Waste Management Review Dec 2025

DECEMBER

Pioneering soil health

50 years of grit and vision

FEATURES

High-rise solutions

AI on the frontline

Taking over Australia

Chasing one million tonnes

PROUDLY

How 50 years of grit and vision built an organics recovery powerhouse.

CHASING ONE MILLION TONNES

SOILCO is pursuing national expansion with the ambition to become an Australia-wide resource recovery platform.

“WE SEE THE AG MARKET AS OUR GREAT EMERGING MARKET. A LOT’S CHANGED IN THE PAST 15 YEARS.

FARMERS COMING THROUGH.”

Growth, expansion and evolution –2025 was a big year.

A look at the sector’s challenges and the road ahead.

Australia’s organics industry delivers results.

Cutting-edge infrastructure leads the way.

Which

Fifty

Moving beyond equipment supply.

New equipment maximises recovery.

Giving operators the ability to act fast.

Navigating the changing waste landscape.

SOILCO pursues national expansion.

A

Combining

Proposed advanced methanol production and greenhouse facility.

Revolutionising tight access waste collection.

ON THE FRONTLINE

Common questions answered.

Meet the 2025 Waste Innovation and Recycling Award winners.

Waste Expo 2025 has sharp focus on the future.

Resilience recharged From the Editor

If 2025 had a central theme, it was the harsh reality check provided by the lithium battery crisis. e spike in facility res isn’t just an operational hazard; it’s a national wake-up call that solidi ed the urgent need for robust, mandated, and nationally harmonised Extended Producer Responsibility.

It was the year where ambitious national targets hit the reality of operational challenges, particularly in contamination and capacity.

As the calendar prepares to ip to 2026, Waste Management Review o ered industry leaders a chance to re ect on the hard-won gains of 2025 and forecast the key battles of 2026.

As always, despite the ongoing pressures of market volatility, labour shortages, and evolving regulatory landscapes, the industry remains resilient and poised for a transformative year ahead.

If anyone knows the power of transformation, it’s Van Schaik’s Bio Gro. From humble origins, the company has transformed into a sustainability powerhouse operating across four strategic sites.

In our cover story, Stephen Van Schaik recalls how his father’s vision to see value in waste became the backbone of a company that is now championing a soil health revolution in Australian agriculture.

In New South Wales there’s another transformation taking shape. e former cement works in Kandos once supplied the material that hardened the foundations of modern Sydney, including the iconic Harbour Bridge and Opera House. Now it’s set to be the site of an industrial integration rede ning resource recovery, sustainable fuel production and food security.

We also take a look at the companies powering our organics recycling industry, and all the winners of this year’s Waste Innovation and Recycling Awards, plus lots more.

As this year winds down, the team at Waste Management Review would like to say thank you to every company, leader, and essential worker across the waste and recycling industry for sharing your stories with us.

We wish you and your families a safe, peaceful, and joyous Christmas and a restful holiday season. Here’s to a resilient and productive New Year.

Lisa Korycki

CEO

Christine Clancy christine.clancy@primecreative.com.au

PUBLISHER

Sarah Baker sarah.baker@primecreative.com.au

MANAGING EDITOR

Lisa Korycki lisa.korycki@primecreative.com.au

JOURNALIST

Jennifer Pittorino jennifer.pittorino@primecreative.com.au

HEAD OF DESIGN

Blake Storey blake.storey@primecreative.com.au

DESIGN

Laura Drinkwater

BRAND MANAGER

Chelsea Daniel chelsea.daniel@primecreative.com.au p: +61 425 699 878

CLIENT SUCCESS MANAGER

Justine Nardone justine.nardone@primecreative.com.au

HEAD OFFICE

Prime Creative Pty Ltd

379 Docklands Drive Docklands VIC 3008 Australia P: +61 3 9690 8766 info@primecreative.com.au www.wastemanagementreview.com.au

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ARTICLES

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

COVER

Cover image: BioGro

COPYRIGHT

Waste Management Review is owned by Prime Creative Media and published by John Murphy.

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

Taking over Australia

Growth, expansion and evolution – 2025 was a big year for Resource Hub. But it’s not stopping there.

The calendar is about to ip to 2026, and the feeling across the resource recovery sector is one of purposeful, intense e ciency.

e era of massive, high-risk capital projects has ceded ground to the necessity of operational excellence, as businesses focus on the

fundamentals: making sure every site, every weighbridge, and every regulatory compliance step is awless and cost-e ective.

is shift, says Lacey Webb, Resource Hub Founder and Chief Executive O cer, is driving changes in how companies manage their daily operations and what external expertise they seek out.

For Lacey, re ecting on 2025 is dominated by the success of scaling the team and expanding Resource Hub’s national footprint – moving from a Queensland-focused consultancy to one with a presence across the entire country.

In the past 12 months, the Resource Hub team has grown from 12 to 20, including sta and contractors. Not bad for a one-woman show that was focused on land ll levies just ve years ago. e latest growth was strategic and focused on building internal capacity.

“We’ve been growing intentionally in capacity so that as our customers need more of a hand, we’ve got more bodies,” Lacey says.

“We’ve added a number of specialists to make sure that our experts, who’ve got lots of waste experience, are not bogged down in our internal process. We’ve even got specialists to help to improve our own e ciencies.”

is allowed Resource Hub to ful l a key ambition: national representation. e company has successfully expanded

2025 has been a year of growth for the Resource Hub, with a team of 20 including sta and contractors.

Images: Resource Hub

its geographical reach, with clients in every state in Australia and adding sta in two more states, leading to a physical presence (work from home or in-o ce) in ve states.

“We are everywhere now,” Lacey says. “I think when we started, there was still very much a perception that we’re a Queensland business. But by December this year, we will have sta in every state, just not the territories.”

Lacey believes the core of Resource Hub’s evolution is its transition from simple admin and data entry to becoming dedicated regulatory support specialists. A service that is critical given the intensifying complexity of statebased regulations.

much and that’s our niche,” Lacey says.

“Making sure that when the regulation changes, when there’s a change that could be on the horizon, that we know what needs to happen in your software, what needs to happen on your sites, and what training needs to be delivered to your sta .”

Regulatory response is probably the biggest challenge, particularly during audits. It’s one of the reasons Resource Hub has focused on its waste levy exemption team, adding dedicated resources to support compliance across Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales, and South Australia.

e other key evolution is the adoption of a collaborative, specialistdriven model, allowing Resource Hub to deliver quick, decisive support.

Recognising that no single company can be an expert in everything, Resource Hub is partnering with complementary specialists for services such as land contamination and nonwaste-speci c compliance.

“I don’t want to compete with people who are experts in elds when I’m not

is approach means a fast turnaround – with an average project timeframe being well under two weeks – providing quick, decisive support without demanding multimonth commitments from clients.

Looking ahead to 2026, Lacey says the focus remains on deepening geographical reach with a formalised New South Wales o ce and continuing to build strategic partnerships.

More broadly, as the industry faces increased complexity, from organics mandates to shifting container deposit schemes, she says success will hinge on the disciplined use of data and the mastery of the small, nonglamorous details.

“2025 was a year where people started to move away from really large investment-based projects and I think 2026 will be a year where people will get into the nitty gritty,” Lacey says.

“ ey’ll be asking ‘How do we do the little things well? How do we make sure we’re as e cient and cost e ective as possible? at’s going to be 2026,

The Wanless team gives Resource ub the thumbs up.

Resource Hub Founder and Chief ecutive O cer acey ebb with the ladstone team.

Smart circularity

Ais evolving quickly, driven by new regulations, sharper expectations, and the realisation that good intentions aren’t good enough to build a functioning (and genuine) circular economy.

e past few years have shown what happens when policy ambition races ahead of infrastructure, and when end markets don’t keep pace with investment.

Every major shift – from re management to end-market reform –demands a response grounded in realism and ambition. Re.Group’s approach is simple: face change directly, invest with intent, and help shape a smarter, safer, more circular system. We’re here for the challenge and excited for what’s ahead.

RESPONDING TO BATTERY FIRES

Battery res have become a de ning challenge for recyclers. Lithium-ion batteries are increasingly found in everyday items, from vapes to cordless

they end up in our trucks and facilities and can (and have) resulted in res when crushed or punctured, triggering thermal runway events that are di cult to extinguish.

A 2024 industry survey by the Australian Council of Recycling (ACOR) and the Waste Contractors and Recyclers Association of NSW (WCRA), showed Australia’s waste and recycling facilities experienced between 10,000 and 12,000 battery-related res in the past year – an average of 30 res per day. ese incidents pose signi cant risks to workers and infrastructure, have increased costs for businesses by an average of $400,000 per facility, and have driven insurance premiums higher than ever.

‘Safety First’ is a core value at Re.Group and the company’s commitment to safety is re ected in both culture and investment.

invested in advanced re mitigation technologies, including the Fire Rover system – a 24/7 monitoring and suppression solution that uses militarygrade thermal detection and highde nition video to pinpoint hotspots before a re ares up.

e Fire Rover system, recently installed at Re.Group’s Dandenong Material Recovery Facility, can neutralise threats within seconds using an environmentally-friendly suppression agent – setting a new benchmark for re safety in the sector.

While technology is critical, the long-term solution lies in product stewardship. Batteries don’t belong in kerbside bins, and it shouldn’t be left to operators to carry the full risk. New South Wales’s new mandatory battery stewardship laws, introduced under the Product Lifecycle Responsibility Act, mark an important shift, placing

A recently completed upgrade project at Re.Group’s Dandenong Material Recovery Facility. Image: Re.Group

responsibility where it belongs: with the manufacturers and importers, holding them accountable for the full lifecycle of their products. Similar national measures can’t come soon enough.

CLOSING THE LOOP

e COAG Export Bans were meant to be a turning point for Australia’s recycling landscape and they were, in principle, the right move. However, implementation came well before lengthy approvals, funding, and infrastructure development could catch up. As a result, the sector experienced a painful period of adjustment, with bottlenecks in processing and limited markets for recovered materials.

Plastics have been the hardest hit. Approvals for new or upgraded facilities often stretch years, while supply chain lead times have increased, leaving recyclers with limited outlets for recovered materials.

Government investment through the $1.5 billion Recycling Modernisation Fund has helped, and today, ve years after the bans were announced, a few new and upgraded facilities have come online. But infrastructure and technology alone do not close the loop –markets do.

e success of these investments depends on strong end-market demand for recycled content yet currently, and despite the signi cant investment by both government and industry, there are no restrictions on the import of virgin packaging materials while recovered plastic continues to face export barriers and volatile domestic demand.

is imbalance undermines the economics of recycling and highlights the urgent need for packaging reform. Until brand owners are required to use recycled content, investment in resource recovery will always run uphill.

e Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) set clear National Packaging Targets for 2025, but

progress has stalled. As of 2023, only 19 per cent of plastic packaging is recycled, and average recycled content sits at 44 per cent. at shortfall isn’t a collection problem; it’s a procurement problem.

APCO’s 2030 strategy calls for eco-modulated fees – charging brand owners based on the recyclability and recycled content of their packaging –to incentivise sustainable design and support domestic markets.

Re.Group supports stronger producer responsibility, urging federal action to mandate the use of Australian recycled content in packaging. e recent communique from Australia’s environment ministers agged packaging reform as a priority for 2026, following the completion of Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) reforms. Recycling only works if materials come full circle, and the next few years will determine whether the system can mature beyond good intentions.

NEXT EVOLUTION OF CDS

Australia’s container deposit schemes (CDS) are proof that the right incentives work. Every jurisdiction now operates a CDS, with more than 10 billion containers collected since their introduction.

For Re.Group’s Return-It business, the next step is speed and accessibility. We have introduced new AI-powered Machinex CountAIner units that can process up to 1500 containers per minute, drastically reducing redemption times and enhancing the customer experience.

e expansion of CDS to include wine and spirit bottles in New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory by 2027 will remove another half a billion containers from land ll annually. It’s measurable, data-backed impact the public can see and understand.

Still, Australia’s return rates lag the best-performing countries, sitting around 68 per cent compared to over 90 per cent in parts of Europe. One factor is the static 10-cent refund. If South Australia’s original ve cent deposit from 1977 had been indexed to consumer price index it would now sit closer to 37 cents. Indexing the refund to modern values would push recovery rates higher and further reduce litter.

e broader lesson from CDS is that participation grows when systems are simple, fair, and local. It’s a model of how shared responsibility between government, industry, and community can work, and a reminder that the public will do the right thing when it’s made easy and available (and when there is an incentive).

THE ROAD AHEAD

e Australian waste and recycling sector is entering its most consequential phase yet. Fires, limited end markets, and policy gaps are not isolated challenges – they’re symptoms of a system still nding balance between ambition and practicality.

Re.Group’s approach has been to respond with investment in technology, advocacy for product stewardship, and a commitment to improving safety and customer experience. But industry alone can’t carry the reform agenda.

Stronger regulation, smarter incentives, and a consistent national framework will be key to delivering a system that works at scale and one that keeps pace with changing market dynamics and global best practice.

e circular economy isn’t just about diverting waste. It’s about rebuilding value chains to turn risk into resource and cost into opportunity. e work has started and the next few years will determine whether we nish it.

For more information, visit: www.re-group.com

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e ections n orec sts

The past year has been one of progress, collaboration, and ongoing challenges or the organics recycling industry. ohn Mc ew, ational Executive cer o the Australian Organics Recycling Association looks back at the year that was.

Making waves was the theme for the Australian Organics Recycling Association (AORA) throughout 2025, as the organisation delivered tangible and important results for the industry.

John McKew, National Executive O cer of AORA, says the organisation made particular headway by advancing policy and position statements addressing key industry challenges.

One of which was an updated version of the AORA Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) Position Paper which, for the rst time, states that the industry and the association support a national target of less than two per cent contamination within the FOGO feedstock stream.

It’s new Position Paper, ‘Bans for a Better Compost’ was developed with

hopes to address which problematic contaminants should be banned, removed, or limited. AORA also worked closely with other industry bodies throughout the year to tackle industry-wide concerns, including a call to action to remove batteries and electronics from conventional waste and recycling streams.

It also updated its AORA/ Australian Bioplastics Association (ABA) Joint Position Paper on Certi ed Compostable Packaging

John says AORA was active in its contributions to various industry forums and events, taking opportunities to inform, educate, promote, and advocate for the work and achievements of the organics recycling industry.

He says a 2023-24 update to the Economic Contribution of the Australian

Organics Recycling Industry, released in June 2025, represents an important piece of work for the industry, highlighting a signi cant issue that cannot be ignored.

e report shows that Australia’s overall organic material recycling rate in 2023-24 was 51.4 per cent, compared to 52.3 per cent in 2021-22.

e reduction in the recycling rate for 2023-24 re ects a higher number of tonnes recycled but a comparatively higher amount of organic material generated.

All states, except for Tasmania, experienced a reduction in their overall organic material recycling rate in 2023-24.

Organic material recycling is in uenced by a variety of factors, including population growth, economic growth, technological change, access to recycling markets, local government collection changes, and commonwealth and state government waste and carbon reduction policies.

John says this indicates that Australia is producing more organic waste, driven in part by immigration and population growth, than can currently be processed.

e national average is 282 kilograms of organic material recycled per person, while more than 500 kilograms of organic waste are generated per person.

Consequently, a large proportion of this excess material, about 5.7 million

AORA has identified several pathways for reducing the amount of organics going into landfills. Image: AORA

tonnes per annum, still ends up in land ll.

If the rate of organic waste generation continues to outpace processing capacity, John says circular economy aspirations, particularly the goal of reducing organics to land ll, are placed in jeopardy.

To address this challenge, AORA has identi ed several pathways for improvement.

“Approvals for new or expanded organics processing facilities must be expedited,” says John. “In addition, state authorities need to enhance their approval processes.”

He says that in some states, obtaining approval to develop a new organic processing facility can take up to two years. During these delays, more organics fail to be processed into compost and other value-

added products and instead are sent to land ll.

Proposed regulations that “conservatively” restrict levels of contaminants such as per- and poly uoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in end products like compost have also raised concern within the Australian organics recycling industry.

John says that in some states, these proposals have resulted in paused investment while regulation is being developed.

He says AORA and the Australian organics recycling industry do not dismiss or condone concerns over contaminants, however, pragmatic regulation grounded in sound science and reliable data is essential to support any proposed acceptable contaminant levels.

“If contaminant thresholds are set at unrealistic levels, the viability of

the organics recycling industry, and consequently the circular economy, will be threatened,” says John.

He says it’s important to note that the Australian organics recycling industry is a passive recipient of contamination, including PFAS, from incoming materials such as feedstocks.

As attention turns to 2026, the industry faces ongoing headwinds that are unlikely to ease in the near term.

AORA remains committed to pursuing the outcomes necessary to ensure the sustainable growth of the sector. A new policy and advocacy o cer will commence in 2026, tasked with working closely with industry stakeholders to develop a roadmap that de nes the needs and expectations required to sustain and grow the economic and environmental bene ts that organics recycling delivers.

Less waste More value

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Lithium and leadership

The accelerating danger rom e-waste res is driving cutting-edge recycling in rastructure. EcoCycle is leading the way.

The escalating risk of lithium battery res is reshaping the waste and resource recovery landscape. What was once considered an emerging hazard has now become one of the sector’s de ning operational challenges.

As more products, such as vapes and power tools to electric toothbrushes, contain embedded batteries, the industry nds itself in a race to deploy technology that can manage the escalating safety crisis. In response, the

EcoCycle Group has been investing in advanced infrastructure to strengthen safety and build a more sustainable recycling network across Australia and New Zealand.

2025 was a landmark year for the group, driven by innovation and the establishment of new, critical infrastructure engineered to process high volumes of complex hazardous material. e year ahead promises to be one of even greater transformation.

“ e increase in battery collections through our network shows a real shift in public and industry awareness,” EcoCycle Group General Manager, Nick Dodd says. “People are becoming more conscious of how they should dispose of batteries, and that’s changing

Among the group’s major milestones was the commissioning of Australia’s rst Battery-in-Device Shredding (BIDS) plant in Melbourne. Designed to safely recycle items such as vapes and mobile phones without manual dismantling, the facility provides an onshore solution for products that previously had limited

“It’s an important step forward for the industry,” Nick says. “ is technology allows us to process entire devices safely and e ciently, regardless of

He says this solution has been a longawaited necessity for both Australia and the world, and it’s exciting to see it now

For the EcoCycle Group, 2025 was a year marked by innovation, building critical new infrastructure to handle the volumes of complex, hazardous material. Images: EcoCycle

installed and operational at EcoCycle Group’s facility. e success of this plant is equally encouraging, as it o ers a practical solution for managing many challenging waste streams.

ere are plans to establish more of the plants across the EcoCycle Group network in Australia and New Zealand, which will enhance the region’s waste management capabilities.

Safety remains central to the group’s investment strategy and was a key factor behind a second major infrastructure upgrade. A new battery discharge plant that represents a key part of that approach, enabling the safe removal of residual energy before processing. is signi cantly reduces risk during handling and improves recycling e ciency.

In addition, the group has completed the installation of a mercury retirement plant at its Perth facility, one of the few of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. e plant converts recovered mercury from lighting, dental, and industrial waste into mercury sulphide, a stable compound suitable for permanent disposal. is ensures compliance with international obligations under the Minamata Convention and strengthens Australia’s capacity to manage legacy mercury waste responsibly.

Looking ahead to 2026, EcoCycle Group is focused on large-scale capacity building and national expansion. Its most ambitious project to date – a

$50 million lithium battery recycling facility – is now underway. All lithium batteries collected will be processed in a dry, nitrogen-controlled environment at this facility. e plant will have a processing capacity of four tonnes of lithium batteries per hour and will be supported by additional infrastructure at the site, including a battery sorting facility and a large-format discharging plant designed to handle the increasing volume of energy-storage and electricvehicle batteries entering the market.

Alongside its major capital investments, the EcoCycle Group is strengthening its logistics network.

A new site in Townsville will support northern Queensland, while the redevelopment of its Kwinana Beach site in Western Australia will allow for more localised processing, reducing transport distances and emissions.

e group is also expanding its South Australian operations and a rming its presence in New Zealand, replicating its end-to-end service for local customers with plans to develop onshore processing capabilities, removing the need to export batteries for processing to other jurisdictions.

With the ongoing growth of battery and electronic waste, Nick says the recycling industry should be commended for its investment in innovation and technology.

“As we wait for government policy to play catch up, the industry is

committed to building infrastructure to deal with the increasing risks of lithiumion batteries,” he says.

“Industry has shown real leadership in building solutions, but national policy needs to keep pace.

“Looking ahead to 2026, a harmonised, well-structured Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)framework is essential if we’re to ensure long-term sustainability and safety.”

He says the urgency for a comprehensive, nationally mandated EPR framework cannot be overstated.

“We need schemes with clear performance targets, enforceable standards, transparent governance, and designed to be commercially sustainable. Only then can we truly protect our communities, our environment, and unlock the economic opportunities embedded in resource recovery.”

Nick says the EcoCycle Group’s approach re ects the broader direction of the industry, a shift from reactive problem-solving to proactive capacity building.

By combining technical innovation with collaboration across sectors, Australia and New Zealand are positioning themselves as regional leaders in sustainable battery and e-waste management

For more information, visit www.ecocycle.com.au

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A fork in the road

and ll dependency or em race resource regeneration ortair Chie Executive cer eff ang asks which road Australia will choose.

In 2025, Australia nds itself standing at a crossroads in waste management.

On one path sits the familiar pattern of land ll dependency, fragmented policy responses and a costly “business as usual” mindset. On the other is a future built on resource regeneration, circular manufacturing and technologies proven to turn waste streams into pro table commodities.

e question confronting industry, government and community bodies is simple: which road will we choose?

At Vortair, our discussions throughout 2025 with major food producers, agricultural leaders and waste industry primes have revealed a contradiction in Australia’s waste landscape.

Everyone acknowledges the problem. Everyone agrees the volume of biomass and food organics entering land ll is unacceptable. Everyone understands that methane generation from these streams is one of the most potent drivers of greenhouse gas emissions in the country.

Yet movement remains slow. Decisions remain delayed. e urgency simply isn’t there.

SILENT GIANT OF AUSTRALIA’S WASTE CRISIS

Organic waste from agriculture and food processing is one of the largest contributors to land ll. is waste stream, left to decay anaerobically, produces methane up to 80 times the warming impact of carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. Australia cannot meet its emissions targets without addressing this issue head-on.

And yet the technology to do it already exists.

Vortair’s patented autogenous grinding system is one example of what’s possible when we stop treating waste as a cost and start treating it as a commodity.

By transforming high-volume organic and industrial waste into micronised feedstocks, Vortair enables companies to replace disposal fees with high-value outputs: soil enhancers, biochar precursors, animal feed inputs, nutraceutical ingredients and engineered materials.

What was once an expense becomes revenue. What was once a burden becomes an opportunity.

e barrier is no longer technological feasibility. e barrier is institutional willingness.

THE COST OF WAITING

In 2025, we observed a “wait and see” approach across many sectors. Companies know they need a solution. ey know they could unlock vertical integration of their own waste streams.

ey know circular economics is not a future ideal but a present-day commercial advantage.

Yet the hesitation remains: reluctance to invest in capital equipment, hesitation to modify legacy work ows, and uncertainty about stepping ahead of competitors.

is delay carries a cost greater than the price of new equipment. It costs companies the chance to transform their waste into new value chains. It costs the nation progress toward lower emissions.

It costs future generations the bene ts of an economy built on regenerated rather than extracted resources.

Circularity dismantles the model where land ll remains pro table and disposal remains the default endpoint. Valorisation disrupts it. Regeneration replaces it.

So long as those systems remain dominant, Australia will continue to bury materials that hold undeniable value.

FRAGMENTATION: THE HIDDEN WASTE CHALLENGE

Another issue that emerged strongly throughout 2025 is the fragmentation of decision-making across the waste sector.

According to recent counts, Australia has 3098 industry bodies, 1346 government organisations and 8782 community and interestgroup organisations – more than 13,000 entities, each with a stake in environmental management, resource recovery and sustainability.

Yet the coordination among them remains inconsistent and often ine ective.

e ang, ortair Chief ecutive O cer. Image: ortair

With so many voices, committees, advisory groups and agencies, responsibility becomes di use. No single entity is accountable for driving national cohesion in waste-to-resource innovation. e result is a patchwork of programs, pilot trials, isolated projects and announcements that rarely scale beyond their initial phase.

Meanwhile, the land ll trucks keep rolling. e real question is not how but why not?

THE FACTS:

Australia produces enough organic and industrial waste to justify full-scale resource regeneration. Technologies to valorise virtually all waste streams already exist. ese technologies have been tested, validated and commercialised.

e economics are favourable, with many systems converting a cost centre into a pro t stream.

So the real question is no longer how to solve Australia’s waste crisis. e question is why we are not doing it?

Why are we still treating biomass as waste instead of feedstock?

Why are companies hesitant to act when the return on investment and emissions bene ts are clear?

Why are waste monopolies allowed to control the narrative while delivering the same outcomes they have delivered for decades?

Why is Australia, one of the world’s most resource-rich nations, still burying value in the ground?

CALL FOR ACTION

If 2025 was the year of identifying the problem, then 2026 must be the year of choosing to solve it.

As the Chief Executive O cer of Vortair, my message to industry leaders, policymakers and community organisations is direct: the time for pilot programs, feasibility studies and

long-term reviews has passed. e solutions are ready. e technology is proven. e economics are sound. e environmental need is urgent.

Australia can lead the world in resource regeneration. We can lead in circular design, low-carbon manufacturing and advanced materials created from waste. We can create industries that convert what is discarded today into what is pro table tomorrow. But only if we choose to move from observation to action.

e next decade will be de ned not by what waste we produce, but by what value we choose to recover from it. And 2026 is the year we decide whether Australia keeps walking the familiar road to land ll or nally takes the sharper, smarter turn toward regeneration.

For more information, visit: www.vortair.com

ill Australia keep walking the familiar road to landfill Image: Andromeda Stock shutterstock.com

Turning waste into value – from Dubai to Down Under

From initial planning to long-term operation, Kanadevia Inova delivers complete thermal and biological Waste to Energy plants. As an experienced EPC contractor, we handle every step – develop, design, build, operate, maintain. Our track record of more than 1,600 plants worldwide speaks for itself – including one of the world’s largest WtE facilities in Dubai. Check our references.

Pioneering soil health

With 50 years of grit and vision, Van Schaik’s Bio Gro has built an organics recovery powerhouse that’s now driving Australia’s soil health revolution.

The scent of fresh pine bark and sawdust is more than just a memory for Stephen Van Schaik; it’s a reminder of the foundation of what would become Bio Gro – a family business built on the transformative power of sustainability.

Situated in the picturesque Green Triangle region of South Australia, Bio Gro has grown from a disused quarry on the outskirts of Mount Gambier to four strategic sites across South Australia and Victoria.

Fifty years on, the company is celebrating a major milestone.

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

e story of Bio Gro is rooted in the earthmoving expertise of Stephen’s parents, Hans and Marjan Van Schaik, who established J.A. and M.J. Van Schaik Earth Moving Contractors in the mid-1970s.

Hans, drawing on his Dutch heritage and experience, saw potential in the waste products generated by timber mills in South Australia. Pine bark, sawdust, and wood chip – materials once destined to be buried in land lls or simply burnt – became the building blocks of a new vision.

Hans purchased a small 12-acre property with a disused quarry near Wandilo, just ve kilometres north of Mount Gambier. ere, he began stockpiling and experimenting with timber mill waste, transforming it into valuable growing media, landscape barks, and mulches.

e family lived on-site, with Stephen and his brother operating loaders and screens after school or on weekends, unknowingly laying the groundwork for their future careers. Stephen made the decision to leave school at the age

Bio Gro Managing Director Stephen Van Schaik at one of the company’s four facilities. Images: Bio Gro

of 15. Uncertain about his future career path he chose to focus on what he already knew – working for his father at the Wandilo site. is marked the beginning of his full-time involvement in the family business.

“Work life was pretty straightforward for me back then,” Stephen re ects on those early days. “I could step right out of our front door, hop into a front-end loader, and start producing growing media and landscape bark ready for sale.

“Meanwhile, Dad would head o on his backhoe to handle the earthworks for our earthmoving customers.”

e family business was a team e ort. Stephen’s mother played a vital role, managing phone calls and bookkeeping for both sides of the operation – the earthmoving services and the organic recycling business.

“It was your typical husband-andwife family business,” Stephen says highlighting the close-knit nature of their work.

A DEFINING MOMENT

e turning point for the Van Schaik family came in 1985, when the Kimberly-Clark paper mill near Mount Gambier sought a sustainable solution for managing its wastepaper pulp.

Stephen says winning the tender to recycle 150 tonnes of pulp per day was

a pivotal moment that forced the family to make a bold decision: focus entirely on organics recycling or continue with the earth-moving business.

e Kimberly-Clark contract provided the nancial stability needed to invest in advanced composting infrastructure and had the potential to propel the business into a new era of organics resource recovery.

“As a family we were at a crossroads of having to decide which path we were going to take forward – a stable earthmoving business or taking a risk on the organics recycling business,” says Stephen.

e family made a bold decision to sell the earthmoving business and channel all their energy into organics recycling. is decision, Stephen says, marked a de ning moment for Van Schaik’s Organic Soils and Bark Supplies, now known as Van Schaik’s Bio Gro.

FAMILY LEGACY SECURED

rough the ’90s the company experienced rapid growth, and in 1995 the decision was made to bring in two independent shareholders to help support that growth.

Stephen says the decision proved successful, enabling the company

through the acquisition of e Austrian Potting Mix Company and Pro Pine, both reputable growing media businesses.

He says it was through these strategic acquisitions that Bio Gro became a leading supplier of custom blended growing media for large-scale commercial nurseries across Victoria.

Managing growth in any business has challenges, particularly in family business. A profound challenge for Bio Gro came in 2013 when Stephen’s brother decided to leave the family business and his father was recovering from a serious health issue.

Stephen, his wife Heather, and his parents were faced with a di cult decision, continue to run the business or sell it?

Taking a leap of faith, Stephen and Heather secured nance for the company to purchase Stephen’s brother’s share and committed to returning the company once again into a fully familyowned and operated business.

In 2016 the last of the independent shareholders had been bought out and Bio Gro was once again 100 per cent family-owned.

“ is still stands today as my proudest moment working in Bio Gro,” Stephen says.

SUSTAINABILITY POWERHOUSE

Today, Bio Gro operates across four strategic sites – Wandilo and Mount Gambier in South Australia, and Dandenong and Newbridge in Victoria – with a team of 220 employees.

e company recovers more than 470,000 tonnes of organic material annually, including 200,000 tonnes of timber and forest residues and 270,000 tonnes of food and green organics. ese raw materials are transformed into about 850,000 cubic metres of high-quality growing media, mulches, and composts, supplied in bulk and packaged forms. In the past nancial

An aerial view of Bio Gro’s Newbridge facility.

year alone, Bio Gro produced more than six million bags, and with a newly commissioned packaging plant at the Newbridge facility, the company now has the capacity to produce more than 10 million bags annually.

“Bio Gro has been recognised now for many decades as the producers of the highest quality custom blended growing media for the industry, recognition that sits proudly with our company,” Stephen says.

SOIL HEALTH REVOLUTION

Bio Gro is leading a transformative shift in agriculture by championing the use of compost to enhance soil health and reduce dependence on synthetic fertilisers.

“In agriculture, if your soil is in poor health, then you are on the back foot from the start, and your productivity is obviously going to struggle,” says Stephen.

“By integrating high-quality compost into traditional fertiliser regimes, Bio Gro empowers farmers to boost microbial activity, improve nutrient uptake, and enhance productivity – all while cutting back on synthetic inputs.”

Stephen believes that the agricultural market is now ripe for change, marking a signi cant evolution for Bio Gro.

Although the company ventured into agronomy 15 years ago, the market was not ready for compost at the time. Today, however, the landscape has shifted dramatically.

“We see the Ag market as a very real and emerging market for us now. If you like, it’s all about the timing,” he says.

“A lot has changed in the past 15 years. Now it’s moving even faster, with a new generation of farmers coming through that measure and record productivity daily.

“Modern farmers are increasingly prioritising soil health over expanding land or relying heavily on synthetic inputs.”

He says Bio Gro’s innovative approach is paving the way for a soil health

revolution, helping farmers achieve sustainable productivity while reducing their environmental footprint.

e spirit of research and development (R&D), rst embodied by Hans, has also been re-established. After a period of focusing resources on business growth, Bio Go has formally re-established a small R&D team.

Stephen says this team is essential for ensuring the company remains at the forefront of the organics sector, especially as it delves deeper into the science required to prove the measurable bene ts of applied compost in the agricultural sector.

LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE

e company’s longevity and success are a testament to the family’s consistent application of two simple yet powerful traits: humility and hard work.

Stephen believes people are at the heart of Bio Gro’s success and has developed several initiatives, including a ‘people and culture’ division focusing on sta development and mentorship.

Fostering a sense of community and care has resulted in a remarkable number of long-serving employees with tenures over 30 years.

Stephen himself is known around the company for his personal engagement with sta across all sites and he is not averse to jumping into a loader or excavator to lend a hand when things are busy.

“I like to think that we’re quite humble as a family,” he says. “Dad was one of the humblest men you’d ever meet and one of the hardest-working men you’d ever meet.

“He’d be proud of what we have achieved, for sure.”

ose achievements have not gone unnoticed. In 2017, the company was inducted into the Family Business Australia Hall of Fame for South Australia/Northern Territory, and both Hans and Stephen have received prestigious individual awards for their industry contributions, highlighting the successful generational transition and the family’s commitment to excellence.

Hans was honoured with the Australian World Forestry Day Award in 2000, while Stephen was recently named a Green Triangle Forest Industry Legend.

AUSTRALIAN INGENUITY

As Bio Gro celebrates its 50th anniversary, the Van Schaik family is focused on the future. With Stephen and Heather’s children now heavily involved in the business, the third generation is ensuring the family connection remains the company’s core strength.

From a weekend hobby to an industry leader, Bio Gro’s journey is an example of how determination, innovation, and family unity can turn challenges into opportunities.

As Bio Gro continues to set new benchmarks for sustainability and innovation, Stephen hopes it o ers a beacon of hope for businesses looking to make a positive impact.

“With a legacy rooted in hard work and a vision for a greener future, Bio Gro proves that the best ideas truly grow from the ground up.”

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

Bio Gro is leading a transformative shift in agriculture by championing the use of compost to enhance soil health.

Full-service solutions

Waste Initiatives is moving beyond equipment supply to deliver complete, custom waste and resource recovery systems.

Across Australia and New Zealand, industry is facing mounting pressure to meet rigorous environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals and drastically reduce land ll dependence.

For many manufacturers, food producers, and recyclers, this means rede ning how they view what leaves their site – not as a problematic byproduct, but as a valuable resource to be kept in circulation.

Waste Initiatives, an Australianowned and operated company with more than 40 years of experience, is capitalising on this shift. e company has evolved from a pure equipment supplier into a solutions partner, delivering comprehensive waste

systems through a strategic partnership approach that prioritises e ciency and material recovery.

A COMPLETE SOLUTIONS PARTNER

Waste Initiatives delivers complete end-to-end systems backed by in-house engineering expertise, full project management, national after-sales support, and locally stocked parts. is approach ensures customers receive not just machinery, but a fully integrated system designed for long-term reliability.

Managing Director Dwayne Smith says that collaboration is key to the company strategy.

“We work with top international partners from Germany, Ireland and America to

bring in quality and reliable equipment that gives customers in Australia complete solutions,” Dwayne says.

“We then back that with local spare parts and local service to ensure they’re getting all they need and more.”

PRODUCERS AND PROCESSORS

For producers – manufacturers and food companies – Waste Initiatives designs bespoke systems to tackle complex waste streams generated by reject products. is involves depackaging, shredding, and compaction systems that e ectively separate recyclable packaging from clean organics, turning a contaminated waste stream into two clean recovery streams.

For waste processors and recyclers, the focus is on scalability and integration.

Waste Initiatives worked with Legacy Park, on the Mid North Coast of New Sout ales, to find a solution for construction and demolition waste. Images: Waste Initiatives

Waste Initiatives provides modular solutions that seamlessly improve throughput and recovery rates in existing operations.

ese systems handle tasks ranging from pre-shredding bulky items and compacting timber crates to sophisticated separation of mixed packaging streams.

Sales Manager Shannon Sangster highlights the strategic blend of expertise and technology required for tailored solutions. An in-house engineering team combines global technology partnerships, including specialised equipment from Mavitec, Bergmann, Eagle International, and Barclay Shredders.

Shannon says whether it’s a Mavitec depacker achieving 99.7 per cent purity in food waste recovery, a Bergmann roll packer crushing bulky manufacturing waste, or an Eagle o -the-road (OTR) system tackling mine-site tyres, each system is tailored for reliability, compliance, and ease of maintenance.

END-TO-END DELIVERY

Every project at Waste Initiatives starts with detailed consultation and ends with a fully commissioned, operatorready solution.

e company’s project management team provides complete oversight across every stage, from mechanical and electrical to safety, ensuring all aspects align with Australian standards and speci c site expectations.

Shannon says this depth of experience provides customer con dence.

“It’s not just our range and tailoring the solution. Waste Initiatives has been going for 40 years with a depth of knowledge and experience throughout the team,” he says. “We know what works and what doesn’t.”

Dwayne says the partnership model includes a commitment to minimising costly downtime. Waste Initiatives backs every installation with a national service network and locally stocked spare parts in New South Wales and Victoria.

“No one wants to hear their machine is down and parts are months away,” he says. “We keep critical components on hand and technicians on call to get systems back online fast.” is proactive support for longterm reliability is central to the company’s de ning strength. By transforming waste challenges into circular opportunities, Waste Initiatives helps producers achieve less land ll and greater recovery, while helping processors achieve higher throughput and lower maintenance.

“Our partnerships with customers are built on trust, performance and shared goals,” Dwayne says. “Whether you’re making the product or processing the waste, Waste Initiatives is here to help turn challenges into circular opportunities.”

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

A recycling system designed by Waste Initiatives has reduced waste to landfill at Shoalhaven.

Waste Initiatives backs every installation with a national service network.

Investing in reliability

JR Hammer recently purchased a new granulator from Applied Machinery, revolutionising the way it operates.

Operating in a sector where precision and consistency dictate environmental and economic outcomes, specialist recycler JR Hammer has spent the past few years re ning its production line to minimise downtime and maximise resource recovery.

Its latest investment, a Genox Granulator integrated into its existing system, marked a step in improving

In the northern suburb of omastown, Victoria, JR Hammer o ers end-of-life solutions for copper cables, mixed PVC and other plastic insulation formulas.

“We don’t just recycle the metals, we recycle the whole cable, so the polymers as well as the metals,” says Josh.

GRANULAR SUCCESS

Josh says at the time he had little experience in new technologies and so began working closely with machinery specialist Peter Koueik, Sales Manager of the Recycling Division at Applied Machinery.

Together, they reviewed the production process, identifying key issues and exploring the best long-term solutions. ey concluded the best path forward

Steven Douglas, Service Manager Recycling Division at Applied Machinery, Peter Koueik, Sales Manager Recycling Division at Applied Machinery and Josh Robinson, Managing Director and Founder of JR Hammer. Images: Prime Creative Media

“ ere were leakage points and dust factors inside our factory that we needed to get on top of,” says Josh.

“We looked at updating another couple of our units before we got this granulator and decided it would act as one unit, in a series of additional units, that will help JR Hammer achieve our long-term goals.”

He says operations have greatly improved since the installation of the Genox Granulator.

One of the biggest di erences is a reduction in downtime.

“Before the granulator, operations could be down for up to two weeks, depending on what needed to be done,” he says.

“A simple grid changeover that should be a ve-minute job would usually take an hour.”

Much of that unreliability stemmed from the design of the previous granulator and its internal components, which, Josh says, were prone to damage.

In contrast, the new Genox system incorporates design improvements that prevent such failures.

Josh says the engineering extends beyond reliability, it’s also improved the day-to-day experience for JR Hammer’s workforce.

“ e new granulator has electric hydraulic systems, which help our team open and close the machine by themselves without needing me there,” he says.

“ at means they can now handle screen changes or blade adjustments on their own.”

e impact on throughput has been equally positive. Josh has noticed a signi cant decrease in downtime because there are no breakdowns.

e Genox Granulator has also played a key role in improving energy e ciency and overall sustainability, two priorities that underpin JR Hammer’s operations.

“ e old granulator was out of balance, so it used more energy,” says Josh. “We had a diesel generator

previously so the amount of diesel we are using has decreased. Because the new machine is more e cient and has a larger chamber, the material throughput is more consistent.”

TRUSTED PARTNERS

JR Hammer’s commitment to improvement doesn’t end there. e company has ordered an additional piece of equipment, not yet released to the market by Applied Machinery, as part of its ongoing investment program.

Building on lessons learned from previous systems, the team is now prioritising energy e ciency.

“Our current shredder system is a rebranded Genox model, but the wear and tear on that, plus my own early learning in maintenance, had deteriorated it quite signi cantly over many years,” says Josh.

“Our throughput and the types of cables we’re now recycling are far greater, so we needed something more suitable to manage heavier-duty cables.”

Applied Machinery has introduced JR Hammer to a new shredder that not only meets operational needs but also o ers a chance to help bring the company’s o erings to the market.

Peter says the acquisition of future additional equipment will work in conjunction with the granulator. When it comes to investing in untested equipment, trust in the supplier plays a pivotal role.

For JR Hammer, its relationship with Applied Machinery has provided that assurance.

“I have a great working relationship with Applied Machinery, so if they’re standing by it, then it must be good,” Josh says.

“ ey’ve supported us through every step of the process, from identifying problems to implementing solutions.”

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

The granulator has helped the JR Hammer team reduce downtime because there are no breakdowns.

Ready to shred

How McCloskey Environmental’s ES-250 is helping waste operators cut air voids and boost recovery.

Tit comes to waste management, every minute counts.

To continue providing premium construction equipment across the waste management sector, Tutt Bryant is now stocking the McCloskey Environmental ES-250 shredder.

Paul Doran, National Business Development Manager for Tutt Bryant, says having the ES-250 readily available, gives operators the ability to act fast when opportunity strikes.

“ ere are so many di erent applications where it can provide a reliable primary shred to knock material down into a manageable size,”

Paul says. “It’s an all-rounder machine that can be used across municipal waste, construction and demolition waste, mattresses, and green waste.”

o ers a compact footprint and impressive mobility, making it suitable for both permanent and mobile operations.

“It can very easily be put on a oat and transported between sites or tracked around a land ll,” Paul says.

“ ere are two di erent tracking speeds, so if operators need to move it quickly across the other side of the site for another shredding run, they can.”

machine to their needs thanks to two knife con gurations – an eight-knife or 10-knife set – depending on the desired nal product size.

“ e knives are welded on and hardfaced to keep them in top condition,” he explains. “ ey’re designed to deliver a high-torque tearing action that breaks down material into a smaller, more

The ES-250 weighs 35 tonnes, making it suitable for both permanent and mobile operations. Images: Tutt Bryant

The ES-250 can be used across a wide range of applications, including managing landfill and council waste.

e result is a shredder capable of handling a wide range of materials, from land ll and council waste to green waste, construction and demolition (C&D) debris, cardboard, and paper.

With di erent shredding programs available, operators can con gure the ES-250 to match their speci c waste stream and throughput requirements.

Paul says one of the most signi cant bene ts of the ES-250 is its ability to help operators optimise both transport and land ll e ciency.

By reducing waste into smaller, denser volumes, operators can make better use of the reduced air space, both on trucks and in land lls.

“If the shredded waste is knocked down to a smaller, more manageable size, operators can reduce air voids in the truck,” Paul says. “ at means they can t more material per load and reduce transport costs.

“At the land ll end, higher density means operators can compact more waste into the same area.”

Paul says this is a crucial advantage in today’s landscape, where developing new land ll sites has become increasingly di cult.

“Given how hard it is to get new land lls approved, operators need to maximise the capacity of the ones we already have,” he says.

Beyond logistics, shredding also enhances separation during downstream processing.

“When the material is broken up properly, it makes it easier to extract recyclables from the waste stream via picking or other separating methods like trommels,” Paul says.

“ at improves recovery rates and helps operators divert more material from land ll.”

GOING GREEN

Sustainability is at the heart of the ES-250’s design. Paul says having the option of diesel or electric versions gives

changer,” he says.

“It’s got all the power of a hydraulic shredder, but it uses less fuel, produces lower emissions, and runs much more quietly. at makes it ideal for indoor or enclosed applications, where exhaust fumes can be a problem.”

Tutt Bryant has embraced its ‘green range’ of crushing and screening equipment, which includes hybrid and electric options, designed to help operators reduce their carbon footprint without sacri cing performance.

“Our customers like that they can be more e cient and lower their production costs at the same time,” Paul says.

“If they can also reduce their emissions and improve their environmental performance, that’s a win-win. It makes them more competitive while supporting their sustainability goals.”

e McCloskey Environmental ES-250 is also equipped with advanced telematics and digital eet management tools that bring greater transparency to operations.

“ e machine’s telematics system lets operators monitor everything from fuel and electricity usage to emissions,” Paul says. “Operators can see their performance data in real time on the

is feature helps companies track their environmental performance, optimise e ciency, and produce accurate sustainability reports.

“It’s ideal for businesses that need to demonstrate compliance or report on fuel and emissions performance,” Paul says. “It’s all there, ready to be exported and analysed.”

Tutt Bryant’s service network ensures customers have access to the expertise and spare parts they need to keep operations running smoothly.

“McCloskey Environmental equipment falls under our crushing and screening division,” Paul says.

“We have a dedicated team with the experience to maintain, repair, and diagnose issues with shredders. We’ve invested heavily in stocking parts for the ES-250 to make sure customers are covered for the rst few years of operation.”

With most replacement parts already in stock and delivery times as short as one week, Tutt Bryant is committed to minimising downtime.

“If someone purchases an ES-250 today, we can usually have it delivered and ready for work within a week,” Paul says.

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

ith two di erent tracking speeds and two knife configurations, the ES-250 is as versatile as they come.

New frontiers

Ennovo leverages its land ll gas expertise to navigate the changing waste landscape.

The ground beneath Australia’s traditional waste management sector is shifting.

Ambitious 2030 national waste reduction targets and the removal of organic waste from land ll is rede ning the land ll business model. e most immediate fallout is the reduction in land ll gas generation rates, forcing operators to rethink capital (CapEx) and operating expenditure, and the impact on future revenue.

e change is opening new opportunities for adaptable operators like environmental management company Ennovo.

Ennovo is known for its technologydriven solutions for the waste management, renewable energy, and contaminated land industries.

Managing Director Ben Dearman

says the company’s expansion into the recycled organics space is less a change of direction and more a logical way of complementing its long-standing work in land ll services.

e company’s move is underpinned by the development of its CarbonAir System – an automated control platform designed to support forced aeration systems and streamline the composting process. e technology can be applied to very simple static and turned windrows, tunnels, or compost halls, o ering a exible solution to better manufacture a consistently highquality product in shorter timeframes.

While the technology provides the necessary processing muscle, Ennovo’s new focus is on supporting and driving market pull for the resulting material, rather than just market push.

“We run the risk of being able to collect and process all this organic material, which is great, but we don’t necessarily have well established markets for it,” Ben says.

“We’ve always been aware that the reduction in gas generated at land ll is a possibility. We have started to see reductions on some of the land lls that we manage, and we have had some clients come to us looking for help to process organics that will no longer end up in land ll.

“With the development of the CarbonAir technology we’ve been able to demonstrate that our experience in land ll services –from EPA (Environment Protection Authority) licensing and regulatory support to environmental monitoring requirements and carbon credit

Ennovo is known for its technology-driven solutions for the waste management, renewable energy, and contaminated land industries. Images: Ennovo

management – is transferable across to recycled organics.”

Ennovo has taken on key people to drive the new division, leveraging Ben’s own 25 years of experience in composting.

For clients seeking to process increasing amounts of diverted organic material, Ennovo o ers designs and processes to better manufacture products that can be successfully sold into dedicated markets.

Ben says this requires a deep understanding of the inputs and outputs, combining both science and market foresight.

“It’s looking at the feedstock inputs into the compost itself and knowing what type of end product that’s going to make, both physically and from a nutrient content perspective,” he says.

“But it’s also understanding which markets are going to use those products, whether it’s horticulture, broadacre, home garden or something that’s more speci c, as well as how they are going to use these products.”

An emphasis on identifying and securing end markets is one of the company’s core strengths, which stems directly from the Ennovo team which has expertise in this area.

Ben says having a large team of experts working across the industry enables the identi cation of innovative practices and fosters close collaboration with agronomy service providers. is strategic alignment strengthens the connection between processed organics and premium agricultural applications. e importance of this market connection was highlighted in a recent case where a client was processing very high carbon, woodbased materials.

Ennovo recommended adding high-strength organic waste to the mix to dramatically increase a particular nutrient component, thereby

e run the risk o eing a le to collect and process all this organic material ut we don t necessarily have well esta lished markets or it.

Ben Dearman, Ennovo Managing Director

improving its value proposition to local horticultural industries.

Ben says this approach ensures that while the total market size for compost is vast, products are speci cally manufactured for guaranteed end-use.

He says the impact of organics diversion is not a distant threat; it’s already changing the calculus for land ll operators.

“ is shift is going to impact the capital expenditure (CapEx) and

operating expenditure (OpEx) decisions of land ll operators,” he says.

“ ey absolutely need to forecast this real impact as the community is encouraged to remove organics, especially food waste, from the waste stream. Operators won’t necessarily become composters, that work may be undertaken by third parties.”

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

Science and market foresight allow Ennovo to understand the feedstock inputs into compost and determine what type of end product it’s going to make.

ES-250 & ES-250e

Tackling Tough Waste

The McCloskey environmental ES-250 and ES250e tracked primary shredders are engineered for heavy-duty performance across a wide range of waste applications, including mattresses, wood, construction and demolition debris, green waste, municipal solid waste, and tyres. Designed to process materials that vary in size, composition, and density, both models feature dual asynchronous shafts with counter-rotating knives, keeping material in constant motion to prevent bridging and ensure consistent, high-throughput shredding. Whether powered by diesel (ES-250) or electric (ES-250e), these machines deliver the hallmark McCloskey reliability, efficiency, and versatility that operators depend on to keep production moving.

Chasing one million tonnes

As demand or long-term solutions to waste challenges intensi es,

Maintaining the status quo is not an option for SOILCO.

e family-founded business, which has more than 50 years of organics recycling experience, is pursuing national expansion with an ambition to become an Australiawide resource recovery platform that processes more than a million tonnes of organics every year.

is push is already reshaping the East Coast, underpinned by strategic acquisitions and green eld developments. Charlie Emery, Chief Executive O cer of SOILCO, says the growth strategy is focused on replicating SOILCO’s successful New South Wales’ network comprising large-scale regional facilities

supported by urban aggregation points. After more than 25 years in the business and six years on the Australian Organics Recycling Association (AORA) board, Charlie is excited to see SOILCO cross state lines and make a signi cant contribution to land ll diversion.

AORA’s Economic Contribution of the Australian Organics Recycling Industry 2023-24 report reveals the challenge facing Australia’s organics recycling sector.

In the 2023-24 nancial year, Australia generated an estimated 14.9 million tonnes of organic waste. While the industry recycled a substantial 7.7 million tonnes and recovered another 1.6 million tonnes through energy, the

overall national recycling rate stood at 51.4 per cent. is means 5.7 million tonnes of valuable organic material was still sent to land ll.

Despite these hurdles, the Australian organics recycling industry is a powerful economic and environmental contributor, providing more than 5000 jobs and contributing $843 million in industry value to the Australian economy in 2023-24.

e industry is not only performing strongly but is also poised for growth. With the continuing focus on source separation of organics, the sector is ready to meet the ever-increasing volume of organics that need to be diverted from land ll.

SOILCO’s acquisition of Martins Fertilizers in Yass, New South Wales, allows the business to expand its distribution network and markets. Images: SOILCO

e report states that achieving higher recycling rates would unlock immense bene ts: reaching a 90 per cent recycling rate, for instance, is projected to generate an extra $2.0 billion in sales, provide more than 4000 extra jobs, and result in massive additional greenhouse gas savings.

To achieve these bene ts requires substantial private sector investment and decisive action from industry leaders. is forward momentum is embodied by SOILCO, which is directly contributing to the future by investing in new capacity.

In 2025, the company entered the Victorian market by acquiring e Good Dirt Company. e acquisition secured a licensed 350-hectare site near Melbourne, which is operating as SOILCO Lethbridge.

While the original operation focused on agricultural waste streams including chicken manure, Charlie says the goal is to use and expand the 48,000-tonne licence to also process kerbside organics, supporting Victoria’s advanced FOGO journey.

“ e location ensures SOILCO continues to strengthen its access to high quality organic feedstocks that will meet the requirements of our customers and the soil improvement needs of our communities,” he says. Further north, SOILCO’s acquisition of Martins Fertilizers, a large-scale bagging facility in New South Wales,

allows the business to expand its distribution network and markets. Simultaneously, the company has been progressing its green eld developments in South East Queensland.

“We’re delivering much-needed infrastructure that future proofs our industry,” says Charlie.

“With that infrastructure comes con dence that the services are t for purpose and sustainable.”

SOILCO has now received all environmental approvals for its 161-hectare Bromelton Compost Manufacturing Facility in Scenic Rim, Queensland. With intersection and road works underway and the tender for the facility build progressing, the project is on track to become operational in the second half of 2026.

Queensland is also the planned home for SOILCO’s Pinkenba facility, where infrastructure works are progressing to deliver a transfer station in 2026. e goal, Charlie says, is to receive a diverse array of waste streams at the transfer station, and to transfer organic material toward large regional facilities like Bromelton for processing. e facilities aim to ll a gap for councils seeking a solution for organic waste in the region.

Charlie says councils have been “supportive and pragmatic” and SOILCO has secured several long-term

contracts, a crucial requirement for justifying major infrastructure builds.

“We’ve been impressed by how supportive council and government bodies have been to help us move our Victorian and Queensland projects forward,” he says.

“Queensland has fantastic transfer station infrastructure which is run by the councils or co-managed with a private waste company, so they understand the realities of our industry on the ground. ey understand what’s a risk, and what isn’t, and they’re willing to share that risk.”

However, Charlie says that there are still hurdles to overcome. Many council contracts are structured as panels, meaning the provider is not necessarily guaranteed tonnes.

“In order to justify builds like these, there needs to be a minimum guarantee,” he says. “Some small tweaks to the existing procurement process in Queensland would help ensure that the necessary infrastructure can be built.”

e company also advocates for hypothecation of the state’s land ll levy, arguing that while councils receive grant funding, more direct support to the private sector would help build critical processing infrastructure.

is is particularly timely given the lead-up to the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, which “demands twenty- rst-century waste infrastructure”.

With more opportunities and acquisitions on the horizon, the overarching goal for SOILCO is clear:

“We want to be a national resource recovery platform that processes more than one million tonnes each year,” Charlie says, con rming SOILCO has more than just organics in its sights.

“We are considering other waste streams and other verticals, and we have a plan to get there by 2029.”

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

Brendan Knight, of the Mununjali Ngari Indigenous Dance Group, performing a smoking ceremony in preparation for the intersection and roadworks at the Bromelton Compost Manufacturing Facility.

Turning Waste into Tomorrow’s Sustainable Transport Fuel

Advanced Methanol Production and Greenhouse Facility Proposed for Kandos

Methanol Production for the World’s Shipping Industry

Cenagen using a patented process will manufacture green methanol processed engineered fuel made from residual household and business waste, helping to decarbonise the world’s shipping industry.

Greenhouse cropping to help achieve net zero emissions

Carbon dioxide, a byproduct from the methanol production process will be beneficially used in a large-scale enclosed greenhouse complex to assist in the commercial production of fresh produce and cut flowers.

Changing the game

A new force in Australian waste and resource recovery is emerging – one that’s ready to challenge conventional approaches and drive meaningful change.

With robust global backing and decades of international operational expertise, Valoriza is not just entering the organics recycling space – it’s positioning itself as a catalyst for a sustainable circular economy in Australia’s waste services sector.

Owned by Spain’s Valoriza Servicios Medioambientales, a major waste and resource recovery player in Europe, Valoriza’s facility in Dandenong South, Victoria, is a signi cant asset in the region’s waste infrastructure.

e in-vessel Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) treatment facility came online in 2019 and continues to deliver end-to-end FOGO composting services to the southeast councils in Melbourne, where the facility team receive, process and provide a quality-assured product into local markets for value adding and bene cial reuse.

A pivotal moment in Valoriza’s Australian strategy came in late 2023, when its Spanish parent company was acquired from Sacyr by global investment rm Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners (MSIP). is acquisition sharpened the group’s focus on the waste services sector and injected signi cant nancial strength into its operations. Valoriza’s vertically integrated business in Spain spans collections, recycling, and advanced thermal and biological treatments.

Michael Allaway, Valoriza Country Head for Australia, says the MSIP backing and global know-how of the Spanish business will be a strong catalyst to support growth in Australia.

“It gives us a lot more nancial horsepower behind the operations,” he says. “In addition, there’s a broad range of innovative technology within the Spanish business that we can access and adapt for the Australian market.

“Spain’s waste treatment infrastructure evolution is ahead of

facility. e optimisation program includes a $3.6 million investment plan to be rolled out by the end of 2026, as well as enhancing operating practices and strategically repositioning the facility in the Melbourne organics recycling market.

Michael says the goal is to move

Michael Allaway (second from right) with the Valoriza facility leadership team. Images: aloriza

e facility currently produces an AS 4454-certi ed composted product primarily used by market gardeners, farmers and soil yards and is working with partners to develop sustainable product and bene cial reuse solutions for the more complicated oversize materials.

While FOGO waste contamination remains a key area of focus, Michael says Valoriza’s council customers are signi cantly reducing this complexity through proactive engagement within their local communities to in uence improved recycling behaviours.

“ e Dandenong facility is designed to remove as much contamination as possible before composting begins,” Michael says. “Our quality assurance regime is stringent because we’re dealing with highly variable input.”

e facility, which is licensed for 120,000 tonnes a year, currently processes about 85,000 tonnes of FOGO and commercial food.

Valoriza has empowered the facility’s leadership team to drive the improvement and optimisation mandate from within.

Victoria’s maturity in FOGO processing – dating back over a decade – provides a strong foundation for Valoriza’s national growth strategy. e company aims to leverage operational insights from Dandenong to support emerging FOGO initiatives in New South Wales, South East Queensland, and Western Australia, as they evolve their own FOGO transition journeys.

But the biggest opportunity for value lies in closing the loop entirely by working with the councils Valoriza contracts with.

“We are starting to engage with council customers about the changes we’re making. We want to bring them into our business to understand how our facility works and how it interfaces with their requirements,” Michael says. “An example is the explorative

“We’re particularly focused on developing value-added products that can be reintegrated into local communities.”

Michael Allaway, Valoriza Country Head Australia

conversations we’re beginning to have with some council customers about working together in the circular procurement space, which is progressing well. We’re particularly focused on developing value-added products that can be reintegrated into local communities. Partnering with local soil blending operators and councils is key to achieving this.”

One of Valoriza’s ve-year goals is to become a national leading vertically integrated organics company, an ambition that includes actively looking at acquiring complementary businesses across the country.

Valoriza envisions a national waste industry committed to sustainable transformation.

“ ere’s an exciting opportunity in the Australian market,” Michael says. “ ere’s a lot of change happening in the waste sector, as well as lots of challenges, and it’s a very good time to be positioning Valoriza to move forward in this industry.

“We thrive in complexity and strive to unite stakeholders, who don’t typically collaborate, to deliver real, lasting change.”

The in-vessel FOGO treatment facility came online in 2019 and delivers end-to-end FOGO composting services to southeast councils in Melbourne.

Cultivating a circular future

In a push toward a more sustainable future, Pure Environmental aims to transform how Australia thinks about waste, turning organics into opportunity through science, innovation, and a deep understanding of the land.

As Australia moves toward a more circular economy, Pure Environmental says the recovery and reuse of organic waste is emerging as one of the most promising areas for sustainable transformation.

A leader in resource recovery and regulated waste management, Pure is using scienti c expertise and handson agronomic knowledge to drive innovation in soil health, composting, and waste recovery.

Kali Martin, General Manager of Organics, says a blend of formal quali cations and real-world agricultural experience within the team gives Pure a unique edge. A mix of science and practicality has shaped how the company approaches every stage of its operations, from compost production to end-market development.

“We have sought to recruit people who have quali cations as well as

experience working in the eld,” Kali says. “Quali cations are really important from a technical and scienti c perspective, but the skills and experience are equally as important.”

Kali highlights the recent appointment of Pure NV Compost Business Development Manager Brett Kelly. Brett’s long history in agricultural and farming industries strengthens the company’s deep understanding of converting organic materials into compost.

THE PROCESS

Pure’s composting facility is strategically located within Queensland’s agricultural heartland. e facility accepts organic waste streams from South East Queensland, Brisbane, Ipswich, Toowoomba and Warwick to be transformed into

nutrient-rich soil products. Plant, animal and food-based organic waste streams are blended with carbon materials to make a unique and speci c recipe.

At this stage, the recipe undergoes a carefully managed composting cycle lasting 14 to 16 weeks.

Brett says Pure focuses on the natural microbial processes to ensure that its compost is not only safe and stable but also rich in organic matter essential for soil health.

“We adhere to AS 4454 standards, the Australian Standard for composts, soil conditioners, and mulches,” he says.

“ is means everything is tested and complies to Australian standards at all times.”

By transforming organic waste into compost, the company contributes directly to carbon emission reduction and land ll diversion goals.

Pure Environmental sits at the intersection of waste management, resource recovery, and agricultural productivity. Images: Pure Environmental

“We are stopping waste from going to land ll by converting it into a usable organic product,” Brett says.

“ at product is then put back into farming and landscaping industries providing bene ts that would have otherwise been lost.”

Pure also invests in communicating product safety and value to councils, farmers, and other stakeholders.

All nutrients, organic matter, and potential contaminants are thoroughly analysed with regular testing of compost. Brett says the results consistently show that the manufactured product is t for purpose and meets or exceeds requirements under the compost standards.

“We make it a priority to communicate this assurance to our users, as well as helping them to understand what they should be asking for in a test report,” he says.

“While the product can be somewhat dusty and should not be inhaled or ingested, it is completely free from harmful pathogens that could pose any health risks.”

ADVANCING THE QUEENSLAND WASTE SECTOR

Pure sits at the intersection of waste management, resource recovery, and agricultural productivity.

Kali says there is enormous potential for policy to support a stronger organics recycling market. She is hoping to see advancements in Queensland’s revised waste strategy, due to be released end of year.

“We provided feedback on the draft revision, so we are excited to work collaboratively with local government, state government and the industry to progress the future of the sector,” she says.

“If the industry isn’t on board with helping deliver national and state waste targets, we’re just not going to get there.”

THE FUTURE OF COMPOSTING

According to Brett, the future of waste management and soil science is about reconnecting to natural systems.

“When I started 25 years ago, synthetic fertilisers and chemicals were a part of everything I did,” he says.

“As an industry we have slowly realised that is not the answer, our soil systems must be improved.

“If we continue depleting the natural nutritional ability of our soils, they are going to be unhealthy.”

He says organic waste recovery plays a vital role in that restoration.

“Our process converts waste into a carbon and organic-rich material that boosts microbial activity in the soil,” Brett says.

“Fundamentally, if our soils are healthier, our plants are healthier, our animals that are eating grass or grain are healthier, and therefore humans are going to be healthier.”

As Pure continues to grow, its model demonstrates how science-based waste recovery can deliver both environmental and agricultural value.

By investing in soil health, strengthening end markets, and collaborating with governments, the company is helping to build the circular future Queensland and Australia are striving for.

Pure Environmental’s composting facility is strategically located within Queensland’s agricultural heartland.

Pure Environmental accepts organic waste streams from South East Queensland, Brisbane, Ipswich, Toowoomba and Warwick.

Cenagen fuels tomorrow

An Australian town uilt on concrete could now pioneer a glo al circular economy rst.

The former Cement Australia cement works once supplied the material that hardened the foundations of modern Sydney, including the iconic Harbour Bridge and Opera House.

Now, the sprawling industrial site, inactive since 2011, is preparing to forge a di erent kind of legacy: a groundbreaking, global- rst industrial integration set to rede ne resource recovery, sustainable fuel production, and food security in Australia.

Behind the proposal is an Australianowned company, Cenagen, that is focused on developing sustainable, net zero emission solutions using world’s best practice technology for

the manufacturing of alternative fuels to support the decarbonisation of the economy.

In one of the largest industrialrenewal projects in New South Wales’s history, the proposal will transform the former Kandos cement works, located one hour north-east of Bathurst, into an advanced methanol production and greenhouse facility.

Operations will use a patented process and advanced gasi cation technology to produce methanol from process engineered feedstock manufactured from residual household and business waste that cannot be recycled.

Green methanol is a form of sustainable transport fuel that can be

used as an alternative to fossil-based fuels to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of transportation fuels and is in high demand by the world’s shipping industry, which is heavily reliant on diesel.

e facility will also include a largescale enclosed greenhouse complex, using captured carbon dioxide from the methanol production process to grow fresh produce and cut owers.

e proposal represents a $1 billion capital investment in the New South Wales economy and is expected to create 300 to 350 permanent fulltime jobs, revitalising local industry and supporting the state’s climate and sustainability goals.

“Cenagen is committed to working closely with the Kandos community to renew manufacturing at the former cement works,” says Jason O’Sullivan, Cenagen Chief Executive O cer.

“We are committed to designing and building a clean, world-class facility that builds on Kandos’ proud history.

“Our goal is to deliver a net zero emissions facility that will deliver longterm bene ts for the region, creating jobs, opportunities and a sustainable future.”

Due to signi cant amount of community interest in the proposal, Cenagen will host multiple community information events over the coming months in Kandos and Rylstone.

“We are working to have respectful and meaningful engagement, taking feedback and incorporating it as the project progresses,” Jason says.

A 3D render of the planned plant. Images: Cenagen

“We’re not just ticking a box, this is a commitment to having a positive impact and re ects our company’s ethos that we need to support the communities we join, not just the balance sheet.”

Cenagen is seeking community feedback on the proposal to include with the lodgement of a Scoping Report to include with a request for Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements from the Department of Planning, Housing and Industry.

“We have partnered with global engineering rm, WoodBeca, which has a strong track record in the engineering design of bioenergy, oil, gas, wood and bre developments,” Jason says.

“Specialist industrial planning rm JEP Environment & Planning will be leading the environmental assessment, community consultation and planning

“This is a commitment to having a positive impact and re ects our company s ethos that we need to support the communities we join, not just the alance sheet.

Jason O’Sullivan, Chief Executive Officer, Cenagen

application for the proposal. It has led some of the largest and most complex industrial development approvals in New South Wales’s history.”

A comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will then be developed providing detailed assessments of issues such as human health, noise, air quality, tra c and

access, hazards, re safety, hydrology, soil, water, waste management, biodiversity, Aboriginal cultural heritage, European heritage, visual impacts, landscaping, social and economic matters.

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

Cenagen will use existing infrastructure on the 50.29-hectare site, including a rail siding to transport waste.

Low-profile truck, high-rise solution

The face of Australian cities has changed dramatically over the past decade with inner-city living moving from traditional housing to highdensity apartment complexes.

e change brought with it a unique challenge for waste management: multiple large bins cluttering narrow footpaths and valuable on-street parking spaces because trucks were simply too large to access basement facilities.

For Melbourne-based waste management and recycling business Whelan Kartaway, addressing this problem required a new kind of vehicle, a gap lled by Garwood International’s Miner rear loading mobile refuse compactor.

Kartaway rst introduced the Miner into its eet in 2014, identifying the need to service the burgeoning mediumto-high-density housing sector. at demand has only grown, with townhouse and apartment construction stretching from Melbourne’s inner suburbs right out to the fringe.

Mark Whelan, Kartaway’s Director – Client Services, says the Miner’s introduction meant waste collectors could, for the rst time, safely access basement carparks and tight laneways thanks to its diminutive size – under 2.1 metres in height, just 1.9 metres wide, and with a light footprint starting from 6200 kilograms gross vehicle mass (GVM). is design, coupled with a unique two-stage bin-lifter tipping system, revolutionised how commercial

and residential waste could be collected from large 660-litre and 1100-litre bins.

“A few years back we were approached by the management at a large apartment complex in inner Melbourne that had a notoriously tight basement with a steep ramp,” Mark says. “ ey were told by many providers that they would need to source a bin tug and transport bins to a kerbside location for collection – a factor for which they had not budgeted.

“We had just brought on our rst Miner and were proud to provide a practical onsite demonstration of how it would allow us to service the property. Needless to say, we were contracted to provide waste management services

for the site, and we knew we had made the right call in bringing the Miner into our  eet.”

Initially, size and weight restrictions meant only one cab chassis was available on the market for the Miner. However, as vehicle development progressed, alternative solutions and increased weight-carrying options have emerged.

Garwood has since expanded its o ering, mounting larger bodies – now available in ve, six, seven and eight cubic metre capacity – on a range of low-entry chassis from 6200-kilogram GVM up to 8550-kilogram GVM, all while maintaining the sub-2.1 metre height restriction.

The Garwood Miner is Australia’s smallest rear load compactor body. Image: Whelan Kartaway

Ian Pinney, Garwood International Sales Manager for Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia, is con dent the Miner remains “by far the best in class and the only proven product on the market”.

For Kartaway, the decision to stick with the Miner has been repeatedly validated.

“Initially, the biggest bene t for us was the Miner’s compact size and manoeuvrability – it meant we could service tight laneways and basements where access was limited without negatively impacting residents and neighbours by blocking ingress or egress,” Mark says.

“But despite its size, it’s incredibly e cient, packing a proper compaction punch, which means we can service our clients more e ciently. We’ve tried other setups, but the Miner consistently delivers the right balance between size, payload, and performance. It has become an important part of our standard eet.”

He says the Miner’s standouts are its reliability and versatility – the same truck can be used for a range of collection types, from small 120-litre bins through to larger 1100-litre bins.

It’s well-built and has low maintenance costs, which “makes a big di erence when you’re running a busy eet”.

Drivers also like that it’s easy and safe to operate, with simple controls, great visibility, and a solid design.

“We have been pleasantly surprised by the reliability of the Miner and the positive feedback we have received from our drivers, who nd it comfortable and simple to operate,” Mark says.

For busy operators, downtime is a critical cost. Kartaway’s reliance on the Miner is backed by strong support from Garwood International.

“Garwood has always been really responsive,” Mark says. “If we’ve ever

needed parts or technical advice, they’ve been straight onto it.

“ eir team understands the industry, they know we can’t have a truck sitting around waiting on a small component. at level of support gives us con dence to keep investing in their equipment and allows us to continue to provide the high level of service our clients have come to expect.”

Ultimately, the Garwood Miner’s enduring success is de ned by a simple, practical fact:

“If your work involves medium-density housing, narrow access, or commercial waste routes with limited space, it’s hard to go past the Miner,” Mark says. “It’s not over-engineered, it just does what it’s supposed to do, day in, day out. For Kartaway, that’s exactly what we need.”

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

Taking AI kerbside

Computer vision is the new frontline against kerbside contamination, reducing costs and re risks. ut what does it really mean or local government

The spiralling cost and increasing danger posed by kerbside contamination have reached a tipping point, forcing local governments and processors to nd solutions beyond traditional methods.

CleanBins is an arti cial intelligencepowered waste monitoring solution developed by Melbourne company Alliance Software. Alex Green, Chief Executive O cer, and Naser Soueid, General Manager, give some insight into the new technology and its use.

THE PROBLEM

How much is contamination costing councils and ratepayers and why can’t traditional bin tagging solve it?

Contamination creates three major nancial drains: increased gate fees, cost of decontamination, and a loss of material value. Heavily contaminated loads often go straight to land ll, where disposal costs can be more than three times higher per tonne. Processors must hire sta and invest in mechanical separation just to make a saleable

product. Uncontaminated compost is a signi cantly more valuable commodity. Demand-based analysis conducted using the CSIRO Adopt toolkit demonstrates that avoiding visual levels of contamination in compost increases the material value and adoption by 10 fold.

Traditional bin tagging fails at scale due to logistical complexity and intense labour demands. CleanBins overcomes this by monitoring all bins continuously, directing e orts only to the bins and hopper loads that matter.

CleanBins uses computer vision to identify and track waste contamination at the household level – providing councils with population-wide, high-quality data to better manage their waste streams. Image: Daria Nipot/shutterstock.com

What are the risks and costs of hazardous items being incorrectly disposed of in kerbside bins ?

An enormous and increasing safety risk comes from hazardous items (like batteries) incorrectly disposed of in kerbside bins, causing millions of dollars of re damage in trucks and facilities, increasing insurance premiums, and risking worker harm. CleanBins can detect hazardous and/or ignition events as soon as they occur, providing timely warnings and an audit trail to make collection safer. Undetected hazardous material also risks massive cleanup costs and reputational damage.

DOES IT WORK?

What is AICD (Arti cial Intelligence Contamination Detection), and how do you ensure accuracy while processing waste in real-time on a moving vehicle?

CleanBins uses AICD, relying on computer vision that has advanced signi cantly over the past ve years. e platform ensures accuracy on moving vehicles through internal tools that perform statistical analysis, identify failure cases, and rapidly deploy xes. e system evolves and improves every collection.

With deployment in six councils, what results are you seeing?

e biggest insight is that the majority of contamination is a result of rare, but heavily contaminated bins, often contributed by individual residences. is strongly supports the case for regular, targeted interventions, which the technology provides the auditability to execute e ectively.

Will AICD replace manual audits?

While CleanBins is incredible for a huge volume of timely, accurate and actionable data, it is a vision-based technology. For streams such as general waste, where goods are commonly presented in plastic bags, debagging and manual audits will still be the gold standard.

Computer vision as a technology has come a long way in the past ve years and has a lot o tools to ensure its ro ustness.

The plat orm is continuously evolving and improving with every new collection.

Naser Soueid, General Manager, CleanBins

IMPLEMENTATION

What would a trial in my local government area look like?

An initial trial involves equipping a small number of trucks (one to three) to collect benchmarking data on contamination levels. e council then performs a targeted intervention in that area, using follow-up data analysis to directly measure the intervention’s e ectiveness. A trial running six to nine months allows a council to conduct multiple experiments and build a case for a full rollout.

What’s required of my eet, contractor or drivers? What equipment goes on the truck?

e hardware, a street-facing and hopper-facing camera with a small server box, is completely independent of existing truck systems, requiring only a power connection. Fit out takes about four hours.

How do council sta use the platform day-to-day?

Veri cation: Human veri cation of gross contamination. Intervention: E cient generation and dispatch of residence communication, integrating with existing CRM systems. Reporting: Providing trends, behaviours, and intervention performance data.

RETURN ON INVESTMENT (ROI) AND ACTION

How do councils measure ROI – is it contamination reduction, enforcement savings, or regulatory compliance? All the above! CleanBins expands what councils can do while reducing the cost and e ort of existing activities. e biggest driver is regulation; more e ective, targeted interventions reduce the frequency of penalties, excess disposal costs, and the higher costs associated with enforcement.

e data distills tens of thousands of collections into actionable insights. How do councils use this to comply with evolving state and federal waste regulations? CleanBins has two elements – the rst is the raw data collection, the second is the creation of rules to determine what those ‘actionable events’ are. As state and federal regulations change and councils with CleanBins become aware of what future regulations will be, they can proactively set up rules to understand how those new regulations will a ect them and take real measurements on the ground even before the regulations come into e ect.

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

Recycling innovation shines

Soft plastics, food waste, and regional safety lead the list of boundary-pushing winners at the 2025 Waste Innovation and Recycling Awards.

The Waste Innovation and Recycling Awards (WIRA) night is a moment of recognition that celebrates the pioneers, projects, and facilities driving Australia’s circular economy forward.

is year industry leaders gathered in Melbourne to witness the culmination of another year of innovation. While the core mission remains the transition away from linear consumption, the stories emerging from the award winners revealed an industry actively solving the nation’s most complex material challenges, from  nding scalable solutions for soft plastics to improving safety in regional operations.

e 2025 awards weren’t just a ceremony; they were a statement on the health and direction of Australia’s resource recovery future.

2025 WASTE INNOVATION AND RECYCLING AWARD WINNERS:

OUTSTANDING WARR PROJECT: REGIONAL

Contained Waste Solutions and Gunnedah Shire Council

e Gunnedah Waste Management Facility in north-western New South Wales transformed its operations by implementing an LBin Waste Transfer Station.

Previously, the public deposited waste directly at the land ll, creating safety and compliance challenges. Traditional waste transfer systems proved costly and underperformed in key areas. e LBin solution addressed these issues e ectively, delivering safer, compliant operations at

a fraction of the cost while surpassing performance expectations.

OUTSTANDING WARR PROJECT: METRO

Veolia EarthPower Upgrade

e EarthPower Upgrade Project represents a major advancement in Sydney’s sustainable waste management.

Led by Veolia, the project modernised anaerobic digestion technology to increase biogas production and eliminate the need for imported electricity.

By turning food waste into renewable energy and nutrient-rich soil conditioner, the initiative demonstrates a strong commitment to circular economy principles and environmental leadership.

Supported by the Environmental Trust under the New South Wales

Industry turned out to help celebrate the waste, recycling and resource recovery sector’s night of nights. Images: Nic Roberts Media

Environment Protection Authority’s Waste Less, Recycle More initiative, the EarthPower upgrade positions Sydney at the forefront of resource recovery innovation.

OUTSTANDING FACILITY OF THE YEAR

Soft Plastic Engineered Commodity (SPEC) Facility, iQRenew iQRenew’s Soft Plastic Engineered Commodity (SPEC) facility represents Australia’s rst at-scale, purpose-built infrastructure dedicated exclusively to processing 100 per cent household soft plastics.

Located near Taree, on the New South Wales mid coast, this more than $17 million facility transforms Australia’s most challenging waste stream into three main products: spec pellets, spec ake and spec shred.

Commissioned in July 2024 after ve years of research and development, SPEC processes 15,000 tonnes annually (expanding to 24,000 tonnes) with an 80 per cent yield rate.

e facility directly addresses Australia’s soft plastics crisis by processing legacy material stock, return to store and bag-in-a-bin collected soft plastics. e facility has given Soft Plastic Stewardship

Australia the con dence to commence establishing an Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

SUCCESS OF THE YEAR

(PROUDLY SPONSORED BY VISY)

Surf Coast Shire Council

Be a Good Sort: Know Your Bins

Be a Good Sort: Know Your Bins features a four-part video series that shows the journey of recycling, FOGO, glass, and general waste from home bins to their nal destinations.

e series highlights advanced sorting technology and the importance of correct bin use at home. By educating the community, the program reduces land ll waste, protects the environment, and keeps resources in use, contributing to Surf Coast Shire’s 71 per cent land ll diversion rate.

YOUNG PROFESSIONAL

OF THE YEAR (PROUDLY SPONSORED BY REMONDIS AUSTRALIA)

Linda Mitchell, Tyre Stewardship Australia

Dr Linda Mitchell is the Science, Research and Innovation Manager at Tyre Stewardship Australia and a nationally respected advocate for circular economy leadership.

With a PhD in chemistry and a Westpac Future Leaders Scholarship under her belt, Linda is known for her ability to translate complex environmental science into practical, scalable solutions.

Her work has reshaped national approaches to carbon accounting, product stewardship, and procurement standards, while amplifying the voice of science in public and policy discourse.

Linda is a passionate communicator, mentor and role model – making technical pathways more accessible to women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and the broader resource recovery sector.

INNOVATION AWARD

iQRenew, SPEC Facility

e iQRenew Soft Plastic Engineered Commodity (SPEC) Facility is Australia’s rst purpose-built site dedicated to processing 100 per cent post-consumer soft plastics.

Located on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, the facility can process 15,000 tonnes of soft plastics annually, supporting national recycling initiatives such as the Curby ‘bag-in-a-bin’ program.

Using advanced mechanical recycling technology, SPEC transforms soft plastics into high-grade feedstock tailored for

C-grade recycled materials, enabling the creation of a wide range of products from packaging lms to construction materials and park benches.

WOMAN OF WASTE (PROUDLY SPONSORED BY RE.GROUP)

Diani Chamathya Sirimewan, Monash University

Dr Diani Sirimewan is a pioneering researcher and lecturer whose work bridges advanced arti cial intelligence (AI) with sustainable construction and demolition waste (CDW) management.

She completed her PhD at Monash University, where she developed AIdriven computer vision frameworks to optimise waste recognition and handling in material recovery facilities.

Her leadership has delivered the rst publicly available dataset for CDW in skip bins and novel models such as WasteXtract, featured in leading journals and industry media.

Beyond research, Diani mentors future engineers, collaborates with industry partners, and advocates for circular economy practices, inspiring the next generation of women to lead in waste innovation.

Tomra Cleanaway

TOMRA Cleanaway, led by Chief Executive O cer James Dorney, operates container deposit schemes across New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania.

Since 2017, the team has returned more than 14.6 billion containers, reducing litter and avoiding an estimated 1.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide.

Recognised as a 2025 Australian Financial Review Sustainability Leader, TOMRA Cleanaway uses advanced sorting technology, digital innovation, and community partnerships to transform recycling, with more than 1000 collection points and nearly $86 million raised for charities.

LEADER OF THE YEAR

Darren orpe, Australian Paper Recovery (APR)

Darren orpe is the founder and Managing Director of Australian Paper Recovery (APR), a business built through grit, determination, and a drive to innovate the recycling industry.

Since starting APR as a one-man operation in 2002, Darren has grown it into a leader in resource recovery,

employing more than 85 sta and servicing more than 3000 customers.

His forward-thinking approach has helped evolve the industry – most recently through APR ChemCycle, a pioneering soft plastics recycling initiative.

Darren continues to push for practical, scalable solutions to reduce waste and support Australia’s shift to a circular economy.

WIAR WORKPLACE OF THE YEAR

Resource Hub

Resource Hub is a team of waste and resource recovery experts with more than 65 years of combined experience, delivering practical solutions across Australia.

e team helps clients turn operational opportunities into measurable results, providing remote administration, gatehouse and best-practice training, and comprehensive waste levy support.

Experienced auditors, Resource Hub improves operations and reduces compliance risks at land lls, transfer stations, and back-o ce functions for local government and commercial facilities nationwide.

SPONSORS

Sometimes more is more.

This year, SOILCO has taken another big step forward, expanding our operations, investing in infrastructure, and strengthening our capability to recycle more organics.

Our success is made possible by the support of our partners, customers and teams operating across the SOILCO Group.

More Sites. More Life-Giving Soil. More to Celebrate.

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Driving the circular economy forward

Waste Expo Australia 2025 delivered record growth and a sharp focus on future technology.

Waste Expo 2025 has demonstrated its vital role as the gravitational centre for the entire resource recovery sector, shattering previous attendance records and sharpening its strategic focus.

Sherri Pearson, Exhibition Director Waste Expo Australia, says the success of this year’s event was less about the sheer volume of attendees – though those numbers were impressive with more than 4200 people through the door – and more about the quality of the engagement and the clarity it o ered for an industry navigating a complex path toward Australia’s 2030 waste reduction targets.

e exhibition oor was buzzing throughout the two-day expo which o cially became the largest iteration of the event to date, hosting 153 exhibitors, an increase from 119 the previous year. is year the expo physically separated itself from the parallel All Energy event. While the move was partly necessitated by the need for more oor space, Sherri says it was also a de ning moment for the show’s strategic direction.

“Most people were in favour of the new move away from All Energy,” she says. “We still had over 500 people come through from All Energy – the

ones who were relevant to the waste industry – so the quantity of the leads was there, and it wasn’t diluted.”

She says the strategic separation meant that exhibitors were connecting with highly targeted visitors, optimising the time and investment spent on the oor.

Beyond the expanded trade oor, a major highlight was the enhanced content program. e quality of the content was deliberately tailored to match the evolving needs of the sector, ensuring that presentations were not only high calibre but directly relevant to the speci c challenges faced by attendees.

“We really customised the content. We try to ensure the topics are a mix of high-calibre presentations and information that is directly relevant to the visitors, the very people our exhibitors are looking to connect with,” Sherri says.

e commitment to delivering speci c, actionable insight was evident in the introduction of dedicated streams focusing on technology and safety, both critical pain points for the industry.

A new Government Lounge provided a fresh, designated space for organisations and regulatory bodies to engage directly with the public and private sectors.

A key indicator of the event’s success was the overwhelmingly positive

Record crowds attended the twoday conference held at Melbourne’s Convention and Exhibition Centre. Images: RX Global

mood on the oor and immediate commitment to next year’s show.

“Our rebooks are very strong,” Sherri says, “We’ve already got a lot of people booked in for next year’s event.”

She says a major element contributing to the event’s vibrancy was the partnership with the ecologiQ event.

e collaboration encompassed the whole circularity discussion, successfully bringing the sectors together.

“ecologiQ’s exhibitors are very relevant to the same audience that the waste exhibitors are, so they really bene ted from the partnership,” Sherri says. “By combining the two events, uniting resource recovery with recycled materials in infrastructure, we complete the circular economy, directly linking waste innovation to practical application.”

She says the overall vibe of the two days was optimistic, characterised

by intense discussion rather than simple browsing.

“ ere was a really positive energy,” she says. “ ere was a lot of discussions about what’s happening, a lot on the new precincts and how we can make companies better.

“ e audience itself is changing, re ecting the industry’s broadening in uence. e audience is increasingly spread across many industries because all parties have to play some role in reaching the government’s 2030 waste reduction targets.”

is broader participation is exactly what the event organisers hope to cultivate. e goal is to make the Waste Expo the essential annual meeting point where industry peers can gain new, insightful information and network with key leaders.

“ e success of Waste Expo Australia is driven by its ability to bring together

the most in uential players in the sector,” Sherri says.

“ e 2025 event was two days of jampacked content and full sessions – a lot with standing room only.

“ ere was such a great vibe on the  oor, I think it was a really insightful event.”

She says future editions will focus on expanding international reach and providing even more value to attendees and exhibitors.

Next year’s event will see exciting enhancements focused on the latest technologies and solutions being developed globally.

Waste Expo Australia will return to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on 28-29 October 2026.

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

Waste Expo 2025 was moved to larger premises to accommodate the more than 150 exhibitors.

The TANA Shark is designed for challenging waste streams, making light work of a variety of materials including tyres, commercial and industrial, construction and demolition, solid recovered fuel (SRF), plastics, mattresses and ragger wire.

Just one TANA Shark does the work of three machines, eliminating the need for separate preshredder, primary shredder and screen.

TANA SHARK enables full control over the particle size from 50 to 500 millimetres. Because it performs shredding in ust one pass it results in time and cost savings.

Adding or removing screens takes ust 10 minutes. Screen sizes are available from 50 millimetres through to 275 millimetres.

The TANA Control System (TCS) monitors and controls the machine functions and comes with 12 pre programmed operations for varying materials. tra customer specified programs can also be added to achieve optimal operating level and the desired output. For instance, overcharge pressure limits, rotor revs per minute and conveyor speed can be ad usted.

FORNNAX, ADVANCED SHREDDING SOLUTIONS

Superior recovered carbon black (rCB) begins with precision pre-processing. In tyre recycling, consistent and clean feedstock is critical to achieving high-quality rCB.

The process begins with the robust SR-Series primary shredders (high-torque, low-speed), reducing whole tyres to strips from 50 millimetre to 150 millimetres.

his is followed by the high e ciency R Series secondary shredders (heavy-duty, medium-speed). This critical stage produces clean, consistent rubber mulch between 20-30 millimetres, simultaneously achieving up to 98 per cent steel-free liberation and separation, vital for optimal continuous pyrolysis. he final refinement is handled by the R Series precision granulators, which produce high-purity rubber granules (0.8-4 millimetres) and liberate textile fibres with up to . per cent cleanliness. By combining state-of-the-art engineering, energye cient technology, and advanced material liberation technology, Fornnax ensures maximum yield and feedstock uniformity. The result is a consistent, high-quality input that optimises rCB recovery and supports a sustainable circular value chain.

Fornnax’s advanced shredding solutions ensure superior recovered carbon black. Image: Forrnax

GCM ENVIRO, TANA SHARK

The TANA Shark is designed for challenging waste streams. Image: TANA W

Still think climate change is a ‘con job?’

Climate change poses a predictable risk to Australia by 2050.

The waste and recycling sector offers a simple, overlooked, and high-impact solution. Mike Ritchie, Managing Director, MRA Consulting Group and Mia Thompson, Environmental Consultant, explain.

In September 2025 the Australian Climate Service published the National Climate Risk Assessment (NCRA) – a science-based assessment of the most signi cant climate risks facing Australia.

e assessment, published on behalf of the Federal Government, considered four key factors: climate hazards, exposure, vulnerability, and how we should respond.

e level of risk was identi ed on a scale from low to severe, assessing both the current risk and expected risk by the mid-term time horizon of 2050.

e NCRA also looked at di erent global warming levels with temperature thresholds of plus 1.5 degrees Celsius, plus two degrees, and plus three degrees.

Figure 1 (on Page 58) shows the systems most at risk are natural environment, Defence and national security, health and social support, and primary industries and food.

But note that by 2050, every system investigated is expected to be at high to severe risk.

Current emissions trajectories still put us on track for a plus three degree rise in temperature. We are not doing enough, fast enough.

Figure 2 lists 11 climate hazards that will increase in severity, frequency, and/or duration under rising temperatures.

Here are just a few salient predictions for plus three degrees to send chills down

your spine. And if not your spine, your kids’ spines, or their kids’. Your family, my family, your friends and neighbours.

Enough to denial.

We must act urgently.

Predictions:

1. Extreme heatwave days – plus 14 days each year.

2. Time spent in drought – up to 89 per cent increase for some areas.

3. Marine heatwaves increase by 161 days.

4. Frequency of coastal ooding increase by 193 days.

And these are with high data con dence levels. Pressure on farmers, business collapses, loss of the Great

Barrier Reef, loss of marine species, thousands of houses ooded regularly and on and on and on.

By 2050. No con job.

Physics.

Just like other physics in our lives –mobile phones, electricity, gravity, the orbits of planets. No belief required. It is about science. Not about beliefs. Whether you believe it or not is up to you. But the science is the science. We need to get on with climate action.

In the waste/recycling sector that comes down to a few key actions that can reduce Australia’s emissions by 10 per cent or 40 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent each year:

• Stop putting organics in land ll.

• Capture the methane gas that land lls produce from old organics.

• Drive up recycling to capture the embodied energy of materials (and thereby also reduce energy consumption by industry).

• Sequester carbon in soil via biochar and compost.

• Use battery electric waste vehicles (the biggest truck eet in the country).

• Generate renewable energy from waste (particularly the organic fractions).

Simple, doable, cost e ective. Ours is the overlooked sector that can reduce emissions by 10 per cent, tomorrow.

For more information, contact: info@mraconsulting.com.au

(MRA Consulting Group is a national leader in carbon reporting, compliance, planning, approvals and project development. Mike Ritchie worked on the Climate Change Risks to Australia’s Coast rst pass national assessment for the Australian Government Department of Climate Change in 2009.)

National summary of potential changes to hazards. Circles indicate a confidence rating based on the direction of change. 3 circles = high confidence, 2 circles = medium confidence, 1 circle = low confidence. Images: Australia’s National Climate Risk Assessment: An Overview, 2025, Australian Climate Service. CC BY 4.0.

Risk ratings for each of the eight key systems identified by the NCRA. Ratings are given for the current timeline and the 2050-time horizon.

Innovative Regulated Waste & Resource Recovery Solutions

We deliver innovative, compliant solutions to complex environmental challenges.

Our services protect the lands, waters and communities on which we work, and align with global sustainable development goals.