Inside Waste June/July 2025

Australian resource recoverythe roadblocks

By Inside Waste

Australia’s waste and resource recovery sector is standing at a crucial crossroads. As demand for sustainable infrastructure rises, the country remains a strong investment destination, albeit with some notable hurdles. In a recent speech at the Coffs Waste Conference, Craig Barker, Chief Operating Officer of Veolia Australia and New Zealand, outlined why global capital is still flowing into Australia’s infrastructure, the operational realities facing investors, and the collective steps needed to meet national waste management goals.

Despite slipping to third place behind the US and the EU in terms of capital attractiveness, Barker believes Australia continues to offer a compelling proposition for infrastructure investors. Political and economic stability, a strong urban growth rate, and sophisticated capital markets contribute to the country’s enduring appeal. Complex investment models, including public-private partnerships (PPPs) and build-operate-transfer

schemes, also create versatile pathways for funding projects.

Encouragingly, Barker noted that the country has maintained positive perceptions globally.

“Ninety percent of those surveyed still think it’s a great place to invest,” he said, pointing to recent international data that underscores continued investor confidence. Yet, investment focus has shifted. While 57 per cent of infrastructure investment since 2021 has gone into the energy sector – largely driven by renewables – interest in energy-fromwaste (EFW) facilities has dipped globally, falling from 44 per cent to 21 per cent since 2023.

For Veolia, Australia remains a priority market. The company’s global investment strategy highlights Australia, the Middle East, and the US as key growth regions. Australia’s appeal stems from its strong environmental regulation, surging waste volumes, and economic resilience, particularly in metropolitan centres.

“We’re seeing increasing legislative

and regulatory certainty,” Barker said. “While some jurisdictions continue to pose challenges, the overall trend is positive. Veolia is already delivering on several fronts. The company has opened a new materials recovery facility (MRF) in Spreyton, Tasmania, and reconstruction is underway on another site in the ACT. In Victoria, a former hazardous waste landfill is being transformed into a resource recovery precinct through Veolia’s EarthSure joint venture with Ventia. The site will include a thermal treatment facility and a soil washing unit, showing how strategic levies and government collaboration can shift waste from landfill to a valuable resource.

Other recent milestones include the reopening of EarthPower in New South Wales, in anticipation of mandatory food organics separation policies, and a co-investment with state and federal governments to convert a fibre processing facility in Western Australia.

(Continued on page 14)

22 Penny Sharpe

Parkes EfW

Council ready for FOGO

By Inside Waste

At a recent breakfast held by the NSW Waste Contractors and Recycling Association (WCRA) in Parramatta, Sydney, NSW EPA head Tony Chappel outlined some of the regulator’s upcoming priorities over the next 12 months. One was the Product Lifecycle Responsibility Act which was passed in March. The date it comes into effect has yet to be determined, but it is a good start. Many in the industry – especially those in the processing sector – will be pleased to hear that the EPA and the state government are going to have some “very targeted industry engagement”, according to Chappel. The EPA would be reaching out to WCRA and other stakeholders soon with draft legislation that would be introduced into parliament.

“We hope this will essentially establish comprehensive product stewardship arrangements for batteries,” he said. “We know we have the B-Cycle scheme, which works in a voluntary way for certain kinds of batteries. We want to see that expanded, but we also want to capture some of these other categories of batteries that are not currently caught.”

He said that this means if companies, importers or retailers are bringing these products to market, they need to have solutions in place for their safe disposal, end-of-life management and/or recycling.

“We need this because we understand the existential threat that the fire hazard from batteries can pose, particularly in trucks and facilities, and we’re looking to systemically lower the risk for the sector and for the community,” said Chappel. (Continued on page 16)

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Legislating for change

At a recent gathering in Parramatta, Sydney, NSW EPA CEO Tony Chappell made it clear that when it comes to the recovery and recycling of tyres, enough is enough. He’s more than happy – along with NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Paul Scully, who also attended the event – to lend support to those advocating for compulsory tyre stewardship legislation.

As you can imagine, Tyre Stewardship Australia is not only happy but has indicated that their response is less “yippee” and more “it’s about time.”

To be honest, the naysayers’ arguments against such regulation are quite thin. When putting forth their case against compulsory product stewardship schemes, the arguments range from “the current system hasn’t reached its potential yet” (voiced by one of the CDS scheme coordinators – i.e., a representative of the drink manufacturers), to “we’ll have to pass costs on to the consumer,” which is the common fallback for almost everyone else.

As with many things in this world, it comes down to money. The less the public has to give back, the less manufacturers have to pay out. Let’s also not forget that a significant number of containers collected from kerbside still miss out

perspective, I get it. Big businesses have a responsibility to their shareholders, and people buy shares to make money. Boards and CEOs are tasked with maximising returns – that’s their role.

However, when companies that collectively make tens of billions of dollars in annual profits push back and cry poor over a slight increase in container refund costs, it doesn’t exactly earn public sympathy. NSW, for example, launched its scheme back in 2017, and since then, 13 billion containers have been returned – translating into $1.3 billion paid out by manufacturers. Not a trivial amount, by any means – but they could do better. In a time when social responsibility matters to Joe Public, it’s time for manufacturers to step up to the plate again. This isn’t about people making money (who’s got rich living off container refunds?); it’s about encouraging good behaviours and getting our recycling rates up and litter numbers down.

TOMRA Cleanaway debuts Tasmanian CDS

TOMRA Cleanaway added Tasmania to its Australian container refund scheme portfolio. Recycle Rewards has been officially launched in Tasmania – the fourth scheme in the country to adopt a split responsibility model.

As network operator of Recycle Rewards, TOMRA Cleanaway has expanded operations to three states, adding the Tasmanian scheme to its existing statewide network in NSW and its network in Victoria’s western region.

Chief Executive Officer, James Dorney, said the launch of Recycle Rewards would make a material difference to Tasmania’s cherished natural environment, providing cleaner communities and waterways.

“TOMRA Cleanaway has been contracted by the Tasmanian Government to deliver a convenient, accessible and technology-based refund point network, that will ensure around 85 per cent of Tasmanians have a refund collection point within 10km of their homes,” Dorney said.

“At full mobilisation of Recycle Rewards in August 2025, there will be 49

their refund, or donate their eligible cans, bottles or cartons for $0.10c each

“We are mobilising a complementary suite of refund collection points, including reverse vending machines (RVMs) of different sizes and several large format depots, bringing our leading global container return technology to Tasmania.

“This will help ensure high levels of community participation in an accessible, convenient and rewarding scheme, which will ultimately drive higher return rates and hence better outcomes for the environment and the community.”

Dorney said the scheme adopted by the Tasmanian Government allowed for easy community access as well as local charity and community group participation.

“We know how effective the split responsibility model is from our experience running the NSW CDS, Return and Earn, where three out of four adults are regular participants in the scheme, and there are more charities, community groups and small business operators involved as collection point hosts than in any other scheme in Australia,” he said.

“Donation partners are fundamental to the success of any CRS, and the Tasmanian charitable community is already on board, with organisations such as Landcare, Variety, Royal Flying Doctors Service, Launceston City Mission and Cystic Fibrosis Tasmania signing up prior to the scheme’s launch.

“The Recycle Rewards donation partner portal is now open and signing up could not be easier. The process is simple

and designed to easily register charitable organisations with support from our dedicated Donation Partner Team.”

Recycle Rewards is a Tasmanian Government initiative funded by contributions from the beverage industry.

TasRecycle helps run administrative aspects of the scheme, while TOMRA Cleanaway is the network operator, responsible for the refund point network and payments to the public.

From left, Stuart Baird – GM CDS Cleanaway, James Dorney

– CEO TOMRA Cleanaway, and Tor Eirik Knutsen – President TOMRA collections APAC at the launch. Image: Tomra Cleanaway

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Council changes fees for bricks and concrete

AT THE Ordinary Council Meeting held on 17 April 2025, Port Macquarie-Hastings Council (PMHC) resolved to adopt the fee of $100.00 (GST inclusive) per tonne for the acceptance of uncontaminated bricks and concrete commencing Monday 12 May 2025.

To ensure that PMHC are only accepting uncontaminated loads of bricks and concrete, a new process is being implemented which must be adhered to by all customers:

• Disposal of uncontaminated bricks and concrete needs to be prebooked via the online Bricks and Concrete form on Council’s website: Bricks and Concrete Port Macquarie Hastings Council. Upon arrival at the weighbridge, an assessment of the load will be undertaken by the waste operator.

• If the load is assessed to be uncontaminated, customers will

be directed where to offload the materials by the waste operator.

• If the load is assessed to be contaminated, customers will be directed to dispose materials to landfill and charged at the appropriate rate. Please note that the

Disposal of uncontaminated bricks and concrete needs to be pre-booked via the Council’s website. Image: Ammak /stock.abobe.com

waste operator will make the final determination of this.

• If the waste operator has concerns that the load may be contaminated, the customer will be directed to an area where the materials can be tipped and spread, so that a more

detailed inspection can be undertaken. The customer will be required to remain with the load until assessment of the materials has been determined.

• Details will be recorded, including photographic evidence. If found to be contaminated, customers will be directed to dispose materials to landfill and charged at the appropriate rate. Please note that the waste operator will make the final determination of this.

• If loads are identified as containing tiles, or other mixed solid waste contamination, the materials will be required to be disposed of as mixed solid waste and charged at the current adopted rate of $275.50 per tonne.

• If loads are identified as containing asbestos containing material, the materials will be required to be disposed of as asbestos waste and charged at the current adopted rate of $440.00 per tonne.

• Customers proceed to the weighbridge to make payment at the appropriate rate.

Loads containing any amount of tiles will be disposed of as landfill due to the high risk of contamination and will be charged at the general waste fee of $275.50 per tonne.

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Murray Watt steps in as Environment Minister

QUEENSLAND Senator Murray Watt has been appointed Australia’s new Minister for the Environment, replacing Tanya Plibersek at a time when the nation’s waste and recycling systems are under mounting pressure.

Watt, a former employment lawyer and Chief of Staff to Queensland Premier Anna Bligh, has served in federal politics since 2016. His most recent portfolios included Emergency Management and Agriculture, experience some see as relevant to the environmental challenges ahead.

Mike Ritchie, managing director of MRA Consulting, said the transition comes with unfinished business.

“We have 2030 targets. We are not going to meet them unless there is significant policy change,” Ritchie said.

H e pointed to the lack of enforceable national standards around waste and recycling and said progress had been too slow u nder Plibersik.

“There’s plenty more that could have been done that wasn’t. Back on June 23 she said that she would legislate packaging reform in Australia,” said Ritchie. “She promised, but delivered little. She promised to do regulatory reform around packaging sector, and it got put in the long grass. T here’s a waste policy at the national level, but not a lot of it is being implemented. It needs to be refreshed and it needs funding.”

Ritchie said Watt must focus on five key areas: packaging regulation, food and organics recovery, enforcement of targets, consistent policy across states, and

TURNING WASTE INTO PROFIT

infrastructure investment.

“Packaging is still the biggest issue. Voluntary targets have not worked. They need to be mandated.”

Ritchie also called for faster rollout of food and garden organics collection, which remains inconsistent across local governments.

“We’ve got organics targets we’re not going to meet,” he said. ”There’s a lot of talk about FOGO [food organics, garden organics], but it’s not getting implemented quickly enough.”

He said state governments were driving reform, but the absence of federal coordination was holding back investment.

“There is policy chaos. Every state is doing something different. It makes it really hard for businesses to invest with certainty,” Ritchie said.

He noted that funding for waste and recycling infrastructure remains

insufficient at the national level, despite increased public attention on plastic waste and the circular economy.

“If we want to build the circular economy, we need investment. But we don’t yet have the policy settings to drive it.”

Asked what he hopes to see from the new minister, he said, “Clear direction, enforcement of targets, and consistent national policy”.

He said the environment portfolio was “not a high priority in government”, and that ministers often struggled to push waste issues up the agenda.

“Murray Watt has to push this portfolio forward,” he said. “There’s a lot of pressure building across the system. We’ve got five years left. If we don’t get serious now, we’re going to miss the targets.”

TSA welcomes senate inquiry report findings

TYRE Stewardship Australia (TSA) has welcomed the findings of the Australian Senate Inquiry’s report ‘No Time to Waste’. Commending the Senate Committee and its Chair Senator Peter Whish-Wilson for making sense of Australia’s current policies and regulations, TSA CEO, Lena Goodman, said it is clear that there is overwhelming industry and community support for a cohesive national approach to better waste management and transition to a circular economy.

“And the big news from this Inquiry is that there is again overwhelming industry support for regulated product stewardship schemes as the path forward,” she said.

The TSA agrees with the need for a Circular Economy Act to get regulated product stewardship schemes up and running as the most effective approach to achieving Australia’s circular economy ambitions.

The Report findings show that the Senate Committee has listened to logic

and industry insights on the road map for a way forward.

“We call on all the parties to commit to creating an efficient set of rules for product stewardship. And empowering product stewardship schemes and industry, together, to deliver a fit-forpurpose approach,” Goodman said.

Effective product stewardship supports material circularity throughout the entire value chain, from product design, through production, use, re-use, collection, recycling, reprocessing and end-of-life product management.

“The circular economy is a huge opportunity, and industry is ready to make the most of it. CSIRO modelling shows that doubling the circularity of the economy can deliver a net economic benefit of $26 billion in GDP by 2035,” said Goodman.

“Our current voluntary product stewardship scheme on tyres is working to the extent it can, but the need for mandatory participation by all tyre

importers, will create a level-playing field for all businesses, improve outcomes, lower costs, remove free riders and help stop rogue operators and illegal dumping of tyres.

“Only Federal Government action can establish the uniform, best-practice regulation so urgently needed to achieve mandatory product stewardship objectives

NSW EPA hands out $2.2 million to fight litter

MORE than $2 million has been awarded to 19 projects across NSW to combat litter and keep communities clean. The NSW EPA has provided funding to councils, community groups and government agencies to roll out initiatives preventing litter and protecting the environment.

NSW EPA Executive director of Programs & Innovation, Alexandra Geddes said the program will help the NSW Government meet its goal of a 60 per cent reduction in litter by 2030.

“We’re investing in raising awareness, changing behaviours and delivering infrastructure to encourage responsible waste disposal,” Geddes said.

“We want to keep local parks, bushland and suburbs clean because litter on land doesn’t just stay there – it often gets washed into drains and creeks, eventually polluting our rivers and oceans. In fact, for every piece of litter

on land, nine times more can be found in our waterways. All applicants were independently assessed, and the selected projects will target litter hotspots from Cobar to Ballina, creating lasting change.”

Grants range from $10,000 to $400,000 and include:

• Camden Council – $70,000 to develop a roadmap to reduce rubbish hotspots and waterways, including appointing a dedicated Project Officer.

• Clean up Australia – $400,000 to set up a pilot program targeting problematic behaviour and the organisation transitioning from clean-up efforts to rubbish prevention.

• Cobar Shire Council – $20,000 to install new cigarette butt bins, signage and engagement activities to reduce cigarette butt litter at

hotspots like Cobar RSL Club and Drummond Park.

• Impowerful – $10,000 for four clean-up events in the Cumberland LGA, engaging 5-18-year-olds to bridge the gap between traditional custodianship of the land and litter prevention.

• Placemaking NSW – $100,000 to develop a four-stage strategic approach to litter prevention efforts across Sydney’s harbour foreshore, including audits, mapping and research.

• Purple Card Project – $51,486 to collect data, collaborate with stakeholders and develop strategies such as recruiting a Litter Prevention Project Officer in the Hunter region. Further investment is available, with expressions of interest for intake five of the program now open until March 2026.

effectively and economically efficiently across Australia.

“The time for voluntary schemes has long passed – we need decisive federal action to implement a comprehensive national regulatory framework for stronger stewardship schemes, including tyres alongside other priority products such as batteries.

Recipients for NSW EPA litter grants include CleanUp Australia, Cobar Shire Council and Camden Council. Image: stock asso/ shutterstock.com

“Without Federal Government leadership, Australia’s circular economy ambitions will remain fragmented and unfulfilled. TSA has made submissions to the Productivity Commission’s current public inquiry into the Opportunities in the Circular Economy. Our key recommendation has been for them to listen to the call from the Circular

Economy Ministerial Advisory Group to establish a federal Circular Economy Act.

“It was heartening to see that this is also the key recommendation of the Senate Inquiry.”

TSA made a detailed submission to the Senate Inquiry into Waste Reduction and Recycling Policies. Click here to visit the submission.

Australia offers a compelling proposition for infrastructure investors. Image: Make more Aerials/shutterstock.com

Australian resource recovery –the roadblocks

(Continued from the Cover)

“THAT’S EFFECTIVELY TRANSFORMING

100,000 tonnes of GO [garden organics] processing into 100,000 tonnes of FOGO [food organics and garden organics] processing,” Barker said, highlighting the scale of operational improvements taking place.

However, infrastructure delivery in the waste sector is far from straightforward. Barker outlined several persistent issues that continue to restrict the pace and scope of new projects. Chief among them is the difficulty of securing engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contracts on a fixed-price basis.

Getting someone to build a big piece of infrastructure on a fixedprice lump-sum basis is a particularly challenging piece of work,” he said. “In such a risky construction environment, early contractor involvement (ECI) is seen as a partial remedy, enabling better alignment between stakeholders and improved understanding of project risk.”

There is a noticeable shortfall in experienced EPC delivery teams, particularly in mechanical and electrical trades. This, combined with complex project interfaces between operators, EPCs, and customers, raises investor concerns about cost blowouts and delivery delays.

These technical constraints are exacerbated by a lack of skilled labour, reliance on imported components, and the high cost of insurance. The sector’s exposure to lithium battery fires, such as the incident at the Bedminster facility in Cairns, has only increased premiums and raised the stakes for asset protection.

Product stewardship and endmarket development remain additional headaches.

While regulators are beginning to mandate more progressive waste separation policies, moving recycled material through the system remains logistically and economically difficult. In some cases, there is no affordable infrastructure in place to move product to its next stage, be it

treatment, sale, or disposal. Barker pointed out that these realities further inflate both capital and operational costs, sometimes casting doubt on the commercial v iability of projects.

One lesson Veolia has taken to heart is the experience of Western Australia’s waste-to-energy (WTE) facilities. Long delays and underperformance in the West have eroded some investor confidence.

Barker was candid in his assessment, noting that some landfill operators were prematurely optimistic about EfW replacing their capacity and were “left a little short at the back end” when projects fell behind schedule. He added that Australia cannot afford to take six or seven years to build a single EfW plant if the country is to meet its growing infrastructure demands.

Looking ahead, the roadmap for progress hinges on several interlinked elements. Foremost among them is supply and demand certainty, both in terms of feedstock for

facilities and guaranteed offtake for outputs. Without this, investors face unacceptable risks. Barker also stressed the importance of public and community support, especially for facilities that rely on long-term policy consistency and social licence to operate.

Policy harmonisation between states and the federal government is urgently needed. Over the past decade, facilities like mechanical biological treatment (MBT) plants have been destabilised by new contaminants or shifting regulations. These abrupt policy changes have dented investor confidence and undermined business cases.

Another delicate balance exists between the desire for innovation and the need for proven, scalable technology. Barker articulated this tension clearly.

“We want to innovate, but want to make sure that whatever we do at scale is going to work,” he said. “The pressure to move the industry forward must be matched by realistic

expectations about what can be delivered safely, cost-effectively, and reliably over time.”

Regulators and governments have a central role to play in enabling this transformation. Barker called for greater certainty on waste levies over long periods, urging for a united front with other major players in the sector. He also advocated for effective and mandated product stewardship schemes to support end-market development and improve resource circularity.

Clear and transparent approval processes are another must-have, particularly for energy recovery facilities.

Projects like Veolia’s Woodlawn ERF are still working through complex regulatory hurdles, which can add years to delivery timelines and contribute to rising costs.

To succeed, the sector will need to adopt a rigorous approach to project delivery. Barker outlined a five-point plan for ensuring that ERF projects reach their potential: prioritise safety, partner with experienced operators, choose capable delivery partners,

Importantly, stakeholder engagement must be done thoughtfully and inclusively.

“That balanced view to stakeholder

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infrastructure transformation is not just a commercial or technical challenge, it’s a national imperative. As landfill space dwindles and the

that allow both domestic and international capital to flow into critical assets. That will require consistency and a coordinated

There needs to be supply and demand certainty, in terms of feedstock for facilities.

Image: Martin Mecnarowski/ shutterstock.com

An array of issues need addressing in CE space

(Continued from the Cover)

HE SAID THAT THERE HAD already been some real “tragic human outcomes with fatalities”, which meant the EPA was committed to accelerating systemic risk reduction and doing so in a nationally aligned way. That didn’t necessarily mean there had to be harmonisation across the Commonwealth.

“The easy way to get something done nationally is if the Commonwealth Government does it,” Chappel said. “However, it’s often surprisingly much faster if a couple of big states work together, set some architecture up, and other states can replicate that and get a national system up and running. That’s the path we’re going down because of the need to act urgently. I’m very hopeful that this year, you’ll not only

see legislation pass, but picked up in other states as well.”

Chappel also touched on the issue of landfills, many of which are coming to the end of their life, with not enough new ones being created. This means the circular economy needs to come into play – and the industry cannot just give it lip service. He pointed out the recent legislation as it pertains to FOGO as a good example of the circular economy moving forward.

“That’s really about giving signals to industry and enough runway for councils and their contractors, and their other arrangements, to conclude and then reset everything so that by 2030 every community has facilities in place,” he said. “I know that these initiatives come with plenty of challenges, contamination being just one.”

As with any challenge, getting resources – i.e. money – to help solve these issues is paramount.

Chappel acknowledged that the

$80+ million package announced by NSW Minister for Heritage, Climate Change Energy and Environment, Penny Sharpe, would help with

“I want to see how we seek to replicate and share that knowledge so that FOGO recycling becomes something that’s enjoyable, easy and intuitive for the community and not confusing, which we know a lot of recycling currently is.”

some of these goals. He said the money would be spent on education, interventions, infrastructure and smart technology.

“I’m hoping we can work with WCRA and its members in terms of surveys and other work within different communities where the contamination levels are high,” he said. “I want to see how we seek to replicate and share that knowledge so that FOGO recycling becomes something that’s enjoyable, easy and intuitive for the community and not confusing, which we know a lot of recycling currently is.”

Government procurement

Chappel then touched on government procurement. He said end markets for circular economy outputs need to be sought and clarified and that the Protection of the Environment Policy – which is looking to be finalised this year – is a step in the right direction.

The EPA deals with projects that are over $50 million for the building sector and $100 million for infrastructure. A key proponent that will now need to be taken into consideration when these projects go through the permit and processing

stages of a development is, “how much recycled material is being used on this project?”

“What it essentially does is ask –as a mandatory consideration – how the proponent is seeking to maximise recycled content and minimise embodied carbon in the project,” said

Government procurement – at all levels – needs to take in recycled products as part of the tender process. Image: Stock Source Studio/stock.adobe.com

Chappel. “You’re going to see more of this kind of thing rolled out a cross all government procurement to help put forward the demand for these products. It’s really pleasing to see that this policy is progressing. It’s been a couple of years in the making.”

Resource recovery orders and exemptions

Another subject that Chappel touched on is that the framework of resource recovery orders and exemptions – which governs a lot of different elements of activity in the sector – clearly needs reform.

He said that enabling innovation in resource recovery is going to be essential if NSW is going to get to the 80 per cent recovery targets that are required across all waste streams by 2030.

“There’s a concept paper and position statement that have been released, and we’re really looking forward to operationalising elements there this year, harmonising and simplifying those as well as dealing with this end-of-waste concept, so that there’s a level playing field,” he said.

Energy from Waste

Chappel highlighted that energy from waste was one part of the circular economy solution, but he could see why some people in the community are sceptical about the technology.

“Growing up with either backyard burning or council incinerators that were found to be very toxic –producing dioxins and other harmful chemistry – you can understand the community concern about concepts of incineration,” he said. “But modern energy-from-waste technology, when it is well regulated, is a critical

part for solving this challenge. It’s a way to recover a lot more metals. There are also positive opportunities to reuse some of the ash material in building products.”

Chappel visited the recently commissioned facility in Kwinana, Western Australia, which he said was a positive experience. He said that energy from waste has a vital role to play in the future.

“We understand that this technology has a critical role to play, and there are a number of precincts,

Sharpe were grilled by politicians about the idea that the EPA is moving away from zero tolerance when it comes to asbestos contamination, which was mentioned in a report by the NSW chief scientist’s office.

“The way that I understand the report is that it’s proposing a more effective solution to systemically lower the risk of asbestos exposure,” he said. “We know that asbestos is a prolific contaminant. It’s in one-third of our buildings, and we’ll be dealing with it for decades. Go out in the

“The way that I understand the report is that it’s proposing a more effective solution to systemically lower the risk of asbestos exposure.”

including former power stations, where it can actually catalyse really significant additional investment as the heat and electricity is circulated in a precinct and reused, and can also catalyse more housing and other infrastructure,” he said.

Asbestos

Finally, Chappel talked about his appearance at the Budget Estimates Hearings Process, where he and

street, you’ll probably detect some.”

He said that in bonded form, the risk of it to human health is very low. In industrial contexts without the right settings, it has done terrible damage to workers. What he believes the chief scientist is saying is, instead of taking a zero tolerance approach at the very end of the pipe, we’re more likely to lower the risk systemically if we adopt a Swiss cheese approach through the supply

chain, including strong standards at the end.

“I think that it’s certainly worthy of deep consideration,” said Chappel. “Government is considering that now, so I can’t preempt where that ultimately lands, but I think it’s a very positive step to deal with one of these wicked problems that ourselves and our children will have to continue to grapple with.”

Concluding his presentation, Chappel said there is a lot of appetite within government and the industry to get a lot of work done this year. This included the aforementioned reform around batteries, as well as plastics reform options that have been out for consultation, the waste levy review, and a waste infrastructure plan.

“Obviously, we need to land that energy from waste review as well,” he said. “It’s a very big year for progress in waste recycling, in the circular economy, and we’re very lucky to have this alignment across government that we need to deal with the landfill issues head-on. We can’t put them off anymore, and we need to take a systemic service solution.”

Valuing all resources – both virgin and recovered news

As I write this, we have just had the Federal Election and we now know who will be in Government. To say it was an interesting election, would be an understatement. Regrettably, we heard very little during the campaign on environment, our essential industry or climate – other than discussions on energy. However, just before the election, as Planet Ark elected to pursue voluntary administration (arguably another sign that voluntary stewardship schemes no longer have a place in Australia), we heard that, if successful, an Albanese government would put in rules to produce less waste at first instance, including mandatory packaging design standards and targets. Could this be the whiff of real regulation we need this term of government?

Environment Ministers will meet for the second time this year on 7 December, following the first 2018 Meeting of Environment Ministers (MEM) in April, which was in part a response to the import restrictions driven by China’s National Sword Policy and the effects this policy has had across the Australian waste and resource recovery (WARR) industry. Key decisions derived from the April MEM include:

•Reducing waste generation, endorsing a target of 100% of Australian packaging being recyclable, compostable or reusable by 2025, and developing targets for recycled content in packaging.

• Increasing Australia’s domestic recycling capacity.

• Increasing the demand for recycled products.

• Exploring opportunities to advance waste-to-energy and waste-to-biofuels.

•Updating the 2009 Waste Strategy by year end, which will include circular economy principles.

It is time to take stock and examine what has been achieved since these decisions were announced. Now, seven (7) months may not seem like a long time, however in that time we have seen further markets close (Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam) and if you are an operator under continued financial stress, seven (7) months could make or break you.

During the election campaign, the “No time to waste” report by the Senate’s Environment and Communications Committee was tabled, which pulled together the almost unanimous frustration of those associated with waste policy in Australia about the need to act. As the Committee’s Chair, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson said in his forward, “This report outlines compelling evidence that we are not winning the war on waste and that our current and historic federal policy framework has failed to achieve its

On the upside, years of frustration appear to have consolidated support for regulation across the value chain. As Senator Wish-Wilson noted, “One big positive that came out in the evidence is just how much support there is right now for federal government regulatory or legislative intervention in this space.”

Following the April MEM, we have had three (3) states step in with varying degrees of financial assistance for industry (councils and operators). This should be expected considering almost all states (except Queensland and Tasmania) have access to significant waste levy income each year. On the eastern seaboard, Victoria has approximately $600 million in waste levy reserves in the Sustainability Fund and NSW raises more than $700 million per annum from the waste levy. There is certainly no lack of funds that can be reinvested into our essential industry.

Funding helps but as we know, the money goes a much longer way with Government support and leadership, as well as appropriate policy levers.

VICTORIA

T he report contains a number of good recommendations. For example, the need for national regulation, and mandatory extended producer r esponsibility (EPR), with better coordination across states and territories and mandatory targets.

Victoria has arguably been the most active and earnest in supporting the industry post-China, with two (2) relief packages announced to support the recycling industry, valued at a total of $37 million. The Victorian Government has also gone above and beyond all others states by announcing it would take a leadership role in creating market demand for recycled products.

However, to be honest, we do not need any more committees. Rather we need to make far better use of the ones that we have – like the Heads of EPA (where the CEOs sit) – to work together on solving these real challenges. Industry, and Australia, needs real action and meaningful funding.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

With the 2030 waste targets looming, decisive action is essential. These targets, which aim to significantly reduce waste, increase recycling rates, and promote a circular economy, represent a vital step toward a sustainable future. Achieving them requires bold leadership, comprehensive policies, and collaborative efforts across all sectors of society.

Government announced a $12.4 million support package comprising $2 million of additional expenditure, $5 million additional funding for a loan scheme, together with targeted funding from the Green Industries SA budget. The Government has also offered grants for recycling infrastructure.

NEW SOUTH WALES

In WMRR’s view, the Environment Minister needs to prioritise three things – investment, regulation and markets – in order to drive material productivity. They need to invest in the WARR industry, and build Australian resilience through growing onshore remanufacturing capacity.

Action to achieve net zero emissions and prioritising a circular approach to resource management will mitigate the worst impacts of climate change, given that 70 per cent of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are linked to material handling and use, and 80 per cent stem from housing, mobility, and nutrition.

These targets are critical – not aspirational – for creating the sustainable economy and environment Australians want and deserve.

market. Australians need systems that support maximising resource value by ensuring their multiple uses. Secondary raw materials must become as competitive and valued as virgin materials if these targets are to be achieved. So here is the WMRR blueprint that we will be providing to the Minister on how we capitalise on our essential industry, to not only meet our industry’s targets, but also contribute to the economy’s increased productivity while assisting with meeting net zero and nature positive targets, too.

Priority 1 - Investment: Funding Australia’s circularity

Raising Australia’s resource recovery rate from 67 per cent to 80 per cent by 2030 requires recovering and diverting an additional 10 million tonnes of material from landfill (which also means 10 million tonnes of markets developed by the way). The one-off Recycling Modernisation Fund (RMF) successfully improved Australia’s resource recovery capacity, co-investing in 139 projects nationwide, creating 1.4 million tonnes of additional processing capacity, and fostering jobs across metropolitan and regional areas. WMRR urges the Federal Government to commit an additional $500 million in new funds to the RMF – to be matched by state governments and private industry – and expand its scope to include all priority waste streams beyond glass, plastics, tyres, paper, and cardboard. Including organics and hazardous waste will sustain the positive momentum of the RMF to meet recovery targets and generate demand for an additional 10 million tonnes of recovered m aterials by 2030.

industry however the Queensland Government has embarked on the development of a waste management strategy underpinned by a waste disposal levy to increase recycling and recovery and create new jobs. The State will re-introduce a $70/ tonne landfill levy in March 2019. There are also strong attempts to use policy levers (levy discounts and exemptions) to incentivise the use of recycled material and make it cost competitive with virgin material. However, little has been done to establish new markets and Government has not taken the lead in the procurement of recycled material. There are grants available for resource recovery operations in Queensland although no monies have been allocated to assist in 2018. This is troubling as Queensland rolled out its Container Refund Scheme on 1 November, which will likely impact the cost and revenue models of the State’s MRFs – as we have seen most recently in NSW.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

The Western Australian Government set up a Waste Taskforce in direct response to the China National Sword. As part of this announcement, the State Government urged all local councils to begin the utilisation of a three (3)-bin system - red for general waste, yellow for recyclables and green for organic waste - over the coming years to reduce contamination. While this taskforce is a step in the right direction, we are yet to see any tangible results from it or any funding for industry. In October, the WA Waste Authority released its draft Waste Strategy to 2030, which comprises a comprehensive and detailed roadmap towards the State’s shared vision of becoming a sustainable, low-waste, circular economy.

At first glance, New South Wales’ eye-watering $47 million recycling support package was heralded as the spark of hope industry needed. However, on closer inspection, the bulk of this package that was funded via the Waste Less, Recycle More initiative and therefore the waste levy, was not new, making it very difficult for stakeholders, including local government, to utilise the funds as they were already committed to other activities. Some of the criteria proposed by the NSW EPA also made it challenging for industry to apply to these grants. On the plus side, efforts are being made by the NSW Government to stimulate demand for recycled content through the intergovernmental agency working groups that have been established, though no tangible increase in demand or facilities have developed… Yet.

The Federal Government must provide active national leadership and create economic and environmental policies that establish a level playing field valuing all resources – both recovered and virgin – across Australia’s common

QUEENSLAND

Unlike its neighbours, Queensland did not provide any financial support to

Priority 2 - Regulation: Strong regulatory settings

COMMONWEALTH

Clear regulations and incentives are essential for secondary raw materials to compete with virgin materials. The government must implement:

• A Circular Economy Act: Establish enforceable environmental standards for all products entering the Australian market, focusing on eco-design, reuse, and recoverability. This Act should include mandatory EPR obligations to drive lifecycle improvements and market demand for recycled content. It should also introduce disincentives for non-recoverable or hard-to-recycle products and encourage modularity and repairability in product design.

• In centives for Using Recycled Materials: Mandatory EPR schemes for packaging and renewable energy systems (e.g., solar panels), streamlined export regulations, and measures eliminating barriers to recovered material use will enhance Australia’s competitiveness and critical mineral management.

Following the MEM in April, Australia now has a new Federal Environment Minister, Melissa Price, who in October reiterated to media MEM’s commitment to explore waste to energy as part of the solution to the impacts of China’s National Sword, which is troubling (EfW is not a solution to recycling). The Commonwealth has also backed the Australian Recycling Label and endorsed the National Packaging Targets developed by the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO), which has to date, failed to incorporate industry feedback in the development of these targets. To the Commonwealth’s credit, there has been significant coordination in reviewing the National Waste Policy, with the Department of Environment bringing together industry players and States during the review process.

The updated Policy will now go before Environment Ministers on 7 December. The Commonwealth can play a key role – one that goes beyond the development of the National Waste Policy. WMAA is supportive of the Federal Government maximising the levers it has, including taxation and importation powers, to maintain a strong, sustainable waste and resource recovery industry.

• C arbon Regulation Enhancements: Extending crediting periods for Alternative Waste Treatment (AWT) methodologies and developing methodologies for Energy from Waste (EfW) and recycling projects under Australia’s carbon credit unit (ACCU) scheme will unlock investment, create jobs, and reduce emissions.

AHEAD OF MEM 2

Priority 3 - Markets: Creating Circular Markets

Diverting material from landfill without market demand will not achieve resource recovery goals. Ensuring local markets for recovered materials and recycled products is vital. National leadership should:

• I mplement genuine sustainable procurement policies – enforceable targets and standards for government procurement of recycled materials, modelled on Victoria’s ecologiQ, will encourage domestic remanufacturing and create green jobs.

There may be movement across Australia, with some states doing better than others, but the consensus is, progress is still taking way too long. It is evident that there are funds available in almost all States to assist with developing secondary manufacturing infrastructure, however the only way that this will really happen is if there is government leadership around mandating recycled content in Australia now, not later.

• In centivise recycled products – financial measures, such as GST exemptions on recycled products, and investments in standards that incorporate recycled content will drive market growth.

• In clude education campaigns – a national initiative highlighting the benefits of recycled products, waste avoidance will foster public support for circular resource management.

The time to act is now. Let’s hope a new term with the same government will mean the consultation has been had – and the action to regulate starts now.

There really is no (more) time to waste.

Voluntary schemes like the Used Packaging NEPM, under which APCO is auspiced, are not working. We have 1.6million tonnes of packaging waste in Australia, which needs to be used as an input back into packaging. Barriers to using recycled content in civil infrastructure must be identified and removed, and Government must lead in this field and prefer and purchase recycled material. A tax on virgin material should also be imposed as it is overseas. MEM must show strong leadership on this issue. Ministers have, since April, dealt directly with operators and councils that are under stress and we have a chance to create jobs and investment in Australia at a time when manufacturing is declining. Ministers have the opportunity to be leaders of today, not procrastinators – leaders of tomorrow and we are urging them to act and not just talk in December.

Gayle Sloan Chief Executive Officer

Gayle Sloan, Chief Executive Officer, WMRR

NSW must act now to avert looming waste crisis

THE HONOURABLE PENNY SHARPE, NSW Minister for Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Heritage, used her platform at the Coffs Waste Conference to issue a stark warning: New South Wales is facing an imminent waste crisis, and urgent action is needed across all sectors to avert serious economic, environmental, and social consequences.

Sharpe, who has served in the NSW Legislative Council since 2005 and was appointed to her current ministerial role in 2023, told attendees that waste management in the state had reached a critical juncture. In a candid speech, she laid out the challenges facing NSW, but also pointed to the opportunities that could emerge if the issue is tackled with determination and collaboration.

“For those who I’ve had the privilege to meet personally, you know that waste and recycling and circular economy... is a genuine passion of mine,” she began. “I just firmly believe that we should not be wasting one element of things that can be reused and recycled.”

Sharpe acknowledged that the current system is unsustainable. Waste volumes continue to rise, while recycling rates have flatlined at an average of 66 per cent. This is well short of the government’s own target of 80 per cent average recycling across all waste streams by 2030, a deadline now just five years away.

“If we don’t find a way to increase

the amount of material we reuse or recycle, the volume of waste being disposed of at landfill will only grow,” she said. “Greater Sydney is on t rack to run out of landfill space by 2030.”

While Sydney’s impending shortfall is alarming in itself, the knock-on effects for regional areas are also concerning. Without additional capacity, more waste will be diverted out of the city, disrupting services in smaller communities and pushing environmental burdens onto those who may be less able to cope.

Sharpe was clear that this was not a scenario the government could accept, especially at a time when the cost of living is rising and housing shortages persist.

“Failure to act on waste is expected to result in a 20 per cent increase in the amount households pay for their red-lid kerbside bin collections,” she said. “Left unaddressed, a shortfall in Greater Sydney’s landfill capacity may lead to a significant loss to the New South Wales economy, not to mention the increased risks of unsafe stockpiling of waste and illegal dumping.”

As part of the state’s response, Sharpe announced the release of the first chapter of the NSW Waste Infrastructure Plan, a foundational document that outlines how the government intends to confront these challenges. In a somewhat surprising admission, she said she had been shocked to learn that NSW had

never previously developed a wholeof-government waste infrastructure plan. But the new framework, she said, would mark a turning point in how waste is managed in the state.

“Waste is an essential service, and it should be planned for as such,” Sharpe said, adding that the absence of such planning to date had hindered investment and progress.

A key focus of the plan is reducing the bureaucratic and logistical obstacles that have historically stymied investment in waste infrastructure. Complex planning processes and high upfront costs have been frequent complaints from councils and operators alike. To address this, the government will streamline approvals and provide greater certainty for those seeking to develop or expand facilities.

“I do not for a minute underestimate the challenges of getting waste infrastructure built in communities,” Sharpe said. “No one is saying, ‘Please, can I have a waste facility near me?’ But we need to have those conversations to say this is essential.”

The government is also looking at ways to extend the lifespan of existing landfills and consult on the development of energy-fromwaste (EfW) infrastructure. While Sharpe acknowledged the mixed views on EfW facilities, she said their potential role in reducing landfill reliance and boosting resilience was under active review. She emphasised

framework – due by the end of the financial year – it is also turning its attention to other high-impact areas. One is organic waste. The Minister noted that 1.7 million tonnes of food and garden organics are generated each year by households and businesses in NSW. Much of this ends up in landfill, even though it could be diverted and turned into valuable compost through services like FOGO (Food Organics and Garden Organics).

Sharpe hailed the passage of FOGO mandates earlier this year and encouraged councils to access the $81 million in EPA funding available to support rollout and education initiatives. She also reminded industry of the additional $50 million in Go FOGO grants to fund practical needs such as bins, kitchen caddies, and contamination audits.

Yet another emerging area of concern is battery disposal. Sharpe highlighted the growing danger that improperly discarded batteries pose to waste workers, collection trucks, and facilities. She cited data from Fire and Rescue NSW indicating that batteries were now the fastest-

Responsibility Act, which enables it to mandate product stewardship schemes.

Batteries will be the first product regulated under the new framework. Sharpe said she hoped other jurisdictions would follow suit, noting that the Act had been designed as a standalone piece of legislation to enable quick adoption elsewhere.

The government is also preparing a public awareness campaign to educate people on safe battery disposal and is funding trials through 21 community recycling centres, which have so far collected four tonnes of battery-embedded products.

Alongside these immediate concerns, Sharpe acknowledged the persistent questions around the waste levy. While no final decision has been made, she confirmed that the government would not raise the levy above CPI for the coming financial year and committed to a collaborative approach to any future changes.

“ I know the councils are crying out for support in dealing with the

the forthcoming Reuse and Repair Strategy. But perhaps the most resonant message was one of urgency – that the state must act, and act now, to confront the waste crisis looming on its doorstep.

“My view about this is a little bit like the energy transition,” Sharpe said. “The window for action is closing. We have to be doing everything... it does matter what happens to our waste.”

Sharpe concluded by reiterating

“This is something that we just have to address, and we have to do a lot of things at the same time, and we have to do it before it’s too late,” she said.

From landfill pressures and infrastructure gaps to the emerging risks of battery fires, Sharpe’s speech painted a picture of a sector under strain. But it also offered a pathway forward, one that hinges not only on government action but on partnerships with industry, councils,

While Sydney’s impending landfill shortfall is alarming, the knock-on effects for regional areas are also concerning. Image: Daria Nipot/ shutterstock.com

Sharpe confirmed that the NSW government would not raise the landfill levy above CPI. Image: F Photography/shutterstock.com

Parkes project powers ahead with residual waste solution

THE TOWNSHIP OF PARKES, 350 kilometres west of Sydney, is the proposed home of an Energy-fromWaste (EfW) facility being developed by Tribe Infrastructure Group. Designed to process up to 600,000 tonnes of residual waste each year, the facility is part of a growing effort to address New South Wales’ landfill constraints and decarbonisation goals.

Andrew Smith, general manager of Tribe Infrastructure Group, said the Parkes site had been chosen for its strategic logistics advantages and its location within a government-declared Special Activation Precinct.

“We’ve done some drop-in sessions in Parkes recently,” he said. “And a lot of people ask, why is it here? And I think the argument is that the government has a little bit of a jobs-in-regionalareas push. You’ve got the intermodals, and it’s a good spot to put it, rather than in Western Sydney.”

Smith said the process began in 2020 when an expression of interest was launched and 17 groups responded.

“That got shortlisted for a nonbinding offer. There were three [bidders] involved in that – then the binding offer and shortlisted again. They then took us through another process called the BAFO – best and final offer – and then some elections got in the way. We waited a few months for that, negotiated for another year, and finally we signed contracts on the Friday before Christmas.”

Since signing, the Tribe team has commenced the necessary environmental and planning approvals for the facility and supporting infrastructure.

A network beyond Parkes

Residues (APCR) management onsite.

Tribe is planning for a diversion rate of 96 per cent, in line with global best practice, and expects to generate electricity for the local grid.

“We’ll put out very similar amounts of electricity,” Smith said. “The SAP is building a substation for us, which is nice, because we don’t have to build that.”

In addition to the main facility, Tribe plans to develop at least two intermodal transfer stations in Sydney to feed waste into the Parkes plant via rail. The first site has been selected in St Marys in Sydney’s west.

coverage for participating councils.

“These transfer stations are like unusual transfer stations for waste from truck to truck. We will compact the waste into these containers to try and maximise the delivery,” he said.

While Veolia gets 31 tonnes in their containers to Woodlawn, Tribe hopes to beat that figure.

“Veolia has a limit on their containers at the other end, where they have to put it on a road and haul it up to their landfill. We don’t have to do that at the other end.”

I think that’s our first cab off the rank,” said Smith.

“We’ve been out to Parkes. We’re starting on the St Marys stakeholder management, explaining to people what’s happening. There’s a few groups in Parkes asking why it’s here.”

Tribe has conducted three days of community drop-in sessions and multiple presentations to local council, with more to come.

The Parkes EfW plant will sit within a 30-hectare greenfield site approximately five kilometres west of the town centre. The site is owned by the Regional Growth Development Corporation (RGDC), which has secured around 4,600 acres in the Special Activation Precinct.

“There is a railway line running right past the site,” said Smith. “The plan is we’re going to be putting [the waste] on rail and taking it out of Parkes in containers, like similar to what Veolia was doing at Woodlawn for the last 20 years.”

The facility will contain two process lines, a bottom ash recycling building, and its own Air Pollution Control

“The site we’ve selected is on Lee Holm Drive there. It’s a high-quality site — four hectares. It’s got plenty of room. The train line adjoins the back of the site,” he said. “The design of these transfer stations prioritises efficiency, safety, and containment. Smith said waste trucks will flow in there and the waste will be compacted inside the shed, the hall there, and then we just lift straight up the back fence onto about 350-metre frontage of intermodal terminal.”

Smith said Tribe was also scoping a second Sydney transfer station in the southeast, likely near Botany or the Inner West, to ensure maximum geographic

Trains are expected to depart St Marys near midnight and arrive in Parkes within 11 hours, in line with current freight rail timetables.

“Most of the freight trains roll out of Sydney all night long,” he said.

Planning, consultation and the path to delivery

While the logistics make the model feasible, Tribe is currently focused on stakeholder engagement, regulatory approval and securing waste supply contracts, all of which are essential to the plant’s financial close, anticipated in 2027.

“We kicked off in January, February. We’ve started stakeholder management.

“We’re getting the word out there how it works. It’s all about emissions out there. It’s a greenfield site. It’s not so much about logistics, because the train solution actually works pretty well,” said Smith.

In parallel, the company has appointed consultants to begin the environmental impact studies, which will span at least 12 months.

Smith said that there is a special planning pathway for the Special Activation Precincts to try and make it faster and easier. Although he feels that Tribe won’t be given much assistance getting approvals faster. Instead, the company has lodged a full State Significant Development application while simultaneously seeking planning approvals for the Sydney-based transfer stations.

Sourcing

Image: belish/ shutterstock.com

“Initial chats with the Department of Planning were very positive – we can run these two at once,” he said.

“We can’t one without the other. If we have burner going but you can’t get the waste to it, it’s not going to work very well, and vice versa.”

put forward. They’re going to have to be jumbled together. I don’t think that’s been done before on a Waste-to-Energy plant,” he said.

Waste contracts and longterm certainty

reflects Tribe’s previous experience in Perth at the Rockingham EfW facility.

“These contracts are similar to what we instigated in those places,” Smith said.

Smith said that this approach gives councils flexibility to adjust

However, financing the facility depends on a critical mass of councils signing up to long-term contracts. He believes 10 years would need to be the minimum, but 15 would be ideal. This is because longer-term contracts can offer pricing certainty and insulation from future policy shifts.

“It’s also going to give you a good long-term view of what your costs are going to be. You won’t have to risk your landfill levy, which may go up more. So those risks are going to be worth looking at,” he said.

Tribe is now actively engaging with councils to prepare for tendering opportunities ahead of the proposed financial close in early 2027.

“At the moment, we are looking for waste, and we’re going to be looking for waste over the next two years. We’ll have to have a certain amount of contracts in place for financial close,” he said.

The team expects to submit its development application by the second quarter of 2026, aiming for late 2026 approvals, financial close in 2027 and operations commencing by late 2031.

“That’s the sort of time where you can actually look at and lock in waste disposal to this facility,” Smith said.

Most energy from waste facilities are built on the outskirts of major towns and cities. Image: Below the Sky/shutterstock.com

Parramatta’s waste revolution –a new era in organics recycling

PARRAMATTA CITY COUNCIL has embarked on a transformation of its waste services, led by Andrew Ho, group manager Waste and Cleansing. Presenting a seminar at the Coffs Waste Conference recently, Ho said the council, which serves 280,000 residents across 80 square kilometres and is experiencing a two per cent annual population growth, recently implemented a new food organics and garden organics (FOGO) service. This represents the biggest

change in waste management the city has seen in decades.

“The purpose of this presentation is really that next step of implementing that service model,” Ho said.

The new service, rolled out in November 2024, introduced weekly organic waste collection. Historically, organic waste had been collected fortnightly and only garden organics were included. Food scraps are now accepted in the green bins, collected

weekly alongside garden waste. Another key change was the reduction of the standard garbage bin size from 140 litres to 80 litres, with residents able to upgrade if necessary. To support the FOGO service, every household received a kitchen caddy and liners were distributed every six months, with additional liners available from local libraries.

Due to the size and complexity of Parramatta, the rollout was

divided into two stages. Stage One covered detached dwellings and smaller unit blocks with fewer than 30 units. Stage Two, currently being planned, will focus on high-density developments, requiring bespoke solutions in partnership with individual complexes.

“The single biggest focal point wasn’t so much about the adoption of the program,” Ho said. “The focal point was about taking away 140 litres of garbage service and giving

residents 80 litres. Part of best practice was being fluid and being able to pivot and respond quickly.”

A communication and engagement plan underpinned the rollout. Council engaged early with councillors and executive teams to secure buy-in and decision guidance, which helped secure necessary investment. External stakeholders, such as the communications and IT teams, were involved from the start, ensuring the messaging and design elements were well crafted.

“I was upfront from the beginning,” Ho said. “This is a significant change, one of the single biggest changes in decades.”

With a large multicultural population – many speaking Chinese, Korean, Indian or Arabic with English as a second language – the council recognised the importance of tailored engagement.

Workshops were held in different languages, and collateral was designed with bold, simple graphics so the message could resonate regardless of language skills.

Social media played a key role, with a dedicated staff member responding to questions and disseminating information.

Door knocking was extensive, and physical presence was maintained through pop-up stores in town centres and train stations, designed to catch residents during their daily routines.

T he council also launched a memorable campaign around the FOGO program, adopting the catchy phrase Capture the Feed to spark conversation and awareness. The campaign targeted young families in particular, recognising that children can be powerful influencers on household behaviour.

“I assume a lot of you, like myself, have kids,” Ho said. “Kids are very influential. Influencing them from early on helps create that generational shift toward embracing the change.”

As part of the engagement strategy, a puppet show was developed and delivered at schools and community events. Around 15 workshops have been held, with positive feedback from parents reporting that children were encouraging better waste habits at home.

Parramatta also introduced a ‘FOGO champion’ program, which trained community members to act as advocates spreading the message within their neighbourhoods. More than 100 people registered, and 40 completed the training.

“Those champions became an extra mouthpiece in the community,” Ho said. “They’re looking to spread the message, whether to their neighbours in their complexes or on their street.”

Despite careful planning and learning from other councils, the rollout required adaptability.

Early in the program, a common complaint was that residents didn’t know how to open the liners properly. The council quickly developed an instructional video to address the issue.

“Last minute, we had to develop a video to teach people how to open the liner wider,” Ho recalled. “There were also data gaps. We did a lot of reconciliation to make sure our data was right before rolling out bins, but discovered properties with extra dwellings or granny flats that weren’t subdivided, so you just have to live with it and pivot.”

Another key challenge lies ahead with Stage Two, focusing on high-density living. These multiunit developments require tailored approaches to fit building designs and community dynamics.

“These sites are like mini-cities in themselves,” Ho said. “You need to treat each one individually. It’s not just about dropping off a bin and hoping for the best.”

In some cases, the council worked with strata or building managers to assist with communication and logistics. In others, these roles were absent, so Parramatta is now developing customised educational materials, signage, and considering dedicated outreach officers for these complexes. Internally, collaboration across council departments has been vital. Waste teams have coordinated closely with planning, environmental health,

rangers, and others to ensure a unified approach.

“Internally, it’s all about breaking down the silos,” Ho said. “You can’t just do it from a waste team perspective, you need support from the entire organisation.”

A contamination audit has been introduced to monitor bin contents and improve service quality.

Staff conduct door-knocking and speak directly to residents when contamination is found to educate and support behaviour change.

This monitoring links back to the council’s contract with its service provider, which includes tiered pricing based on contamination levels.

Reducing contamination therefore has financial as well as environmental benefits.

“On a weekly basis, every one or two months, I’m sending our processor data about contamination trends,” Ho said. “It’s critical to deal with issues early from an education perspective. If we can keep contamination down, the fees we pay per tonne are reduced. And who knows, if we achieve no contamination, maybe we can negotiate fee reductions.”

The new waste system demands ongoing adaptability, resourcefulness, and strong community engagement.

“We’re moving into a space where waste isn’t just about collection,” Ho said. “It’s about behaviour, infrastructure, and longterm planning.

“We’re having conversations that weren’t part of the job five or ten years ago.”

As Parramatta prepares for Stage Two and continues to refine Stage One, Ho emphasises the importance of early stakeholder engagement, adequate resources, and the willingness to adapt.

“Best practice is about being open to change, having those early discussions internally, and understanding that one size doesn’t fit all,” he said. “It takes time to educate residents. It’s not an overnight switch.”

The city’s evolving waste program is a critical part of its commitment to sustainability and managing growth responsibly. Ho’s leadership reflects a pragmatic approach that balances technical innovation with community needs.

“This is one of the biggest changes we’ve had in decades,” he said. “But we’ve laid the groundwork and are learning as we go. The journey is far from over, but we’re moving in the right direction.”

Parramatta has cultural diversity and a range of different dwelling types, all of which needed taking into consideration with the FOGO rollout. Image: Harley Kingston/ shutterstock.com

Educating the public is the main ingredient for a successful FOGO rollout. Image: Kmpzzz/ shutterstock.com

Certified compostables in the Circular Economy

By Martine Poulain

With growing environmental challenges, pressures on landfill and the urgent need for more sustainable packaging solutions, certified compostable materials have a key role in the transition to a circular economy.

Unlike traditional plastics, which can take hundreds of years to break down, certified compostable products are designed to biodegrade under the right conditions, turning into carbon dioxide, water, and organic biomass, leaving no harmful residue behind. This ability to disintegrate responsibly is key to their role in a circular economy, where materials are reused and regenerated instead of accumulating in landfills.

The

role

of

The ABA and certification

At the forefront of this movement in Australia and New Zealand is the Australasian Bioplastics Association (ABA). The ABA’s certification

scheme ensures that compostable products meet rigorous standards for biodegradability and suitability for composting. The ABA’s certification programme is essential for maintaining trust in compostability claims. The two key standards within the scheme, AS4736 for commercial composting and AS5810 for home composting, ensure that products meet specific biodegradation criteria under the right conditions.

For brand owners, certification provides a tool for building consumer trust. Displaying the ABA’s recognised logos – the Seedling logo for AS4736 and the Home Compostable logo AS5810 – confirms that a product is verified as compostable and will break down in the intended conditions.

This third-party validation helps avoid accusations of greenwashing, which can damage a brand’s reputation in an increasingly environmentally conscious market. Certification also plays a critical role for the organics recycling sector.

When a certified compostable product carries the ABA’s logos, it provides assurance to composters that the product will degrade without harming the composting process.

Without this certification, there is a risk of contamination, as noncer tified products may not break down as expected, undermining the quality of compost.

The rise of certified compostable packaging

Certified compostable products are becoming a solution in the fight against plastic pollution. As awareness of plastic waste and its environmental impact reaches new heights, the demand for certified compostable products is growing exponentially. This shift is reflected in the surge of interest in the ABA’s certification programme. In the past 12 months, there has been a 32 per cent increase in AS4736 Certificates of Conformance, which apply to commercial composting, and a nearly 50 per cent

growth in AS5810 certifications, which apply to home compostable products.

The global trend of increasing bioplastics production is driven by environmental concerns, regulatory shifts, and rising consumer demand. By 2029, bioplastics production capacity is expected to more than double, reaching an estimated 5.73 million metric tonnes. This reflects the growing recognition of compostable packaging as a viable alternative to traditional plastic materials.

Addressing confusion in the market

One of the challenges facing the compostable packaging industry is the confusion surrounding terms like “compostable,” “biodegradable,” and “traditional plastics.” This confusion can lead to contamination in composting streams, greenwashing, and misguided purchasing decisions. To address these issues, the ABA is taking an active role in educating

When a certified compostable product has an ABA logo, it lets composters know the product will degrade without harming the composting process. Images: ABA

stakeholders, from manufacturers to consumers.

A key part of the ABA’s educational efforts is its clear and easily recognisable certification logos. These logos help consumers and waste operators quickly identify which products are certified compostable, reducing the risk of contamination. In addition to labeling, the ABA provides a range of educational resources, including fact sheets and position papers, which help clarify the differences between certified compostable and other products. Onpack messaging to guide consumers

“By 2029, bioplastics production capacity is expected to more than double, reaching an estimated 5.73 million metric tonnes.”

compostable items is also extremely important.

The ABA has also worked closely with waste operators to improve understanding and best practices around the management of certified compostable packaging. An independent review commissioned by the ABA on certified compostable products in food organics recovery

actually improve participation in FOGO (food organics and garden organics) services, helping to divert food waste from landfills.

Advocacy for policy integration

As the demand for certified compostables grows, the ABA is engaging with policymakers to ensure that these products are properly integrated into national packaging targets and waste management frameworks. Collaboration between industry, government, and the organics sector to create clear and consistent standards for certified compostable materials is crucial for success.

A key focus of the ABA’s advocacy efforts is the push for mandatory certification for compostable products. Mandatory certification would reduce contamination concerns and ensure that only products that meet recognised standards are included in composting streams. In the absence of consistent standards, compostable products are often mistakenly grouped with non-compostable plastics, leading

to missed opportunities for waste diversion and composting. Harmonised standards across different jurisdictions are needed to protect the quality of compost while enabling effective materials to be included in organic recycling streams.

Collaboration with organic recyclers

Collaboration with composters and organic recyclers is critical to the success of certified compostable packaging. ABA works closely with the Australian Organics Recycling Association (AORA) to support the integration of certified compostables into established recovery systems. However, there is still work to be done to address the risks posed by noncertified “biodegradable” products, which may not meet compostability standards and can contaminate the composting process.

To close the loop, continued education among councils, waste operators, and the public to reduce contamination, increase awareness, and encourage the adoption of certified compostables is essential.

Looking ahead

The future of certified compostable packaging is exciting. Innovations in the sector are making packaging smarter, more functional, and better integrated into organic waste management systems. The expansion of FOGO services across Australia, including new mandates in New South Wales, is a promising development. Globally, cities like New York are implementing mandatory composting as part of their waste reduction strategies, signaling a wider shift toward more sustainable waste management practices.

The ABA is committed to supporting these efforts, helping the industry bring innovations to market responsibly while ensuring that certified compostable packaging plays a key role in the circular economy. With opportunities emerging in sectors beyond packaging, such as medical applications, the potential for certified compostables to contribute to sustainability is vast.

Certified compostable packaging is not just an alternative to plastic, it is an essential part of the future of sustainable packaging. Through certification, education, and collaboration, the ABA is helping to unlock the full value of compostable materials, paving the way for a cleaner, more sustainable future in Australia, New Zealand, and beyond.

Martine Poulain is the CEO of the Australasian Bioplastics Association

Above: Certification is designed to provide a tool for building consumer trust.

Poulain said the ABA is taking an active role in educating stakeholders about what the term ‘compostable’ means.

RecycleSmart and Qantas Loyalty partner to reward eco-conscious customers’ sustainability

FREQUENT FLYERS can now get one step closer to earning Green Tier and unlock up to 10,000 points rewards by recycling tricky household items, thanks to a new partnership helping to push Australia towards a circular economy.

As sustainability climbs higher on the list of priorities for Australian consumers, Qantas Loyalty has teamed up with recycling company RecycleSmart in a partnership designed to reward eco-conscious behaviour. The collaboration allows Qantas Frequent Flyers to complete activities and earn credit towards Green Tier status by booking doorstep pickups with RecycleSmart – a service designed to handle items that can’t go into household recycling bins.

This initiative comes amid growing consumer demand for sustainability actions, particularly in the recycling space. With more than 80 per cent of Australians reportedly taking action to address climate change, both Qantas Loyalty and RecycleSmart see this partnership as a timely response.

Qantas’ Green Tier programme offers members the chance to reduce or offset their environmental impact through a series of actions. RecycleSmart, with its door-to-door pickup service for tricky-to-recycle items such as soft plastics, e-waste, textiles and coffee capsules, now features as one of those qualifying actions.

The partnership also symbolises a milestone for RecycleSmart, which has already diverted over one million kilograms of waste from

landfill and now finds itself working alongside Australia’s largest loyalty programme to encourage even broader uptake.

Turning intention into action

RecycleSmart’s marketing lead, Eugenie Alonzo, described the Qantas Loyalty deal as a major development for the company – one that had been in progress for about a year.

“We’ve been nudging them a lot,” she said. “They launched the G reen Tier program a few years ago and then got feedback from customers who said they would be interested in having an activity in the recycling space.”

That interest laid the foundation for RecycleSmart to join the Green Tier portfolio. Under the partnership, any Qantas Frequent Flyer who books

a RecycleSmart pickup can move one step closer to Green Tier status. Once Green Tier is achieved, members can select from high-value rewards s uch as 10,000 Qantas Points, 250 Status Credits or carbon offsetting options. The timing of the launch –mid-April 2025 – means it is still early days, but the initial response has been positive.

“The RecycleSmart pickup is one of the activities that they [Qantas Frequent Flyers] can complete to get closer to achieving Green Tier,” Alonzo said. “We saw a lot of interest from our customers as well. And some new customers are signing up just to see how it works and making their Frequent Flyer number p art of it.”

RecycleSmart’s inclusion in a recent Qantas newsletter has also helped build awareness, according

RecycleSmart works with more than 60 drivers nationwide.

to Alonzo, who noted the strategic value of the Qantas loyalty platform.

“Qantas’ loyalty program is the biggest in the country,” she said. “For us, it’s a way as well to spread the word a bit further around recycling.”

Simplicity and scale

At its core, RecycleSmart is designed to make recycling accessible, convenient, and comprehensive. The service accepts more than 100 different items that would typically confuse or frustrate household recyclers, including batteries, textiles, polystyrene and multi-material goods. The company has slightly tweaked the service, Alonzo said. Before, it had a list of items it would not accept. Now it’s taking everything, as long as it’s dry, and clean, and not hazardous.

The key innovation lies in the company’s manual sorting system. Customers no longer need to know whether an item is currently accepted; they fill their bags and let RecycleSmart do the work. Items

that could go in kerbside recycling are still recovered, while unusual or currently unrecyclable materials are recorded and either stored or disposed of responsibly.

“At the moment, we have a 98 per cent recovery rate for all the things that we collect,” said Alonzo.

For individual users, RecycleSmart offers two pricing models: a one-off collection of two standard shopping bags for $19 or a $15-per-month

just end up with a random drawer full of it.”

Growth on multiple fronts

While the Qantas Loyalty partnership is the latest headline, it’s far from the only area where RecycleSmart is scaling. The company now operates its doorstep pickup service in all major Australian cities, including in Tasmania, a key prerequisite for the Qantas Loyalty

“We’re a one-stop shop solution for those hard-to-get-rid-of recyclables in one place.”

subscription for ongoing pickups, a model Alonzo compared to Netflix in terms of simplicity and price point. The range of accepted items includes everything from soft plastics that jam kerbside machinery to coffee pods too small for standard sorting systems.

“All this stuff that’s made of more than one material, or that’s too small, we call it ‘tricky waste,” she said. “And there are a lot of them. They take up space in your life, or you

collaboration. In more remote areas, users can post their recyclable items in for processing.

RecycleSmart is also growing its footprint in local government and corporate sectors. Originally developed as a service to residents through councils, the company now services council recycling hubs directly and offers white goods pickups as well as mattress collection recycling via its membership in the Australian Bedding Mattress

Stewardship Council Scheme.

“We offer our service to individuals through councils, but we’ve extended a lot there as well,” said Alonzo. “We’re also servicing their recycling centres or those hubs that are popping up across cities, in town halls or libraries.”

Commercial partnerships are another key frontier. The company currently works with organisations like Westpac, Lululemon, Canva, and The Iconic, collecting recyclables from their offices, stores or warehouses and providing detailed data to help track impact and emissions.

“We’re a one-stop shop solution for those hard-to-get-rid-of recyclables in one place,” Alonzo said. “And we provide them with the data on how much waste we’ve collected and what we’ve collected. That helps them with reporting and with trying to reduce.”

“This is a big milestone for us. We had to have a nationwide p resence before we could do this. But we’re here now, and we’re very, v ery excited.”

Recycling is now rewarding… in three clicks. Images: RecycleSmart

A new standard for highperformance waste processing

WASTE INITIATIVES has unveiled

Vertech – its new premium equipment offering for Australian recyclers seeking robust, high-efficiency waste processing solutions. Tailored for large-scale operations and mature businesses, the Vertech range marks a shift towards smarter, more specialised recycling infrastructure.

Positioned alongside its WastePac equipment, Vertech reflects Waste Initiatives’ commitment to supporting operators at every stage – from firsttime entrants to high-volume processors ready to scale. With Vertech, the focus is clear: top-tier global engineering, paired with local support and service, designed to maximise uptime and performance.

Building on the success of WastePac’s foundational line for emerging recyclers, the Vertech range caters to operators ready to transition to high-volume processing. As industry benchmarks for recovery, sustainability and uptime rise, many facilities outgrow their initial equipment. Vertech bridges that gap, delivering shredders, separators, compactors and engineering solutions that are robust enough for continuous,

high-volume use, without the logistical hurdles of off-shore procurement.

Vertech is crafted for serious throughput. Precision-cutting tyre shredders enable high throughputs with very low power consumption. Robust European shredders enable operators to process C&D waste at high volumes with minimal downtime. High-capacity compactors and horizontal balers cut transport costs by densifying cardboard and plastics. Organics depackers transform food waste into biogas-ready feedstock. Across the range, modular layouts and smart automation streamline maintenance and boost output. Operators can expect measurable gains in processing capacity and consistent performance even under relentless workloads.

Engineered for durability

Long-term value underpins Vertech’s design philosophy. Heavy-wear components, fast-change modules and advanced monitoring systems reduce stoppages and prolong service intervals. Strategic access points simplify routine checks, while energy-efficient drives keep operating costs in check. Electric-driven

variants further enable decarbonisation initiatives, critical for businesses pursuing emissions reductions without sacrificing throughput or dependability.

Vertech extends beyond machinery to deliver a seamless project journey. Waste Initiatives retains in-house expertise for system design, installation, operator training and ongoing maintenance. Every solution is tailored to site layouts and material profiles, ensuring optimal sizing and throughput. With stocked parts nationally and a dedicated technical team on call, clients benefit from rapid response times and a single point of contact from conceptualisation through to commissioning.

Over four decades of partnering with Australian recyclers inform every Vertech deployment. Waste Initiatives’ specialists understand the diverse challenges across mine sites, regional depots and urban facilities – whether it’s compliance mandates, harsh environments or fluctuating feedstocks. That knowledge ensures each installation delivers the business outcomes operators require, from capacity expansions to new material streams.

A two-tier equipment strategy

The introduction of Vertech strengthens Waste Initiatives’ dualbrand approach because:

• WastePac remains the go-to

operations demanding higher throughput, extended duty cycles and bespoke configurations.

• This structure allows businesses to scale without changing suppliers, transitioning smoothly from valuefocused solutions to premium performance as needs evolve.

Built for Australian conditions

Vertech’s components and controls are selected for durability in the varied and

and compliance-ready interfaces ensure reliable operation in remote mine camps, coastal depots and metropolitan facilities alike. Vertech has solutions for every waste stream – ranging from green glass to food organics – making Vertech a futureproof choice for recyclers poised to expand capabilities.

Vertech redefines what’s possible for processors intent on optimising waste streams, boosting recovery and safeguarding uptime over years of continuous operation. It’s engineered for those who understand that

Organics depackers transform food waste into biogas-ready feedstock.

Shredders enable operators to process C&D waste at high volumes with minimal downtime. Images: Waste Innovations

From mattress to market – giving old materials new life

MATTRESSES TAKE UP valuable and expensive space in landfill. With options and availability for landfills running out quickly, turning old mattresses into recycled products like metal and timber is a clever way to reduce the waste and recover marketable materials. Mattress recycling offers benefits by diverting these resources for re-use – something waste management company Wanless and its Sydney Recycling Park are achieving every day.

W ith the motto of ‘Creating a better environment’, Sydney Recycling Park is a recycling facility where waste materials are recovered and processed for re-use. This includes the efficient, costeffective recovery of materials, like discarded mattresses, for reintegration into the circular economy.

“As a fully integrated waste management company, Wanless helps businesses operate more sustainably,” said Stefan Car, yard manager for 4G Metals, which

operates at Sydney Recycling Park in Kemps Creek.

“With our recycling rate of over 80 per cent, we support our clients in transforming their waste strategies and reaching their own sustainability goals.

“At Sydney Recycling Park, we process in excess of 350,000 tonnes of waste annually – including timber, e-waste, cardboard, metals, mattresses, construction and demolition materials.

“With these diverse recycling solutions, we’re on track to exceed our goal of diverting 90 per cent of incoming waste material from landfill.”

Australian mattresses are made up of multiple materials, much of which can be recycled into new products at the end of their life. Instead of burying these resources in landfill, mattresses can be deconstructed to maximise material recovery such as:

• S aleable clean steel – ferrous and non-ferrous metals, which are processed at Sydney

to

manufacturers where the raw materials are manufactured into new steel products.

• A ll recyclable timber is sorted and chipped onsite and transferred to a local processor for recycling into new timber products.

For example, producing new metals like aluminium from recycled content is up to 95 per cent more energy-efficient than using raw materials, and therefore can go on to help reduce both energy use and the reliance on virgin, nonrenewable resources.

Recycling Park, then sent

local

Wanless’ Sydney Recycling shredding around 100 mattresses per

The Z60 comes with screen baskets to enable single-pass shredding for the finished product size.

• T he rotor with spiral shaped, exchangeable tools tears the material through a counter comb, which is adjustable.

• T hirty interchangeable shredding teeth in three rows distributed over the shredding rotor surface.

• E co-friendly with the latest motor technology and lowest emissions.

• S ix-cylinder Diesel engine Cummins X15, generous cooling system with reversible fan.

• I FM 7-inch touch-control panel and remote control with screen plus remote telematics and diagnostics.

“Wanless has partnered with SKALA on several successful projects at Sydney Recycling Park, including previous equipment installations,” said Car.

“We’ve built a strong relationship with their team and value their reliable aftersales support – so they were a natural choice when we needed a new shredding solution. The

Eggersmann shredder has performed exceptionally well and continues to operate reliably after thousands of hours in a particularly demanding environment.”

The partnership between Wanless and SKALA demonstrates how choosing the right equipment and having a shared purpose can help drive a circular economy. Recycled materials can be effectively reintroduced into the supply chain, allowing businesses to collaborate across diverse waste streams and create a marketplace for material exchange.

The Z60 shredder plays a critical role in this process by efficiently handling primary waste feedstocks and producing high-quality outputs for downstream use, such as scrap metal for steel manufacturers and timber processed into new products.

These relationships enable Wanless to unlock greater value from waste streams, as well as supporting its goal of achieving 90 per cent resource recovery.

shredder with hardened Marathon

finished product size.

The SKALA Environmental team with the Z60 shredder. Images: SKALA Environmental

The Eggersmann Z60 slowspeed universal shredder can currently shred approximately 100 mattresses an hour.

Garwood’s bespoke solutions to clients’ needs

GARWOOD INTERNATIONAL

managing director Daniel McHugh is clearly proud of the company’s contribution to the waste industry with its range of mobile waste equipment, but it’s been a lot of hard work to get the company where it is today after its founding in 1993. Its equipment has been developed with a sharp focus on practicality, versatility, and customer needs. It’s a range that includes everything from small, low-profile trucks that can handle basement waste collection in built-up urban areas, right through to the largest rear loaders in Australia. The ability to respond to such varied demands has given Garwood a unique position in the market.

“We’ve got the largest range of mobile waste equipment in the industry... there’s so many different designs, sizes, shapes and add-ons –from our little MINER unit that’s made for underground basements, to lightduty rear loaders, to medium- and heavy-duty rear loaders, to Dualpacts, Sideloaders and Frontloaders,” McHugh said.

Understanding the challenges faced by local councils, private contractors and urban planners is core to Garwood’s success. In many communities, particularly those in remote or tightly built areas, standard waste trucks are too large or inefficient. Garwood’s commitment to developing specialised, compact models that suit these environments reflects a wider strategy of innovation driven by real-world problems. In regional communities, for instance, large sixby-four units are often inappropriate due to the relatively low volume of waste collected and the limited road infrastructure.

Smaller units offer substantial benefits. They are less costly to operate, consume less fuel, and cause less wear and tear on roads. More importantly, they allow local authorities to tailor their waste collection fleet to better suit the physical and logistical constraints of their area. This isn’t about shrinking the functionality of the truck; it’s about maintaining all the essential

features in a more agile form.

Garwood’s size and approach also make them particularly nimble. The company thrives on problem solving and adapting its products to suit unique circumstances. In one example, McHugh recounts a situation with a major city council where their standard ten-cubic metre rear loaders were not a good fit.

“They said the width of the back end of these rear loaders was too wide for their narrow alleyways,” said McHugh. “We made what we call a narrow track version… brought the width in about 200mm. They can now safely and efficiently back these units up in tight alleyways.”

That spirit of flexibility runs throughout their engineering ethos. When designing trucks to navigate underground basements, Garwood not only ensured the overall vehicle height stayed under 2.1 metres, but also developed new lifters that could operate efficiently within that restricted space. These lifters were specifically designed to allow the full range of wheelie bins - 120 to

1100 litres – to be tipped within the basement without breaching height limits. The problem was compounded by limited cab chassis options, requiring the team to build the body as light as possible to meet payload and safety requirements.

Garwood has extended this kind of thinking to a number of specialist trucks, including its wellknown dual pack units. Designed to collect two waste streams at once, these vehicles offer operational efficiencies, particularly in urban areas where multiple waste types need to be collected in a single run. Initially developed with a single tailgate, the original design led to some cross-contamination between waste types. Garwood addressed this by engineering a twin-tailgate version, effectively separating the two streams. The team also applied lightweight design techniques to reduce the additional mass of dual sweeping packs, lifters, and tailgates.

“We started the dual pack with a single tailgate… but you get a lot of cross-contamination doing that. So we went to the two tailgates, split tailgates, which cured the crosscontamination issue altogether,” said McHugh.

In addition to adjusting truck size and weight, Garwood also adapts control systems and workflows. Its Sideloader, Litter Pack range, for example, evolved from a manual

‘step-out’ model to a joystickoperated unit. This means the driver no longer needs to leave the cab to collect bins. Even in these smaller units – some just 5m3 to 12m3 cubic metres – the functionality now mirrors that of the larger trucks, right down to the automated grab arms and tipping mechanisms. Designing this level of functionality into such compact vehicles presented a series of mechanical challenges, but Garwood’s engineers rose to the occasion.

T he company doesn’t stop at general waste. It has also developed trucks for secure document collection. Meanwhile, another model, painted in a distinctive orange, is enclosed and designed to carry up to six 240-litre bins inside a special compartment built into the body. This design enables staff to leave empty bins in high-rise buildings and transport full bins to the truck without requiring multiple trips. The inclusion of sideaccess storage doors and a separate internal bin bay has improved efficiency and eliminated unnecessary labour for drivers.

Another innovation in development is a new food waste truck designed to meet growing demand for sealed, hygienic collection of organic materials. Because food waste often includes liquid components, this model features a top-loading system and full water-tight seals. Concept

design work is already underway, and the prototype includes a washdown system integrated into the top of the truck body. A stainless-steel pipe runs along the roof with fire hydrant-style fittings, allowing emergency services to flood the inside of the body should a fire occur.

“We’ve actually designed a water pipe system along the top of the truck… if there is a fire and they can’t get the tailgate up, there is that inlet valve for the firies to attach their fire hose,” said McHugh.

Garwood’s attention to detail also extends to bin lifters, offering what McHugh describes as the largest range on the market. These include wide-comb lifters, split lifters, Grab lifters, and even platform lifts that fold down flat to accommodate bulky, hard waste. This diversity gives operators more options in terms of safety and efficiency, which is particularly important when dealing with large or awkwardly sh aped refuse.

The company avoids limiting itself to a single truck supplier. Bodies are designed to be compatible with all major cab chassis, allowing cu stomers to choose their preferred truck manufacturer without compromising the design or integrity of the waste equipment. Whether a client prefers Isuzu, Hino, or another brand, Garwood works to ensure seamless integration.

“We can’t align ourselves with one supplier… our bodies will go on to all of the cab chassis, and they’re made to fit all,” said McHugh.

This open, customer-led approach defines Garwood’s position in the market. Whether it’s designing specialist units for city centres, innovating fire safety systems, or

creating multi-purpose trucks for regional councils, the company’s reputation is built on collaboration and customisation. The design process typically begins with concept sketches between engineers, sales staff and customers, and often ends with a vehicle that solves a specific, real-world problem.

Rather than offering one-sizefits-all products, Garwood prioritises adaptability and listens closely to feedback from those who operate the trucks day in, day out. It’s this connection to the realities of waste

or high-rise office blocks – that has made it a go-to provider for clients with complex or unusual requirements.

“We do that all the time, and we enjoy doing it… we look at it as product development as well,” said McHugh.

Garwood’s future appears equally focused on innovation. With new designs emerging to meet environmental, logistical and regulatory demands, the company is positioning itself not just as a manufacturer but as a development

Garwood can create bespoke loaders depending on a council or contractor’s needs.

Images: Garwood International

The Dualpack rear loader is a popular pick among smaller councils because it allows them to collect different waste streams at one time.

As the name suggest, the MINER unit is ideal for underground carpark waste pick-ups in apartment complexes.

Waste 2025 Conference Report

FROM 13 TO 15 MAY, the Coffs Waste Conference 2025 brought together more than 700 delegates, including more than 70 local councils, to the Opal Cove Resort to discuss Australia’s waste management and circular economy. Featuring more than 100 speakers and 80 exhibitors, the conference offered talks, panels, and workshops across focused thematic streams.

The opening session, led by Impact Environmental’s MD Thomas Freeman, set the tone. Keynotes tackled sector challenges: NSW EPA CEO Tony Chappel outlined strategies to build a circular economy, focusing on product stewardship, FOGO mandates, and plastic waste reform, stressing infrastructure and public education.

ACOR CEO Suzanne Toumbourou urged a national recycling plan to strengthen end-markets and reform policies. Dr Joe Pickin of Blue Environment presented the 2024 National Waste Report, highlighting waste trends and calling for consistent data across jurisdictions to support resource recovery.

A panel led by Waste Management and Resource Recovery Association CEO Gayle Sloan examined Australia’s progress toward the 80 per cent resource recovery target. Panellists from NSW EPA, Cleanaway, ResourceCo, EPA Victoria, and Hornsby Shire Council identified barriers: fragmented data, limited domestic processing, weak recycled materials markets, community disengagement, reliance on exports, and slow energy-from-waste (EfW) deployment.

They called for coordinated national efforts involving government, industry, and the public. Suggested actions included stronger policy leadership, mandatory recycled content standards, investment in infrastructure, and product design improvements to enhance recyclability. Without urgent reform, the panel warned, targets will remain out of reach.

Breakout sessions expanded on circular economy themes – state

procurement frameworks integrating recycled content, data-sharing platforms, and urban development strategies. Infrastructure discussions focused on planning, funding barriers, and local government’s role. The collection stream debated shared recycling hubs, mandatory kerbside glass collection complexities, and automated versus localised systems. Innovations like Process Engineered Fuel and social enterprise reuse programs were showcased.

EfW sessions covered NSW regulatory updates, case studies from Kwinana and Parkes, and Cleanaway’s vision of EfW in circular precincts. The C&I and C&D waste sessions addressed behaviour change, AI waste analytics, and food waste reduction. Across sessions, innovation, crosssector collaboration, and systems thinking were key themes.

Day two featured urgent waste policy, local innovation, and global insights. NSW Minister Penny Sharpe warned of Greater Sydney’s landfill crisis by 2030, launching the draft NSW Waste and Circular Infrastructure Plan and urging unified action. Björn Appelqvist of the International Solid Waste Association called for systemic solutions and political will. Visy and Aurecon representatives emphasised circular design and infrastructure reform. Costa Georgiadis and Cate McQuillen inspired with community-driven “hyperlocal” stories.

A textile waste panel called for mandatory extended producer responsibility, showcasing models like Seamless and E-Thread. They stressed business innovation, material circularity, and collaboration to tackle Australia’s one-milliontonne clothing waste problem.

Addressing battery-related fires, which rose 62 per cent in one year, a panel from NSW EPA and Battery Stewardship Council called for tighter regulation, expanded drop-off points, and public education to reduce risks and insurance pressures.

Organics and FOGO sessions focused on contamination, stakeholder engagement, and

rollout logistics. Speakers from NSW EPA, City of Parramatta, Arup, and Australian Native Landscapes shared rollout lessons and policy frameworks. Landfill discussions explored gas recovery, regulation changes, and future-proofing through water and leachate management.

Education was a standout theme. Presenters from Albury, Inner West, and Sydney councils highlighted storytelling, youth engagement, and behavioural campaigns as effective tools for waste reduction. Indigenous sessions showcased circular economy innovation tailored for remote communities, emphasising cultural relevance and collaboration.

NSW EPA’s Bronwyn Isaac presented the inaugural Reuse and Repair Strategy, a key step to address Greater Sydney’s landfill crisis caused by rising waste and less durable products. The strategy targets consumer electronics, household appliances, textiles, and hospitality reusables, identifying product design flaws, low consumer awareness, and affordability as barriers. It proposes policy options and ongoing EPA initiatives to encourage reuse.

A product stewardship panel examined its role in the circular economy. Representatives from

the Australian Packaging Covenant and Battery Stewardship Council discussed challenges such as data gaps, voluntary scheme limitations, and costs, alongside opportunities for stronger governance and improved outcomes.

Regional sessions showcased varied approaches: Armidale’s community engagement efforts and Albury City’s Construction and Demolition Material Recovery Facility, achieving recovery rates more than 70 per cent. Disaster waste planning research for remote communities was also presented. Innovations like anaerobic digestion for organic waste, Sydney’s insect farming trial converting food scraps to feed, and sustainable bike recycling initiatives featured prominently.

The conference also tackled litter and illegal dumping through data-driven strategies, and problem waste streams including battery stewardship, e-waste recycling, vape disposal, and vehicle recycling.

Looking Ahead

Waste 2026 will return to Coffs Harbour, promising to continue these vital discussions and celebrate 30 years of progress in Australia’s waste and circular economy sector.

Impact Environmental MD Thomas Freeman addresses the audience at the opening of the event. Image: Impact Environmental

Recycling plastic packaging will not fix plastic pollution

lives easier. There are two key issues with plastic packaging that we need to focus on – litter (pollution) and recycling. In that order. Unfortunately, most of the discussion about plastic packaging is about how much is or is not being recycled or how much recycled content is being added into packaging manufacture.

These are interesting but largely misplaced arguments. Why? Because we don’t have a resource scarcity for plastic.

Improving the recycling of plastic (RR Recycling Rate) and improving the recycled content (RC Recycled Content) of the next plastic bottle, both reduce consumption of oil. That is all they do. They don’t reduce pollution. They also don’t reduce the production of plastic or its use in the economy. They just replace one form of plastic with another.

There is plenty of oil to make the next plastic bottle. Making plastic only uses seven per cent of the crude oil we drill each year globally. Even if we doubled recycling rates of plastic it would have a near trivial impact on oil consumption. Sure, it is a waste of resources to not recycle what we have, but it is not nearly as high a priority as stopping plastic pollution. Put another way, we could landfill all of the 1.2 MT of plastic packaging we place on market in Australia each year and the most significant environmental impact would be we fill up our landfills too quickly. Controversial? Probably, but

causes.

In other words, the real problem with single-use plastic packaging is that it escapes our waste management systems (collection, landfill, energy from waste and recycling) and causes lasting pollution, particularly in the oceans. Hence, our outrage about plastic killing seabirds, turtles and coral reefs etc should be focussed on how plastic escapes to the environment.

I am not saying the currently pathetic recycling rates for plastic (18

are completely independent of each other.

The solutions:

1. R educe/eliminate plastic packaging where possible;

2. s ubstitute plastic packaging for cardboard, glass and other inert (non-harmful) packaging types;

3. improve enforcement for litter and illegal dumping;

4. e ducate on the environmental impacts of plastic pollution;

5. improve foreign aid funding

for the establishment of waste management systems in the developing world; and 6. o cean up of existing plastic pollution.

Better plastic recycling will not fix these issues. Worth doing? Yes of course, but it is not to be mistaken for directly addressing plastic pollution.

Mike Ritchie is the managing director, MRA Consulting Group

Above: The real problem with single-use plastic packaging is that it escapes our waste management systems and causes lasting pollution. Image: Igisheva Maria/ shutterstock.com

Making plastic uses seven per cent of the crude oil drill annually around the world. Image: Aleksandrs Samuilovs/ shutterstock.com

Vermeer horizontal grinders support growing biomass biofuels and e-fuels industries

By Inside Waste

AS JAPAN STRIVES to meet ambitious renewable energy goals while dealing with mounting waste and limited land resources, horizontal grinders have become essential machinery in its expanding biomass energy sector.

At the centre of this shift is Vermeer, a company that has been instrumental in bringing highperformance grinders to Japan’s power plants, recycling operators, and disaster recovery zones.

With more than 30 years in the grinding business, Tadahiro Hongo, senior advisor at Vermeer Asia Pacific, has seen firsthand how grinding technology has evolved to meet Japan’s unique needs.

“We have delivered many Vermeer grinders here in Japan, since our initial units in the early 1990s,” he said. “We see the grinder biomass power plant projects as an important industry which Vermeer will support for many years to come here in Japan.”

Japan’s biomass industry has grown steadily in the past decade, with a shift from using only logs to incorporating branches, leaves, and timber waste. This shift is driven in

part by necessity – there’s simply not enough prime timber to meet feedstock demand. The biomass plants, often fuelled by chipped wood waste, require consistent sized chips in high volumes to function efficiently.

A typical 5.7-megawatt biomass power plant in Japan consumes between 200 and 250 tonnes of feedstock per day, according to Hongo. That equates to about 70,000 tonnes annually. The raw material is sourced within a 100-kilometre radius and ranges from logs to construction debris. But handling such volumes requires powerful and reliable machinery.

Vermeer’s electric horizontal grinders, like the HG6000E, are particularly suited to this task.

“It is electric and is powered by two electric motors producing a combined 700 horsepower It’s very powerful,” Hongo said.

“These machines can process trunks with diameters of up to 60 centimetres and lengths of up to five metres. The chipping is very smooth and very strong. From start to finish, one run through takes about 70 seconds.”

Vermeer grinders have the option of a series 3 duplex drum or

a chip drum that can be swapped out.

For the powerplants in Japan, Vermeer horizontal grinders equipped with a chipper drum are used for producing consistent chip sizes required in biomass applications with volumes exceeding what is required for powerplants. This configuration is specifically designed to balance throughput with the chip quality needed for efficient fuel handling in biomass power plants.

Compared to traditional chippers, Vermeer grinders offer superior versatility and reduced downtime. Knives used in grinders typically last less than 10 hours before needing to be either rotated to use the alternate sharp edge or re-sharpened. However, each edge can usually endure multiple sharpenings, and the total usable life of one edge – across all sharpening cycles – may reach up to 100 hours, depending on the material being processed,” according to Hongo.

Consistency is key for biomass power plants, especially when feeding fuel into boilers that convert heat to energy. Vermeer grinders ensure uniformity in chip

Efficiency and uptime are essential, which is where Vermeer’s grinders can help. Images: RDO

size. Vermeer grinders with chipper drum setups can be configured to produce a range of uniform chip sizes, tailored to meet the specific requirements of different boiler systems. A consistent chip size not only improves combustion efficiency but also reduces the likelihood of boiler issues.

“If the chips are too wet,

“These machines can process trunks with diameters of up to 60 centimetres and lengths of up to five metres. The chipping is very smooth and very strong. From start to finish, one run through takes about 70 seconds.”

materials with less wear and tear, making them suitable for biomass operations that must process everything from whole logs to mixed timber waste.

Vermeer grinders with traditional mill, hammer and screen set ups also play a role in disaster response. During natural disasters like typhoons and earthquakes, which are not uncommon in Japan, enormous volumes of organic debris must be quickly cleared. After the 2011 earthquake and tsunami that devastated northern Japan and crippled the Fukushima nuclear power plant, Vermeer grinders were deployed to process wood waste from more than 150,000 damaged houses.

Fueling a cleaner future

Japan aims to increase the share of

earmarked for new biomass power plants. However, growth is constrained by labour shortages and regulatory hurdles.

“Now we have another problem – how do we get manpower?” said Hongo. “Nowadays, anywhere in the world, younger people don’t want to be involved in those forestry industries. The average age of workers in Japanese forestry and agriculture is rising, and mechanisation has become essential to fill the gap.”

This is where gear like that produced by Vermeer comes into play. Electric grinders also offer another advantage; they produce no exhaust emissions, making them easier to deploy near residential areas. Cost considerations can also play a role in biomass plant operations. Feedstock costs vary

the cheapest but also the most contaminated and less desirable.

According to Hongo, for a typical biomass plant, feedstock accounts for around 64 per cent of total operating costs. Labour makes up 9-10 per cent, while maintenance and depreciation each represent about 10 per cent.

With such tight margins, efficiency and uptime are essential, and this is where Vermeer’s grinders can help.

With consistent performance, low maintenance requirements, and high output, these machines help ensure that biomass plants meet their daily input targets without unnecessary downtime or energy waste.

Looking ahead

Vermeer’s horizontal grinders have become a backbone of Japan’s growing biomass infrastructure. As Japan pushes forward to meet its renewable energy targets, technologies that enable efficient and sustainable waste processing – especially those that reduce emissions and operational overhead, will be critical.

With Vermeer grinders continuing to evolve, especially in electric

Electric grinders produce no exhaust emissions, making them easier to deploy near residential areas.

Ease of use key to screens

Hazell Bros has included a Resource Recovery Centre along with its quarry operations. The focus of this operation is the separation and processing of recycled products that are then returned to market. It deals predominantly in recycled glass, which is currently being reprocessed into sand, as well as recycled concrete, which is crushed and screened to produce a recycled road base.

a range of machinery including 20- to 40-tonne excavators, wheel loaders, rigid tippers, fixed and mobile crushing and screening plants and a w

some Anaconda products to its assets. The Anaconda Trommel was its first Anaconda purchase for a unique application: processing the recycled glass.

H azell Bros knew what it wanted to do and that it was a bespoke application. With some fine-tuning, collaboration and backup and support from Anaconda and Onetrak, some modifications were made and the trommel is successfully screening the glass to Hazell Bros’ specifications.

Although Hazell Bros Quarry production manager Brad Sward said he had never encountered Anaconda equipment until the company

Hazell Bros’ staff highlight the DF410’s user-friendly design, which makes it easy to operate.

The DF410 has the longest screen box in the compact screening category.

Images: Onetrak

LiuGong facility creates electric feeling DownUnder

Research and Development Centre in southern China by the employees from the company’s Australian distributor – McIntosh Distribution – has further reinforced the manufacturer’s footprint in the market with a range of electrically powered equipment in Australia.

LiuGong has since launched more than 90 products that encompass battery electric vehicle (BEV) technology, offering solutions for almost every application and segment, including mining machinery, industrial and port equipment, agricultural machinery and various other products. There are 11 product lines, including loaders, excavators, mining trucks, aerial work platforms, industrial vehicles and agricultural equipment.

A wheel loader was the first electric machine to be released in LiuGong’s green livery and there are now more than 6000 of the loaders operating globally through Asia-Pacific, Europe, North America and Latin America. These machines have helped to save hundreds of thousands of tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.

LiuGong’s R&D centre is located in Liuzhou, situated within the Guangxi region in southern China, and some of the top brass from McIntosh Distribution, were amazed when they visited the site recently.

“The sheer scale of the facilities is highly impressive and the level of automation and speed in which equipment is manufactured due

engine noise and diesel fumes makes them ideal for indoor and night-time applications, and the operational costs are significantly cheaper than diesel machines.”

feeding from the sides, above and below is world class,” said Digby Moullin, general manager of McIntosh Distribution. He said the technical processes and systems operating at the facility also were amazing.

“LiuGong’s research and development work is quite incredible. They run every test imaginable, from acoustics through to dirt, dust and water ingress, plus stress testing of steel items, thermally stressing components and assessing electrical circuit durability.”

Moullin said LiuGong was well placed to have an impact across numerous Australian industries with its electric equipment line-up.

“LiuGong has been at the forefront of battery electric machines for more than 15 years and has amassed more than 11 million hours on BEV products around the world,” he said. “It now has a very broad range of equipment, including dump trucks, graders, loaders, excavators and rollers, and we have seen first-hand that LiuGong has an extensive product development road map to further complement its existing range.”

He said the potential for LiuGong’s range of commercially available equipment in Australia was enormous, with several key factors set to drive its adoption.

“The upfront capital cost of the machines is invariably lower than most competitor’s equivalent diesel options,” said Moullin. “The fact they

LiuGong’s first electric wheel loader in 2018 delivered energy savings of around 20 per cent due to the optimised electric drive, hydraulic and transmission systems, while variable hydraulic and energy recovery systems added a further 15-20pc energy boost.

“The operational cost savings are significant. Based on a 20-tonne operating weight loader being used for 2000 hours per annum, the savings are upward of $50,000pa,” Moullin said.

He said organisations seeking to decarbonise had typically been some of the early users of LiuGong’s electric machines in Australia, however the favourable economic and operational benefits was now increasing the adoption of the BEV technology across a range of industries.

“BEV machines create a fraction of the CO2 emissions from diesel

he said. “The transition to electric machines in Australia is progressing and once industry realises the full range of equipment now commercially available and its significant benefits, the speed of the transition will increase exponentially.”

“LiuGong’s

research and development work is quite incredible. They run every test imaginable, from acoustics through to dirt, dust and water ingress, plus stress testing of steel items, thermally stressing components and assessing electrical circuit durability.”

Liam McCormick, Digby Moullin and David Capper from LiuGong’s Australian distributor, McIntosh Distribution, at a recent visit to the manufacturer’s Global Research and Development Centre in Liuzhou. Images: Macintosh

The LiuGong DR50CE wide body electric dump truck.

The LiuGong 960FE electric excavator.

Applying precision in waste separation

By Inside Waste

IN THE WASTE management industry, the challenges of sorting and recovering valuable materials are as varied as the contents of a recycling bin. Jonathan Schulberg, Business Development Manager – Heavy Industry at Eriez, knows this complexity intimately. From suspended magnets that handle ferrous contaminants to eddy current separators that remove non-ferrous metals, Schulberg emphasises one clear message: effective separation is about more than just equipment — it’s about the right application, process understanding, and customer engagement.

As materials recovery facilities (MRFs) scale up across Australia and beyond, the equipment that powers them must meet increasingly high standards for efficiency and adaptability. For Eriez, that means getting the right magnet in the right place.

Material is consistently inconsistent

According to Schulberg, the waste

industry presents unique challenges when compared to sectors like mining or quarrying. In mining, operators process consistent material streams – like coal, iron ore, or aggregate – where contaminants are typically small and predictable. The waste sector, on the other hand, is unpredictable and chaotic.

“The material is consistently inconsistent,” Schulberg said. “You can have anything from a steeltoed boot to a knife and spoon to an engine block. And I have seen an engine block go through a magnet before — it’s not pretty.”

This variability makes equipment selection more complex. Unlike in mining, where one might simply match a magnet to a known stream, waste requires a more nuanced approach.

“You want something that’s obviously strong enough that can remove the contaminant,” said Schulberg. “But there are also a lot of cost-prohibitive issues in the selection process. You can’t just supply the biggest you’ve got.”

Schulberg describes how Eriez takes a tailored approach

to equipment specification. From analysing throughput rates to understanding material densities, the company’s team aims to remove guesswork entirely before a purchase is made.

“It’s not a case of, ‘Oh, yeah, you want that? Here it is.’ We really want to hone in on exactly what the process is, what the expectation of the material is... the equipment efficiency and performance needs to be right and meet that expectation,” he said.

Understanding throughput, process, and plant realities

The average MRF handles anywhere from 22 to 35 tonnes per hour, though modern plants can exceed 35 tonnes per hour regularly. However, Schulberg is quick to note that the real challenge isn’t just volume. It’s how that volume fluctuates in density and composition over time.

“You could be working with a bulk density material that’s 250 kilograms per cubic metre,” he said. “That can drop right down to 100 kilograms or go up to as much as half a tonne.”

This changing flow rate can

Eriez is committed to detailed consultation and data collection at the outset of each project. Images: Eriez

“We

really do educate our customers on the importance of preventative maintenance and ensuring that equipment is inspected and checked regularly.”

impact separation performance unless accounted for during the design phase. That’s why Eriez commits to detailed consultation and data collection at the outset of each project.

For suspended magnets, used to remove ferrous metals, selecting the right size and strength is a balance between performance and cost. The company works within a size range that it knows there is a level of consistency as far as the ferrous metal is concerned, according to Schulberg. Again, understanding the application is more important than opting for the most powerful magnet. It’s mor e important to apply the correct magnet.

T hat same principle applies to eddy current separators, which are deployed downstream to recover non-ferrous materials such as aluminium, brass, and copper.

In both cases, Eriez focuses on optimising the equipment to match the specific operating environment. Another factor Schulberg emphasises is the physical placement of the equipment — particularly in retrofit scenarios.

“In a lot of cases, we’re supplying into an existing plant where you don’t have that luxury [of space], so you kind of have to either take whatever space is available or the available space of the equipment you’re replacing,” he said. “It’s an added constraint that makes early planning and site evaluation essential.”

Support, maintenance, and longevity

In a sector where harsh operating environments are the norm, Schulberg stresses that ongoing care is just as important as initial performance. Waste plants are

notoriously dirty, dusty, and abrasive, factors that shorten the life span of even the most robust equipment. Compared to mining, where scheduled maintenance is standard, Schulberg often sees more frequent repair requests from w aste facilities.

“We really do educate our customers on the importance of preventative maintenance and ensuring that equipment is inspected and checked regularly,” he said. “That can include onsite inspections by Eriez technicians or empowering customers through training to handle basic diagnostics themselves. They can actually spot an issue before it becomes a problem. The cost of that pales in comparison if you have to remove that whole piece of equipment to then get the complete thing repaired.”

This commitment to service and support forms a core part of Eriez’s

reputation, which Schulberg believes is a major point of difference in a competitive market. Eriez has been in the magnetics game for over 85 years, and Eriez Australia has been engaged with the Australian market for 57 of those years.

Longevity also depends on how the equipment is used. Schulberg acknowledges that runtime varies depending on plant practices. He said it’s a ‘how long is a piece of string?’ scenario. Abuse or neglect can shorten lifespan, while routine inspection can keep equipment operating smoothly for years.

Ultimately, Schulberg sees Eriez’s role as more than just a supplier. It’s about being a partner in performance, from initial consultation through to long -term support.

“ It’s the duty of care that we bring to the supply of equipment,” he said. “It’s ensuring that we select, and once it goes in, it does the job that we say it’s going to do.”

Bucher Force front-loaders help take KingKira to the next level

By Inside Waste

WHEN KINGKIRA GROUP took delivery of five new Force frontloader compactors from Bucher Municipal in 2024, it wasn’t just about upgrading equipment — it was about investing in performance, durability, and deeper ties with the communities it serves. The decision came as the Indigenous-owned company took full ownership of Fortescue’s Total Waste Contract, a major milestone that required a refreshed fleet capable of handling the extreme conditions of the East Pilbara region.

For the previous five years, the Total Waste Contract had been delivered via a joint venture between Cleanaway and KingKira, known as Pilbara Environmental Services (PES).

But in August 2024, KingKira stepped up and won the right to manage the contract on its own — a bold move

that signalled confidence in its capabilities and long-term vision. With that came the need for a fleet that could go the distance.

The trucks needed to withstand sand, salt, dust, wind, and highly abrasive waste streams from mining operations — a job for which Bucher Force front-loaders were particularly well suited.

“It’s a very harsh environment up here,” said Michael Cullen, KingKira Group’s Fortescue Contract Manager – Waste and Recycling.

“These trucks can suffer serious and challenging issues within a short period of time. We needed trucks that can handle these types of conditions.”

The Bucher Force front-loaders answered the call with rugged construction, high-performance compacting capabilities, and a 2500kg lift capacity. Designed for maximum efficiency, the

trucks can pick up bins quickly, with a 12-second lift cycle time, and compact large volumes of waste simultaneously, allowing for greater payloads and fewer trips to disposal facilities. Importantly, the new compactors have made a noticeable difference in driver satisfaction and job performance.

“They think they are driving rocket ships,” Cullen said. “The comfort is outstanding, and the features make their work a lot easier to do. The older fleet had passed its use-by date by some time.”

KingKira’s marketing and communities manager, Shakira Grasso, agreed. She said drivers, some of whom work 12-hour shifts in tough conditions, had long been asking for vehicles that made their workdays more manageable.

“The old fleet just wasn’t up to it,” she said. “These compactors are much more comfortable for the

drivers, and it makes their shifts a lot more enjoyable.”

But the company didn’t stop at functionality. KingKira wanted the new trucks to reflect the region and create a sense of ownership and pride among the people who live there. That’s when it turned to local primary schools in Marble Bar, Tom Price, and Nullagine to invite students to paint pictures — designs that would ultimately inspire the colourful new liveries on the Bucher compactors.

“Now kids get to see their artwork driving down the street,” Grasso said. “They know that they helped build those connections with other communities around them. It’s been a really positive initiative.”

The collaboration drew praise from Bucher Municipal, which was thrilled to be part of something more than a simple business transaction.

“We think it’s fantastic,” said

Marcus Hughes, product and marketing manager at Bucher Municipal. “To have this kind of community engagement is a win-win for everyone. The days of selling somebody a product and leaving them to it are long gone. These days it’s about building relationships and providing on-going support.”

Hughes sees the delivery of the trucks as just the beginning of a long-term partnership. “KingKira is a company with ambition,” he said.

“We believe we can help support them on their journey and play a part in their success.”

An Indigenous Business with community at its core

Founded in 2014 by Tammy O’Connor, KingKira Group is a proudly Indigenous-owned business that has operated alongside mining companies throughout the Pilbara for more than a decade. From its earliest

days, the company has focused on delivering essential services in some of the most remote and challenging environments in Australia — while at the same time creating lasting opportunities for Aboriginal people.

KingKira’s work in waste management reflects the growing importance of social license in the resources sector. Mining companies are increasingly recognising that genuine community engagement

“By involving local schools, celebrating Indigenous art, and investing in employee wellbeing, KingKira is weaving community connection into the fabric of its operations.”

— not just compliance — is crucial to long-term success. KingKira is leading the way in showing how a values-driven approach can deliver both commercial and cultural outcomes.

By involving local schools, celebrating Indigenous art, and investing in employee wellbeing, KingKira is weaving community connection into the fabric of its operations. The result is a business that’s not just delivering services — it’s delivering pride, identity, and opportunity in the regions where it operates.

As the company continues to grow, its commitment to culture, connection, and country remains as strong as ever.

The Bucher Force front-loaders are of rugged construction and offer high-performance compacting capabilities.

Images: Bucher Municipal

The front loaders have a 2500kg lift capacity and a 12-second lift cycle time.

Recycled Material Supplies Centre on a 110,000 square metre site in NSW’s Central Coast, just an hour north of Sydney. This State Significant Development requires financial investment to the infrastructure and equipment. It is injecting money into the local economy, generating jobs, and creating an opportunity for a new waste recycling and material

“We communicate, we honour our schedules and deliver services to an exemplary standard –meeting scope of work specifications on time and on budget.”

supply avenue in the area. It will divert recyclable materials such as concrete, timber, sand and soil from landfills while creating 100 per cent recycled building and landscaping supplies.

“Our aim is to recover materials for repurpose and beneficial reuse,” said Davis. “We’ve been committed to recycling for decades, and will continue to be for decades more to come, striving for zero waste to landfill.”

Davis Earthmoving has a range of equipment designed to interact with many waste streams in the resource recovery sector. Image: Davis Earthmoving

Making waste work

various industries.

Innovative recyclers are finding new ways to recover value from what was once considered ‘unrecyclable’. From hard and soft plastics to clean timbers, plasterboard, pre-shredded rubber, and green waste, nearly all materials can now be recycled – if they’re processed correctly. The biggest challenge has been reducing them to a manageable size for transport or further processing.

This is where Finlay Waste & Recycling comes in. A specialist provider of crushing, screening, and processing equipment for waste recycling, mining, and quarrying, Finlay offers a range of tailored solutions designed to maximise efficiency and material recovery.

Central to this is the Terex Ecotec TDSV20 mid-speed shredder.

“It’s a tertiary shredder, unlike traditional slow-speed shredders,” said Brad Scott, Finlay’s sales manager. “The V20 actually makes a product.”

Capable of achieving uniform particle sizes of around 50 millimetres in a single pass, it offers a high level of control that delivers time and fuel savings to operators.

The TDSV20’s versatility allows it to function as either a primary or secondary shredder. Two shafts,

renowned for their durability and performance,” said Scott.

The material is cut and passed through screens located beneath the shafts and side doors, ensuring consistency in output size.

Material that doesn’t pass through is reprocessed within the chamber until it meets the required dimensions. If unsuitable feedstock enters the system, the built-in tramp relief

pressure due to tramp material, saving costly repair bills. If a cutting tooth is damaged, it can be quickly rotated with a single bolt – an operatorf riendly feature that prevents prolonged downtime.

Accessing the shredding chamber is both easy and safe, with side doors that lock out during operation. Shaft rotation is inward by default but can reverse automatically to handle high-

“These Vecoplan chambers are used globally in fixed plants and are renowned for their durability and per formance.”

timber, pallets, green waste, and compost oversize with ease.

“It’s great for recycling recyclables,” said Scott. “All the metals have been taken out or recovered.”

In field studies and from customer feedback, the TDSV20 is recognised for best-in-class ferrous recovery when shredding timber-based materials. Nails, screws, and joint plates are effectively separated for recovery. For those composting and handling large amounts of oversize, it is now not an issue, according to Scott.

The machine’s feed rate can also be adjusted to suit various materials. Reducing the feed volume allows the TDSV20 to act as a primary shredder, while still producing the same uniform output.

Available in both diesel hydraulic and electric versions, the Ecotec TDSV20 offers flexibility in installation and energy use.

Scott also highlights another key differentiator – support.

“We have industry-leading backup and support throughout the East Coast of Australia, Tasmania and South Australia,” he said. “We have branches – not just holding yards – and a large service fleet that can meet the needs of industry.”

The TDSV20’s versatility means it can function as a primary or secondary shredder.

Images: Finlay

The TDSV20 can process large volumes of soft and hard plastics, timber, pallets and green waste.

Drive Circular Economy action at ReGen 2025

FOR PROFESSIONALS across the waste management, resource recovery, and sustainability sectors, ReGen offers a critical opportunity to gain the knowledge and connections needed to accelerate Australia’s transition to a circular economy.

The free two-day speaker program, July 23-24, 2025, at ICC Sydney, is specifically designed to equip attendees with practical insights and solutions to drive circular economy action within their organisations and across the industry.

Addressing the national ambition to double circularity by 2035, this program, in collaboration with Planet Ark, WCRA, and ReGen’s Advisory Board, tackles the key resource, reuse, and recycle challenges facing the nation.

The program features more than 50 speakers from government, industry, research, and community sectors, providing a comprehensive overview of essential circular economy principles and their practical application.

Sessions will explore circular

that goes beyond a ‘talk fest’– one that delivers tangible solutions, sparks real-world impact, and helps drive Australia’s transition to a circular economy. ReGen 2025 is about action, alignment, and accelerating progress together,” said ReGen event director, Ali Lawes.

“The free two-day speaker program, July 23-24, 2025, at ICC Sydney, is specifically designed to equip attendees with practical insights and solutions to drive circular economy action within their organizations and across the industry.”

product design, sustainable packaging innovations and policy, circular procurement strategies, circular construction methods, textile waste management, and crucial national and state policy frameworks.

“We set out to curate a program

The Innovation Pitch Fest, sponsored by Coles, will showcase cutting-edge circularity solutions from Australian startups and scaleups, offering potential partnerships and innovative approaches for industry stakeholders.

For professionals dedicated to building a more sustainable and circular future for Australia, attending the ReGen Expo is an essential experience. It’s a platform to engage with leading experts, discover best practices, new technology, and acquire the knowledge necessary to implement impactful circular economy initiatives.

Secure your place in Australia’s circular economy movement. ReGen is a free two-day event. Information, with complete program details, is available on the ReGen website.

ReGen will tackle the key resource, reuse, and recycle challenges facing the nation.

Plastic Treaty talks must deliver for business and Planet

By Andrew Peterson

WHEN IT TAKES 500 YEARS for a toothbrush to decompose, the world has a problem. When 5 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions come from plastics, we have an opportunity. The upcoming negotiations in Geneva for the UN Plastics Treaty – formally the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution (INC-5.2) – could be a tipping point. But only if we act decisively.

We at the Business Council for Sustainable Development Australia (BCSDA) believe the treaty must provide clear, enforceable rules to support the transition to a net-zero, nature-positive economy. We know our members, from global brands to local manufacturers, stand ready to innovate. But they need certainty. They need alignment. And above all, they need a level playing field.

The policy gap that holds us back Australia’s plastic packaging recovery rate is stuck at 19 per cent, and soft plastics recycling lags far behind at 6 per cent. Despite growing investment in infrastructure and promising technology like advanced recycling, the economics remain fragile.

The regulatory inconsistency across states and territories compounds the challenge.

Globally, the plastics economy is on track to double by 2050. Without

harmonised regulation, we risk fragmented markets, compliance headaches, and growing investor uncertainty. As recent analysis from Circular Australia shows our national circularity rate is just 4 per cent. That’s well below the global average and a red flag for economic resilience.

Yet the demand for solutions is real. Colgate-Palmolive’s recyclable toothpaste tube, years in the making, exemplifies the kind of innovation that flourishes with the right incentives. But even technically recyclable products face barriers in practice due to inconsistent systems, labelling, and standards.

Why INC-5.2 matters now

In less than 100 days the INC-5.2 must finalise the treaty’s scope and ambition. Key business-relevant issues are on the table: extended producer responsibility (EPR), chemical transparency, production caps, and harmonisation of standards. Delay or dilution now risks eroding the treaty’s credibility and its ability to drive investment.

The divergence in views is stark. Some nations support a “treaty of the willing” with non-binding commitments. Others, including Australia, favour using existing financial mechanisms over a dedicated global plastics fund. Meanwhile, African countries and highambition coalitions push for mandatory rules and new financing.

What is needed is convergence.

Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions to streamline compliance and enforcement.

4. Establish a governance and reporting framework – create a COP-style implementation mechanism, including an independent scientific body, national reporting, and compliance pathways.

The time for alignment is now

The same kind we see in climate and biodiversity treaties: rules, reporting, and robust institutions. Business thrives on clarity. So does environmental progress.

Four actions for a Treaty that works

1. Mandate globally consistent design and labelling standards – ensure packaging is not only recyclable in theory but recycled in practice. Standards should drive innovation, not confusion.

2. Embed extended producer responsibility into the treaty – EPR schemes, including modulated fees, are critical to funding recycling systems and closing the loop.

3. Align with existing international conventions – harmonise with the

Australia is not waiting. The National Packaging Targets remain in force beyond 2025. A Circular Economy Act is under active discussion. Industry is investing despite regulatory limbo. But without a coherent global framework, our efforts risk being stranded. This treaty is not just about plastic. It’s about the economic model we choose. Do we want to compete in the resource-efficient, innovationled markets of tomorrow? Or be left navigating a patchwork of voluntary schemes and policy U-turns?

We call on negotiators to stay the course. Finalise a treaty with teeth. Give business what it needs to lead.

Andrew Petersen is Chief Executive Officer of the Business Council for Sustainable Development Australia.

Above: Andrew Petersen is Chief Executive Officer of the Business Council for Sustainable Development Australia. Image: Andrew Peterson

Globally, the plastics economy is on track to double by 2050. Image: people/shutterstock.com

Without a coherent global framework, efforts to meet packaging recycling targets will not be met. Image: Me dia/shutterstock.com

Impact Crusher Kleemann MR130Z FOR HIRE

Unit Dimensions: Crusher opening

L 1.3 m X W 0.9M

Weight: 39 tonne

Capacity: Up to 450 tonnes per hour

Price: FOR HIRE OR CONTRACT. Rates available.

More information:

Application: Mobile concrete crushing, rock crushing, glass recycling, landfill management.

Suitable for processing concrete, brick, tile, asphalt, glass and rock. Compact, track mounted, remote control, steel magnet separator, closed material circuit, three rotor speeds. Produces class final aggregate quality in a single pass.

Name: Davis Earthmoving & Quarrying Pty Ltd

Phone: 02 9450 2288

Web: davisem.com.au

Email: davisem@davisem.com.au

OSCILLA Classic

Information:

Feed Product up to 100 mm and Screen Cut up to 40 mm. In the OSCILLA Classic version of this Flip-Flow Screen, the base frame is set into a circular motion. This excites the internal frame, creating an overlay of oscillations. The overlay enhances material flow by exerting additional acceleration forces on the product. Even if the machine was overflowing with material, it would be capable of clearing itself. The decline angle can be reduced to a minimum of 10 degrees. Applications for the OSCILLA Classic range from plastics, domestic and industrial waste and shredded scraps to compost, ores, minerals and coals.

Name: Mark Moss

Phone Number: +61 8 9259 8303

Webpage: www.joest.com.au

Email: sales@joest.com.au

J-Flow Air Separator

Unit Dimensions: Full range available

Information:

Zig Zag Air Separator

Information:

The J-Flow is a compact gravity classifier with an internal air circuit that separates heavy from light particles in the air stream. The bulk materials should be free-flowing and have no baking or strong dusting properties. The J-Flow is used for post-cleaning of metal fractions (ASR processing) in order to separate any light parts to ensure that almost no metals are lost. The typical particle size range is between approx. 20 and up to 120 mm. But also longer pieces up to a size of 300 mm can be sifted effortlessly in the J-Flow.

Name: Mark Moss

Phone Number: +61 8 9259 8303

Webpage: www.joest.com.au

Email: sales@joest.com.au

The zig-zag air separator uses a cross-flow sifting process to separate lighter and heavier materials. Feed enters through an airtight mechanism, and air flows upward through the sifting channel. Light particles are carried upward and sent to a cyclone for final separation, while heavier particles fall and exit at the base. The system typically recirculates purified air using a radial ventilator but can operate in partial recirculation or suction mode for dusty or moist products.

Name: Mark Moss

Phone Number: +61 8 9259 8303

Webpage: www.joest.com.au

Email: sales@joest.com.au

Pronar MRW 2.85g Twin-Shaft Low-Speed Shredder FOR HIRE

Weight: 26 tonne

Price: FOR HIRE OR CONTRACT. Rates available

More information: Mobile low-speed shredder for hire or contract, track-mounted with remote control.

Application: C&D shredding, timber grinding, land clearing, Green waste mulching, landfill management. Suitable for processing Mattresses, C&D waste, tyres, carpet, green waste, roots, trees, municipal industrial waste, bulky materials, pallets, tree stumps, light scrap, land clearing debris. Shredding is achieved by two synchronously running shredding shafts.

Name: Davis Earthmoving & Quarrying Pty Ltd

Phone: 02 9450 2288

Web: davisem.com.au

Email: davisem@davisem.com.au

Impact Crusher Rubblemaster RM120GO! FOR HIRE

Unit Dimensions: Screen Area 5,5 m²

Weight: 35 tonne

Capacity: Up to 350 tonnes per hour

Price: FOR HIRE OR CONTRACT. Rates available.

More information:

Application: Mobile concrete crushing, rock crushing, glass recycling, landfill management.

Suitable for processing concrete, brick, tile, asphalt, glass and rock. Track mounted, remote control, steel magnet separator, closed material circuit, mesh screen with integrated refeeding belt, 3 rotor speeds. Produces excellent graded high quality final aggregate in a single pass.

Name: Davis Earthmoving & Quarrying Pty Ltd

Phone: 02 9450 2288

Web: davisem.com.au

Email: davisem@davisem.com.au

Jaw Crusher Metso HP106 FOR HIRE

Weight: 40 tonne

Price: FOR HIRE OR CONTRACT. Rates available.

More information:

Application: Mobile concrete crushing, rock crushing, glass recycling, landfill management. Suitable for crushing larger materials and processing concrete, brick, tile, asphalt, glass and rock. Compact, track mounted, remote control, steel magnet separator, closed material circuit, 3 rotor speeds. Produces class final aggregate quality in a single pass.

Name: Davis Earthmoving & Quarrying Pty Ltd

Phone: 02 9450 2288

Web: davisem.com.au

Email davisem@davisem.com.au

Soul searching leads to passion for resource recovery

PAWAN GOVIND’S JOURNEY into the resource recovery sector wasn’t a straight line – it was a winding road filled with unexpected turns, academic pivots, and a growing awareness of environmental and social impact. Today, as the national resource recovery manager for Endeavour Foundation in Queensland, Govind is driving change in the sustainability sector.

Raised in Gracemere, just outside Rockhampton, and of Indo-Fijian descent, Govind spent his early years surrounded by the open spaces of regional Queensland and the cultural heritage of the Pacific.

“I never really had an exact idea of what I wanted to do growing up,” he said. “For a long time, I thought I’d pursue medical school.”

That early interest led him to a Bachelor of Science at the University of Queensland, which he later redirected into a major in neuroscience.

“That was more to give me time when I finished, to decide – did I want to go into medicine, or did I want to get into research?”

He even sat the medical entrance exams and progressed to an offer. But after much soul-searching, he decided not to go down that road. He didn’t want to spend another six years at university. Following this decision,

help manage his father’s business.

“My dad is a land surveyor and town planner,” he said. “Growing up, I worked with him for as long as I can remember, either out in the field or on the business side of things.

“Once I finished my undergrad, I decided I didn’t want to go to med school. I went back up to Rocky and worked with him as an operations manager.”

That stint as operations manager provided exposure to small business operations and decision-making, but Govind still felt the pull toward

postgraduate study and was set to go to law school – until a seemingly random advertisement caught his attention.

“This ad popped up for environmental health,” he said. “I thought to myself, ‘I’ve never looked at what environmental health is, who environmental health officers are’. It was really niche, but interesting.”

Govind enrolled in a Graduate Diploma in Environmental Health at QUT and followed it up with further postgraduate studies in climate science, reflecting his growing passion for environmental issues and global sustainability. Govind’s first job in the field came with South Burnett Regional Council in Kingaroy, where he expected to stay for a year. Instead, he remained for nearly five years.

“I started in environmental health, doing routine public health-type work. But being at a smaller council meant you got exposed to everything, including waste,” Govind said.

Mentored by a manager who oversaw multiple departments, Govind gradually transitioned from public health into waste management. Govind started supporting more on the technical and reporting side, and eventually moved into a new role that combined both areas. That role evolved into the coordinator of waste management.

old landfill,’” he said.

Eventually, after planning a move to Brisbane, Govind started looking for his next step. That’s when he found the listing at Endeavour Foundation.

“I had no idea what Endeavour Foundation did in the waste space,” he recalled. “But I applied and got the job. And I’ve been here ever since.”

Govind joined Endeavour Foundation in December 2021 as operations manager of Recycling and Waste Management.

His current role oversees a network of resource recovery centres (RRCs) and recycling initiatives across Australia.

To understand the scale of his responsibility, it helps to know a bit about Endeavour Foundation. As Australia’s largest employer of people with disability, the organisation

Govind conducting groundwater monitoring at a Landfill site for the first time.

Govind and his wife Georgia during his time in a disaster management role at Council.

people with a disability carry out commercial recycling work in areas like e-waste dismantling, document destruction, and general recycling.

“We operate waste facilities on behalf of councils, either directly or through service partners. That’s what is referred to as the RRCs, and falls under the stream of government solutions. Then we also have business solutions where we provide employment to people with a disability across a range of commercial activities, including recycling,” he said.

Govind’s role spans both streams.

“I hold responsibility for the RRCs and commercial relationships related to our recycling operations at business solutions sites ,” he said. “That includes everything from managing contract obligations with service partners to finding new material

processors.

He said it’s not just about meeting obligations, but asking: “what else can we do? Can we recover more? Can we generate more environmental and social value?”

For Govind, the job is more than a technical or managerial challenge, it’s personal. He didn’t think he’d find a role that motivated him not just environmentally, but also socially. He believes the Pacific Islands are on the frontlines of climate change, so environmental responsibility has always been close to his heart. He said he gets to combine that with employment outcomes for people with disabilities, which is a dual benefit.

That duality is shaping the future of Endeavour Foundation’s strategy in resource recovery, strengthening pathways to

solutions sites to mainstream employment within their RRCs. The organisation wants to keep building on that, according to Govind.

Govind is also candid about the issues the sector is grappling with. At the top of his list? Plastics and transport logistics.

“Plastics are a huge issue, and they continue to be in the industry,” he said. “Even when there are recycling and processing options available, you can lose all viability because you have to put it on a truck and send it to Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne.”

That raises a difficult question: do the environmental benefits of recycling offset the emissions generated by long-distance transport? It’s a challenging juxtaposition, according to Govind, because he said you can lose both environmental

far-reaching.

“It’s a little controversial,” he said, “but I think we need mandatory product stewardship for all hard to recycle/recover items. It’s just too hard to make anything work viably otherwise. You really need to be front-loading the cost at the beginning.”

For Govind, systemic change is necessary to support remote and regional recyclers – those facing the dual barriers of distance and m arket access.

“The challenge in Queensland is always going to be doing it over distance,” he said. “But if we can make these systems more circular, mor e connected, and more inclusive, then we’re really making a difference, not just environmentally, but socially too.”

Govind presenting as part of a panel on Resource Recovery at SIM-PAC 2024 in Brisbane. Images: Pawan Govind

Turning up the heat

Dear Sir,

Serious issue arose this week while attending the Coffs Waste Conference up in the nether regions of New South Wales. It’s always a great event and always fantastic to catch up with my Antipodean contemporaries.

What’s the issue? Fires, fires and more fires. “I know,” I hear you say, “you’ve been going on about this for some time.” True! I have. But after this event, it’s truly hit home. I’m not talking about some little fire that the local scout troop might toast some marshmellows over after a trip around the mulberry bush. I’m talking some serious, high heat, instant fires that can cause some serious harm.

“Aren’t all fires dangerous?” you say? Too right, my old bean. But there are

fires and then there are fires.

These fires in rubbish trucks and recycling, recovery and processing facilities are beyond dangerous and costly. It’s not the fire per se, that is the issue. First, there is the speed and intensity of heat produced by these infernos. A lithium-ion battery that is smashed in a compactor can reach a temperature of 400˚C in three seconds due to thermal runaway. It can envelop a bin in 30 seconds. But this isn’t even the main concern. A driver or worker can – in most cases – get out of harm’s way pretty quickly. However, it’s the toxicity of the smoke and fumes it emits that are of real concern.

It’s not about the equivalent of some vaper/smoker blowing smoke in your direction or getting downwind of a beach bonfire causing you

inconvenience. This is about some seriously toxic fumes. For example –at the risk of sounding like an outtake from Re-Animator or The Island of Dr Moreau – there’s hydrogen fluoride gas. This nasty little beast can give those who inhale it some really serious health implications. This particular gas is absorbed through the skin, so a respirator doesn’t help. “What does it exactly do,” you ask. It can leach the calcium right off your bones. The only treatment – if you act quickly enough – is to directly inject calcium into your bones so you can replace it more quickly than it is leeching. Or you can amputate. Great choice, right?

What’s the answer? Education, education, education. But not just any kind of education. The public at large need to know that chucking

a battery in a general waste bin is not like throwing in a banana skin or a pizza box into the glass bin. There are dire consequences to both people and property. And speaking of property, one of the side-effects of these 300-plus annual fires caused by batteries is that insurance companies are now looking sideways at resource recovery infrastructure and the trucks that collect said waste streams . They’re doing the maths and wondering if they should put the issue in the “too hard” basket when it comes to risk assessment. All I know is, the end result might be a business that is no longer feasible. And the end result of that scenario? Who’s going to pick up our rubbish and who’s going to process it? Until next time.

JB

“It’s not about the equivalent of some selfish vaper/smoking blowing smoke in your direction or getting downwind of a beach bonfire inconveniencing where you are located. These are some serious toxic fumes.”

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