“WE NOW HAVE A SYSTEM IN PLACE THAT DE-RISKS THE ENTIRE RECYCLING PROCESS, MAKING IT SAFER FOR WORKERS, FIRST RESPONDERS, AND THE BROADER COMMUNITY.” Nick Dodd, General Manager, EcoCycle Group
WA car park project demonstrates circular economy in action.
ere’s a new predator in waste shredding.
Why both are needed to tackle plastic pollution.
Ferrous recovery has never been easier with this machine.
A rst of its kind grinder takes on the Top End.
Specialised rear loader set to make a big impact.
Re ections of a leading Woman in Waste.
Leading heavy vehicle use in the 3Rs – reduce, reuse, recycle. 46 ALL SYSTEMS GO Countdown to Australia’s circular economy event. 48
Two powerhouse events unite for a circular future.
Breaking the stigma in construction.
The all-new Isuzu truck range. Reliability
The all-new range of Isuzu trucks has arrived. With a sleek new cab design, more advanced safety features and a smoother, more comfortable drive, the new range will change the way we rely on our trucks. Forever.
To find out more, visit your nearest Isuzu Trucks Dealer or visit isuzu.com.au
From the Editor
Navigating u tra ia an challenges
Australia’s waste industry faces a critical juncture, grappling with diminishing land ll space and the escalating challenges of environmental compliance, odour control, and operational e ciency – and it’s responding with cuttingedge technologies and innovative approaches.
A primary concern is the pervasive threat of PFAS (per- and poly uoroalkyl substances) contamination that can leach from land ll sites into groundwater and surface water, posing health and ecological risks.
Traditional leachate treatment systems are often ine ective, demanding specialised solutions. is is where Montrose Environmental Group, through its subsidiary ECT2, is positioning itself as a major player.
In this edition, Darrin Stoker, Senior Business Development Manager, explains the company’s advanced treatment technologies that are reducing PFAS levels to non-detectable levels.
Beyond chemical contamination, maximising land ll space is paramount. We look at a tarp deployment system that not only o ers a faster, safer, and cost-e ective alternative to traditional cover methods but also reduces the use of natural resources; and equipment solutions that are boosting e ciency and ensuring that limited land ll space is used to its full potential.
When it comes to full potential, our cover story showcases a powerhouse recycler that is charging ahead to deliver safe onshore end-of-life solutions for electric vehicle and energy storage batteries.
EcoCycle Group, long committed to safe battery collection and recycling, has opened Australia’s rst large-scale battery discharge plant. Nick Dodd, General Manager, says it’s all about closing the loop.
It’s this focus on closing the loop that has also led to the unity of two of the reuse and recycling industry’s most in uential events – Waste Expo Australia and ecologiQ Greener Infrastructure Conference. See how this partnership will bring together sector leaders to discuss the use of recycled materials.
ere is no better example of this than a recent project in Western Australia that achieved a signi cant milestone: the construction of Australia’s rst car park using entirely recovered materials. Check it out, in this edition.
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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: EcoBatt
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.
Lisa Korycki
Charge to circularity
co att leads the way with ustralia s first large scale battery discharge plant, delivering safe onshore end of life solutions for and energy storage batteries.
As the global shift to electri cation accelerates, so too does the challenge of responsibly managing the batteries that power the nation’s lowcarbon future. From electric vehicles (EVs) to grid-scale Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), lithium-ion batteries are critical to Australia’s clean energy ambitions. But what happens when they reach the end of their life?
EcoBatt, a subsidiary of the Ecocycle Group, has taken a major step forward in answering that question with the commissioning of Australia’s rst dedicated lithium battery discharge plant.
Now fully operational at EcoBatt’s Campbell eld facility in Victoria, the plant is delivering scalable, safe, and sustainable end-of-life and energy recovery solutions for batteries from the EV and energy storage sectors.
MAKING AUSTRALIA SAFER
Lithium-ion batteries, by design, retain signi cant energy even when removed from service.
Without proper discharge, this stored energy poses serious risks during transport, handling, and processing, including electric shock, re, and thermal runaway events.
Nick Dodd, General Manager of the EcoCycle Group, says the new discharge plant solves this challenge head-on, safely bringing batteries to a zero-voltage state before they undergo further recycling.
Since becoming operational in June 2025, the facility has begun processing a growing number of EV and BESS batteries, each safely neutralised before dismantling for downstream treatment.
“ is plant is more than a technical solution – it’s a safety imperative,” says Nick. “We now have a system that derisks the entire recycling process, making it safer for workers, rst responders, and the broader community.”
The discharge plant comprises erat r defi ed r stati s.
DISCHARGING AT SCALE
e discharge plant comprises 18 operator-de ned workstations, each designed to accommodate a wide range of battery types – from individual lithium modules to full EV packs and large-scale BESS units rated up to 1000 volts.
e system uses advanced Arti cial Intelligence algorithms to manage and optimise the discharge process in real time, monitoring current, voltage, power, and temperature to ensure every battery is rendered inert safely and e ciently.
is technology allows for the simultaneous processing of multiple batteries in varied con gurations, signi cantly improving throughput while reducing downtime. e plant is also equipped with hot-swap capabilities and hybrid station con gurations for operational exibility.
“ e speed and exibility of the system means we can keep up with the rising volumes of lithium batteries entering the waste stream, particularly from electric vehicles and energy storage,” Nick explains. “It’s a futureproof investment.”
FROM HAZARD TO RESOURCE
Nick says what sets EcoBatt’s discharge plant apart isn’t just its safety and speed,
it’s also the ability to recover residual energy from batteries during discharge. Rather than wasting that energy as heat, the system can return it to the power grid or reuse it within the EcoCycle facility, turning end-of-life batteries into a temporary energy source. is energy recovery process is fully integrated with EcoBatt’s broader recycling network, which includes downstream material separation, critical mineral recovery, and the upcoming Lithium Battery and Battery-in-Device Shredding (BIDS) plant. Together, these facilities ensure that nearly every component of a battery, from lithium and cobalt to aluminium and copper, is recycled or reused.
END-OF-LIFE SOLUTIONS
e growth of electric vehicles and energy storage systems is reshaping Australia’s energy landscape, but also generating a wave of complex battery waste. End-of-life EV and BESS batteries are large, high-voltage, and often still charged, making them di cult and dangerous to manage without specialist infrastructure.
EcoBatt’s discharge plant is uniquely positioned to ll this gap. By o ering a scalable, commercial solution for discharging and preparing these batteries for recycling, the facility helps manufacturers, eet operators, councils, and energy providers meet their environmental obligations while safeguarding sta and the public.
“Increasingly, we’re working directly with car makers, energy companies, and infrastructure projects to provide endof-life solutions,” says Nick.
“ ese partners want to ensure their batteries are handled responsibly and in line with the highest safety and environmental standards. We o er that end-to-end capability.”
CRITICAL MINERAL STRATEGY
e demand for lithium, nickel, cobalt and other critical minerals continues to surge. Recycling spent batteries is one of the most sustainable ways to recover these materials without the environmental toll of virgin mining. By processing high-voltage batteries onshore and extracting valuable metals from them, EcoBatt contributes directly
Australia s first dedi ated lit ium atter dis arge la t is erati al at att s am ellfield a ilit i i t ria. Images: EcoBatt
urre t v ltage er a d tem erature are m it red t e sure ever atter is re dered i ert sa el a d e ie tl .
to Australia’s circular economy and critical minerals strategy.
“Everything we do is about closing the loop,” says Nick. “From collection and transport, to discharge, disassembly, mineral recovery, down to black mass –every step is designed to keep valuable materials in use and reduce our reliance on nite resources.” is approach also aligns with government objectives around clean energy, local jobs, and sovereign capability.
Nick says EcoBatt’s investment in discharge technology not only supports environmental goals but helps build the infrastructure needed for a self-su cient battery ecosystem in Australia.
A NATIONAL NETWORK
e discharge facility in Victoria is a key component of EcoBatt’s nationwide recycling infrastructure. With more than 7000 collection points, a eet of licensed dangerous goods vehicles, and smart bins tted with heat sensors, ll monitoring, and GPS tracking, the company is creating a truly integrated network for battery collection and processing.
EcoBatt’s bins and drums are already used across schools, councils, retailers, and industrial sites to collect everything from household batteries to embedded lithium cells in devices.
Nick says the addition of the discharge plant provides a critical new step for large-format batteries and EV systems, many of which cannot be processed safely without energy neutralisation.
“We’ve built our systems to handle batteries from every source, at every scale,” he says. “Whether it’s a vape or a 400 kilogram EV pack, we now can manage it safely and sustainably.”
INDUSTRY TRANSFORMATION
With the discharge plant now online, EcoBatt is already planning its next
phase of growth. e soon-to-launch
BIDS plant will provide Australia’s rst dedicated solution for lithium batteries and batteries embedded in devices, o ering safe shredding, separation, and recycling of vapes, power tools, e-mobility devices and more.
Together, Nick says, these facilities represent a change in the way Australia handles battery waste, not just from households, but from
the technologies shaping the clean energy future.
“As demand for batteries grows, so does the responsibility to manage them at the end of life,” he says. “We’re proud to be setting the standard through innovation, safety, and a commitment to the circular economy.”
For more information, visit: www.ecobatt.com.au
Ready to deploy
Rapid, reliable and economical. Jaylon’s Tarp Deployment Systems have landfill management covered.
Environmental compliance, odour control, and operational e ciency are daily challenges for land ll managers.
As part of standard procedure, land ll waste is covered daily with a layer of soil or other approved materials to minimise pests and litter and reduce the amount of rainwater entering the waste. Eliminating soil cover can extend the life of land lls and ensure valuable space is optimised.
Leona Moore, Sales Manager for Jaylon Industries, says the Jaylon tarp deployment system (TDS) has become an essential solution for covering the tip face, providing a faster, safer, and cost-e ective alternative to traditional cover methods.
“Tarps are an alternative daily cover that consumes no airspace and leaves nothing in the land ll,” Leona says.
With more than 80 years of fabrication experience in coated textiles, Jaylon specialises in a range of plastic products across many industries, including waste management, agriculture, mining
wastewater lagoon liners and daily cover systems designed to withstand the harsh conditions of Australian sites. e TDS is suitable for both large and small operations, with two unit options available.
e TDS30XS is designed with an interchangeable spool system that o ers unlimited tarp coverage with one machine. It allows the operator to deploy three, 32.6-metre tarps on one spool (894 square metres) before releasing the spool and engaging another spool with three tarps continuously.
Leona says North East New Territories land ll in Hong Kong recently ordered two TDS30XS units, along with 55 spools and 177 tarps for a total coverage of 52.74 hectares.
Closer to home, a TDS30XS tarp deployment system was commissioned earlier in 2025 at Veolia Environmental Services’ Woodlawn Eco Precinct in New South Wales.
e precinct is a 6000-hectare site located 50 kilometres north of Canberra.
A Veolia spokesperson says the TDS is being trialled as an alternative to using virgin excavated natural material for daily land ll cover, aiming to reduce the use of natural resources and save airspace.
In addition to improving operational e ciency, Veolia is assessing the bene ts of a water-impermeable tarp to reduce rainwater in ltration into the land ll.
“Jaylon has been very helpful and interactive during the whole process of scoping, selecting, purchasing and commissioning,” the spokesperson says. “ e exchangeable spool and tarp deployment system combination will give us more exibility to cover larger areas more practically. We’re looking forward to continuing to work with Jaylon.”
Jaylon also distributes the TDS30HS, a xed spool system suited to a smaller land ll. is machine can deploy up to four, 32.6-metre tarps with a total coverage of 1192 square metres.
Leona says since 2015, Jaylon has introduced almost 30 tarp deployment units onto regional and city land lls in every mainland state around Australia. e company remains committed to enhancing operational e ciency for land ll operators through practical innovations. ese include the development of a QR code for immediate access to tarp assembly instruction videos and the provision of on-site repair kits designed to facilitate rapid remediation of minor rips and tears, minimising downtime and extending tarp service life.
For more information, visit: www.jaylon.com.au
Blue Phoenix brings world-leading expertise in IBA processing to Australia, transforming waste into high-quality aggregates and recovered metals. By recovering these materials from IBA, we're reducing landfill reliance and enabling sustainable solutions for civil construction.
ith operations across the globe, we lead in developing end mar ets and wor ing with regulators to enable responsible reuse, preserve resources, and drive the circular economy rivin policy an circular solutions
Fighting forever chemicals
ontrose nvironmental roup tac les the landfill crisis.
Land lls face an escalating challenge: the persistent and mobile contamination from per- and poly uoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
ese “forever chemicals” are highly soluble and readily leach from land ll sites into groundwater and surface water, creating signi cant risks for human health and ecosystems.
Traditional leachate treatment systems prove largely ine ective at removing PFAS, highlighting the need for specialised technological solutions.
Leachate, typically collected in onsite ponds, must be processed to meet stringent quality requirements before discharge to water bodies or transfer to wastewater treatment plants. Discharge directly to the environment presents even greater challenges due to strict criteria re ecting the sensitivity of receiving waters.
Montrose Environmental Group, through its subsidiary ECT2, is at the forefront of addressing these challenges with advanced PFAS treatment technologies.
“ e technology chosen depends on the existing treatment process at the land ll, if any, and the treated water quality target,” says Darrin Stoker, Senior Business Development Manager at Montrose Environmental Group.
One of the company’s innovative solutions is the FOAM-X system, a foam fractionation process that captures and concentrates PFAS from water using air injection.
The FOAM-X3000 fractionator unit was
Another groundbreaking approach is the NanoSORB Membrane Bioreactor, which enhances PFAS removal in wastewater by causing these substances to clump together for easier ltration or settling with solid waste.
Darrin says this approach is more e ective and longer lasting than traditional methods such as Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) and integrates seamlessly with existing activated sludge systems.
ese proprietary technologies were speci cally developed for PFAS removal, originating from a multi-year research and development project at a leachate treatment facility.
Montrose has already deployed the PFAS treatment technologies with success in North America. In Michigan, at the Smith’s Creek Municipal Land ll, the FOAM-X3000 fractionator unit was installed to treat land ll leachate and reduce per uorooctanoic acid (PFOA) from about 1000 parts per trillion (ppt) to less than 66 ppt, and per uorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) from about 100 ppt to less than 12 ppt.
Darrin says the system was designed, installed, and commissioned within six weeks, successfully meeting a Clean Water Act funding deadline.
“ e results at Smith’s Creek con rmed the system’s e cacy, with the FOAM-X system successfully treating PFOS and PFOA levels below project goals.”
In New Jersey, at West Deptford Township’s Well #8, Montrose implemented a di erent but equally e ective solution: two parallel trains of the SORBIX PURE Model HDW-86 PFAS treatment systems.
e goal was to reduce PFAS in drinking water to non-detectable levels.
“ e SORBIX PURE system continues to deliver non-detect PFAS results in drinking water, demonstrating high e ciency and reliability,” Darrin says proudly.
He also highlights the SORBIX PURE H Series system. Speci cally designed for high- ow applications, it delivers best-in-class PFAS removal, including short-chain molecules.
“ is system operates e ciently with fewer media changeouts and a smaller waste footprint than GAC systems, making it both cost-e ective and environmentally responsible.”
Montrose employs a meticulous approach to determine the most suitable treatment technology for each site, ensuring optimal results and regulatory compliance.
e process starts with a desktop evaluation, analysing water quality data, regulatory goals, site conditions, and available services. is is followed by bench-scale testing, which con rms the initial design and aids in developing accurate capital and operating cost models.
A commitment to continuous improvement, backed by ongoing research and development investment, ensures a constant advancement of new and optimised PFAS treatment methods.
Success is measured by consistently meeting or exceeding client expectations, reliably achieving performance criteria, and providing a clear return on investment.
“Project delivery is another key measurable, and we have an enviable record in delivering complex treatment packages in a highly e cient manner,” Darrin says.
But he says what sets Montrose apart in the PFAS treatment landscape is its pioneering global expertise.
“Montrose is a global pioneer in PFAS treatment, with a proven track record dating back to 2016 when ECT2 delivered one of Australia’s rst operational PFAS treatment plants (which is still active today),” Darrin says.
“ is unmatched experience enables us to rapidly identify the most e ective solution for each unique scenario.”
Despite o ering a suite of proprietary technologies, Montrose remains technology agnostic, always guiding clients to select the best available
Beyond PFAS, Montrose considers other environmental factors at land lls, such as managing salinity in treated water and the careful disposal of accumulated solids from the treatment system, particularly since PFAS and other contaminants become concentrated during this process.
Darrin says Montrose’s long-term mission is clear: “To help protect the air we breathe, the water we drink and the soil that feeds us.”
“Reducing PFAS levels at land lls has a profound impact on community health and safety. By reducing PFAS concentrations to non-detectable levels and minimising environmental impact, Montrose assists clients in achieving compliance with evolving regulatory standards and, crucially, contributes to creating a more sustainable future for all.”
For more information, visit: www.montrose-env.com/services/ integrated-pfas-solutions/
The FOAM-X3000 fractionator i tegrates seamlessl it e isti g a tivated sludge s stems.
rtin nd
t bi it
Daily challenges can come in droves on landfill sites. owever, aterpillar has the technology to ma e operations as easy as possible.
One of the challenges of a land ll is to use limited space to its full potential, while working as e ciently as possible.
Modern equipment and management technologies can help squeeze more pro t from every tonne of waste being taken in.
As a leader in the waste management industry, Caterpillar’s technology can aid land ll operators in creating a secure, worry-free jobsite. From enhanced compaction control systems to 3D mapping, Caterpillar technology is designed to give all equipment operators accurate information, enhanced safety on the job site and exceed productivity targets.
It can also provide land ll managers with vital feedback on airspace use.
Instead of tracking airspace through ground surveys, mapping-technology can track compaction progress and e ectiveness in near real time.
3D GPS GUIDANCE
e general rule for land ll slopes is ‘the atter the better’, according to Bassem Ibrahim, Senior Waste Specialist, ANZP.
Land ll operators can optimise their slopes by using 3D machine guidance systems such as Cat Grade for dozers, which enables compactors to move faster and deliver more tooth penetrations (the number of times the teeth or cleats on a compactor’s wheel or drum engage the waste per day).
e more often the teeth penetrate
the waste, the more thorough the compaction process.
Maintaining a three-to-one run-torise ratio slope (where for every three feet of horizontal travel, the elevation increases by one) will almost double the number of tooth penetrations on a given area compared to working on a ve-toone ratio.
GPS guidance is also useful for measuring depth of ll and tracking surface elevations.
While there will always be a need for on-site ground surveys for o cial reporting, Caterpillar says GPS guidance equipment can reduce the time, e ort and safety concerns inherent in manual staking and measurement.
PRODUCTION MONITORING
Production-monitoring technologies gather and analyse equipment and sitegenerated data on an ongoing basis.
A comprehensive whole-site management system, such as Caterpillar’s VisionLink gives operators timely, accurate information needed to optimise eet size and machine deployment across a site.
VisionLink can provide everything from whole site overview down to detailed information on individual machine operations enabling operators to identify ine ciencies and in turn address issues that impact use, idle time, repair, maintenance downtime and more.
It can also help as a guide to purchasing the right machines for operations.
“As a rule, the more waste received each day, the larger the compaction equipment needs to be and more machines will be required,” Bassem says.
“A site receiving less than 500 tonnes-per-day will require lighterweight compactors, such as the Cat 816 Land ll Compactor which boasts an operational weight about 25,800 kilograms.
“A larger site which receives up to 750 tonnes per day requires a heavier model, such as the Cat 862K which has an operational weight about 40,800 kilograms.”
Support equipment, including, dozers and tracked front-end loaders also needs to be upsized as daily tonnage increases.
DETECTION AND REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEMS
As well as the operational bene ts, modern equipment monitoring technologies can help improve safety across all operations.
Using Cat Detect technologies, operators can easily keep track of where each piece of equipment is working at all times in order to manage site vehicle and foot tra c to keep people out of harm’s way.
ere are also personnel detection and site safety systems, such as cameras, E-fence and sensors under the Cat Detect banner, that up the ante for worksite safety.
One system, known as Object Detection, works to give operators a complete picture of other machines, hazardous conditions and personnel around the machine.
e Cat Command system allows operators to handle tough jobs remotely, either on the machine or in a climatecontrolled environment located onsite or many kilometres away.
Machine-based systems, whole-site monitoring technology options and remote control equipment systems are customisable for individual needs.
As a result, managers can create a safer working environment across their operations, helping to ensure that everyone gets home safely every day.
STANDOUT EQUIPMENT
Bassem says the use of machine and data-based technologies can set a business apart from competitors.
Using technology to guide, monitor and record machine operations will help managers deliver the highest possible total waste mass volume. Along with
maximising operator safety, remote control equipment systems can open the door for hard-to-attract talent such as younger operators or experienced older employees who would otherwise age out of hazardous onsite jobs.
Production monitoring systems can also provide historical data to demonstrate that the land ll site has been operated in an e cient, safe and e ective manner, in turn opening the door for winning more bids and bolstering reputations as responsible waste management providers.
For more information, visit: www.cat.com
reen r reen t re
A Tyrecycle pilot program could be a pit stop to sustainability for Australian motorsport.
The high-performance demands of car racing lead to rapid tyre wear, resulting in a substantial quantity of end-of-life tyres. In Formula 1 alone, more than 40,000 tyres are consumed annually.
e ability to e ectively recycle these race tyres at scale, post-event, has long been a shared goal within the global motorsport community.
However, the tyres are not simple rubber. e blend of natural and synthetic rubber, along with steel, textiles and other chemicals, makes them harder to break down and recycle than standard car tyres.
Further complicating recycling e orts is the tyre exposure to oil, chemicals and other contaminants during racing.
In June, Tyrecycle, part of the ResourceCo Group, partnered with Motorsport Australia and the Shell V-Power Motorsport Park at the Bend to launch a tyre recycling pilot program during round three of the South Australian Motor Racing Championship.
roughout the three-day event, 168 race tyres were collected for recycling – a strong step toward embedding circular economy practices into motorsport operations.
Jim Fairweather, Tyrecycle Chief Executive O cer, says that working with Motorsport Australia will help to raise awareness about the opportunities and bene ts of adopting sustainable practices across all levels of the motorsport industry.
“By having Tyrecycle’s nation-leading used tyre collection and recycling expertise trackside, we’ve been able to o er racing competitors and motorsport administrators a convenient and safe way to manage end-of-life tyres,”
“E ective sustainability strategies require accurate, event-speci c data. is tyre recycling pilot was designed not only to divert waste but also to generate insights into the types and volumes of tyres used, logistical considerations for on-site collection, and the viability of downstream recycling processes.”
Tyrecycle is Australia’s largest and only national collector of end-of-life tyres. It has capability of recycling in the order of 20 million tyres a year, creating new products from what is considered waste.
Tyres collected and recycled are remanufactured into other products that can be used in playgrounds, sportsgrounds, in a road or as tyrederived fuel.
Sunil Vohra, Chief Executive O cer of Motorsport Australia says that tyres are a signi cant waste product for motorsport, and the ability to recycle race tyres post-event at scale is a shared goal for the motorsport community.
“ e success and learnings from the pilot event will inform the feasibility of integrating tyre recycling logistics into motorsport events,” he says.
“By partnering with Tyrecycle, we’re leveraging industry-leading expertise
Ken Ross, ResourceCo Head of Corporate
A airs a d ar eti g it Alistair
D ald ie e utive er ell er t rs rt ar . Images: re le
a service not only for competitors but for the environment also. As we continue to evolve our sustainability strategy, this is one piece of it,” he says. “ e success of this pilot is proof
that sustainable tyre disposal can be integrated into motorsport operations without compromising performance, safety, or event e ciency. Working with Motorsport Australia and Tyrecycle, we can contribute to the development of best practices and policy.”
For more information, visit: www.tyrecycle.com.au
Tyres to treasure
With the right technology and vision, even the most challenging waste streams can be transformed into a source of sustainable growth. Vortair aims to lead the way.
Globally, the issue of tyre waste is substantial and growing. Each year, about one billion tyres reach the end of their lives, contributing to about two per cent of total global solid waste, according to the World Business Council for Sustainable Development’s Tire Industry Project.
Over time, this has led to an estimated four billion waste tyres accumulating in land lls and stockpiles worldwide. In Australia, about 537,000 tonnes of end-of-life passenger, truck, bus, and o -the-road (OTR) tyres, were generated in the 2023–24 nancial year.
Tyres can take up to 2000 years to decompose, and improper disposal can
result in pollution, re hazards, and the release of harmful chemicals.
A 2021 report by the Commonwealth Scienti c and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Circular Economy Roadmap for Plastics, Glass, Paper and Tyres, found that fragmented regulations, low-value markets for many tyre-derived products, and limited domestic processing capacity, particularly for OTR tyres, hindered recycling.
In the face of these challenges, Australian company Vortair is leading the charge to transform di cult waste streams into valuable products.
rough its patented air vortex frequency milling technology, Vortair is rede ning what’s possible in recycling not only tyres, but also other challenging materials such as glass, wind turbine blades, and solar panels.
At the core of Vortair’s technology is an innovative, single-pass milling system that uses high-velocity air vortex frequencies to create powerful kinetic energy, enabling the e cient autogenous milling of tough, brous, and composite materials.
Je Lang, Vortair Chief Executive O cer, says that unlike conventional mechanical grinding systems, Vortair’s technology requires minimal wear
The Vortair tyre recycling system. Image: Vortair
“By turning waste into highvalue products, Vortair is driving investor confidence in sustainable waste processing.”
Jeff Lang, Vortair Chief Executive Officer
parts, ensuring low maintenance and consistent product quality.
is unique approach makes Vortair’s system well-suited to processing pyrolysis-derived biochar akes from waste tyres into premium recovered carbon black – diverting tyre waste from land lls, reducing environmental footprints and enabling circularity in industrial supply chains.
“Creating carbon black from waste materials, especially from biochar derived from the pyrolysis of tyres, is a sustainable alternative to fossil-fuelbased carbon black, which has long been linked to health risks and signi cant carbon emissions,” Je says.
e sustainable carbon black market is expected to grow rapidly, from USD 28.6 billion in 2023 to USD 41.3 billion by 2032. However, Je says inconsistent quality and high ash content have limited its uptake.
is is where Vortair’s patented technology steps in. By re ning biochar ake from pyrolysis processes into carbon black – up to eight times more valuable than the original biochar – Vortair is addressing one of the tyre recycling industry’s most persistent challenges.
“ e advanced air vortex milling process ensures consistent particle size, reduced ash content, and superior product purity, making Vortair’s recovered carbon black competitive with virgin carbon black for use in tyres, inks, coatings, plastics, and more,” Je says.
Beyond tyres, the technology extends to other problematic waste streams. Australia’s growing stockpiles of glass waste, end-of-life wind turbine blades, and solar panels represent signi cant environmental challenges due to their composite structures and contamination issues.
Je says Vortair’s technology can process these materials into high-value powders and llers suitable for industrial reuse, unlocking circular economy opportunities that were previously considered too complex or costly.
“ is aligns perfectly with the CSIRO’s recommendations for advancing Australia’s circular economy: promoting local end-markets, investing in pyrolysis and devulcanisation technologies, and developing high-value applications for tyre-derived materials,” he says. “Vortair’s air vortex frequency milling addresses all these points by providing a scalable, sustainable solution that adds value to materials traditionally considered too di cult to recycle.
“But the impact goes beyond technology. By turning waste into high-value products, Vortair is driving investor con dence in sustainable waste processing. is is critical given the CSIRO’s identi cation of investment hesitancy as a barrier to progress.”
Vortair’s model demonstrates that advanced technology can not only meet environmental targets but also deliver strong commercial returns – essential for attracting capital to scale these solutions globally.
As the world moves toward stricter environmental regulations, corporate environmental, social and governance targets, and rising consumer demand for clean materials, Vortair is positioning itself as a global leader in the transition from linear waste management to circular economy solutions.
Je says the technology is proving that waste is not just a problem – it’s a valuable resource waiting to be unlocked.
“With many regions still grappling with underdeveloped recycling infrastructure, Vortair’s patented milling technology stands out as a beacon of innovation,” he says. “It’s an Australian success story demonstrating that with the right technology and vision, even the most challenging waste streams can be transformed into a source of sustainable growth.”
For more information, visit: www.vortair.com.au
A new standard
Waste Initiatives unveils VERTECH, a new premium equipment o ering for ustralian recyclers.
For decades, Waste Initiatives has been a force in providing Australian businesses with top-tier waste management solutions.
As part of the company’s continued growth and evolution, it has introduced VERTECH – a range of high-performance waste processing equipment designed to cater to the demanding needs of well-established and large-scale operators.
Dwayne Smith, Waste Initiatives Managing Director, says this strategic launch signi es the company’s commitment to innovation and delivering unparalleled solutions across the waste management sector.
He describes VERTECH as “a house of brands” that comprises a series
of premium international suppliers carefully selected for their innovation and reliability.
It means Waste Initiatives now operates under a distinct twotiered product o ering, ensuring comprehensive support for businesses at every stage of their growth.
“ e long-standing and highly regarded WastePac range remains the trusted choice for businesses seeking cost-e ective, reliable waste management equipment – ideal for growing recyclers and processors looking for value and e ciency,”
Dwayne says.
“ is commitment to foundational, e cient solutions remains a core principle. However, the introduction of
VERTECH represents a leap forward, as it sets a new industry standard by o ering cutting-edge, high-quality equipment tailored for well-established operators who demand the best in performance, durability, and longterm e ciency.”
Shannon Sangster, Sales Manager at Waste Initiatives, says the VERTECH range was created to ll a gap in an evolving market and a desire to meet increasingly sophisticated demands.
As Waste Industries has grown, so too has the level of complexity across the industry with increased expectations on equipment reliability, safety and documentation.
Dwayne attributes this shift to the maturity of the industry and the rise of professional operators who are looking at recycling as a longterm investment. e increasing certainty brought by legislation from state governments and environment authorities has also enabled businesses to “build a longer business case” for signi cant investments.
Waste Initiatives has responded by partnering with more overseas suppliers, looking to bring the best of global waste processing practices to Australia.
“Over the past decade, particularly, the company has seen this demand for higher-tier equipment escalate,” Shannon says. “We’ve got such a complete package of these premium equipment suppliers that we wanted to set them apart and show our customers that these are on another level.” is rigorous vetting process ensures that only world-class solutions make it
A full line Mavitec depackaging system, suitable for transforming organic waste. Image: Waste Initiatives
into the VERTECH line, speci cally targeting customers wanting to take that next step up.
Shannon says this process means that businesses are investing in machinery that has already demonstrated its capabilities and robustness on a global scale.
e specialised VERTECH lineup addresses waste processing needs across the entire waste equipment management spectrum. Waste Initiatives is also actively expanding the line-up, with new manufacturers set to join soon.
While this demonstrates a continuous commitment to staying at the forefront of technology, Shannon says a crucial di erentiator is that Waste Initiatives backs up the range with local parts and service.
Australian-based expertise, local technicians, and stocked spare parts for quick maintenance and minimal downtime ensure that even the most advanced equipment can be kept running e ciently, minimising costly operational interruptions.
“We bring the equipment to Australia, we install it, we commission it, and we train customers on the operation of the equipment,” Shannon says.
“ en we’re here in Australia with our service team providing the aftersales, preventative maintenance, and –if there’s any breakdown – support.
“We’re there for every point of their journey.”
For more information, visit: www.wasteinitiatives.com.au
e brands behind VERTECH
Barclay Shredders for maximum throughput.
Eagle Debeaders for handling large mining tyres.
H&G for heavy-duty compactors. Mavitec for transforming organic waste.
Bergmann for robust compaction. Andela for glass recycling.
UNTHA for reliable and versatile shredding technology.
West Salem Machinery for highoutput wood and organics grinding.
Power in precision
Recycling Developments has purchased its first Liebherr machine, an R 922 Litronic crawler excavator, being used across a range of recycling operations.
If rst impressions count, it’s fair to say Queensland recyclers Recycling Developments was sold on the Liebherr R 922 Litronic crawler excavator from the get-go.
“We knew from the beginning the R 922 was going to be a great t for us,” says Phil Perrott, Recycling Developments Owner.
“It looked like a well-built, strong machine which would be well suited to our operations.”
It has been a few months since the Gold Coast-based company acquired the R 922 – its rst Liebherr machine.
Phil says it’s been several months of smooth operations and operator comfortability.
Recycling Developments is a family-owned and operated resource recovery and construction and demolition (C&D) recycling facility based in Yatala. Day to day, it provides a range of services including C&D
disposal, resource recovery, xed location and mobile crushing, recycled aggregate product sales, recycled soils, recycled timber processing and skip bin services, all alongside other recycling solutions.
Phil reached out to neighbour Liebherr for a new machine to continue the company’s work in delivering quality products and customer service.
He says the R 922, with a 120 kilowatt/ 163 HP Tier 4 engine, and operating weight of up to 25 tonnes, was a “distinct advantage”.
“We process 500-700 tonnes of builders’ and C&D waste every day, all of which is recycled,” says Phil. “ e R 922 is mostly used in conjunction with a pulveriser and hammer. When the large concrete comes in, we use the R 922 to break it down into smaller bits to go in the pulverising crusher.
“Another bene t of the R 922 is its range of suitable attachments, which is very important to us and the scope of our operations, as it shows that Liebherr machines can be equipped with various tools to o er the exibility needed to handle di erent tasks.”
Some of the attachment options include a rigid ditch cleaning bucket, a tiltable ditch cleaning bucket, a tilt bucket, a sorting grab, and a tiltrotator.
THOUGHTFULLY MADE
e Liebherr crawler excavator comes equipped with special ergonomics and comfort to ensure a more enhanced performance.
Complete with a spacious, airconditioned work space, an easy-touse high-resolution nine-inch colour touchscreen and completely retractable front cab window, the R 922 is a machine made with comfort in mind. It is also equipped with a pneumatic
The R 922 Litronic crawler excavator is the newest machine being used at Recycling Developments. Images: Liebherr
comfort seat, air-sprung with automatic weight adjustment. Seat and armrests are also adjustable in length, height and inclination.
“It is a very comfortable, luxurious machine, the operators have had many positive things to say about driving it,” says Phil.
Comfort is not the only priority in the R 922. Liebherr has ensured maintenance on the machine has never been easier with service points accessible from the ground level. It also has lateral access to the upper carriage and a large maintenance platform. In addition, engine oil, hydraulic oil and fuel levels are all visible on the display.
e R 922 is also equipped with panoramic visibility, ensuring there are no viewing obstructions. It also has a rear camera to ensure safety for everyone in the surrounding areas of the excavator.
It has a liftable console for easy and safe access to the ROPS (Roll-Over Protective Structure) cab. is provides protection in the event of a rollover, ensuring the cabin structure remains intact and safeguards the operator.
A signi cant safety feature in the cab, if needed, is the emergency exit via the rear cab window, which can be used should a safety situation arise.
SPECIAL SERVICE
Liebherr machinery is characterised by precision, implementation and longevity.
e company is committed not only to optimal technology but also to providing customers with solutions that match their needs.
at customer focus does not end with the delivery of a product, instead, it continues through a
comprehensive range of back-up and support services.
“Liebherr’s after-sales support has been great. ere have been several instances where we have received calls to check up on the machine and see how things are tracking,” says Phil.
“Liebherr’s technical support is always available to assist with not only servicing but also training with the machine. ey have continued to look after us and the machine really well.”
e service and machine’s capabilities have been so impressive, Phil is looking into further purchases.
“We are building our eet of equipment and will de nitely add more Liebherr products,” he says.
For more information, visit: www.liebherr.com.au
Batteries Gone Flat?
EcoBatt’s Got a Bin for That!
At EcoBatt, we are driving real change through our nationwide Battery Collection Service, which is designed to significantly reduce the number of batteries ending up in landfill. With approximately 7,000 collection units located across Australia in partnership with major retailers, we are making battery recycling more convenient and accessible than ever before.
Improper battery disposal can have serious consequences. From fires in waste trucks and landfill sites to toxic chemicals leaking into soil and waterways, the risks to our environment, wildlife and community health are far-reaching.
Recycling batteries correctly is a simple yet powerful way to protect what matters. By working together, we can create a cleaner, safer future and preserve valuable resources for generations to come.
What’s recyclable through EcoBatt’s Smart Bins?
Button cell batteries
Mobile phones
Easily removable batteries
Rechargeable batteries under 5kg
Regular AA & other household batteries
For organisations grappling with substantial battery waste, EcoBatt offers tailored solutions. From battery recycling bins ranging from 2L to 120L to our larger-scale Mixed Battery Safety Bins available in 600L and 800L capacities, we’ve got you covered.
Reach out to us at 1300 32 62 92 to connect with one of our battery recycling specialists who will craft a bespoke solution to suit your needs. Because protecting what matters starts with all of us working towards a cleaner, greener tomorrow, join with EcoBatt today.
Ecogrowth
A new report highlights the organics industry’s contribution to Australia’s economy.
More than 7.676 million tonnes of organic material were recycled and processed in Australia in the past nancial year, according to the latest Australian Organics Recycling Association (AORA) economic report.
e industry had a collective turnover of more than $2.6 billion and contributed $843.4 million in industry value to the Australian economy. It also sourced and provided $2.4 billion in bene ts across the supply chain.
John McKew, National Executive O cer of AORA, says the report highlights the industry’s continued growing economic and environmental bene ts – but challenges remain.
He says one of the biggest industry
PFAS are a group of man-made chemicals that don’t break down easily in the environment and are found in many products. ey have become known as ‘forever chemicals’ because they persist for a long time both in the environment and the human body.
John says it’s important to note the composting industry does not create PFAS, rather it’s a passive receiver of them from the feedstock and material received.
“PFAS contamination stems largely from food packaging, compostable plastics, and other consumer materials present in kerbside food organic garden organic (FOGO) waste streams,” he says.
contamination originating from household and packaging sectors.”
He says the solution requires wholeof-supply-chain collaboration, including the reformulation of food packaging and stricter front-end education and regulation on the use of PFAS.
Australia uses risk thresholds for other environmental contaminants and PFAS should be treated the same.
“ ere is a need for clear, nationally harmonised PFAS guidance, appropriate thresholds, and investment in upstream contamination prevention not just downstream management or the vili cation of the Australian organics recycling industry and our products,”
John says.
“Risk thresholds should use evidencebased safe levels rather than detection alone as a trigger for rejection or disposal. Allowing the widespread unregulated use of PFAS for industrial and consumer applications and then regulating its detectability at the end of the organic recycling chain is completely unreasonable.”
BOOMING ECONOMY
Focusing on the positives, John says the organics industry continues to make a signi cant contribution to the
e headline metric from the latest report is that 7.676 million tonnes of organic material was recycled and processed in the 2023-24 nancial year.
More than 160 businesses were operating under AORA, and the organics industry provided 5359 jobs to Australian residents.
AORA has released the latest economic report, highlighting the organics industry’s growing contribution to Australia’s economy. Images: Paul Benjamin Photography
In addition to the substantial economic bene ts delivered by the Australian organics recycling industry, the total estimated greenhouse gas savings from organics recycling in Australia for the same time period was about 3.9 million tonnes of carbon dioxide – equivalent to the 5.8 million trees that would have to be planted to absorb the same amount of carbon dioxide or the annual greenhouse gas emissions produced by 895,329 cars.
John says a sustainable and successful Australian organics recycling industry is vital, both for all the economic and environmental reasons, and any aspirations to create a circular economy.
He says AORA has consistently advocated for the minimisation of all contamination from FOGO bins and continues to do so.
million in grants available to councils across the state to support the roll-out of FOGO services.
is funding will support the New South Wales Government’s legislation to mandate FOGO collection services for households by 2030, and ensure the signi cant amount of organic waste going to land ll is addressed before it is too late.
is is something the organics industry has long campaigned for and one, John says, that
&requires a whole of supply chain approach – from households to councils, through to the organics processing sector and the end users of compost.
“ e New South Wales Government’s support is critical to ensure we can maximise the success of the FOGO rollout, building understanding and appreciation for the many bene ts of a successful FOGO program for local communities and their households.”
For more information, visit: www.aora.org.au
Built from waste, for the future
Kwinana Energy Recovery paves the way with recycled materials – in its own backyard.
Kwinana Energy Recovery is demonstrating a new paradigm in sustainable waste management, leading by example with a groundbreaking partnership with Blue Phoenix Australia and WA Limestone.
Together, they have achieved a signi cant milestone: the construction of Australia’s rst car park using recovered materials.
About 1100 tonnes of incinerator bottom ash aggregate (IBAA) were used as a sub-base layer in the construction of a car park at Kwinana Energy Recovery.
Scott Reynolds, General Manager Kwinana Energy Recovery, says the project showcases a commitment to circular economy principles and sustainable infrastructure.
“ACCIONA is continuously looking for innovative and sustainable solutions, and this milestone demonstrates our commitment to the re-use of IBAA in Australia,” he says.
Australia’s rst large-scale waste-toenergy facility, Kwinana Energy Recovery transforms non-recyclable waste into valuable energy and resources. It has diverted more than 135,000 tonnes of waste from land ll since taking its rst delivery in July 2024.
A crucial output of Kwinana’s operations is Incinerator Bottom Ash (IBA), which is then processed by Blue Phoenix.
Since operations began in 2024, Blue Phoenix has recovered more than 3000 tonnes of metals from the IBA and transformed the remaining material into IBAA.
IBAA from energy recovery facilities has been used worldwide for many years as an alternative to traditional aggregates. In cities such as London, it has played a key role in the construction of major motorways, reinforcing its e ectiveness in modern infrastructure. is widespread adoption is driven by the desire to reduce reliance on virgin materials, minimise land ll waste, and create valuable resources from what was once considered a waste product.
Ian Lynass, Blue Phoenix Managing Director Australia and Asia has long been a driving force behind the promotion and adoption of IBAA in Australia.
The car park was a joint project between Kwinana Energy Recovery, Blue Phoenix and WA Limestone. Image: Rift Photography
He played a crucial role in founding the Manufacturers of Incinerator Bottom Ash Aggregate of Australia (MIBAAA) Association, bringing together industry players to help develop standards and best practices for the emerging Australian market.
He says that while there’s a willingness to consider recycled materials for road building and construction, clear and appropriate regulatory pathways are essential for widespread adoption.
“Blue Phoenix is proud of the development of IBAA in Western Australia,” Ian says. “With our core focus on sustainable and responsible reuse pathways, projects such as the Kwinana Energy Recovery car park show our commitment, with our partners, to innovate and develop IBAA in Australia.”
WA Limestone is one of Western Australia’s most successful and largest
privately-owned quarry and contracting companies and is one of the biggest suppliers of road construction materials in the state.
e company is driving sustainability in construction by developing innovative recycled materials, repurposing industrial by-products and reducing reliance on natural resources to support the state’s transition to a circular economy.
By using IBAA as a sub-base layer in the car park project, Kwinana Energy Recovery, Blue Phoenix, and WA Limestone are not only reducing the reliance on virgin materials but also visibly demonstrating the strength and durability of these recovered resources.
Roger Stephens, WA Limestone Project Manager, says the project serves as a compelling proof of concept, paving
the way for the broader adoption of sustainable materials in infrastructure projects across Australia.
“WA Limestone is thrilled to see the rst delivery of locally manufactured IBAA product being trialled in the construction of the car park pavement at the Kwinana Energy Recovery Plant,” he says.
“We are con dent the product will exceed the speci ed performance requirements, and this now opens new pathways to recovered materials use in road construction – a muchanticipated opportunity that our many civil contractor customers have enthusiastically supported.
“ e IBAA journey to carbon zero is nally on the road.”
For more information, visit: www.bluephoenix-group.com
Greener Infrastructure Conference 2025
“The future is green. We’re proud to be leading the charge to change the face of infrastructure”
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Same look, different bite
There’s a new predator in waste shredding. Tana’s product manager Eetu Tuovinen explains.
The TANA Shark shredder has earned a formidable reputation over two decades for tackling the toughest waste materials.
For years, it’s been the go-to machine for challenging shredding applications. Its powerful, high-torque capabilities have made it the industry leader in breaking down materials that often defeat other equipment, such as car tyres and mattresses.
Now there’s a new predator in waste shredding. Recognising that the recycling landscape is constantly
growing and diversifying beyond these “tough applications,” manufacturer Tana Oy has launched its newest shredder – the Hammerhead.
Eetu Tuovinen, Tana’s Product Manager, Recycling, says the Hammerhead builds on the proven success and unique technology of the Shark and is a strategic move to strengthen the company’s foothold in the industry.
“We’ve wanted to bring something new to the market to meet the growing demands of our customers,”
Eetu says. “We understand that if we want to be part of the increase in recycling, we need to broaden our product o ering.
“ e Hammerhead brings together all the good features and known technology of the Shark, but in a di erent fashion.”
Even the name is a nod to the shared design philosophy, encapsulated by a clever marketing tagline: “same look, di erent bite”.
“We wanted to have a name that connects with the heritage of the
Shark, but is still distinctly separate,” Eetu says.
e primary distinction of the TANA Hammerhead is in its targeted applications. While the Shark excels in tough, low-volume applications, the Hammerhead is purpose-built for higher volume waste streams including a broader range of materials such as green, household, construction and demolition (C&D), as well as commercial and industrial (C&I) waste.
Eetu says the emphasis is on maximising throughput and production rates.
“ e priority is to produce as many tonnes per hour as possible for the customer because that means e ciency in their overall process,” he says. “By increasing the e ciency, we’re minimising their costs per produced tonne.”
is focus on capacity means the Hammerhead can deliver “30 to 50 per cent more” when processing these easier,
high-volume materials compared to its robust sibling.
Despite its di erent target market, the Hammerhead integrates key features from the Shark. It maintains a similar screen basket arrangement that allows for quick changes to particle size (from 50 millimetres up to 500 millimetres) and adaptation to various material types.
e drive train, however, has been speci cally adapted to optimise for its high-volume purpose.
Tana also continues its strong commitment to environmental responsibility, o ering both dieselpowered units, which comply with stringent local emission regulations, and electric models for zero local emissions. Both Shark and Hammerhead shredders are available as stationary and mobile version that can be moved on wheels or tracks. As with all Tana machines, the Hammerhead provides ease of use and maintainability.
“We know that these kinds of machines are subject to a lot of harsh conditions, but toughness is in their DNA,” Eetu says. “We make them as tough as possible and as easy to repair as possible, so that the customer can really use them as a tool.
“We understand that our customers’ business is depending on the equipment,
so the equipment can, and must, handle being used all day long.
“I’m 100 per cent con dent that the Hammerhead will be battle-tested and customer approved, because it features the same smart and good features that we have had in our shredders for a long time.”
With the recent acquisition of GCM Enviro, Tana now boasts a signi cant local presence in Australia, operating as Tana Australia.
Eetu says this means that customers in the region will bene t directly from enhanced on-the-ground support, readily available parts, and swift technical assistance when needed.
“Sales always sells the rst machine, but then service and support sell the second and the third machine,” he says. at rst Hammerhead was sold and shipped out just weeks after the launch. Eetu says that with a presence in more than 50 global markets, anticipation was high for Tana’s new o ering.
And the Hammerhead is far from the end of the company’s innovation journey; rather, it’s the rst step of expanding the shredder o ering with Eetu hinting at more new products coming “sooner than later.”
For more information, visit: www.gcmenviro.com
The TANA Hammerhead shredder builds on the proven success of the Shark. Images: Tana
The Hammerhead is purpose-built for higher volume waste streams including green waste, household waste, C&D and C&I waste.
Policies and practices
Biogone Co-Founder Dr Ross Headifen explains why policies alone are not enough to tackle plastic waste.
Solving the plastic waste issue requires the introduction of government policies on industry with compliance monitoring; or heavy and sustained consumer education campaigns to get the intended bene ts. Changes to bring about environmental protection or restoration are often viewed as a burden by shortterm thinkers who aspire to maximise monetary pro ts on a yearly basis.
Just implementing part of the policy process, without the follow through can lead to failure or an opportunity for misinformation to be spread by those opposing the change.
Large environmental protection issues often take many years to make a longterm impact. Plastic disposal is such an example.
Plastic is so endemic to our lives now that it will take many years to change our behaviour. e failure of the Global Plastics Treaty to reach agreement on the issue over several meetings shows this. However, some simple, smaller consumption problems can be locally solved with a single policy and follow through.
In all cases, moving forward with environmental protection about plastic production, consumption and disposal
requires a tripartite involvement of government, industry and consumers. Government needs to balance a heavy-hand approach against pushbacks from industry in the form of job losses, lobbying for voter persuasion, pro ts and misinformation spread to consumers. It also needs to “sell” to consumers the idea that their policy is for their environmental bene t. Introducing a policy is not enough.
Success with the public can be ckle. Because of the wide-ranging attitudes and geographic and cultural distribution of a large population, any policy introduction requires a strong follow through over a considerable time before any new behaviour is adopted.
One simple language the public does understand is a policy that o ers a nancial incentive.
When we look at drink and food ware for consumers, which is mostly all single use plastic items, there are several examples of government policies implemented just on industry. Others are aimed at involving both industry and consumers, while others still are aimed just at consumer participation.
An example of a successful government policy on industry is the implementation of the plastic straw ban. Consumers did not need to be involved in the policy. e e ect was immediate.
e unregulated supply of plastic straws was creating an environmental
problem. Previous attempts by numerous groups over many years to educate consumers to use straws made from alternate materials was only marginally e ective. Straw suppliers and outlets took little heed and kept them abundantly available.
Once the government policy was implemented, with penalties for businesses for noncompliance, there was a quick change. Prior to the ban, a beach clean could yield up to 200 straws. Now two years after the ban, it is rare to nd a plastic straw.
e Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) is an example of successful change involving government, industry and consumers – although it took more than a decade to bring industry along.
While policy was placed on the industry, some of the responsibility was
also levied on consumers to recover items through a refundable deposit incentive rather than binning them.
Both manufacturers and the public are closely involved for the scheme to be successful. Manufacturers must comply with state laws requiring a deposit to be paid to sell their product; consumers are nancially rewarded for returning the empty containers for a redemption.
While there is no impost placed on consumers, the incentive of a cash redemption is a strong factor for them to become involved.
e degree of success lies in the degree of consumer participation – a small refund will not entice many people to change their ways. Australia’s redemption is set at 10-cents, and one only has to look inside public rubbish bins to see the e ectiveness of this.
In 2023 the CDS return rate was about 55 per cent. Higher return rates, such as those seen in other countries, could be achieved with a higher refund rate and a strong ongoing education scheme to get the public more involved.
e placement of recycling bins in public spaces and the kerbside yellowlidded recycle bins is an example of consumer only participation.
ese bins are set up to avoid ‘waste’ being sent to land lls. e infrastructure of the bins is provided for free, but success is totally dependent on the public actively caring to sort their plastic waste.
Contamination can substantially reduce the e ciency of this scheme, yet there are currently very few promotions to encourage the public to be responsible when it comes to recycling bins.
What is clear is that for changes to plastic waste disposal to be e ective, policy, a sustained enforcement on industry, and public education and incentive programs are all necessary.
For more information, visit: www.biogone.com.au
Raising the bar
With the power of advanced magnetic drum separation ferrous recovery has never been easier.
In the recycling and materials processing industries, the e cient removal of ferrous metals is crucial for maintaining product quality, promoting resource recovery, and ensuring pro tability.
Magnetic drum separators have long been a workhorse in this eld, and with today’s advanced designs, their capabilities have never been greater.
One standout is the Eriez Magnetic Drum Separator, engineered for durability, high-strength separation, and low-maintenance operation.
Backed by more than 80 years of expertise, Eriez drum separators help operations worldwide boost recovery rates and reduce operating costs.
Eriez scrap drums feature a rugged manganese steel shell, making them a suitable choice for harsh, abrasive environments. e drums’ enclosed construction eliminates jamming risks and allows for both indoor and outdoor installation. With just two bearings and minimal lubrication requirements, these drums are virtually maintenance-free.
Installation is streamlined thanks to shaft clamp mounting blocks – the separator can be suspended or supported to t a range of plant layouts.
e P-Rex (Permanent Rare Earth Xtreme) Drum Magnet sets a new benchmark in ferrous separation.
With up to 40 per cent more magnetic strength than traditional electromagnetic drums, the P-Rex is especially e ective at recovering dense, spherical items from shredded scrap. Unlike electromagnets, P-Rex maintains its strength without heat buildup, ensuring its magnetic pro le
remains stable, providing reliable, highyield operation. And with its edge-toedge magnetic eld, the P-Rex ensures greater surface pickup and e ciency.
e optional Traction Plate Drum Wrap agitates the material on the drum surface, releasing non-metallic contaminants, improving purity.
Eriez permanent drum separators o er several advantages over traditional electromagnetic designs:
• Higher magnetic strength that doesn’t degrade.
• Consistent operation, una ected by temperature.
• Zero energy consumption – no power supply needed.
• Lower maintenance requirements. e result? Better recovery, lower running costs, and longterm performance.
Eriez o ers a variety of magnetic drum con gurations to match materials and ow requirements including double drum systems for metal recovery and cleaning, suspended drums placed at
conveyor discharge points, top feed units for large, liberated ferrous items, and side feed styles used in foundries to extract iron from shakeout sand.
With multiple eld orientations available, such as agitating for cleaner recovery or radial for high-volume applications, users can netune their setup for optimal results.
Eriez also supplies a range of enhancements, including wear-resistant shell wraps, drive systems and zerospeed switches, heavy-duty frames and mounting accessories, and AC-to-DC recti ers for electromagnetic models. Each system is custom-built.
Routine checks and simple lubrication are all that’s needed to keep the system running at peak performance.
Whether processing shredded vehicles, municipal waste or incinerator ash, Eriez P-Rex technology delivers robust, consistent ferrous recovery.
For more information, visit: www.eriez.com
e e Drum ag et ers u t er
tr mag eti drums. Image: rie
Driving progress in the Top End
eterson grinder the first eries model of its ind to be introduced into ustralia is set to tac le the relentless conditions of the orthern erritory.
In the remote expanse of the Northern Territory, Phil Snell has carved out a robust business, Litch eld Green Waste Recyclers, specialising in land clearing and green waste grinding for local councils. His dedication to the region’s environmental management was further solidi ed in 2022 when his company secured a ve-year contract with mining giant Rio Tinto to carry out site clearance and rehabilitation on the sprawling 15,000-hectare bauxite mining lease at Nhulunbuy (formerly Gove).
e site, which has been critical to the global aluminium industry for more than four decades, is expected to continue operations until 2029. e core of Phil’s work involves clearing and mulching timber, which is then repurposed for the rehabilitation of mine borrow areas and red mud ponds.
However, the sheer remoteness of the site presents a unique set of challenges – it’s a nine-hour drive from Katherine, the Northern Territory’s fourth-largest settlement, making logistics and equipment transport complex. Heavy
machinery must be ferried in and out by barge, adding another layer of intricacy to the operation.
Despite these hurdles, forest machinery manufacturer Komatsu Forest has consistently risen to the occasion, providing the essential equipment needed to navigate these demanding conditions.
Phil’s operation is a substantial one, relying on a eet of haulage trucks, a full range of earthmoving equipment, and notably, two Peterson 2710D grinders. e team of 45 operators work on a y-
Komatsu Forest has consistently provided the essential equipment needed to navigate the demanding work conditions of the Northern Territory. Image: Komatsu Forest
in, y-out (FIFO) basis, adapting their schedule to the monsoonal wet season, working from February through May.
“We’ve got to work around the wet season, so we ramp up when we can,”
Phil says. “We run two grinders 12 hours a day, seven days a week. e remoteness and monsoonal rains are real challenges.”
ese demanding conditions, coupled with the harsh weather, mean that machines typically need to be moved on after accumulating 4000 hours of operation. is rapid turnover underscores the need for durable, high-performance machinery and a forward-thinking approach to equipment acquisition.
Phil’s years in the grinding industry have honed his discernment for the right equipment for the job. His working relationship with Peterson equipment dates back to his initial purchase of a second-hand Peterson 2400, which was later upgraded to a new Peterson 2710C.
Since 2016, his commitment to the brand has grown, over that time he’s purchased ve Peterson 2710D grinders – two of them from Komatsu Forest in September 2022.
To meet the rising production demands and contend with the relentless conditions of the Northern Territory, Phil has ordered a larger Peterson 5710E grinder – the rst “E” Series model of its kind in Australia.
Phil says the more advanced machine is capable of handling higher volumes and providing increased output. One of the existing 2710D units will be subsequently relocated to Darwin to support road and site clearing operations there.
While Jamie Spilsbury, Phil’s site manager at Gove, attests to the capabilities of their current machinery, he’s eagerly anticipating the upgrade.
“ e Peterson 2710D has been ideal for this operation. It’s rugged, productive, and easy to move between job sites,” Jamie says. “But
Machine Comparison
I’m looking forward to the 5710E, it’s going to help us meet rising production requirements.”
Brenton Yon, Peterson Specialist at Komatsu Forest, says the impressive performance of the 2710D has made it a best-selling grinder, however, there’s a growing preference for the larger model in high-volume operations.
“ e 5710 is quickly becoming the go-to for high-volume operations, it’s our second best-seller in Australia,” he says.
Peterson grinders, under the Astec Group, are renowned for delivering low cost per tonne in the industry. Powered by high-performance CAT engines (available in both Tier II and Tier IV formats), they are engineered for durability and consistent performance in the toughest environments.
Features such as large feed openings and high-lift feed rolls make them e ective at processing irregularly sized materials. ey use a powerful upturn three-stage grinding process, ensuring superior material fracturing and a consistent nal product.
Brenton says the patented Impact Release System with airbags provides uniform grinding while o ering protection against contaminated feedstock. Additional layers of defence, including urethane cushions and shear pins, further safeguard the mill from catastrophic damage in the event of impact from contaminants.
Phil says the investment in the Peterson 5710E is a testament to the strong partnership forged with Komatsu Forest. eir collaboration is built on trust, consistent performance, and a mutual commitment to achieving operational objectives.
“At the end of the day, we’re a contractor and we have to make sure we deliver our jobs on time,” he says.
“ e move towards newer, highercapacity grinders is not just an upgrade; it’s a strategic imperative for Litch eld Green Waste Recyclers to maintain its competitive edge and continue delivering results in the challenging Northern Territory environment.”
For more information, visit: www.komatsuforest.com
Kyokuto mini loader lands
It may have mini in its name, but the specialised rear loader is set to have a big impact Down Under.
Ashift is underway in the Australian waste management sector, spearheaded by the recent acquisition of STG Global by Kyokuto Japan, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of purpose-built trucks.
e partnership, signed o in December 2024, signals a new era for Aussie-born STG Global, now operating as STG powered by Kyokuto.
Shane Sinclair, National Fleet
Shane says the rear loader design, a common con guration in Japan’s tight city streets, showcases Japan’s expertise in developing robust and user-friendly machinery for highvolume material handling.
“Reliability is critical in Japan, and they build things to last,” he says.
“ e Kyokuto products are top quality and will set a new standard in the sector. We will have the 8.2 cubic
a rapidly expanding company with a national footprint.
Specialising in niche markets, Sydney Waste Services has extensive experience in the collection, transport, processing, recycling and disposal of residential, commercial, industrial and liquid wastes.
It’s grown from one truck – a rear lift vehicle servicing the Sydney market 27 years ago – to a eet of more than 80
Kyokuto’s specialised mini rear loader showcases Japan’s expertise in developing robust and user-friendly machinery.
on the research, development and innovative means of service delivery and processing of recyclables, green organics and waste material.
Investing in superior machinery is a tactical decision to optimise operations.
“Acquiring good quality trucks is very important for our business, as is any equipment,” Elon says.
“We want to rely on good quality equipment so we can focus on what we do best, which is providing a very high calibre of service.”
Sydney Waste Services has grown signi cantly in the past ve to 10 years and continues to grow at an exponential rate, largely due to loyal clients.
Where once the company was parking its truck on the street, it now owns and operates three depots, has industrial land earmarked for future depot development and is currently constructing three recycling facilities. e goal is for the company to be completely vertically integrated. is, Elon says, highlights a direct need for reliable solutions, such as those provided by Kyokuto’s mini rear loaders.
“We’ve had a lot of unexpected issues in the past trialling second hand or cheaper equipment. It distracts us and takes us away from what we’re good at and what we need to focus on,” he says.
“By investing in superior equipment like the Kyokuto mini rear loaders, it de nitely helps our business grow and accelerate that growth by letting the equipment do what it does best and letting us do what we do best.”
often-con ned spaces within waste facilities or urban streets.
Adding a strategic perspective, Simon Zizer, Director of Sydney Waste Services, reinforces the company’s commitment to high-performance assets. He says the reliability of Kyokuto’s mini rear loaders directly supports the company’s ability to deliver projects e ciently and maintain high standards. e compact size and manoeuvrability make them suitable for navigating the
“I’m happy with the body, we’ve had no problems with it,” Simon says. “It’s got good compaction capacity.
“We have two trucks – we’re the rst in Australia to have them – and we’re looking to buy more.”
e acquisition of STG Global by Kyokuto leverages STG’s established presence and distribution network, ensuring
Australian businesses, like Sydney Waste Services, directly bene t from engineering and quality control synonymous with Japanese manufacturing.
Looking ahead, Shane says the partnership is poised to drive further advancements within the Australian waste landscape.
For more information, visit: www.stgglobal.net
Sydney Waste Services is the first i Australia t use t e Kyokuto mini rear loader.
l i er ie e utive er Sydney Waste Services. Images: STG powered by Kyokuto
A sustainable shift in transport
How Scania is leading the heavy-vehicle industry in the 3Rs: Reduce, reuse, and recycle.
Scania will be exhibiting at ReGen 2025, Australia’s Circular Resource Expo, to show o its low-emission truck technology but also to demonstrate how deeply the global truck and bus maker is committed to sustainability and circularity.
On the Scania stand will be a 2025-model year 460 P 8x4 rigid truck tted with a HIAB hooklift, ideal for urban waste bin transportation. e truck is tted with the latest generation six-cylinder Scania Super engine that has reduced fuel consumption and emissions by at least eight per cent compared with Scania’s previous, already highly e cient engines.
But e ciency in operation is not the sole focus for Scania, as it meets its obligations under the latest
environmental reduction schemes. ese are focused on low emission component manufacturing and vehicle assembly –areas where Scania for many years has expended much energy.
Now, Scania is a world leader in installing remanufactured gearboxes into some new trucks on its production line in Sweden, giving a second life to refurbished products, reducing consumption of natural resources and the energy needed to produce major components. Reusing 50 per cent of the parts in the gearbox cuts carbon emissions by up to 45 per cent for the unit.
e ‘remanufactured’ gearbox parts are subjected to the same rigorous testing as new parts, to make sure they meet Scania’s quality and performance standards.
Scania has long been remanufacturing key components and selling them back into the aftermarket as ‘remanufactured’, but now the company is tting these parts to new production line vehicles. Up to now, remanufacturing in the European automotive sector has been con ned to the aftermarket, which accounts for just over one per cent of new manufacturing according to a report by the European Remanufacturing Network.
Another piece of enterprising innovation is found at Scania’s factory in São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil. Here, a proportion of virgin materials is replaced by recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic in the manufacture of front grille components.
Reusing 50 per cent of the parts in a remanufactured gearbox cuts carbon emissions by up to 45 per cent for the unit.
is reduces environmental impact but also transforms the perception of waste, saving about 1.5 million PET bottles from land lls or incinerators annually, based on the production of 30 thousand vehicles per year. e carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions saving is about 62 tonnes annually, with 16 per cent less energy required compared with using 100 per cent virgin materials.
Scania is also aiming to turn 20,000 tonnes of used sand from its foundry into useful mortar, rather than sending it to land ll. Again, the saving of virgin materials will enhance circularity at both Scania and the mortar maker.
Scania’s clothing ranges are made from recycled plastics woven into polyester garments, while organically grown cotton is used for T-shirts, etc. Scania is constantly looking for alternatives when it comes to raw materials. e company uses a mix of organic cotton and recycled materials, even using old co ee grounds, in its garments.
“At Scania, we believe that being a sustainable business depends on adopting a more circular economic model, where the use of existing resources is maximised, and waste is minimised all along the value chain,” says Manfred Streit, Managing Director of Scania Australia.
“Circular business aligns with our core value of elimination of waste, as well as our lean production system and our modularisation approach.
“Circularity challenges us to rethink not just how we design and manufacture products, our impact and knowledge of the value chain, but also how we develop business models and provide value for our customers. erefore, we are taking actions to gain a deeper understanding of the opportunities of a circular approach in the di erent parts of our value chain.”
In practical terms, this involves working with the supply chain, extending the life of products, optimising the use of resources and energy, maintaining product value as high as possible, remanufacturing spare parts and promoting reuse of components and recycling at the end-oflife product phase.
“As Scania leads the shift to a sustainable and electri ed transport system, we are also exploring business opportunities around second life applications, recycling and reusing batteries and raw materials,” Manfred says.
Decreasing CO2 emissions is another key objective for Scania.
“We see circularity as a key enabler for decarbonisation. Virgin material production is energy-intensive, which is why every time we can, we avoid using virgin material, and instead reuse, remanufacture or recycle. In this way we save both natural resources and CO2 emissions,” Manfred says.
“So, when you become a Scania customer, you are bene ting not only from our engineering prowess and our safety and engine e ciency, but also the wider story of our circularity investments for the bene t of the planet.”
Michael Lieder, Scania’s global business developer for the circular economy, explains why this focus is so important for the truck and bus maker.
“Circularity is the next big frontier in sustainability as it decouples business growth from resource use. Also, it’s vital for our business,” he says.
“As the earth’s resources dwindle, competition for key materials such as rare earth minerals becomes more intense, leading to price volatility and supply challenges.
“Adopting a circular business model ensures that we have access to the materials we need and that we stay competitive by keeping product costs down. It also opens big opportunities to create value for our customers along the vehicle lifecycle. In other words, we can’t a ord not to do it!”
For more information, visit: www.scania.com
Foundry sand to be recycled. Images: Scania
Scania clothing made with recycled or organic materials.
All systems go
Australia’s leading event for circular economy and resource recovery innovation, ReGen Expo, has released its free two-day speaker program set to take place on 23–24 July 2025 at the ICC Sydney.
Whether it is through legislation or good corporate governance, the government needs to support Australian recyclers.”
It’s a topic close to Adrian Jones, CoFounder of textile recycler BlockTexx, and one he’ll dive into during this year’s ReGen Expo.
Adrian is among a dynamic mix of keynote speakers set to take the stage at the two-day event, bringing together industry insights on how to drive transformation.
“My presentation will focus not on daily operations but more on the current market and government policy,” says Adrian.
“Forums like ReGen are really important as we navigate this interesting time.”
Formerly known as the Australasian Waste and Recycling Expo (AWRE), ReGen is the result of a strategic merger with Circularity, evolving into Australia’s premier marketplace for circular systems and regenerative solutions.
e event showcases cutting-edge technical displays and features keynote addresses, panel discussions, and invaluable networking opportunities.
Organised by Diversi ed Australia, it brings together circular resource exhibitors, buyers, and thought leaders to drive transformation and contribute to a circular and sustainable future for Australia.
is year’s program has been built around two key stages – a Resource stage sponsored by NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA), and
a Circularity stage – and features more than 80 voices from across government, industry, research and community sectors.
Sessions on the Circularity stage will focus on design innovation, policy and research, as well as driving forwardthinking solutions for a circular future. It’s here that Adrian will talk about simple solutions for legacy problems.
Adrian and BlockTexx are longtime supporters of the expo and have contributed to numerous events.
“Historically, waste conferences talk about waste, and yet we don’t see ourselves as part of the waste industry,” says Adrian.
“We see ourselves as part of the manufacturing and resource sectors. Because ultimately, we make things.
“BlockTexx takes the textiles which people have deemed are now at the end of their life cycle and through a chemical and manufacturing process, we convert that product into two higher value products which we then sell onto the market.”
BlockTexx is known for its end-toend solutions for unwanted textiles and clothing, but Adrian says the company is also on a mission to tackle another waste industry challenge –gender balance.
“We are very proud that 55 per cent of our sta are female. It has completely changed the dynamic of our management team for the better, and has improved our company and decision-making processes,” he says.
“ e waste industry is still quite male-
This year’s ReGen expo will feature a Resource stage and a Circularity stage. Image: Divesified Australia
dominated, so I think the sector still has some way to go on this front.”
Also speaking on the Circularity stage will be Christie Rourke from Australian Institute of Company Directors (ACID), Dr Dominique Hes from Geronimo Advisory, Kellie Hush from Volte, Katherine Featherstone from Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) and Dr Heinz Schandl from the Commonwealth Scienti c and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).
Sessions on the Resource stage will cover recovery, recycling, and residuals management and addressing the practical realities of resource stewardship.
Speakers will include Patricia O’Callaghan, the Director of Environment in Queensland, Carmen Loecherer from Veolia, Tara Osborne
from BINGO Industries, Sarah Hughes from End Food Waste Australia, Matt Genever from Sustainability Victoria, Alexandra Geddes and Amanda Kane from NSW EPA as well as Suzanne Toumbourou from Australian Council of Recycling (ACOR).
FULL SCHEDULE
e two-day program will again include the Innovation Pitch Fest, sponsored by Coles, where Australian startups and scale-ups present the latest solutions to promote circularity across industries.
Of the 83 speakers, 43 are female, meaning 52 per cent of the speaker cohort this year is female.
Ali Lawes, Event Director, ReGen says she is incredibly proud of the depth and diversity this year’s speaker program o ers.
“We are proud to be giving a platform to these professionals to speak on their areas of expertise,” Ali says.
“It is the result of deep collaboration with our advisory board, including our stage leads from Planet Ark, for Circularity, and Waste Contractors and Recyclers Association of NSW (WCRA), for Resource, as well as our broader event community.
“We set out to curate a program that goes beyond a ‘talk fest’, one that delivers tangible solutions, sparks real-world impact, and helps drive Australia’s transition to a circular economy.
“ReGen 2025 is about action, alignment, and accelerating progress together.”
For more information, visit: www.regenexpo.com.au
With
Winning ways
the Waste Innovation and Recycling Awards just around the corner, 2024 Woman of Waste award winner Vanja Marjanovic sits down with Waste Management Review to discuss her victory.
Being recognised for achievements boosts morale and helps create positive experiences in any workplace.
ese are the words Vanja Marjanovic, Resource Recovery and Waste Coordinator for e City of Melville, said when she was crowned the Woman of Waste at the 2024 Waste Innovation and Recycling Awards.
Re ecting on her win recently, Vanja says being able to celebrate the individuals, themes and organisational achievements that positively impact environmental outcomes is amazing.
“When individuals and teams feel valued and appreciated, it increases their job satisfaction, motivation levels and overall engagement,” she says.
“Recognition inspires employees to continue demonstrating positive behaviours and pursue excellence.”
e Waste Innovation and Recycling Awards are held in partnership with, and during, Waste Expo Australia. ey o er participants a chance to network with others who are active in Australia’s waste and resource recovery industry.
ey are also an acknowledgment and celebration of outstanding achievements within a sector that is continuing to build capacity, innovate, and in uence governments and communities.
Vanja’s journey at the City of Melville began in 2022. Over the years she has taken on more responsibility, combining her work with her passion.
By 2024, Vanja was known as the council’s Waste Management Champion for her role in increasing sustainability
through several initiatives, including a pre-booked verge collection service.
e Woman of Waste award was in recognition of Vanja’s innovative waste management practices and her expert leadership of programs with internal and external stakeholders.
“A signi cant amount of e ort and passion goes into these jobs behind the scenes, and we often overlook the importance of taking a moment to re ect on and celebrate the small improvements and changes we make for the industry, environment and also our community,” she says. “To be recognised for that work was amazing, and I was so pleased to bring the award back to the council. If anything, the recognition from the awards has inspired me to strive for greater achievements.
“ ere is still plenty of work ahead, and I’m excited to keep progressing on my journey to build a high-performing team.”
Nominations for the 2025 Waste Innovation and Recycling Awards are now
open. Categories include Outstanding WARR Project (Metro), Outstanding WARR Project (Regional/Rural), Operational Excellence, Innovation, Outstanding Facility, Young Professional of the Year (proudly sponsored by Remondis), Woman of Waste (proudly sponsored by ReGroup), Community Engagement (proudly sponsored by Visy), Workplace of the Year, and Leader of
Vanja says the awards are a great reminder for everyone – individuals, teams and organisations – to participate, network and celebrate the wins, big or small.
“Recognising the valuable contributions of the waste industry is important as it highlights the vital role that waste management has in protecting the environment, public health and the economy,” she says.
“By recognising the positives, we can foster more innovation and investment in sustainable practices that will ultimately bene t society.”
Regardless of the size of the project or the duration, Vanja says everybody should be proud of their work across the sector.
“Being nominated is something to be proud of, just knowing that the industry has somehow bene ted from the work is special,” she says.
“Not to mention others can gain insights from previous work and apply similar strategies in their workplaces.”
Nominations close 25 August 2025
For more information, visit: www.wasteawards.com.au
Vanja Marjanovic won the 2024 Woman of Waste award. Image: Prime Creative Media.
Waste not, build smart
The ecologiQ Greener Infrastructure Conference is back in 2025, in an exciting new partnership with ecologiQ and Waste Expo Australia unite for a circular future.
By uniting two of the reuse and recycling industry’s most in uential events, organisers aim to unlock new opportunities for suppliers, markets, and major projects, while reaching new audiences and industry leaders.
Exhibits at the ecologiQ Greener Infrastructure Conference, co-located with Waste Expo Australia 2025, will position many brands at the forefront of sustainable innovation.
is premier platform will connect these businesses with contractors, government agencies, policy makers, local councils, and industry leaders, providing a powerful opportunity to showcase innovative solutions for integrating recycled materials into infrastructure and construction.
e conference will be held across two days, from 29-30 October at the Melbourne Conference and Exhibition Centre. Similar to previous years, it will
include a curated plenary featuring a keynote address, case studies and panels and a trade hall featuring suppliers of recycled and reused materials from across the construction sector.
Since its inception in 2013, Waste Expo Australia has evolved into the country’s largest gathering of waste management and resource recovery professionals, o ering a platform for advancing best practices and promoting environmental and community bene ts.
e ecologiQ Greener Infrastructure Conference is a major event in the Victorian Government’s Big Build program, focused on showcasing sustainable infrastructure solutions and promoting the use of recycled and reused materials.
Co-locating these two key events will allow delegates to see, hear and learn about the full circular economy, from
Co-locating the two events will allow delegates to see, hear and learn about the full circular economy. Images: ecologiQ
The conference will feature a keynote address, case studies and panels.
resource recovery and reprocessing, remanufacture to a recycled product, and end use applications, and how these systems are inter-reliant and interlinked.
“Over the ve years of the Recycled First Policy, we’ve heard countless great stories of how industry is integrating waste products, with the circular economy continuing to phase out the infrastructure industry’s reliance on virgin resources,” says Lauren Rowett, ecologiQ Industry Manager.
“It’s exciting to be able to talk about the Recycled First Policy in person again alongside new audiences at Waste Expo Australia – another invaluable opportunity for us to spark industrywide conversation in how waste material is used.”
e focus of the ecologiQ Greener Infrastructure Conference this year will be on sharing tangible, actionable strategies for improving the sustainability of construction in Victoria.
ecologiQ commenced in response to the Victorian Government’s Recycled First Policy to make the reuse, recycling and repurposing of waste materials on road and rail infrastructure across Victoria business as usual.
It has been critical to the success of the Recycled First Policy, working with industry stakeholders to maximise existing opportunities and to create new opportunities for local businesses and manufacturers to bring new products to market, supporting industry growth, innovation, research and development and standards and speci cation reform.
Since the introduction of the policy in March 2020, Big Build projects have used more than ve million tonnes of recycled and reused materials. In 2024, more recycled and reused materials were incorporated across the Big Build than were delivered in the rst 3.5 years of the Recycled First Policy’s operation, with usage rising from about
2.6 million to 5.5 million tonnes. is includes delivering 560,000 tonnes of crushed concrete, 129,000 tonnes of reclaimed asphalt pavement, 277,000 tonnes of recycled crushed rock, 12,500 tonnes of recycled glass, and 930,000 tonnes of site-won material.
“ e future is green,”says Alexis Davison, Executive Program Director of Major Road Projects.
“We’re proud to be leading the charge to change the face of infrastructure by delivering greener roads and rail, minimising waste and reducing carbon emissions across the broader construction sector.
“We’d love for businesses to join us as part of the positive change at our third conference in four years of the Greener Infrastructure Conference – for the rst time alongside Waste Expo.
“We’re bringing together sector leaders to discuss innovation and adoption of the use of recycled materials in transport infrastructure projects and the broader construction sector.”
e Victorian Government’s commitment to sustainability is re ected in the 2024 Economic Growth Statement, with the intention to expand the Recycled First Policy beyond transport infrastructure to major projects in non-transport sectors.
Sherri Pearson, Exhibition Manager Waste Expo Australia, says the partnership will o er a holistic view of the industry’s future.
“Co-location of Waste Expo Australia and the ecologiQ Greener Infrastructure Conference o ers a comprehensive and truly circular perspective on resource management,” Sherri says.
“It illustrates the entire circular journey, from the point of discard and processing to the valuable end-use and integration of materials back into the economy, ultimately driving a more sustainable future.”
For more information, visit: www.wasteexpoaustralia.com.au
Building mental wellness
new partnership re ects a growing movement within the construction industry to brea down the stigma surrounding mental health and create safer, more supportive wor places.
CONEXPO-CON/AGG and e Utility Expo have partnered with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) to promote mental health awareness across the construction industry.
AFSP is the largest private funder of suicide prevention research in the United States and a leader on advocacy, education and community engagement to ght suicide.
e foundation aims to create a culture that’s smart about mental health through public education and community programs, develop suicide prevention through research and advocacy, and provide support for those a ected by suicide.
Together with CONEXPO-CON/ AGG and e Utility Expo, they will launch a multi-year initiative to provide mental health education, suicide
prevention resources, and training tailored speci cally to the needs of the construction industry.
e construction sector continues to face one of the highest suicide rates of any profession. rough this collaboration, the trade shows will serve as a platform to raise awareness and equip industry professionals with the tools to foster a culture that prioritises mental health and wellbeing.
“Our industry is built by people, and protecting their mental health is just as critical as ensuring their physical safety,” says Megan Tanel, President and Chief Executive O cer of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), which owns and operates both shows.
“By partnering with AFSP, CONEXPO-CON/AGG and e Utility Expo will amplify essential conversations, deliver accessible training, and help make suicide prevention a standard part of how we do business.”
AFSP will deliver specialised programming at AEM industry trade shows and provide regular virtual training sessions for construction industry workers.
e partnership also includes support for AFSP’s community events and initiatives to certify leaders in best practices for suicide prevention.
“ is partnership with CONEXPOCON/AGG builds on our commitment to the construction industry and our
support of mental health in workplaces,” said AFSP Chief Executive O cer Bob Gebbia.
“By taking actions that help people thrive emotionally, and by providing programs and resources to ensure people struggling get the help they need – we can prevent suicide.”
Held every three years, CONEXPOCON/AGG is a must-attend event for construction industry professionals.
e show features the latest equipment, products, services and technologies for the industry, as well as industry-leading education.
e next CONEXPO-CON/AGG will be held March 3-7, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
e Utility Expo is the largest event for utility professionals and construction contractors seeking comprehensive insights into the latest industry technologies, innovations and trends.
e biennial trade show, known for equipment test drives and interactive product demonstrations, takes place in Louisville. e next event will be October 7-9, 2025.
For more information, visit: www.conexpoconagg.com
If you or anyone you know is experiencing a personal crisis help is available at Lifeline 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636
A multi-year initiative is being launched to provide mental health education s e ifi all r t e stru ti industry. Image: Caterpillar
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269,000 net square meters of exhibits / 139,000 attendees / 2,000 exhibitors / 150 education sessions
No matter what sector of construction you’re in, you’ll leave CONEXPO-CON/AGG with new ideas, new relationships, and new opportunities to grow your business, and your place within the industry. This isn’t just North America’s largest construction trade show, it’s taking construction to the next level.
ti n n ignites
Shannon Mead, Executive Director, No More Butts reviews the progress made on vape disposal and identifies the gaps that still exist.
In December 2024, the Environment Ministers from the federal and state governments failed to reach agreement on a national approach to deal with problematic batteries (such as those found in vapes). Two states have now started to take their own actions to curb the number of res being caused by these products in our waste management system.
Although the importation and retail sale of vapes has been banned across Australia for a year now, the epidemic of res being caused by vape disposal has continued.
Along with other devices (such as electric toothbrushes), vapes are often powered by a lithium-ion battery.
Most vapes obtained illegally in Australia are disposable, meaning that the battery is embedded in the device. Consequently, as the user is not able to remove the battery, once the vape juice is depleted and the product has no perceived value, the logical action is to dispose of it.
But without a disposal scheme for vapes available in Australia, they are
regularly thrown into general waste. ere is often a belief that vapes can be disposed in general battery disposal bins, but this isn’t the case.
Aside from the absence of funding, this is due to nicotine – an ingredient found in most vapes – being considered a poison, requiring a licence to manage it in some states.
rowing away any kind of battery can create issues, even if it is embedded in the product. e Australian Council of Recycling has noted that up to 12,000
res may be caused by batteries annually across the country. We know from talking to waste industry operators that vapes are one of the biggest culprits.
e New South Wales Government and the NSW Environment Protection Authority have taken strong actions towards dealing with battery disposal, through the introduction of stand-alone product stewardship legislation in 2025. is legislation will enable the regulation of certain products and seeks to address “free riders” and enforce product stewardship measures through the implementation of these regulations.
However, this model will only work for products where the brand or product owner is easily identi able and is selling their products legally in Australia.
With vapes, unless they are being obtained as a smoking cessation aid via a pharmacy, they are considered illegal. Being brought into the country and sold illegally means that these future product stewardship regulations can’t be applied to vapes.
To tackle this issue, we need a t-forpurpose program and dedicated funding.
In November 2024, in the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO), the Commonwealth announced a total funding package of more than $180 million to tackle vaping.
Included in this announcement was speci c funding of $12.5 million over three years (from 2024-25) to establish a consumer collection and disposal scheme for vaping product. is budget was allocated to the Department of Health, despite some actions more logically sitting under another department.
Despite multiple queries via several channels, there has been no clarity on announcements around the deployment of any programs related to consumer vape disposal.
In February 2025, the Queensland Government announced funding of $2 million to tackle problematic products with embedded batteries (including vapes).
“There has been no clarity on announcements around the deployment of any programs related to consumer vape disposal.
Shannon Mead, Executive Director, No More Butts
In late May 2025, the parameters for this funding were con rmed: Queensland councils can apply for up to $100,000 in funding for trials and programs that tackle this issue.
No More Butts had positive discussions with councils that saw this as a strong step forward to address the very real issue that has been overlooked for several years.
While the action of the Queensland Government to act independently is a positive step, it would have made sense for this to be funded by the Commonwealth.
No More Butts has previously called for vapes to be included in the proposed Federal Government scheme for Small Electrical and Electronic Equipment (SEEE) and Solar Photovoltaics (PV).
e Commonwealth funding could subsidise this model, with dedicated disposal bins available at waste transfer stations that accept items under the current National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme.
An alternative is to extend the scope of B-Cycle, Australia’s battery recycling scheme, which has openly expressed an interest in expanding its remit to include vapes.
Despite now being the only place that Australians can legally obtain a vape, there is still no disposal program in place for vapes within pharmacies.
Unless the erapeutic Goods Administration mandates design standards requiring brands to
have user-removable batteries (that are likely to be a part of B-Cycle), the discussion of the disposal of legitimate vapes is a separate – and equally as important – topic.
An in-store pharmacy return scheme for legitimate vapes would create an opportunity to fund the disposal program itself, through the introduction of a levy.
A further consideration is to include a refund element through this regulated channel, with drop-o points being available at pharmacies nationwide.
Although not widely promoted, there are products available for vape disposal, including through on demand recycling service RecycleSmart and via e-waste recycler Ecocycle.
In Queensland, Eco-sig has been recovering energy from discarded vapes to create new powerbanks. With government funding now on the table, it’s likely to accelerate the availability of speci c products for vape disposal.
Unless the Commonwealth intervenes and implements a harmonised approach to vape disposal across the country, the remaining states and territories should implement their own schemes by the end of 2025. A failure to do so would send a signal that the safety of waste industry workers is not a priority.
Solutions now exist and funding is available – let’s ignite the action.
We recycle almost 20 million used tyres from across Australia each year. Whether helping industries reduce their reliance on fossil fuels, or creating more sustainable roads and surfaces, our products are having a positive impact on our world every day.
To learn more scan the QR code or visit tyrecycle.com.au
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