well managed under 22

Waste + Water Management Australia | Oct/Nov 2018

a robust regulatory and policy framework supported by initiatives implemented by local government, industry and others.

These include active industry efforts to reduce discharges of nutrients and other contaminants; and local government improvements in stormwater drainage, dune rehabilitation, planning and monitoring, and managing coastal erosion and inundation.

“The State Government welcomes these reports on Cockburn Sound’s positive state of health,” Minister Dawson said.

“It shows that Cockburn Sound is being managed well and protected by State Government legislation and initiatives implemented by industry and other stakeholders operating in and around

Cockburn Sound,” the Minister added. “It is great to see users of Cockburn Sound working collaboratively to plan, monitor and manage the health of the area.”

The Cockburn Sound Management Council will consider the report’s recommendations and provide its advice to the Minister.

“This report gives us a better understanding of how people use Cockburn Sound and what the community values about the area,” said Cockburn Sound Management Council Chairperson Emeritus Professor Kateryna Longley.

“Identified gaps in monitoring and knowledge of the Sound will be addressed to protect environmental values into the future,” Professor Longley added.

PRODUCT FOCUS

Approved Drinking Water Pump Australian Pump has announced the introduction of an FDA grade stainless steel pump approved for drinking water systems. Made in the United States especially for this application, the new pump is manufactured from stainless steel casing with FDA grade polypropylene internals. It’s also fitted with FDA grade elastomers. The company has introduced it to Australia as a reflection of the growing requirement for potable water suppliers and handlers to have approved equipment suitable for potable water.

The 2” stainless steel pump, called the IPW series comes with 2” ports and BSB. A built-in check valve and double flush volute ensures fast self-priming making it ideal for engine drive applications on road tankers used for carting water for household use.

The pump delivers up to 681 litres per minute flow, enabling tanker operators to

move water fast. The pump’s maximum head is 23 metres, with a self-priming capability of a vertical lift of 6 metres.

The pumps can also be set up with direct coupled electric motor, bare shaft pulley or with hydraulic drive. The Honda petrol and Yanmar diesel engine versions are already attracting interest from tanker operators supplying potable water to mine sites, remote communities and even farms and homesteads. The pump also has application in the food and beverage industry.

“We can see producers of drinking water being able to use this pump as a cheap and very reliable option to the pumps being used now,” said Aussie Pumps’ Brad Farrugia.

Australian Pump claim the new ‘I series’ is a breakthrough in potable water handling providing users with an FDA approved capability at a very reasonable price. A key application in the US is for the US Forestry services to use these pumps for water

BELOW: Aussie’s new FDA approved drinking water pump ideal for engine drive applications on road tankers used for water carting for household use.

transfer. They haul water to forest fire fighting base camps for drinking and field showers.

This has proved to be an important service and is policed by Forestry Service inspectors in the field.

Further information is available from Australian Pump Industries or authorised distributors throughout Australia. Please visit: www.aussiepumps.com.au

Invitation to Bid Water research and innovation precinct partnership Bid Invitation Number – 7000010899 Opening Date: 09:00 am WST Tuesday, 9 October 2018 Closing Date:

14:30 pm WST Thursday, 6 December 2018

Water Corporation is continuing its commitment in research and innovation by seeking a technology partner to collaborate with to develop a Research and Innovation Precinct. This agreement will develop technologies of the future that improve wastewater treatment practices and resource recovery.

The partner will be given access to the Water Corporation’s repurposed buildings within the Subiaco Wastewater Treatment Plant to carry out research. This includes laboratories, workshops and an administration building as well as access to flows from different points in the wastewater treatment process. The successful bidder will also have the opportunity to collaborate on research projects with the Water Corporation’s research team.

An Open Day will be held on 22 October 2018, allowing potential bidders to view the facilities and meet with the Water Corporation’s key stakeholders.

The bid documents may be accessed on 9 October 2018 by companies registered as Water Corporation suppliers or bidders via the Supplier Portal. Please be advised that only bids that can meet specific mandatory criteria as set out in the bid documents will be accepted.

If you are not a registered Water Corporation supplier or bidder, please complete the online Supplier Registration form available at watercorporation.com.au/home/suppliers/become-a-supplier at your earliest convenience. Please be aware, this may take up to five working days to process.

Enquires should be directed to: Brienne Dimitriou Advisor - Contracts T: (08) 6330 6670 E: Brienne.Dimitriou@watercorporation.com.au

watercorporation.com.au

Waste + Water Management Australia | Oct/Nov 2018

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INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS

KEEPING PLASTER RESIDUES OUT OF DRAINS SMART SINKS DELIVERS AN INNOVATIVE SOLUTION TO A COMMON PROBLEM Patented Smart Sinks™ filtration systems system utilise a series of interlocking independent collection units joined by a valve system to collect particles, plaster and sediment from the waste water.

Whether it’s creating moulds in a dental laboratory, applying plaster casts to fractured limbs in a hospital or medical centre, developing corrective casts or moulds in a podiatrist clinic, or any other number of professional applications, one of the most common problems for anyone working with plaster, is that of plaster residues washing down the sink.

Now, thanks to the revolutionary Australian-designed Smart Sinks™ filtration system, problems with plaster residues look set to be a thing of the past for dental and medical surgeries and laboratories across Australia and beyond.

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Waste + Water Management Australia | Oct/Nov 2018

Excess plaster powder from mixing, unused mixed plaster and/or plaster ground from hardened casts or moulds during shaping, cutting and grinding can all spell disaster for drains. Indeed, in many labs (even those fitted with traditional-style ‘plaster traps’), removing plaster residues from drains is a time-consuming and expensive task – and one which often requires a site visit from a qualified plumber to complete.

It’s an extremely common problem, and one which became the primary catalyst for the development of the Patented Smart Sinks™ technology.

“The original idea came to me when we were completing a commercial fit-out project in a dental laboratory in south-east Queensland,” said Smart Sinks™ inventor Craig Hanson. “We immediately recognised the problems caused by plaster residues being washed down the sink, including the odours and, of course, the blockages.”

“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 - even in facilities fitted with traditional plaster traps.”

“Some of these places were spending an absolute fortune on plumbers,” he added.

In fact, the initial research, which included discussions with numerous dental practices, laboratories, and medical facilities, found that in many instances, practices were spending as much as $600 every 4-6 weeks to have drains cleared and plaster residues removed.

And that wasn’t the only issue.

In some of the busier facilities, the odours associated with plaster residues and sludge were impossible to eliminate – even after cleaning out the drains. This not only makes for an unpleasant working environment, it also provides an indication of a fungal or bacterial presence which can, in itself, present a health risk to those working in the facilities

STOPPING THE PLASTER RESIDUES BEFORE THEY BECOME AN ISSUE Specifically designed to meet the needs of the dental and medical industries, the key to the success of the Smart Sinks™ filtration system, is that it prevents the plaster residues from getting into the drains in the first place – stopping them before they cause a problem.

Patented Smart Sinks™ filtration systems utilise a series of interlocking independent collection units joined by a valve system to collect particles, plaster and sediment from the 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 the residues from passing into the drainage system.

With the primary filtration bag collecting up to 92% of waste material, the subsequent filters remove finer particulates from the wastewater prior to disposal, resulting in water that runs clear and is free of plaster sediment and residues.

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 the Bench-mounted Smart Sinks™ are ideal for any application where waste sediment is at disposable filtration bags. risk of entering the sewer, drains or trade This not only eliminates waste such as this dental laboratory. the ongoing maintenance problems and costs associated with sediment entering the drains, it also does away odour issues and the need for using messy, outdated under-bench plaster traps which can clog or leak.

For further information on the Smart Sinks™ range, including full video demonstrations of Smart Sinks™ in action, please visit: The waste sediment collects in the removable www.smartsinks.com.au

Mobile Media Blasting - Wet & Dry

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filter bag ready for quick and easy disposal.

Smart Sinks™ filtration removes fine particulates, resulting in water that runs clear and is free of plaster sediment and residues.

Removing and replacing the Smart Sinks™ filter bags is an extremely fast and easy process.

Waste + Water Management Australia | Oct/Nov 2018

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E-WASTE FEATURE

Divert, Don’t Dump Victorian Recycling Service Encourages Consciousness Around Electrical Purchases Green Collect, a social enterprise that provides employment opportunities for people facing disadvantage, is calling on Victorian businesses to make sure they recycle all of their old electrical items, or e-waste.

The organisation, based in Braybrook, specialises in resource recovery and handles around 10-15 tonnes of technology and hardware waste every year.

While its main objective is to create employment opportunities, Green Collect achieves this by working hard to reduce the amount of e-waste and other office items that are sent into landfill sites.

Green Collect Co-founder, Darren Andrews, said: “Typically, we collect electrical items such as computers, printers, monitors, wiring and cables, phones, toasters and microwaves from customers. Our clients vary from individual members of the public to larger businesses and firms that generate large quantities of mixed recyclables.

“Our main service is delivered to companies who are planning an office move or update and are looking for solutions for their old tech. We also engage with the public who can utilise our service by dropping items off at our warehouse to ensure that they are disposed of ethically.

“You would be surprised at just how much material can be recovered from e-waste, from plastics to precious metals. It’s important that people understand the value of recapturing these resources but also the

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harm they can cause if dumped in landfill.

We have become an extremely disposable society, and the rate at which we upgrade tech like mobile phones, computers, laptops and TVs is rapidly increasing.

“My goal is to also encourage people to consider investing in the repair and maintenance of items so that they might last a bit longer, so that the demand for raw materials can also be reduced. As we become more aware of the finite nature of these resources we must utilise the value in existing materials to prevent further harmful impact on our planet.

“If we want to avoid the damage that improper disposal of e-waste can cause, we need to pay more attention to how handle these products when we’re finished with them.

“Businesses’ reliance on updates to technology and efficiencies are a large part of the reason why the demand for new tech won’t slow down. However, there are now many options for responsible disposal when replacing equipment, that allow businesses and individuals to adopt more sustainable practices and lessen their negative impact in the environment.

“I think one of the keys to protecting our environment is to set targets so that we don’t become complacent. The government’s plans to invest in infrastructure and an eventual ban on e-waste at landfill is such a positive step towards achieving this,” Darren Andrews concluded.

CASE STUDY: MobileMuster

We all have that cupboard draw in the house. The one that holds miscellaneous keys, old hair ties, remotes and the rest. The drawer that’s the first place you look when you’ve misplaced anything. It’s also likely that drawer has been home to an old phone (or five) for a long while now?

Well, it’ time for a clear out and MobileMuster’s e-waste recycling program is the perfect way to dispose of any unwanted phones, batteries, chargers or accessories.

Since its inception in 1998, the government accredited take back program has been collecting mobile e-waste and responsibly recycling the materials.

When they started, they would collect around 18 tonnes of waste products a year.

Last year they recorded collections of nearly 80 tonnes. (see latest annual report at https:// www.mobilemuster.com.au/media/135343/ mob_annualreport-2016-17final.pdf) That’s 80 tonnes of mobile phone waste that has been saved from potentially being dumped in landfill and recycled back to almost 100% of its raw materials.

Spyro Kalos, Manager at MobileMuster explains why this is so important; “Electronics contain potentially hazardous substances that should never make it to landfill as they can leak into our ecosystem, damaging plant and animal life,” he said.

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

E-WASTE FEATURE

While keeping an old phone on hand in case your current one breaks is OK you probably aren’t going to reuse the older phones, especially the ones that no longer work.

“Storing your old electronics may not seem like a big deal however it all adds up.

MobileMuster estimates there is currently over 23 million unused and unwanted mobile phones lying dormant in Australian homes.

That’s approximately 2,200 tonnes of metal, minerals, plastic and glass that can and should be recycled,” he said.

The national collection program is supported by all of the major mobile manufacturers and service providers with 400 councils also involved in supporting the scheme with collection points at customer service points and transfer stations throughout the country.

Spyro added; “Currently the nation-wide programme has 3500 public drop off points, including Telstra, Vodafone and Optus stores as well as most Officeworks and Battery World outlets.

“It is free to drop off items, and all brands are accepted. Once collected, Mobile Muster then works to dismantle the entire item before sending it on for resource recovery where they are able to recycle 99% of materials used.”

So, next time you’re fishing around in that trusty old drawer, take a moment to collect any unused phones and electronic devices and put them in a MobileMuster bin at your local mobile phone retail store, Officeworks, Battery World or council drop off point.

And finally, if you are worried about your old data and personal details stored on your old mobile phone, MobileMuster safely destroys it so you can feel confident so one can access your information in the future.

However, they do encourage individuals to transfer the data they want to keep and perform a factory reset for added security.

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Australia and New Zealand Recycling Platform Limited (ANZRP):TechCollect Case Study Homes and landfill sites across Victoria are gradually being overcome by one very distinct type of waste. It’s a type of waste that is made up of items requiring batteries or a cord and plug and is called e-waste.

It’s estimated that around one in five of us are currently either hoarding all our old phones, TVs and computers or perhaps even worse, throwing them out in the rubbish bin!

This is having a devastating effect on our environment as many of these items contain hazardous materials that should not just be left to rot in landfill.

However, thanks to TechCollect - a free, nationwide e-waste recycling service from the ANZRP - there is a chance we can reduce the damage being done and actually help make sure the raw materials inside our old TV’s, smartphone and computers are actually recovered and reused.

In fact, TechCollect 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.

Warren Overton, CEO at ANZRP, says; “E-waste is the fastest growing waste stream and contains hazardous materials that shouldn’t end up in landfill. It also contains a lot of valuable materials that should be recovered and reused in our economy. Our vision is to create a community which collects, processes and safely recycles e-waste for responsible environmental outcomes.”

Since its establishment in 2012 the service has recycled over 110,000 tonnes of e-waste.

In 2017 alone, TechCollect collected 5,400 tonnes of e-waste in Victoria – this is enough steel to make more than 2,000 new cars!

Individuals can drop off computers, laptops, tablets, keyboards, mice, USBs, printers, faxes, scanners and televisions to one of over 100 drop-off stations throughout Australia. Meanwhile businesses have the option to have large loads of e-waste picked up from their premises.

As part of their commitment to reducing e-waste, TechCollect partners with local communities to run events that educate and inspire more e-waste recycling.

Their annual Young E-waste Hero competition, aimed at primary and secondary school students raises awareness about the importance of e-waste recycling to the younger generation.

They have also created a ‘Waste Not Want Not Day’ which engages small businesses and encourages them to clear out their offices of old and unused technology.

For those that are concerned about the safety of personal information stored on old phones and computers TechCollect advises individuals to use a reputable data wiping service or to check with the manufacturers of the product before dropping off.

For more information about how you can recycle your old TVs, phones and computers with TechCollect please visit: www.techcollect.com.au

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WASTE MANAGEMENT

Streamlining Volume Calculations for Solid Waste Management As our burgeoning urban areas continue to put pressure on municipal infrastructure, it’s inevitable that the amount of solid waste produced will also create an additional burden on public funds. With spending in some countries expected to double, smart technologies may lead the way to reducing costs whilst improving outdated processes.

Here, Owen Howells, installation and training engineer, from geospatial technology specialist, GeoSLAM, discusses how laser scanning is already helping one waste management company to keep up with escalating workloads.

Despite the best efforts of governments, councils and individuals, global waste generation is set to rise to 2.2 billion tonnes by 2025. In 2016, urban areas in Asia alone spent $25m per year on solid-waste management, with the figure expected to increase to $47m a year in the same timeframe.

Managing this level of waste will require not only additional labour but also a new way of thinking when it comes to planning 30

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and logistics. As often happens when there is a shift in demand for services, waste management companies are already looking to leverage smart technologies which have been used to great effect in other industries.

Laser scanning, or LiDAR is one such technology being used to plan and manage smart cities across the world.

LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) started out as a tool for measuring clouds.

In 1963, NASA astronauts used a laser altimeter to map the surface of the moon, leading to the continuing development of laser scanners for high-accuracy mapping and monitoring applications. In recent years, the innovations involving LiDAR have spanned dozens of industries, from city planning programmes to the development of autonomous vehicles.

LiDAR works by using reflected light to measure distances and is now most commonly used to create 3D models.

Modern systems can measure around 1,000,000 measurements per second, with each calculation acting as a data ‘point’ in

a virtual map. Measurements are accurate down to millimetres and it’s this level of detail that has led to the effective use of LiDAR for logistical planning at a recycling plant in South Africa.

ABOVE: LiDAR imaging enables stockpiles to be monitored and measured.

RIGHT: LiDAR imaging of a mine tailings stockpile, classified by height.

Automated inventory management When a solid-waste recycling company in South Africa first requested a consultation, it was the safety of their operatives which gave them cause for concern. They had seen their workload increase dramatically thanks to government initiatives and general environmental awareness and sought to streamline calculations of their ever-changing inventory. The current hands-on visual method of measuring meant that operatives were exposed to heavy machinery and vehicles, as well as potentially hazardous waste.

SITEMONITOR LIVE was originally developed to act as a site-wide operational

system for mines and quarries. Using a combination of static laser scanners and smart software, the integrated modules allowed site operators to remotely monitor the structural integrity of safety critical features such as berms and faces without placing survey teams in harm’s way.

Alerts can be set to warn when changes are detected outside of set, or unsafe, parameters. Something which not only helps to improve onsite safety but also helps to streamline processes without having to ‘down-tools’ to check on progress.

A more recent addition to the SITEMONITOR LIVE suite has been the development of a close to real-time stockpile management function, which automates volume calculations in seconds. Measuring and monitoring waste volumes takes a considerable amount of time. Thanks to the detailed data collected by a laser scanner, it is now possible to accurately calculate changing volumes at any point in a working day.

Using assumptions based on the weight of different types of waste, SITEMONITOR LIVE helps the client to actively plan

their site and transportation logistics by providing volume calculations, which are shown in both a visual representation and downloadable .csv output. This enables both office and site-based teams to collaborate and communicate more effectively at the same time as removing the need for manual measurements. The time saved by automating volume calculations also has large implications for the company’s balance sheet as human resources can now be deployed to other areas of the facility.

Smart technologies often rely on the collection of accurate environmental data to provide invaluable insights into operational processes. LiDAR systems fit the bill perfectly thanks to the scope for automated analysis of intrinsically complex data collected by the laser scanner. Remote sensing systems, such as SITEMONITOR LIVE, stand to revolutionise the way that heavy industries collect and manage data in the new ‘modern’ world, creating a dream scenario for both increased productivity and improved site safety.

For further information, please visit: www.geoslam.com

Waste + Water Management Australia | Oct/Nov 2018

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RENEWABLE ENERGY

Father of photovoltaics: UNSW solar expert awarded Global Energy Prize in Moscow Siemens and Southern Idaho Solid Waste announce commissioning of landfill gas-to-energy project Siemens and Southern Idaho Solid Waste (SISW) recently announced the successful commissioning of two SGE-56HM gas engines that are providing environmentally friendly electrical power for a landfill gas-to-energy project at the Milner Butte Landfill in Burley, Idaho.

Siemens’ gas capture engines are helping to convert 1,000 tons of landfill waste daily into energy but SISW officials expect that amount to increase in the near future.

Decomposing waste gives off massive amounts of greenhouse gases, especially methane. SISW engineers worked with Siemens and Siemens’ channel partner, Industrial-Irrigation Services, to develop a solution that would capture the methane for use as a fuel gas to produce electricity.

“We saw this gas and realized we were just wasting it by burning it for no productive use,” said SISW’s environmental manager, Nate Francisco.

To capture methane and convert it into electricity, the Milner Butte Landfill deployed two Siemens SGE-56HM gas generator sets to run on the waste gas from the landfill and generate electrical power.

Once the landfill gas is converted to electricity, it is transported to Idaho Power through a 20-year purchase agreement and is used by the community as a low-cost source of power. To date, the two engines have been generating enough power for approximately 2,000 homes.

Each set is rated at 1,300kWe and includes generator controls and a power panel.

Siemens SGE-HM series is purpose-built for landfill gas-to-energy power applications. By incorporating advanced technology and design into the cylinder heads, valves, camshafts, and turbochargers, the SGE-56HM engine provides customers like SISW with a highperforming low operating-cost solution.

“We expect these engines to remain in operation for 20 to 30 years,” said Josh Bartlome, executive director at SISW. “They’re big engines built for endurance.”

SISW estimates that within the next 20 years the facility will generate approximately $36 million in revenue, netting about a third of that after costs and inflation. Creating a long-term revenue generator like this model used by SISW will allow the District to realize lower power costs.

“The Milner Butte Landfill project represents the future of distributed power,” said Chris Nagle, North American Regional Director for Siemens Gas Engines business.

“This plant assists the local community with its power needs while being environmentally responsible. Siemens is proud to support SISW and Industrial-Irrigation Services with this project.”

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UNSW Sydney Professor Martin Green has become the first Australian to receive the prestigious Global Energy Prize in a ceremony in Moscow last night. He was recognised for his research, development and educational activities in the field of photovoltaics.

The annual Global Energy Prize was presented to Professor Green by Russian Minister of Energy Alexander Novak in Moscow, Russia. The award honours outstanding achievement in research and technology and is designed to address some of the world's most pressing energy challenges.

Reflecting on his award, Professor Green thanked his wife, “…my own renewable resource” for giving him the freedom to pursue his passion. He also paid tribute to the “thousands of solar researchers who have worked in the field for many years, including those at UNSW and elsewhere who have helped not just make PERC [solar cells] a reality, but also to bring it to market and to have driven such scale.”

Professor Green, who is Director of the Australian Centre for Advanced Photovoltaics at UNSW, was honoured for having “revolutionised the efficiency and costs of solar photovoltaics, making this now the lowest cost option for bulk electricity supply”.

He shares the prize and RUB 39 million ($820,000) prize money with Russian scientist Sergey Alekseenko, an expert in thermal power engineering. They were selected from 44 contenders from 14 countries by a committee of leading scientists.

The prize is rated as one of the world’s 99 major science awards by IREG List of International Academic Awards with a reputation score of 0.48 (a Nobel Prize has a score of 1.0). The ten finalists this year included businessman and engineer Elon Musk.

Professor Green is a world-leading specialist in both monocrystalline and polycrystalline silicon solar cells, and the research group he founded in UNSW Engineering is the largest and best-known university-based photovoltaic research group in the world.

The enormous reductions in costs in photovoltaic solar systems in recent years is directly related to his scientific efforts, largely through the work of his students in establishing manufacturing centres in Asia.

His record-breaking achievements stretch across decades. In 1989, his team supplied the solar cells for the first photovoltaic system with an energy conversion efficiency of 20%. And in 2014, he headed the development team that first demonstrated the conversion of sunlight into electricity with an energy conversion efficiency of 40%.

Among his many breakthroughs, he invented the PERC solar cell, which accounts for at least a quarter of the world solar cell manufacturing capacity and has a rapidly increasing market share due to its greater efficiency over other types of cells. PERC solar cells are now becoming a commercial standard throughout the world, with sales exceeding US$10 billion in 2017 and predicted to exceed US$1 trillion by 2040.

“The time of solar has arrived and this is good news for the world,” Professor Green said in his acceptance speech. “The PERC cells pioneered by UNSW now reflect 50 per cent of world production.

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RENEWABLE ENERGY

During that time, we’ve seen solar move from expensive energy to inexpensive energy. Our work on PERC has driven that.”

UNSW President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Jacobs congratulated Professor Green on his achievement.

“This award cements Martin’s position as the leading photovoltaics researcher in the world. His work has delivered transformational outcomes in renewable energy for more than three decades and will continue to produce major economic and social benefits. This honour is as exceptional as it is fitting and we warmly congratulate him.”

UNSW Dean of Engineering Professor Mark Hoffman said: “The global impact of the work of Martin and his research team has been commercialisation. And all of this has been achieved in Australia. profound. They have created the highest efficiency solar cells using “We are proud of Martin’s inspiration leadership and pioneering techniques that have made them accessible to the world through research which is helping address the challenge of climate change.”

Solar design and installation awards showcase industry innovation The Clean Energy Council congratulates the winners of the 2018 Solar Design and Installation Awards, which were announced at the All-Energy Australia Exhibition and Conference in Melbourne during October.

Clean Energy Council Chief Executive Kane Thornton said the 2018 winners have continued to raise the bar, highlighting the growth and innovation that the Australian solar industry now not only embodies but expects.

“The winning projects reflect an incredible growth period in the solar industry and are highly innovative solutions to unique challenges that push the boundaries of what is technically possible,” Mr Thornton said.

“The winners on show range from Australia’s first modular and scalable floating solar PV system to the largest privatelyowned rooftop solar installation in the Southern Hemisphere and a steampunk-inspired solar system that allows an office to run completely off the grid for two days.

“Selecting the winners has been particularly tough for the judging panel of independent solar industry experts this year. I thank all who took the time to submit an entry to the 2018 Solar Design and Installation Awards,” he said.

Winners were announced across the following categories: • under 30 kW stand-alone PV power system • under 30 kW grid connect PV power system • under 30 kW grid connect PV power system with battery back-up • 30-240 kW – any system eligible • over 240 kW – any system eligible • Judges’ Honourable Mention 34

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The full list of winners in the 2018 Solar Design and Installation Awards is as follows: • Under 30 kW stand-alone PV power system - Michael Reiken from Excel Power for a steampunk-inspired solar PV system to allow a workshop and office to run completely off-grid with two days of autonomy.

• Under 30 kW grid connect PV power system - Matthew Leeson, from Leeson Solar for a 6.75 kW building-integrated PV solar tile system on the Austral Bricks display centre in Rochedale Queensland.

• Under 30 kW grid connect PV power system with battery back-up - Luke Fraser, from Solar Integrity for a combined solar PV and battery system that demonstrates how residences connected to single wire earth return lines can install larger solar systems.

• 30-240 kW – any system eligible - Geoff Fussell and Guy Cameron from Suntrix, for designing and installing Australia’s first modular scalable floating solar PV system in Lismore, NSW. • Over 240 kW – any system eligible - Jarrod Shepherd and Matthew Linney from Autonomous Energy, for a 2.2 MW rooftop solar system on the Sydney Markets, the largest privatelyowned rooftop solar system in the Southern Hemisphere.

• Judges’ Honourable Mention - Nicholas Lake, Gregory Wilson and Simon Gibbs from Nickel Energy for converting a 68-yearold diesel train to become the world’s first solar-powered train in Byron Bay, NSW. For more information on the winning projects, visit the Clean Energy Council awards page: www.cleanenergycouncil.org.au

SPECIAL REPORT

Go West Young Man

by Warwick Lorenz, Managing Director, Australian Pump Industries This Opinion Piece was contributed by Warwick Lorenz, Managing Director of Australian Pump Industries. Lorenz is passionate about the development of Australia, concerned about our vulnerability, our apathy and general lack of understanding of the potential of this huge landmass, Australia.

Three young bushwalkers decide to cross over a mountain range to see what’s on the other side. They stumble on a huge world of sparsely populated wilderness, ripe for development. Imagine the excitement of Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson as they grasped the possibilities of the huge expanse of the New South Wales western plains. Imagine their thoughts of colonial expansion, building a better life, for the overflow of Europe’s crowded, polluted cities.

The consequent colonial expansion that followed, to some extent driven by a breed of Spanish sheep is the story of modern Australia.

Our huge island continent provides lifestyle that’s the envy of the

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world. The wealth of our mines and resource industries is the engine of the economy. Our highly professional but fragile rural industries are all based in a continent as big as the United States of America or China but stunted by a tiny population of only 25 million!

It’s even more disturbing that the demographics of the country are that 60% of us live in four cities, while 80% of us live within 40 kilometres of the coast.

It’s a nice life but meanwhile instead of Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson’s dream of a great virile nation, we're grappling with the same urban explosions that we see around the globe.

The Drift to the Cities It is not only Australia that has an issue with urban growth. We struggle with the idea of cities like Sydney or Melbourne being gorged to 8-10 million people. We struggle with the idea of the traffic and the movement of people.

Powering a Sustainable Future

When Blaxland, Wentworth & Lawson forged a path through the Blue Mountains, they unlocked the potential this vast landscape has to offer.

(The Blue Mountain pioneers, lithograph by M. Emile Ulm, Sydney Mail, 1880)

And it’s not just us. The world is going through a trend where the advent of modern mechanical agricultural equipment is emptying the countryside’s and enlarging cities. Those farm workers who aren’t I.T. experts are becoming cannon fodder for the factories. 50% of the world’s population now live in cities and tens of thousands join that throng every day.

Imagine a world population of 7.5 billion people on the planet, 4 billion are living in congested cities competing for power, water, even oxygen.

Urban Growth Is Reality Every time a world bank gives 100 John Deere tractors to a previously primitive agricultural Third World country we put hundreds of men and women out of work. Where else do they have to go but the cities.

Once there, they require food and fibre but are unable to provide it themselves. It still has to come from farms somewhere on the planet.

The work they must do must be peripheral to those primary functions that keep the human race alive. A man living in a cupboard-sized room in Hong Kong produces no food or fibre but still has to eat and be clothed.

Australia’s Part in this Steady but Inevitable Global Transformation There may be only 25 million of us but we have a major role. With $60 billion worth of agricultural production each year, even with gluttonous appetites we can only consume around $20 billion of it.

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The Informit Engineering Collection delivers hard to find content designed to complete and complement all your waste and water management requirements.

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37

SPECIAL REPORT

Recharging the Artesian Basin would provide Australian irrigators with the ability to turn huge sections of Australia with land as productive as Americas Midwest.

That means we export $40 billion per year to the urban populations of Southeast Asia.

Would they buy more? …. You bet! They’ll buy as much as we can produce, so why not produce more?

That’s the tricky bit To grow more we need the resources of sunshine, soil and water.

We’ve got loads of soil and oodles of sunshine but when it comes to water we have a big issue that can only be solved by a national effort.

Fiona Simpson, President of the National Farmers’ Federation has an ambitious target of producing $100 billion worth of agricultural products in Australia within a matter of a few short years. Without massive changes to the way we harvest water, her noble ambitions are really only dreams. If the drought of the winter 2018 has taught us anything, it taught us that.

Drought proofing the inland, providing water security to farmers is not a new idea. Long before Luscombe’s book there were plans of damming rivers and turning them westward to recharge the great Artesian basin. It’s encouraging the CSIRO has the courage to put forward the plan to do this in a world where they know it’s likely to be criticised by Greens, environmentalists, politicians of some persuasions, academics and intellectuals. In other words, a vocal minority who will yell and scream about the effects on the environment whilst telling us that Australia is doomed to bushfires, droughts and floods.

Even some of our farmers are becoming apathetic, and are being told to accept charity in the form of handouts as a substitute for action to prevent drought! Since Global Warming has morphed itself into “Climate Change”, it seems that we’re stuck with typhoons, cyclones and droughts on a more frequent basis than the past.

If that’s true there’s all the more reason to protect ourselves and our industries. If that means Government action, harnessing the financial, engineering and scientific talents of Australia then why not?

Life to the Land WATER IS LIFE! We hear brilliant schemes from the Immigration Department about putting immigrants into country towns for five years! The hope is that they’ll want to stay there.

What the Immigration Department hasn’t figured out is what 38

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these people are going to do to make a living. Without water and the subsequent growth of production which, equals opportunities for processing, there is no job growth. Those immigrants that are told to go live in a country town for five years, will drift to the cities eventually.

All of this comes back to the same old thing. Without massive government intervention, a huge national water catchment and management project, nothing will happen and we’ll be doomed for much of the same.

The Future Political Scene Just to scare the life out of myself and everybody else, lets imagine a world where the USA has become increasingly isolationist. Where they lose interest in the South Pacific and the two great powers of the area, India and China wind up being the big players. Australia is already in thrall to China with a huge amount of our economic wellbeing dependent on their factories.

Even BHP’s beautiful and brilliant ad about their production of coal and iron ore tells a sad tale. The ad implies that BHP is a massive player in the international steel industry. So, it is, but only as a provider of raw materials.

Okay…. So, What’s the Solution?

It’s really simple, water to the land, increase population with immigration based on merit and push to make ourselves as relevant to the international scene as possible. Imagine driving over the Great Dividing Range and finding the equivalent to the US’s Midwest, the productive farmland helping to feed a growing global population.

That land will be put to work one day, whether by us or one of our neighbours.

As they say, “…if change is inevitable, don’t fight it, embrace it”.

Let’s hope somebody tells that story to our politicians, whatever their political persuasion. After all, the future of our great Country needs positive leadership from people with genuine commitment and an ambitious vision for the future.

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NATIONAL PRECAST FEATURE

SENSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO PROTECT OUR COASTLINES On a global scale the loss of permanent land in coastal areas is on the rise. Beaches in Australia are being eroded to the extent that receding shorelines are putting coastal Australia under threat—and both seaside structures and species are at risk. With 85% of Australia’s population living within 50 kilometres from the coast and an increase in coastal development, our seaside cities, suburbs and towns will continue to become more populated and more under threat.

At the same time, shoreline erosion over the last several decades has put seaside ecosystems at risk. Marine environments and fish habitats are significantly on the decline, and this has resulted in a fall in various marine life populations.

These are phenomena that will continue, unless durable measures are put in place to protect both. Artificial reefs could be the longterm solution to provide the protection that is badly needed.

ARTIFICIAL REEFS THAT PROTECT As a solution to this issue, artificial reefs can provide food, shelter, protection, and spawning areas for hundreds of fish species and other marine organisms. As well, they enable dedicated areas for scuba divers and anglers, which reduce the human impact that natural reefs endure each year.

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Here, durability is the key. Any solution must be able to withstand extreme weather events and the harsh marine environment.

DIVING INTO SOUTH WEST RECREATIONAL FISHING ENHANCEMENT PROJECT One example of an artificial reef making a remarkable difference is the South West Recreational Fishing Enhancement project.

Since 2014, a trial of two artificial reefs has been underway in Geographe Bay, approximately 6 kilometres south-west of Western Australia’s coastline. It is the first of its kind in Western Australia, and monitoring of the reefs to determine their effectiveness is still occurring. The project is providing researchers and State Government agencies with the opportunity to study the benefits of artificial reefs and the chance to

NATIONAL PRECAST FEATURE

develop protocols for installing artificial reefs at other locations.

National Precast member, MJB Industries, manufactured and transported 60 ten-tonne, three-metre-high precast concrete modules for the two artificial reefs. Located at Bunbury Port and Port Geographe, the reefs comprise 30 modules each, involving six clusters of five modules that have been positioned over an area of 200m2 and at a depth of 15-30 metres.

Designed by Korean company, Hae Joo, the modules have been designed for Geographe Bay’s current, waves, and sediment conditions. They are transforming areas of low-marine biodiversity into an ecological hub by providing complex environments. Through this, the modules are promoting the growth of rich ecosystems that support diverse fish populations.

FROM 10 TO MORE THAN 40 SPECIES Before the reefs were deployed, fewer than 10 fish species were documented at the predominately sandy sites. However, since

the project’s completion in April 2014, more than 40 fish species have been recorded at the artificial reefs, including all three targeted species of pink snapper, Samson fish, and silver trevally. The modules are now covered with a range of thriving macroalgae, sponges, bryozoans, and ascidians.

A SUPERIOR SOLUTION FOR COASTAL PROTECTION For the 50% of the Australian coast that is composed of sand and, in some cases, mud, the shoreline is prone to change - building seaward and in some places eroding landward. As sea levels rise and communities face the increasing threat of erosion, coastal defence structures have become a sustainable solution. Highstrength precast concrete is a superior solution for halting coastal erosion as well as for protecting marine life.

Precast concrete breakwaters, groynes, tetrapods, or seawalls are being manufactured

and installed to guard against erosion. Here, these protection methods harden the coast and decrease its ability to naturally adjust by reducing the amount of energy in incoming waves before the waves reach the shoreline.

These precast concrete products offer advantages such as ease of installation, improved energy dissipation, and little to no ongoing maintenance. The inherent durability can be increased and the already lengthy service life of precast can be extended through special design requirements. These include the use of high-performance concrete, increased concrete cover, and the use of admixtures like corrosion inhibitors.

Precast concrete is environmentally friendly and products such as barriers and modules are specifically designed to protect marine life, attract living organisms, and diffuse waves.

As well, when a source of sand is available, artificial reefs can help rebuild shorelines. They are a shore thing to safeguard both our seaside structures and our seaside ecosystems.

A natural process, coastal erosion is the displacement of land along the coastline.

Specifically, it occurs when the transport of material(s) away from the shoreline is not balanced by the new material(s) being deposited onto the shoreline. Coastal erosion becomes a hazard when society does not adapt to its effects on people, marine life, and built environment.

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ACA CORROSION FEATURE

50 Years of Coatings Testing at SA Water

by Paul Vince, former Principal Materials Engineer at SA Water

Background SA Water owns and has managed South Australia's water infrastructure for over 150 years and provides water and wastewater services to over 1.6 million people. With 43 water treatment plants, 24 wastewater treatment plants, 26,000 km of water mains and 8,500 km of sewers with asset value at $13 billion in total, it is important to consider the measures of minimising deterioration of these assets and to maximise their service life; as well as to provide knowledge for future designs of water infrastructure in the South Australian environment.

Under some of the most aggressive operating environments, the demanding role of containing and transporting pressurised water and corrosive wastewater challenges many construction materials that must be able to resist reaction with their environment.

In this article ‘environment’ is defined as the surroundings which candidate materials are exposed to in their real life applications. The test sites simulate these surroundings, and typically account for; local climates, the soil in which the pipe was laid, the substances being contained, or a combination of the above.

History In the early 1960’s, the necessity to choose economic and corrosion resistant coatings and products with proven performance was recognised. In order to obtain independent performance

Inside the sewage environment test chamber.

measurements, three test sites were established on the River Murray for testing coatings in 1965. These test sites utilised atmospheric condition, half immersion and full immersion into river water to represent the application environment of candidate coatings.

More than 300 samples were tested in the first five years. Products showing satisfactory performance were reinstated into similar testing environments established at Morgan in 1971. Various materials and protective coatings have been exposed at these test sites since then.

On the wastewater side, a sewage/sewage gas test chamber was installed at Bolivar Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP), and two test sites were established in Glenelg WWTP. One made use of the treated sludge while the other was exposed to the local mild marine atmosphere, and all of these sites commenced testing of coating products in 1965. The Bolivar test continues to this day and is believed to be the longest running sewage exposure test facility in the world.

During the late 1960’s, a soil burial site was constructed at Bolivar WWTP to determine the effect of severely corrosive soil on materials and external pipeline coatings.

In 1974, testing began at the eighth test site, located at Christies Beach WWTP under severe marine atmosphere conditions.

Aim of SA Water Testing Program

SA Water’s sewage environment test chamber

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• To review the performance of products specified by manufacturers by subjecting their products to test conditions resembling their service environments • To produce estimates on serviceable operating life of new infrastructure and assets • To provide alternative means for possible life extension of existing infrastructure and assets • To ensure coatings and materials for use in SA Water infrastructure are suitable for their intended application.

Over the past 50 years, more than 600 products and 2300 test samples have participated in the test program. Many tests have been running for more than 20 years at SA Water’s sites. There are currently well over 100 samples under test. When all is said and done the commitment of SA Water to quality assurance and continuity of service to our customers is paramount.

Standard

PROUDLY PRESENTED BY:

MAJOR SPONSOR:

The ACA is proud to be hosting yet another Corrosion & Prevention conference and exhibition this year in Adelaide, South Australia an inspiring, dynamic and cultured city.

CORROSION Jotun blue & PREVENTION 2018 INCLUDES

TECHNICAL STREAMS & INDUSTRY FORUMS

• 6 Plenary Lectures • Quality Technical Program Black and white • 60+ Booth Trade Exhibition • Various Technical Forums • Interactive Learning Centre • Social & Networking Functions Awards dinner • Partner Program

• Concrete • Steel Corrosion • Water Infrastructure • Oil & Gas • High temperature corrosion/ Non-ferrous metal corrosion • Asset Management • Cathodic Protection • Mining • Defence • Applicators • Coatings • Research

YOUR HOSTS The Australasian Corrosion Association Incorporated (ACA) is a not-for-profit, membership association, that disseminates information on corrosion and its prevention through the provision of training courses, seminars, conferences, publications and other activities.

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

ACA CORROSION FEATURE

x)

Rack of samples ready for River Murray exposure testing

From test results generated across the eight environmental test sites, laboratory testings and special projects, some observations and conclusions on product performance were drawn as follows.

Key findings of coating performance Products from the same generic group (e.g. epoxy) can vary widely in their performance. In some cases, the operating life of one brand is twice as much as another. ii) Product cost is not a useful guide for product performance. iii) Coatings applied on new structures and assets perform better than recoating on refurbished surfaces. This is usually due to poor accessibility, surface contamination from daily operation and the low priority given to maintenance jobs. iv) Epoxy coatings, coal tar epoxy and micaceous iron oxide epoxy in particular, are best for sewage application and river immersion. They are economical, easily applied and can be repaired at faulty spots. Epoxies also perform well in corrosive atmosphere, though they might chalk badly when exposed to UV but this has little effect on durability. v) Inorganic zinc silicates have been proven to be excellent under atmospheric conditions after they were first applied to the Morgan-Whyalla Pipeline in the 1940’s. It can be used as an original complete coating or as an overcoat for life extension.

They should not be used for immersion service as zinc depletes rapidly. Blistering occurs when inorganic zinc silicates are over coated by most other products. vi) ‘Sintakote’ used on new steel mains has outperformed coal tar enamel in corrosion resistance, deformation, splitting and sagging. Sintakote also has a low current demand for cathodic protection. (Sintakote is a proprietary fusion bonded medium density polyethylene coating) vii) Petrolatum tapes work well, even on poorly prepared surfaces. viii) Some vinyl coatings have performed well in all environments and are easily repaired and maintained onsite. However, their very low volume solids (% volume of dried to wet coating film) means four to six coats are required to obtain the desired thickness and this incurs uneconomically high costs for application. For this reason they are now rarely used. ix) Numerous rust treatments, conversion coatings (turn metal surface into part of the coating) and maintenance coatings for rusted steel have been examined. Many of these products have provided satisfactory performance in atmospheric exposure but none offer long term protection in immersion environments.

Aluminium pigmented epoxy mastic maintenance coating applied to hand cleaned salt laden rusty steel surface has outperformed traditional metal primer or topcoat maintenance systems. The minimum dry film build must be at least 200µm for effectiveness as low dry film builds (<150µm) have resulted in very early failures. xi) There is no substitute for good surface preparation for long life coatings on steel. Abrasive blast cleaning according to AS1627.4 Class Sa 3 is recommended for immersion exposure. xii) Advancement in exterior acrylics have improved their performance over alkyd enamel, though the latter is still specified for mechanical plant and pipe work in buildings for its oil and petrol resistance. xiii) To ensure consistent product quality APAS (Australian Paint Approval Schemes) approved products are specified when suitable.

Key findings of material performance i)

i)

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ii)

iii)

iv)

v)

Type 316 austenitic steel is the minimum requirement for immersion service in sewerage and potable water. Type 303, 304, 431 and 3CR12 have all suffered severe corrosion and SAF 2304 also performed poorly in sewerage systems and should therefore not be specified.

All grades of aluminium have given excellent results in River Murray and performed very well in coastal atmosphere although some surface pitting and oxidation occurs. In sewage environment, aluminium suffered from severe corrosion. Since aluminium is anodic to most other metals, direct contact should be avoided to minimise galvanic corrosion. Alkaline environment must also be avoided including contact with damp concrete.

Fibre glass reinforced with isophthalic polyester pultrusion has given excellent results in all test environments with only some surface loss of resin under UV exposure.

Ductile iron pipe sleeved with LLDPE (linear low-density polyethylene) and laid in high resistivity, free flowing backfill sand has performed well during a five-year test in an aggressive soil environment, when compared to the same material laid on a mixture of the same backfill sand and natural soil. The importance of a defect free sleeve was also evident from the test; as rapid corrosion occurred at a purposely made sleeve defect.

Non-metallic materials for pipeline such as uPVC (unplasticised polyvinyl chloride), glass reinforced polyester and polyethylene provide excellent corrosion resistance to water and sewage environment. Care needs to be taken during transportation, handling and installation as damage can shorten their working life. The mechanical properties, both short and long term, need to be considered and well understood by designers and those who specify them.

The Future 2lts achieved by the test program are used to inform SA Water standards and to provide guidance in the formation of tender documents associated with the supply and fitting of major water infrastructures. Information gained from testing done by paint manufacturers and other test agencies such as APAS are used to supplement data from the SA Water program.

Testing in the actual environment where products are deployed still provides excellent knowledge of product performance. This inservice reliability is particularly important for sewage applications.

The sewage environment remains the most demanding due to a complex combination of hydrogen sulphide gas, humidity, acids, bacteria and contaminants. Coatings, liners, cementitious products, chemicals and antibacterial products have been trialled and all have shown some success. SA Water is constantly learning and adjusting and implementing the lessons learned through the testing program.

Ultimately, the aim is to maximise the life of SA Water’s assets, and the testing program is making a positive contribution. As the Federal Government and other state governments take up the challenge of producing more sustainable infrastructure, the performance data from the SA Water exposure testing sites is likely to become a national performance standard. In an ideal world it would be good to see a good return on investment in these long term monitoring and assessment programs come back to South Australia after so many years of commitment and service in corrosion mitigation.

References • DJ Ellis, GC Moore (1992) Materials and Coating Selection for Water Supply and Sewerage – An Essential Component of Asset Management, Corrosion Australasia, Vol 18 No 4.

• P Vince (2009) Accelerated Testing of Coatings for Wastewater Applications, Corrosion and Protection 2009, Australasian Corrosion Association, Coffs Harbor, Paper 13.

Racks of samples undergoing Rural Atmospheric Exposure

River Murray Pontoon used for river exposure samples

Waste + Water Management Australia | Oct/Nov 2018

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ACA CORROSION FEATURE

Cathodic Protection of a Sewage Treatment Dissolved Air Flotation Tank

by T Tjandra, Freyssinet Australia Pty Ltd Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) Tanks are used to clarify waste waters by removing suspended solids, oils and other contaminants. A pressurised stream of air saturated, clarified water is mixed with the sewage effluent in the DAF separation chamber. With the release of pressure dissolved air comes out of the solution producing a cloud of microscopic bubbles. These bubbles attach to the solids, floating them to the surface to be mechanically skimmed and removed from the tank. The clarified effluent overflows from the DAF tank via an over / under weir to the next stage of treatment.

DAF tanks are exposed to varying temperature, pH and Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S) levels. Corrosion protection is generally provided by application of a suitable coating and selecting corrosion resistant materials for various components. DAF tanks are periodically drained and cleaned to prevent sludge build up and undertake repair / maintenance works.

A Water Authority recently took off-line their DAF tank located at its Sewage Treatment Plant for five-yearly cleaning and maintenance. Upon inspection, extensive corrosion was observed inside the tank requiring recoating of the entire tank and upgrade of several components. The Water Authority contacted Freyssinet for discussion on the possibility of installing a cathodic protection system to minimise the internal corrosion, extend the life of the new coating system, and lengthen the time between planned shutdowns.

Following site investigations and a review of tank drawings, a decision was made to install a galvanic anode cathodic protection system to provide protection to the internal wetted steel surfaces of the DAF Tank.

The galvanic anode cathodic protection system was preferred over an impressed current system for the following reasons: 46

Waste + Water Management Australia | Oct/Nov 2018

i. To simplify installation and minimise maintenance. ii. To eliminate the need to supply DC electrical power.

Magnesium alloy anodes were selected to limit the number of anodes required to achieve maximum protection in the given environment inside the DAF Tank. In order to ensure uniform protection of all immersed elements of the tank including the moving parts, raking arms and so on, the entire surface area to be protected was categorised into various components and suitable anodes were selected to provide protection to these components. In total, thirty nine (39) magnesium anodes of four different styles were selected to provide protection to all components including floor and walls, internal and external areas of the central drum, the skimmer box frame, run-off water trough, influent pipe and rotating arms.

A paint coating system, consisting of Jotaprime 505 epoxy primer with a second and third coat of Jotacote 605 high solids epoxy, was applied to the tank surface with a minimum total dry film thickness (DFT) of 350 microns.

The system was designed with a minimum design life of 5 years, equivalent to the period between maintenance shut-downs with potential to replace anodes at this time.

The design of the cathodic protection system was undertaken in accordance with the following Standards: â&#x20AC;˘ AS 2832.4 - Guide to Cathodic Protection of Metals, Part 4: Internal surfaces â&#x20AC;˘ AS 2239 - Galvanic (sacrificial) anodes for cathodic protection. â&#x20AC;˘ AS 1554.1 - Welding of Steel Structures The design included the fixing of anodes using mild steel studs welded to the tank at selected locations. The anodes were secured with nuts, flat and spring washers. The bolted connections were selected to

ACA CORROSION FEATURE

facilitate easy replacement of consumed anodes during future shut-down periods. The bare anode straps and bolted connections were coated with a bituminous coating to reduce the amount of exposed steel to be protected. The anodes on the tank wall and influent pipe were installed with an offset from the wall and the pipe. At all other locations anodes were flush mounted using an insulating gasket to prevent direct contact between the anode body and the tank.

The anode manufacture, dimensions, tolerance, testing and supply was in accordance with AS 2239-2003, and were cast to Magnesium Alloy designation M3 (low potential grade).

As several of the components installed within the DAF Tank were fabricated from stainless steel, including a new skimmer box, these were isolated from the carbon steel tank metalwork using suitable insulating materials including bolt isolation sleeves and washers.

The protection criteria used for the design and commissioning of the system is as per AS2832.4, Cathodic Protection of Metals, Part 4: Internal surfaces, which states that the potential at all surfaces should be equal to or more negative than -0.850 volts with respect to a copper / copper sulphate reference electrode.

The Standard states that accurate potentials, i.e. free of voltage gradients effect, can be obtained using the “structure off" method of potential measurement. For a galvanic anode system it is impractical to measure “Off” potentials. For this structure, CP “On” method of potential measurement was used to confirm the achievement of full protection. Due to the low resistivity of sewage and even distribution of the anodes, the voltage gradients were expected to be minimal.

Evaluation of the cathodic protection system was undertaken after the DAF Tank was placed back on-line with effluent being processed. The CP “On” potentials of the DAF Tank were measured at different locations against a portable copper / copper sulphate (Cu/CuSO₄) reference electrode using a high input impedance voltmeter. The results are shown in the diagram below.

Test results indicate that the cathodic protection system is operating satisfactorily with CP “ON” potentials at all locations being equal to or more negative than -0.85 volts versus a copper / copper sulphate reference electrode. Further evaluation of the system will be undertaken during the next maintenance shut down.

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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 (C&P 2018) 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.

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The conference comprises a program of keynote presentations and technical papers under a range of industry â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;streamsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, 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

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ACRS provides expert and independent certification of steel and bolts to: • AS/NZS 1252.1:2016 - High-strength steel fastener assemblies for structural engineering - Bolts, nuts and washers Technical requirements • AS/NZS 1594:2002 - Hot-rolled steel flat products • AS/NZS 3678:2016 - Structural steel - Hot-rolled plates, floor plates and slabs • AS/NZS 5100.6:2017 - Bridge design - Steel and composite construction • AS/NZS 5131:2016 - Structural steelwork - Fabrication and erection • AS 3597-2008 - Structural and pressure vessel steel - Quenched and tempered plate ACRS certification provides you with confidence that the steel and bolts you choose meet the Standards and are up to the task.

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