Waste Management Review February 2022

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Tyrecycle CEO Jim Fairweather is leading the company through its biggest capital expansion in 30 years. www.wastemanagementreview.com.au

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FEBRUARY 2022

2022 | FEBRUARY | ISSUE 59

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Waste Management Review

Komptech CEA is a leading supplier of machinery and systems for the treatment of solid waste through mechanical and mechanical biological

FEATURES Looking beyond the surface of contaminated soil The Uber of waste - on demand recycling Battery recycling: Doing it right Real steel - Combining old school values with new technology

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Household Recoverables & Processing Solutions The APR Kerbside Material Recovery Facility (MRF) in Truganina is the only one in Victoria that doesn’t accept glass.

reduced operating costs. Visit isuzu.com.au/waste For Municipal Councils that have partnered with APR Kerbside in the Glass-out program, their recyclables are now being received with less than 1% glass. These remarkable results have directly contributed to reducing contamination levels and further diverting waste from landfill.

Improving the separation of household recyclables and having no glass in the kerbside commingled stream has led to a significant improvement in the quality of all recyclables.

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COVER STORY

20

WHEELS OF FORTUNE

60

Tyrecycle CEO Jim Fairweather shares plans for the company to refresh its entire manufacturing footprint within 36 months.

REAL STEEL Colorado Industrial Recycling combines old school values with new technology to continue a family tradition

“THIS PLANT REFLECTS A SIGNIFICANT STEP FORWARD IN AUSTRALIA RESPONSIBLY DEALING WITH ITS OWN TYRE WASTE, DRIVING STRONG ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC OUTCOMES.” – Tyrecycle CEO Jim Fairweather

In this issue Features

24 PRIORITIES 2022

National Waste and Recycling Industry Council CEO Rose Read looks to the new year.

27

HITTING PAY DIRT

CDE Group at the forefront of industry change.

30 DRILLING DOWN Enviropacific aims for a zero waste future.

32 A NEW ALLIANCE

Australian Organics Recycling Association joins a new international alliance.

34 REASSESSING REMEDIATION

CRC Care tailors solutions for soil remediation.

36 HAZARDOUS WASTE Enretech Group takes a sustainable approach.

38 BREAKING NEW GROUND

SESL Australia uses science to unlock the potential of excavation waste.

40 THE UBER OF WASTE

RecycleSmart brings on-demand recycling to your doorstep.

54 MULTIPLATFORM PERFORMANCE

JCB’s wheel loaders deliver on performance.

42 THE PLATINUM EDITION 56 LEADING THE WAY RIVING EQUAL 44 DOPPORTUNITY 58 AUSTRALIA’S Bucher Municipal introduces the platinum edition ACCO model.

Position Partner’s machine guidance leads the way.

GREENEST ROAD

Green Collect and Isuzu help create new life for waste products and disadvantaged employees.

Alex Fraser paves the way for Australia’s greenest road.

THE POWER OF 46 THE MINER

60 REAL STEEL

Garwood Australia’s Miner is small in stature but still packs a punch.

48

BATTERY RECYCLING: DOING IT RIGHT

EcoBatt – the go-to for all things battery recycling.

50 ROBUST AND STURDY Fifty years on, TANA lives up to its name.

52 TRIED AND TESTED

SDLG wheel loaders earn their reputation as the “workhorses” of the waste and recycling industry.

Colorado Industrial Recycling is wired to help the community.

CLINICAL 62 ASOLUTION

Built for market – Komptech’s Nemus 2700 Drum Screen.

Regulars

64 COUNCIL IN FOCUS 66 PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT 69 LAST WORD www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 7

PUBLISHER

Christine Clancy christine.clancy@primecreative.com.au

MANAGING EDITOR

Sarah Baker sarah.baker@primecreative.com.au

EDITOR

From the Editor

On solid ground Until recently, I was guilty of not looking beyond my own little patch of dirt, taking for granted that soil is soil and will always be there. I shouldn’t have. Topsoil is not a finite resource. Chemical contamination, leachate and decades of construction have taken a toll on the ground we rely on to survive.

In 2014, Scientific American reported that if current rates of degradation continued, all of the world’s topsoil could be gone within 60 years. Australia’s first national policy on soil was released in May last year, setting out how the nation will value, manage and improve its soil for the next 20 years. Scientists, engineers and researchers are already looking beyond the surface to ensure our soil health.

This edition of Waste Management Review features just some of the groundbreaking work being carried out, including that of environmental laboratory and soil science consultancy service SESL Australia, which is using science to transform previously “unusable” waste into topsoil and subsoil for end-use landscapes (page 38).

Then there are Enviropacific and CDE Group, who together are developing and using technology that aims to eliminate waste while removing contaminants from the ground (pages 27 and 30).

Biotechnology is becoming more widely recognised as a sustainable and costeffective soil remediation approach. Gordon Irons, the Managing Director of environmental solutions group Enretech, talks about success the group is having with bioremediation projects in New Caledonia, Kazakhstan, Vietnam and Japan (page 36), as an example of what can be achieved in Australia.

Meanwhile, Professor Ravi Naidu, the founding Managing Director and CEO of CRC CARE estimates that only 10 per cent of the 200,000 contaminated sites in Australia have been remediated. Since its launch in 2005, CRC CARE has been a driving force in soil remediation in Australia and has recently secured commitments from industry and government partners to continue for another 10 years (page 34).

There are exciting developments happening within the soil remediation space. The Australian Government’s Soil Science Challenge, offering up to $5 million for research projects addressing soil carbon dynamics, hydrology, biology and soil/root interface, can only help build on our knowledge and put us on solid ground for the future.

Lisa Korycki

8 / WMR / February 2022

Lisa Korycki lisa.korycki@primecreative.com.au

JOURNALIST

Tom O’Keane tom.okeane@primecreative.com.au

DESIGN PRODUCTION MANAGER Michelle Weston michelle.weston@primecreative.com.au

ART DIRECTOR

Blake Storey blake.storey@primecreative.com.au

DESIGN

Kerry Pert, Aisling McComiskey

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Chelsea Daniel-Young chelsea.daniel@primecreative.com.au p: +61 425 699 878

CLIENT SUCCESS MANAGER

Justine Nardone justine.nardone@primecreative.com.au

HEAD OFFICE

Prime Creative Pty Ltd 11-15 Buckhurst Street South Melbourne VIC 3205 Australia p: +61 3 9690 8766 f: +61 3 9682 0044 enquiries@primecreative.com.au www.wastemanagementreview.com.au

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ARTICLES

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

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.

The Editor welcomes contributions but reserves the right to accept or reject any material. While every effort 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. The opinions expressed in Waste Management Review are not necessarily the opinions of, or endorsed by the publisher unless otherwise stated.

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News

HZI awarded contract for Scotland energy centre Brockwell Energy has awarded Hitachi Zosen Inova (HZI) the contract to design, build, operate and maintain a new Energy from Waste facility (EfW) on the former Westfield opencast coal site in the county of Fife in central Scotland.

It is the first project in the UK where Swiss Japanese greentech company HZI will not only act as an EPC contractor but will operate and maintain the facility on behalf of the client for 25 years.

Full construction is set to start in February 2022 and the new facility will enter commercial operations in 2025, where it will generate more than 23MW of electrical renewable energy. This will contribute baseload energy to the National Grid.

The three-year build phase will require several hundred construction workers

and will create numerous supply chain opportunities for local businesses and trades. Once the facility starts commercial operations, it will provide additional employment through 40 new full-time roles to operate and maintain the plant over its lifetime.

Fabio Dinale, VP Business Development at HZI, said Scotland’s drive for sustainable waste management includes clear recycling targets as well as ensuring that non-recyclable waste does not end up in landfill.

“However, it’s important that this waste is also appropriately managed to allow energy and valuable materials to be recovered in the process and lower our overall carbon footprint,” he said.

“Modern EfW plants like the Westfield Energy Centre will make significant contributions to meet these vital social and environmental goals.”

To be built on the former Westfield opencast coal site in Fife, the plant will be equipped with HZI’s own technologies such as the HZI reciprocating grate, as well as its boiler technology and state-of-the-art flue gas treatment. These processes will enable the Westfield facility to meet the emission directive requirements and satisfy the demands placed on a modern EfW system.

It is HZI’s fifteenth project in the United Kingdom.

Dinale said the UK remained a strong market for HZI. “We are immensely proud to not only build this project for Brockwell Energy, but support them through our 25-year Operation and Maintenance Contract in bringing new and urgently needed waste management infrastructure to Scotland,” he said.

Top results from recycling program Australia’s largest waste and recycling program is improving the environment, according to its latest report card.

The New South Wales Environment Protection Authority’s Waste Less Recycle More program provides grants and funding for waste and recycling projects across the state with more than $802 million invested since 2012.

The program has delivered almost 3000 projects that reduce waste going to landfill, helped stop illegal dumping and litter, increased recycling and also established a circular economy.

12 / WMR / February 2022

The report highlights 60 new or improved organics collection services are recycling 181,266 tonnes per year.

Almost 400,000 NSW residents have taken close to 30,000 tonnes of unwanted chemicals and household problem waste to the EPA’s free Household Chemical Cleanouts and Community Recycling Centres, ensuring it can be recycled and disposed of properly.

The Waste Less Recycle More program has also delivered $109 million in direct funding to councils, supporting

more than 2000 local projects across 61 council areas in eight regions.

Other outcomes from the latest report card include $11.4 million awarded to 271 local community and council litter projects, 11,600 tonnes of recycled glass used to build roads and footpaths, $211 million in industry investment stimulated by the program and $86 million in NSW Government funding for waste and recycling infrastructure projects.

There was a 55 per cent reduction in illegal dumping in target areas.

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News

Copper waste could power EV revolution

A joint research project is investigating how to recycle waste at mines across Queensland.

Electrical vehicles could one day be powered from the waste of North West Queensland copper mines as part of a new research project.

Resources Minister Scott Stewart said the collaboration between the Palaszczuk Government, The University of Queensland and Australian company Cobalt Blue Holdings will look into whether cobalt used for battery storage can be extracted from copper mine tailings in Mount Isa and Cloncurry.

“Cobalt is a crucial new economy mineral used in electrical vehicles and battery storage and we hope that through this research we can help unlock Queensland’s potential as a major global supplier of it,” Stewart said.

“And of course, it could also be a game changer for how our Queensland copper mines operate by turning unused waste tailings into an entirely new revenue stream. For Queensland, this could lead to new projects and industries along with providing many more jobs for Queenslanders.”

The joint research is part of the Queensland Government and UQ’s ongoing $1.03 million Secondary

14 / WMR / February 2022

Prospectivity project, which investigates recycling waste at mines across the state.

Samples taken from a number of copper mines will be sent to Cobalt Blue’s demonstration plant for trials using its tailored metallurgical extraction method.

Joe Kaderavek, Chief Executive Officer for Cobalt Blue said the company would look to expand its operations into Queensland if the results are positive.

“Queensland is sitting on a significant resource of cobalt, copper and gold. Recycling that cobalt is great news for both Queensland and global battery sectors,” Kaderavek said. “And in doing so, it will significantly diminish current environmental pollution as a result of recycling this metal, which is currently sitting in tailings.

“We believe that Cobalt Blue has the right technology to convert tailings into commercial metals whilst actually enhancing the footprint of tailings.”

The joint research project is set to begin in early 2022 and will run for up to two years with ongoing results published on the Geological Survey of

Queensland’s Open Data Portal.

University of Queensland Associate Professor Anita Parbhakar-Fox said the joint research could help boost Queensland’s circular economy while also supplying the metals needed for a low-carbon future.

“From an environmental point, finding opportunities for economic rehabilitation will help to safeguard our future,” Dr Parbhakar-Fox said.

“By re-evaluating waste as a potential resource, we also have an opportunity to introduce more sustainable practices to the resources sector with the metals being recovered from the start of a mine’s life.”

The project is part of the government’s five-year $23 million New Economy Minerals Initiative that aims to develop, promote and understand the state’s new economy mineral wealth and potential through a broad corridor from Mt Isa to Townsville.

The initiative encourages new exploration, re-investigation of old mines and probing the geological information government holds already to foster new discoveries, projects and jobs.

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FEATURE NEWS

A recycling revolution SHOALHAVEN CITY COUNCIL AND THE ENGINEER BEHIND MICROFACTORIES ARE THINKING BIG WHEN IT COMES TO THE FUTURE OF RECYCLING.

R

ecycling needs to deliver an outcome for University of New South Wales SMaRT Centre Director, Professor Veena Sahajwalla.

The newly crowned 2022 NSW Australian of the Year, widely known as the “waste queen” to colleagues, has been reshaping the way waste is managed for decades.

Now she hopes her work will help transform communities.

“Recycling is not the end game, it’s only the beginning,” Veena says. “We should be saying ‘is there a better way of doing things?’ To me, the better way has to be for the purpose of humanity.

We have to deliver good outcomes for people and for jobs and not just see waste as a problem that has to go away.

“I always make the point there’s no magic fairy out there. Businesses should see recycling as an opportunity; they’re going to generate something that can be utilised and offer a regional solution.

“I like to think our solutions bring in a little bit more equity about employment. That’s what’s important to me.”

Having lived the early part of her childhood in Mumbai, Veena says she knew very quickly that “being wasteful is not okay”.

She says it was in her DNA to look at waste from an environmental aspect. Over the years she recognised waste streams that can be harvested and brought back to life in a whole new form.

Twenty years ago, Veena invented polymer injection technology known as ‘green steel’, an eco-friendly process for using waste tyres in steel production.

Australian Research Council Laureate Professor Veena Sahajwalla with some of the green ceramics.

In 2018, the world’s first MICROfactorie, which can transform the components from e-waste items such as discarded smart phones and laptops into valuable materials for re-use, was launched at the UNSW’s Sustainable Materials & Technology Centre (SMaRT Centre) headed up by Veena.

The factory was the first of a series of MICROfactories under development to turn a variety of waste streams such as glass, plastic and timber into commercial materials and products.

The modular factories are designed to operate on a site as small as 50 square metres and be located wherever waste may be stockpiled.

In November 2021, Shoalhaven City Council received a $500,000 grant from the Environment Trust to build a $1 million MICROfactorie at the West Nowra Waste and Recycling Depot, in partnership with the SMaRT Centre.

Almost 450 tonnes of glass and mattresses a year will be remanufactured into green ceramics including benchtops and tabletops.

“Shoalhaven will be the first council in the country that will take on a MICROfactorie and have it up and running,” Veena says. “It is really breaking that barrier where a lot of councils think they’re just service providers, collecting waste and sending it to someone else to process.

“If anything, councils being at the front face, are sitting at what will become a gold mine if you think about some of the undervalued resources.

They don’t just collect glass and e-waste, they collect so many different waste products.”

Peter Windley, Shoalhaven City Council Waste Co-ordinator, says that the new recycling facility will remanufacture 14 tonnes of plastics into various products

www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 17

FEATURE NEWS

Professor Veena Sahajwalla and Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley at Shoalhaven.

such as filament for 3D printing and almost 450 tonnes of glass and textiles per year into tiles and other forms of furnishings.

“Products like tiles, kitchen benches and tabletops will be available to be purchased and used in homes.

The products are tested by the CSIRO and are a very high quality.

They will be available to not only people in Shoalhaven but everyone in Australia,” Peter says.

“The project is considered groundbreaking because it solves an issue with previously unrecyclable broken and dirty glass fragments. Whilst there are other glass processing facilities in Australia, this new facility uses a unique washing process.

“We hope in the near future, to accept plastics, glass and mattresses from other areas of Australia, which will help to reduce waste materials ending up in landfill.”

The MICROfactorie is one of five projects being undertaken as part of an integrated approach to waste at West Nowra Waste and Recycling Depot.

Peter says the precinct will be home to what is believed to be the most modern Materials Recovery Facility in Australia.

He says a council glass recycling facility is already processing 6500 tonnes of glass for road surfacing and the MICROfactorie was a “natural progression”.

“Green ceramics are all about glass product, where better to build a

18 / WMR / February 2022

MICROfactorie than next door to a glass recycling facility?” he says.

“It’s part of what our core vision is, to try and find sustainable output streams and resource recovery opportunities to explore.

“There is more opportunity than ever in resource recovery at the moment, we just have to take it with both hands.”

Shoalhaven City Council has been lauded for leading the way in waste management, winning two awards in the 2021 NSW Local Government Excellence in the Environment Awards.

Council was an overall winner in the Water Management category for its Reclaimed Water Management Scheme Stage 1B and overall winner in the Transition to Circular Economy category for its glass recycling facility.

In June 2021, the council took top prize in the NSW Local Government Excellence Awards for its disaster recovery and emergency response management following the devastating 2019-20 bushfires. The council established a recycling plant that successfully recovered and diverted from landfill 96 per cent of 18,600 tonnes of bushfire demolition waste.

Peter says Shoalhaven’s groundbreaking work in the waste sector is driven by “strong leadership” and a “passionate community”.

“We’ve got a ‘go get-em’ attitude within our team, a great executive management team and elected council and a really supportive

community,” he says. “Veena and her team fit well with us. We are looking for ways to be sustainable and build things for the community.

“One of the leading factors in everything we do is sustainable – environmentally and economically. With that comes employment.”

Veena says she is “blown away” by the passion of people at Shoalhaven who, she says, realise the “time of talking is over and the time of doing is here”.

“We know doing things locally, in our own backyard, is the best way to inspire others,” she says. “If we all start to look at Shoalhaven, at what they’re doing as a local council, who’s to say others won’t look to do the same?

We’ve already had some interest from other councils.

“People are not seeing waste as someone else’s responsibility. They can see that drawing the connectivity between waste, waste recycling, manufacturing and carbon emissions is going to be important.

“It’s nice that moment has arrived and I can feel it’s great to be part of that journey.”

In November, Veena’s work to revolutionise recycling science was recognised when she was named the 2022 NSW Australian of the Year.

“This means so much to me and is a reflection on the wonderful people I’ve had around me,” she says.

“Promoting STEM [science, technology, engineering and maths] and greater sustainability continue to be extremely important to me. As I engage with many people every day, I see these issues are generating a groundswell that we should embrace to help our society collectively tackle the challenges we face, to improve our environmental, social and economic wellbeing.”

The new facility at Shoalhaven is expected to be completed by late 2022.

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COVER STORY

Wheels of fortune HARD ON THE HEELS OF OPENING AN AUSTRALIAN-FIRST TYRE RECYCLING PLANT, TYRECYCLE IS UNDERTAKING ITS BIGGEST CAPITAL EXPANSION IN 30 YEARS. JIM FAIRWEATHER, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, TALKS WITH WMR.

The official launch of the Erskine Park plant.

J

im Fairweather has been at the helm of Tyrecycle’s biggest expansion plan ever. The company’s Chief Executive Officer was a driving force behind Australia’s largest tyre recycling plant launched in Erskine Park in December, 2021.

But he has bigger plans to ensure Australia manages its waste.

“This plant reflects a significant step forward in Australia responsibly

20 / WMR / February 2022

dealing with its own tyre waste, driving strong environmental and economic outcomes,” Jim says. “We must drive improvements and we must play our role in supporting the Council of Australian Government (COAG) waste bans.”

The Federal Government has implemented a timetable to ban the exports of waste glass, plastics, tyres and paper and cardboard

by 1 July 2024. A ban on wholebaled tyres came into effect on 1 December, 2021.

The $10 million Erskine Park facility is the first of its kind commissioned in Australia. Described as a “game changer”, at full capacity it will transform waste tyres into products for re-use, including up to 40,000 tonnes of Tyre-Derived Fuel (TDF) and 10,000 tonnes of

rubber crumb for use in roads, tile adhesive and sporting surfaces.

Jim says “there’s nothing else like it” in terms of capability and capacity for recycling tyres in New South Wales.

“It’s a really exciting plant,” he says. “It’s got the best dust extraction measures, the best fire control measures. It’s the best equipment in the world. It’s designed extremely cleverly. We have highly-skilled people working from both sides of the value chain.”

The plant combines 30 years of learnings from scrap tyre processing via Tyrecycle, part of global resource recovery group ResourceCo, and the equipment manufacturing expertise of Eldan Recycling.

GOVERNMENT LEADERSHIP The Australian Government’s waste export ban and funding through the national Recycling Modernisation Fund (RMF) has brought about Tyrecycle’s expansion quicker than planned. Construction of the plant was supported by a $1.5 million grant for phase 1 and a further $2.9 million for phase 2.

Sussan Ley, Federal Minister for the Environment, says the federal government’s $190 million commitment to transform Australia’s waste and recycling capacity is being matched by states and territories, and business is backing it with unprecedented spending.

Speaking at the Erskine Park launch, she said Australians are doing their bit through domestic recycling, but as a nation, more opportunities to use recycled content and better ways of processing it, need to be created.

Jim says the RMF is a great example of the role of funding and government and industry working hand in hand.

“It’s a great demonstration of co-ordination of government and

Jim Fairweather, Tyrecycle Chief Executive Officer.

industry,” he says. “The leadership the Federal Government has shown with the COAG waste bans and support for those bans, in terms of trying to grow government procurement, and the recent announcement of the Remade in Australia campaign, is a great blueprint going forward in how to engage with industry and get great outcomes.

“They have led this sector really well and engaged really strongly at a Federal level.

“These COAG waste bans are no small outcome. They are far reaching and will have a lasting impact on not only our environment but overseas.”

Jim says the economic gains to be had from the RMF and Modern Manufacturing Grant program will drive huge economic returns for Australia.

“The waste industry is a massive employer,” he says. “At Erskine

Park there’s a direct employment impact, certainly, but there’s also the multiplier effect for employment and economic activity through Western Sydney and beyond where these products are used.

“There is merit in starting a discussion about whether the waste sector sits under the environment portfolio or the industry portfolio.”

CAPITAL EXPANSION ResourceCo and Tyrecycle are aiming to refresh their entire manufacturing footprint within 36 months.

As part of that, the Erskine Park facility will be replicated with an almost $30 million investment in Perth, Western Australia.

About $5.2 million has been secured in RMF funding. The company has an ambitious time frame to secure a greenfield site and have a plant operational by December 2022.

www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 21

COVER STORY

“It will be ground-breaking for Perth,” Jim says. “It will be the first crumbing plant in Western Australia to respond to a burgeoning demand for crumbed rubber going into roads, another key plank that supports these COAG waste bans.

“Western Australia is mandating that Australian crumbed rubber goes into the mix for the state’s roads. Within a few years it will be mandating that Western Australian crumbed rubber is used. We’ll be able to service the WA market well into the future.”

Jim says the Perth plant will add to Tyrecycle’s ability to broaden TDF domestic consumption opportunities and add to markets it can target offshore.

He says offshore markets will be important to the commercial viability of the Australian tyre recycling facility “for years to come yet”.

“We’re a long way from being able to process and consume everything in Australia – more than a decade away. But we are growing quickly. It’s really imperative that we can develop overseas markets

as well as onshore markets so they can work in co-existence effectively and efficiently.

“We see huge growth potential in the use of rubber crumb in road construction, but it needs to be supported by bold procurement commitments from all levels of government.”

Jim says everyone must be accountable for their piece of the supply chain, including retailers who must know where their waste is going.

“They have to know that their waste is going to someone who is going to

Erskine Park is being described as a game changer for the tyre recycling industry.

22 / WMR / February 2022

manage that waste responsibly. Without that, this whole system, this whole waste ban, will be for nothing.

“It’s really important that everyone plays their role and everyone’s held accountable for their actions.

“This is the single most important watershed moment we’ve had in the entire recycling sector in 30 years.”

While the Perth crumbing plant is the top priority, Tyrecycle will upgrade its plants in Melbourne and Adelaide, also supported by RMF funding, and relocate to a new greenfield site in Brisbane.

“We’ve got big plans,” Jim says. “It’s an exciting time to be at Tyrecycle. It’s our biggest expansion plan ever. I’m thrilled to be leading it.”

AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE He says the two biggest challenges going forward will be access to shipping to support offshore RDF business and access to labour domestically.

“Labour shortages are extreme,” he says. “It’s the biggest single threat to industry in Australia at the moment.

With no overseas labour we’re spending a fortune on labour-hire, not only for blue collar positions to support our collections but to get skilled labour in terms of running plants – to design and build plants, as well as project management.

“When you’re undertaking capital expansion of this magnitude you need people to help get there.”

Jim says throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, waste and recycling services were quickly deemed essential.

He says it’s an industry that’s “not going away” and will be more important as Australia strives for a circular economy.

“Recycling will play a bigger role in our economy because we cannot continue to consume resources,” he says.

Sussan Ley, Federal Environment Minister, at the Erskine Park opening.

“We must find a way to evolve.”

ResourceCo is involved in more than a dozen PhD projects with university students around Australia looking at ways to use crumbed rubber or tyre-derived products.

Jim says a move toward carbon abatement and carbon offset will be the way of the future.

As the first company to trade carbon in Australia, ResourceCo is primed to help businesses navigate the market.

“The carbon abatement that the recycling sector offers the economy, and looking at trading

that carbon to drive financial capacity in the recycling industry, is a really important development,” Jim says.

“As we see more environmental, social, and governance reporting and more shareholder groups pushing companies out of carbongenerating activities, you’ll see a greater carbon market starting to evolve.

“In the next 10 years, I think it will be the next biggest development in our market.”

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

Erskine Park sets the standard in capability and capacity for recycling tyres in New South Wales.

www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 23

INDUSTRY INSIGHT

Priorities 2022: plastics, paper & metals THE WASTE AND RESOURCE RECOVERY SECTOR CONTINUES TO RESPOND TO AND DRIVE PROGRESS, DESPITE THE CHALLENGES OF LIVING WITH COVID-19, SAYS NATIONAL WASTE AND RECYCLING INDUSTRY COUNCIL CEO ROSE READ.

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n 2021, waste was collected and handled in a timely and responsible manner, infrastructure was upgraded and new facilities were built to recover more glass, plastics, tyres and paper onshore as the waste export bans were rolled out.

Rose Read, Chief Executive Officer National Waste and Recycling Industry Council, says off the back of the Federal Government’s 2020 policy initiatives, matching state and territory funding allocations and legislative reforms, the waste and recycling industry made 2021 a foundational year for supplying recovered resources to the packaging, manufacturing and infrastructure sectors and developing alternative energy sources.

Australia has also seen increased government and industry investment to divert food and organic waste from landfill, formalisation of the legal framework for container deposit schemes in Tasmania and Victoria, development of new product stewardship initiatives, growing government procurement of recycled content, the gradual phasing out of problematic and unnecessary plastics, and momentum build in the energy recovery sector across the country.

“For NWRIC, our 2021 priorities were to actively promote policies and initiatives that would build the resource recovery sector, prevent waste crime and foster greater collaboration

24 / WMR / February 2022

NWRIC is calling on the Federal Government to circulate the draft rules for the export of waste paper and cardboard by March 2022.

between national and state industry associations,” Rose says.

“This has included working with the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (DAWE) to recommend a set of national recovered resource specifications for sorters, processors and end users to increase the quality and quantity of recovered plastic, paper, glass, metal and organics from the household collection stream.”

NWRIC has also advocated for a ban on the export of unprocessed scrap metal that can contain up to 30 per cent of non-metal wastes and will continue to work with the Australian Steel Institute in shoring up Australia’s vital domestic scrap metal and steel industries in 2022.

“The roll out of the glass, mixed plastics and tyre waste export permit system in 2021 has been a testing time but the government has worked closely with the industry in smoothing this transition,” Rose says. “There have been challenges for companies in getting permits approved in a timely manner

which has been further complicated by delays in building additional sorting capacity for mixed plastics. These delays have placed significant shortterm financial and stock management challenges on companies.”

NWRIC is particularly concerned this pressure will continue in 2022 due to the lack of sufficient plastic processing capacity coming online by 1 July 2022 when the second phase of the waste plastic export ban is introduced.

“Looking at what plastic projects are currently supported by the Recycling Modernisation Fund (RMF), it is unclear if there will be sufficient capacity to process the 50,000 tonnes of baled plastic (predominately PET, HDPE, LDPE) that was exported in 2020-21,” Rose says.

She says the volume of plastic would conservatively be valued around $15.5 million, based on the total plastics export value of $40.4 million in 202021 as reported by Blue Environment.

“This is a significant loss of legitimate export revenue for Australia if the

baled plastics can’t be processed commercially in country.”

NWRIC is also concerned about the impacts of the waste mixed paper export ban, scheduled for 1 July 2024, on the resource recovery sector.

Australia exported 1046 kilotonnes of paper and cardboard in 2020-21 at an estimated value of $210 million.

About 444,000 tonnes, or 42 per cent, will be affected by the export ban.

The total annual capacity of paper projects funded under the RMF is 396,000 tonnes, leaving a shortfall of 48,000 tonnes – a value of about $10 million in export revenue based on 2020-21 figures by Blue Environment.

Rose says this shortfall in domestic capacity, combined with a lack of competition in the domestic market, a lack of capacity in existing facilities, rigidity in existing contracts and a two to six year time frame to establish these

facilities, as reported by the Centre for International Economics, puts many recycling facilities at financial risk.

“To avoid a potential collapse in Australia’s paper and cardboard recycling markets, the Federal Government must circulate the draft rules for the export of waste paper and cardboard by March 2022 so industry and governments can ensure appropriate infrastructure will be in place,” she says. “Similarly, federal and state governments need to urgently map out, by polymer type, the current and future processing capacity to ensure producers of baled HDPE, PET and LDPE have commercially viable onshore markets.

“They also need to create more domestic markets for these materials by mandating the use of recovered resources in products, packaging and infrastructure projects.”

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Rose says government initiatives such as Re-Made (national), Ecologic (Victoria) and Roads to Reuse (Western Australia) are good first steps. However, local councils, manufacturers and construction need to be incentivised to use recycled content through rebates, tax or carbon credits, or penalised like the virgin plastics tax in Europe.

“The industry is moving into a critical year for building the resource recovery sector. There is a real opportunity to double the $2.9 billion worth of materials currently returned into productive circulation each year.

“NWRIC will continue to advocate for initiatives to build our resource recovery sector, prevent waste crime and work with government as we progress to a circular economy.”

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FEATURED TOPIC - SOIL REMEDIATION

Hitting pay dirt LOOKING BEYOND THE SURFACE OF CONTAMINATED SOIL IS PROVING TO BE A VALUABLE TOOL IN RESOURCE RECOVERY. CDE GROUP TELLS WMR HOW ITS SEPARATION TECHNOLOGY IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF CHANGE.

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ncreasing landfill levies and stringent government regulation is driving a demand to find better ways to deal with contaminated soils. At the same time, higher density urban development is revealing new layers of contamination. Daniel Webber, Regional Manager Australasia for CDE Group, explains that, as land is rezoned and old buildings and roads are demolished in urban areas, PFAS (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances), hydro carbons and heavy metals are being unearthed.

CDE Group has engineered turnkey projects around the world for processing plants that remove naturally

occurring and man-made contaminants from the ground, or those that have leached from previous land use. Daniel believes there is a growing appetite to process contaminated soil, either on site or at a treatment plant, rather than send it to landfill.

“Rather than just treating soil, and it becoming inert fill or going to landfill, which has a huge price tag, companies are looking to screen, scrub and wash materials to recover valuable stone and sands,” he says.

“When you tear down an old service station or rip up an old road for resurfacing, we’re now not just banishing those valuable raw materials.

There are small volumes of highly contaminated soil, and there are experts that deal with that. But, with some of these lowly contaminated materials, processing it is a more practical and sustainable thing to do.”

Daniel says that waste processing accounts for 50 per cent of CDE Group’s business, 30 per cent of that waste has contaminated soil. Treatment can include chemicals, where appropriate, and thermal desorption.

However wet process solutions are a growing area, driven by “entrepreneurial customers” who see the added value of reusing products.

“Seeing a source and finding a home

An aerial view of the category C processing plant designed for resource recovery business Repurpose It. www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 27

FEATURED TOPIC - SOIL REMEDIATION

A typical example of a HYDRO:TIP tanker reception.

for the end product is where we’re headed,” he says.

CDE’s bespoke processing solutions can be designed as full-scale plants for sustainable mining operations or tailored to smaller applications.

Smart design and technology allows treatment plants to be more versatile.

To that end, a recently commissioned CDE build, which was primarily a road sweepings processing plant, was also designed to treat contaminated soil. A new build for Enviropacific, Melbourne has combined wet processing and thermal desorption.

“Other people have seen wet processing and thermal desorption as a choice of one or the other,” Daniel says. He says the

28 / WMR / February 2022

Enviropacific project has used two technologies to solve a problem.

The NDD mud recycling plant includes two HYDRO:TIP tanker reception bays where material is screened, rinsed and dewatered to remove coarse material.

The CDE EvoWash recovers reusable washed sand, while the EvoWash hydrocycle recovers fine sand, which is dewatered and removed from the process.

Cleared water is pumped to a wastewater treatment plant for reuse. Coarse material and liquids produced by the process are sampled for contaminant loading and any contaminated aggregates are moved to a thermal plant for destruction.

Daniel describes the plant as the “second generation” in soil treatment.

CDE Group has designed and built a number of flagship plants, including a PFAS removal plant in Edinburgh in 2018 and a category C processing plant for resource recovery business Repurpose It. “These guys have shown there is an alternative to sending waste to expensive landfill,” Daniel says.

“The market mechanism is working.

It’s encouraging people to look at these materials and say ‘we can do better’. This isn’t science fiction, it’s doable today.”

For more information, visit: www.cdegroup.com

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FEATURED TOPIC – SOIL REMEDIATION

Drilling down on a cleaner future ENVIROPACIFIC BELIEVES THE FUTURE OF NON-DESTRUCTIVE DIGGING IS ZERO WASTE. A NEW PLANT COMMISSIONED BY THE SPECIALIST ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES BUSINESS BRINGS IT A STEP CLOSER TO REALISING THOSE AMBITIONS.

Enviropacific’s drill mud plant aims for 100 per cent resource recovery.

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s Australia repositions itself to become a circular economy and meet government targets for reducing waste to landfill, Enviropacific is setting its own zero waste agenda.

The environmental service business has commissioned a drill mud plant to wash the sludge from Non-Destructive Digging (NDD) projects and recover materials to be reused.

30 / WMR / February 2022

Steve Matthews, Enviropacific General Manager, says while there are drill mud plants along the eastern seaboard of Australia, the Enviropacific plant has “a bit of extra engineering” to allow the company to aim for 100 per cent recovery.

The plant has been designed as an addition to Enviropacific’s SOLVE processing facility in Victoria, which

uses specialist thermal technology to treat contaminated soil.

“In the remediation space we’re all about looking for opportunities to remove contamination from the environment. This plant helps facilitate that process where we also physically recover those materials,” Steve says.

“The treatment of drill muds is becoming more common in Australia.

What differentiates our plant is the hydro tips at the front end of processing and our propriety water treatment plant at the back end.

“We’re really aiming for 100 per cent recovery.”

The plant, designed by equipment company CDE Global, can process up to 30 tonnes of NDD mud an hour, with a surge capacity of 60 tonne an hour for two hours.

A hydro tip allows trucks to empty loads straight into the plant and processing to begin.

The plant will sort NDD mud into oversized rocks and gravels, segregate naturally occurring sands and pull out silts and clays, each becoming products that can be reused rather than be sent to landfill.

What materials can’t be recovered during the cleaning process will be diverted to the onsite thermal plant, which destroys contaminants in the soil, leaving a product suitable for use in road base or industrial fill.

Water used throughout the process is also recycled.

“These materials have been washed rather than just screened so we’re hoping to provide materials of a high quality,” Steve says. “There are markets through construction and demolition to take building rubble and reuse it, but we’re hoping to add an extra layer of recovered material and get high-quality markets at the other end.”

Romil Ghaswala, Enviropacific Business Development Manager for Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia, has worked closely with Steve on understanding market demands. He says companies involved in NDD have traditionally had an avenue of disposal, but treatment options have changed over time and solutions that involve a circular outcome and zero landfill are now being sought.

Enviropacific has been built on an ethos of providing sustainable solutions

The drill mud plant can remove PFAS beyond detectable limits.

for waste owners with a focus on improving environmental outcomes.

It has been involved in some landmark remediation projects including the Fitzroy Gasworks site in Melbourne and the Armidale Gasworks remediation.

The emergence of PFAS as a significant contaminant of concern, and the company’s capability to treat PFAS contaminated soils, sets it apart from others.

Romil says Enviropacific has been treating PFAS for more than 10 years using a mobile water treatment system.

That system has been incorporated into the new wash plant.

Laboratory trials show the plant can remove PFAS beyond detectable limits.

Dino Adikaram, Business Development Manager at SOLVE,

is ensuring the plant is compliant with environmental and recover and reuse orders and is working through analysis and sampling plans to find more areas for the end product to be used.

“Lab-testing wise, this plant produces material as clean as it can be,” Dino says. “After three years of development, it’s great to be at the point we are now.”

Steve believes the company has a strong chance of reaching its zero waste goals.

“We have a great facility, not only for Enviropacific, but the waste industry.

We play a unique role in that we’re a service to the industry.”

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

www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 31

FEATURED TOPIC – SOIL REMEDIATION

A new alliance

AORA is one of the founding members of a new world-wide alliance aiming to influence the global debate on organics recycling.

AUSTRALIAN ORGANICS RECYCLING ASSOCIATION HAS JOINED AN INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE TO MAXIMISE THE RECYCLING OF ORGANIC WASTES. PETER OLAH, AORA NATIONAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER, EXPLAINS.

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n the December 2021 edition of Waste Management Review, I outlined plans for an international collaboration which will plug AORA members into a global network of industry knowledge-sharing and resources such as the industry has never seen.

That collaboration is now real.

Welcome to the International Compost Alliance (ICA).

On World Soil Day, 5 December, compost associations from around the world launched the ICA, a voluntary

32 / WMR / February 2022

partnership to advance awareness and understanding of the benefits and use of compost on a global scale.

The Alliance will offer positive solutions for climate change mitigation, soil health and food security, building on years of working collaboration between organics recycling organisations. By pooling expertise and knowledge, the Alliance seeks to maximise the recycling of organic wastes and advance the manufacturing of certified, high-quality compost.

Despite organics recycling being an

affordable and proven solution to the climate mitigation and methane emission reduction goals, it remains an underutilised and undervalued technology globally.

The Alliance will showcase the importance of compost and its multiple benefits.

These include enhancing soil health, improving crop productivity and nutritional value, improving water quality, and supporting biodiversity protection and natural resources preservation. There will also be a

focus on collaboration and joint initiatives with the potential for international research.

The founding members of ICA include the Australian Organics Recycling Association (AORA); Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REACT); Compost Council of Canada (CCC); European Compost Network (ECN); International Solid Waste Association (ISWA); CRÉ - Composting and Anaerobic Digestion Association of Ireland; WasteMINZ (Waste Management Institute of New Zealand); and United States Composting Council (USCC).

Membership is open to any membership-based organisation that aligns with the Alliance’s mission of advancing organics recycling and producing high-quality compost and digestate products. A number of other

national composting associations will join ICA in 2022.

In a joint statement, the ICA says the collaboration will greatly benefit the waste industry: “Compost is a win-win solution to climate change – not only does recycling organic wastes reduce emissions, compost also brings many benefits when used on soils too.

This is why we have joined forces to work together to maximise the recycling of organic wastes and advance the manufacturing of certified, high-quality composts to benefit the environment, society and our members.

We hope the International Compost Alliance helps usher in a new era of global collaboration on this issue, to ensure that compost, and its role in soil health and food security, is central to the efforts in tackling climate change.”

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In addition to the capacity to influence the global debate and policy making in each of these areas, ICA will also directly benefit AORA members including event access. All ICA members will provide access to their events at shared member rates among their collective memberships.

ICA members will also share new reports, ground-breaking research and news that, in turn, we will share with our members.

Additionally, ICA will work towards establishing a global knowledge management and sharing platform for businesses and professionals in the industry.

AORA will discuss these benefits, with AORA members early in 2022.

For more information visit: www.aora.org.au

FEATURED TOPIC - SOIL REMEDIATION

Re-assessing remediation CRC CARE CONTINUES TO DEVELOP TECHNOLOGIES TO REDUCE SOIL CONTAMINATION. CEO PROFESSOR RAVI NAIDU TALKS ABOUT THE CURRENT ISSUES AFFECTING SOIL REMEDIATION.

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s an independent organisation, CRC CARE (formerly the Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment) has helped to establish the standard for contamination clean-up.

Since its launch in 2005, as part of the Federal Government’s Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Program, CRC CARE’s collaboration with industry, science and the community has resulted in significant outcomes for soil remediation. After finishing its term under the CRC Program in 2021, CRC CARE has secured commitments from industry and government partners to continue for another 10 years.

Professor Ravi Naidu, the founding Managing Director and CEO of CRC CARE, has used his 30 years’ experience in contamination science to spearhead several major projects.

“As CEO I must think about the strategy and operation of CRC CARE as a whole, [but] I also work as a Chief Scientist, which means I need to stay on top of research and ensure that it can provide results in the field,” Ravi says. “CRC CARE works to identify and quantify contaminants. From there we go that extra step to develop cost-effective remediation technologies and approaches.”

Ravi maintains that collaboration is key to achieving desired outcomes.

34 / WMR / February 2022

Professor Ravi Naidu estimates that only 10 per cent of the 200,000 contaminated sites in Australia have been remediated.

“CRC CARE is unique in bringing together all stakeholders,” he says, “from the owners of contaminated sites to the companies that clean them up, and from industry to government environmental regulators, as well as the research community.

“CRC CARE’s success in soil remediation goes hand in hand with our endurance – we have regularly been one of the first, if not the first, organisations to work on a particular approach or contaminant. For example, we collaborated with the Department of Defence on PFAS long before it became the widely recognised issue that it is today.

“It’s important to identify where other parties may already be doing research, bring them together with CRC CARE and then extend the data and associated body of knowledge.”

Ravi says soil remediation has proven to be especially important in mitigating

potential harm to both flora and fauna from contaminants, with humans particularly vulnerable.

“If soil is contaminated, then people may inhale it directly in the form of dust,” he says. “They may ingest contaminants indirectly via food grown in contaminated soil.”

Furthermore, contaminants present in soil can leach into groundwater and be transported to other areas, increasing the chance of exposure for people and the environment.

“Groundwater is such a crucial element of almost all ecosystems, and humans depend on it for our very way of life. We have no choice but to protect it by all means possible.”

Ravi says that nullifying contaminated soils can also provide commercial benefits for the industrial and agricultural sectors.

“From a state perspective, levies have gone up, which has resulted in

a reduced volume of waste at landfill sites. This is where remediation in the urban environment is a key asset, as it allows value to be created out of what would otherwise have been nonproductive land,” he says.

CRC CARE specialises in bespoke solutions for soil remediation. One such solution is its matCARE service.

A modified natural clay, matCARE has been developed to irreversibly trap PFAS – per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances found in fire-fighting foams.

Once it enters an ecosystem, PFAS stays around for many years and can accumulate in animal and human bodies if they are exposed. matCARE attaches itself to the chemical in a way that renders it harmless to flora and fauna. It offers an alternative to conventional approaches such as thermal treatment and soil

washing, which can be expensive and can diminish soil health – which, says Ravi, must be maintained or improved as an essential aspect of soil remediation.

Ravi says one of the challenges within Australia is the difference in soil types.

“The difference between regions can be vast. The impacts of contaminants on sensitive microbes can differ substantially between two areas.

Remediation approaches that work well in one area may not be effective in another.”

He stresses that the majority of contaminants are yet to have suitable treatments and says there is a need for support from government and industry for research to develop solutions.

“Currently, it is estimated that only 10 per cent of the 200,000 contaminated sites that we have in

CRC CARE CEO Professor Ravi Naidu.

Australia have been remediated in the last 50 years,” he says.

He says it will be important to develop approaches and technologies that draw on large datasets and new tools such as artificial intelligence and machine learning.

For more information, visit: www.crccare.com

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FEATURED TOPIC – SOIL REMEDIATION

Hazardous waste management: a sustainable approach ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS GROUP ENRETECH IS BREAKING NEW GROUND IN SOIL REMEDIATION METHODS.

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ontaminated soil has been a major contributor to a surge in hazardous waste across Australia in the 2020 financial year, according to a report commissioned by the Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment.

The report, Hazardous Waste in Australia 2021, highlights that of the 7.4 million tonnes of hazardous waste generated each year in Australia, 35 per cent is from contaminated soil, mostly in Victoria and Queensland. Most of this contaminated soil is removed and then treated at thermal facilities before much of the soil then becomes landfill.

Gordon Irons, Enretech’s new Managing Director, suggests there is an alternative and more sustainable approach that could be adopted by the waste management sector. His environmental solutions group is achieving success with bioremediation projects in New Caledonia, Kazakhstan, Vietnam, Micronesia and Japan.

He says this alternative approach is also being supported by the Australian Government’s Department of Innovation Industry, Science and Research, which acknowledges the use of biotechnology is becoming recognised as a more sustainable and cost-effective soil remediation approach than traditional methods.

Many of Enretech’s bioremediation projects involve treating contaminated

36 / WMR / February 2022

Önder from Enretech Group performs bioremediation testing on site.

soils for mining, oil and gas or petroleum companies using a sustainable soil remediation solution known as Remediator. This product is made in Australia by Enretech from cotton-waste and is 100 per cent biodegradable. It is a particulate absorbent that contains microbes that remove contamination naturally and quickly from the soil and is also effective in degrading polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

“Remediator was successfully used for an in-situ bioremediation project conducted in New Caledonia in a site heavily contaminated with hydrocarbons (190,000 ppm),” says Tony Mozak, Enretech’s General Manager. “As a result, the content of total recoverable hydrocarbons decreased by more than 95 per cent in less than 100 days.”

The Remediator product has been charged with naturally occurring

bacteria found in oil-bearing plants and common soils. When given a hydrocarbon food source and kept moist, the bacteria propagate rapidly within the cotton-based fibres and break down the soil contaminants into nonharmful constituents.

Gordon says most bioremediation products take multiple uses to see results, however Remediator can achieve results with just one application. This removes the need for expensive and difficult remote treatments for many bioremediation projects and the potential cost savings can be substantial.

“Many treatment options in the Australian waste management sector are costly, time-consuming and contribute to further environmental risks,” he says. “Sending contaminated soil to high-temperature thermal facilities or incinerators to be treated contributes

to emissions, excavation can lead to further contamination, aeration carries risk of air pollution and letting materials sit in quarantine creates an ever-growing pile of contamination.”

Bioremediation techniques can enable soil remediation to be achieved in-situ and without the need for significant investments being made in waste management facilities.

While bioremediation to break down PFAS and/or asbestos is still the subject of further research by Enretech, in conjunction with a number of leading universities and microbiologists, there are some benefits for the Australian waste management sector by adopting bioremediation to more effectively manage contaminated soils.

“Based on our international experience in the mining, petroleum and oil and gas sectors, we believe

bioremediation in the Australian waste management sector can be achieved more effectively using a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach,” says Tony.

For example, he explains that for soil contamination up to 40,000ppm of petroleum hydrocarbons, thorough mixing of the Remediator absorbentmicrobial blend and maintaining appropriate moisture levels is sufficient for bioremediation to achieve environmental compliance levels in only three to four months.

Further, bioremediation has proven to be more successful in contaminated soil that has not been previously treated by other methods.

Higher contamination levels in soils however can take up to six months to repair and this depends on the type and age of the hydrocarbons

and soil structure. In these circumstances, Tony says Enretech offer clients an additional nutrient mix (https://novorem.com.au/ nutrient-formula) to enhance hydrocarbon bioremediation based on the soil samples, initial testing and analysis conducted by Novorem in a purpose built laboratory in New South Wales.

Enretech’s Remediator sustainable soil remediation solution and bioremediation process has been used for more than 20 years and has been independently verified by governments, universities and research organisations in Australia, Canada, USA, the UK, Japan, Asia and South Africa.

For more information visit: www.enretech.com.au and www.novorem.com.au

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FEATURED TOPIC – SOIL REMEDIATION

Breaking new ground ENVIRONMENTAL LABORATORY AND SOIL SCIENCE CONSULTANCY SERVICE SESL AUSTRALIA USES SCIENCE TO UNLOCK THE POTENTIAL OF EXCAVATION WASTE AND TURN IT INTO TOPSOIL.

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hen a layperson looks at an excavation site or tunnel spoil, they generally see a pile of dirt destined for landfill or on-site burial. The team at SESL sees potential.

For more than 30 years SESL has used science to transform previously “unusable” waste into topsoil and subsoil for multiple end-use landscapes.

By identifying the physical and chemical properties of site-won soil material, the team can blend (characterise, ameliorate and reformulate) a formula to recover and reuse them to support landscaping aims.

Soils can also be “designed” from waste materials including excavation spoil, crushed sandstone, and other organic or mineral waste materials.

“We are trained to look at soil, to feel it, to describe it,” says Simon Leake, SESL Principal Scientist and company founder. “We know the chemistry of soil and can assess the risk of any contaminants on vegetation.

“We recognise the important indicators in soils. We ask why? What is it? Where does it come from?”

Simon studied agricultural science at university, majoring in soil science.

He established his own laboratory and consultancy firm with the encouragement of his father-in-law, fully expecting to be working within the farm and agriculture sector.

He says he quickly became involved in urban soil site projects.

His first big job was rehabilitating an ex-gas works site at Manly Point.

Following that, he says landscape

38 / WMR / February 2022

Crushed sandstone VENM (Virgin Excavated Natural Material) from various Lend Lease excavations was used to create new topsoil for a revegetation project in Barangaroo, Sydney.

architects “realised very quickly the value of having trained input on some of the more complicated projects to get the soils right”.

Natural topsoil within Australia is a finite resource with decreasing availability of quarried soil. SESL’s remediation process unlocks the potential of soil and fill already on site.

Sydney Olympic Park (SOP), in 1995, was one of SESL, and Simon’s, groundbreaking projects.

Large quantities of waste clay soil were on site but because they were heavy, poorly drained and sodic they gave poor results in initial landscape work so alternatives had to be found.

Huge amounts of topsoil were needed so Simon went searching for waste destined for landfill that could be rediverted to make topsoil to cover the clay materials. He used crushed sandstone from other projects to design a copy of a podzolic soil

that originally occurred on site, saving millions in costs.

ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES The Woo-la-ra landfill reburial at SOP is one of the largest revegetation sites SESL has worked on.

A clay cap was used to entomb the landfill waste collected from various parts of the site. Land-capping clay is unsuitable for plant establishment, so SESL worked with Waste Services NSW to make topsoil from crushed sandstone collected from all over Sydney. Blended with compost and gypsum they formed soils that were cost effective and successful in rehabilitating the site.

The concept was developed further at Barangaroo in Sydney, using crushed sandstone VENM (Virgin Excavated Natural Material) from various Lend Lease excavations.

Chantal Milner has an environmental biology background and heads SESL’s Soil Science team. She says the Barangaroo project presented new challenges.

“There wasn’t enough usable sandstone on site, so we brought in sandstone from other projects,” she says. “One of the big things we noticed was the variability – the sandstone we were getting was quite different from one place to the next. The soil formulation had to keep changing.”

Sandstone with low silt and clay content was blended with crushed glass sand to make subsoils and clean sand to make topsoils. Compost was added to provide the plant nutrient requirements.

Chantal says the Barangaroo project has been successful, with less than one per cent plant failure in the remediated soil. (Anything with less than 10 per cent plant failure is considered a successful project within the industry.)

She says it’s satisfying to be able to reuse waste in an environmentally sound way, which is also economical for clients.

“We’re using a waste product and keeping it onsite, rather than it being disposed of and going to a tip.

“Typically, people are saying you can’t reuse subsoil, but we’re showing people how they can and turn it into topsoil products.”

SESL has applied its knowledge to numerous other projects including the tunnel spoil for the Western Rail line, using spoil to make the soils needed for the extensive landscaping works over the Lilyfield tunnel exit.

Some commercial suppliers such as Australian Native Landscapes are now also commercialising these types of soils.

LOOKING AHEAD Simon says a shortage of quality soil, particularly in Sydney, and a growing demand for urban soil presents plenty of opportunities.

He is encouraging the industry to look at sandstone as a higher valued raw material and consider crushing and washing plants to create clean sand.

“Premium quality sportsfield sand is getting harder to find, and more expensive,” he says. “The opportunity for washing plants is quite exciting.”

Simon is also advocating for Environment Protection Authority resource recovery exemptions to include waste topsoil. Currently waste topsoil can only be redirected for use as engineering fill.

Simon says topsoil taken from a recent racecourse resurfacing project would have been ideal for local council or school ovals. Under current regulations the reuse would have required a specific exemption, which can add months and costs to a project.

“The specific exemption system is too slow to allow this,” says Simon. “Topsoil is a gaping hole in the system at the moment. I very much hope we can fix that. I hope people like us at the coalface can be heard.

“We know our waste, we know our soils and we know the needs of plants.

“There is no such thing as waste, it’s just an inappropriate allocation of a resource. It’s our job to find it a home, or at least an innocuous place for it.”

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FEATURED TOPIC – WASTE COLLECTION & TRANSPORT

The Uber of waste A SYDNEY-BASED COMPANY IS BRINGING ON-DEMAND RECYCLING TO YOUR DOORSTEP.

Three easy steps takes the hassle out of recycling.

R

ecent studies show Australians want to do the right thing when it comes to recycling but put it in the “too hard” basket.

Up to 30 per cent of what ends up in a household rubbish bin could be recycled.

Giorgio Baracchi, Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of RecycleSmart, is determined to simplify household recycling and get more people involved.

RecycleSmart is described as the Uber of waste – collecting recyclables right from your door.

“We are here to change the way people feel about recycling, so they recycle more things, more often,” Giorgio says. “Australians are keen to do the right thing, but it’s too complicated.

We’re making it really easy for them.

It’s two clicks to organise collections.”

RecycleSmart is partnering with a dozen councils, including Penrith City Council, Sutherland Shire Council and City of Sydney, to provide an

40 / WMR / February 2022

on-demand, free pick-up recycling service to residents.

The service is helping to divert more than 15,000 kilograms of waste from landfill each month. It targets “tricky” recyclable items such as soft plastics, clothing, e-waste, batteries and globes, and takes the hassle out of residents having to visit multiple collection centres.

Tailor-made for participating councils, any materials collected are taken to processing facilities or resource recovery centres within individual Local Government Areas (LGA).

In more than two years, RecycleSmart has diverted more than 100 tonnes of waste from landfill and collected more than 55,000 bags full of recyclables during more than 25,000 pick-ups.

More than four tonne a month of usable clothing has been taken to charities.

The team says RecycleSmart gives councils agency over the materials

collected and an opportunity to promote the diversion of waste from landfill.

“Normally all councils can do is tell residents where to take their recyclables. RecycleSmart gives them agency to not only divert that waste, but make it simple for residents to divert it, and for free,” Giorgio says.

When councils sign up to RecycleSmart, residents in their LGA are given free subscriptions to the service. The subscription entitles residents to two bags of recycling collected every month for free, or they can book a single Power Pickup for two dollars per bag by using the RecycleSmart app.

For those who aren’t tech savvy, pickups can be arranged by phone.

The app is customisable to individual councils and can include information about local waste management services and a bin collection calendar. A comprehensive

recycling database, it also provides information on more than 240 separate waste items.

RecycleSmart also captures real time data, giving councils an overview of what is being recycled.

“The weights, the bags and a volume metric assessment of what’s in the bags is all recorded,” Giorgio says.

“Councils are used to waiting months for data – we’re giving them live data that can then influence their education to residents about collection and diversion of waste.”

The team at RecycleSmart is passionate about improving recycling rates and reducing reliance on landfill.

The Sydney-based start-up is the culmination of years of experience working within local councils and recognising a gap in the services offered.

Data collected by the team shows there is a noticeable change in recycling behaviour from residents who use RecycleSmart.

“With the first pick-up, we noticed people tended to put in mixed products,” Giorgio says. “When people have a monthly pick-up, they become more aware of what can be recycled.

“Soft plastics is going very strongly every month.”

The service is “plug and play” and can be operational within 15 days of signing on.

RecycleSmart employs drivers from each of the council areas that sign on, and 80 per-cent of the council’s expense for the service is redirected back into employing local people.

The team says uptake has been strong from New South Wales councils and they are keen to

expand into Melbourne and Brisbane.

They want to work in urban areas where there will be the greatest diversion of waste from landfill.

For more information, visit: www.recyclesmart.com

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FEATURED TOPIC - WASTE COLLECTION & TRANSPORT

The platinum edition BUCHER MUNICIPAL RELEASES FIVE 70TH ANNIVERSARY EDITIONS BASED ON THE POPULAR ACCO MODEL TRUCK.

Y

ou can still hear the pride in Lloyd Reeman’s voice when he speaks of the ACCO model truck.

The recently retired Iveco National Key Account Fleet Manager – who also retired in 2015 but was back as a consultant three weeks later – has fond memories of helping develop a truck that “kick-started the waste” industry and continues to lead the pack.

“I worked with engineering, from a marketing and sales point-of-view, to develop that truck,” Lloyd says.

“Over the course of time it’s had more than 4000 updates. Every update was because we used to hold waste industry forums and ask what we needed to do to improve.

“We built more than 90,000 of that model, at what was then International Trucks in Dandenong. I was lucky enough to sell more than 16,000 into the waste industry.

“To see the ACCO name still going in the industry is pretty important to me.”

The Dandenong manufacturing

facility and ACCO model range were acquired by Iveco in 1992. With long-term partner Bucher Municipal, it continues to produce revolutionary transport for the waste industry.

It’s a long way from Bucher Municipal’s Australian origins, as a manufacturer of incinerators for banknote destruction and to dispose of hospital waste in 1951 under the name of JD MacDonald Engineering.

It was JD MacDonald Engineering that introduced the first Johnston Sweeper to Australia in February 1968 – a 300 Series single-engine sweeper, mounted on a Ford D Series 1210 cabchassis. The first machine was sold to the City of Prahan in April that year.

In 1972, the company became the Australian distributor for the EZ Pack range of rear- and front-loader waste collection vehicles. MacDonald Johnston Engineering (MJE) was formed the following year as a joint venture with Johnston Sweepers Limited and the company began manufacturing the Peabody EZ Pack

Bucher Municipal has released its anniversary edition on the popular IVECO 8x4 ACCO platform.

42 / WMR / February 2022

Rear Loader under license.

The first EZ HC Front Loader was sold to Cleanaway in 1976. It set a benchmark in productivity and compaction for the waste industry and MJE developed a reputation as a market leader in Australia.

In the following years, MJE introduced numerous design changes including automated rear-door locking systems, automatic bin lifting systems, a side loader and advancements with hydraulic and electrical systems.

When MJE was acquired by Bucher Industries in 2005 the local company gained global exposure.

Through it all, the ACCO remains a favoured model.

George Stavrinous, who in 2021 took on the role of Key Account Manager working within the waste and recycling industry, says the model’s continued popularity with clients is because “it’s proven in the market”.

“It’s got a good reputation,” George says. “Customers have known it for years and used it for years. It’s always on the shopping list for all the big nationals.”

As Regional Sales Manager for seven years, George knows the ACCO well. He worked with the Victorian dealer network selling into local government and councils.

Despite being hampered by restrictions created by the COVID-19 pandemic, he’s now enjoying being more involved with truck builds for customers and hopes to build on an already strong relationship.

“There’s always things on the go, from new tenders to following through modifications and handover.

“They’re all very professional and a good bunch of people in the waste industry.

“But I’m blessed with selling a good product.”

In celebration of Bucher Municipal’s 70th anniversary in Australia, five Anniversary Edition Euro6 ACCO 8x4 units with special livery are being developed.

Daniel Sampson, Bucher Municipal Customer Support Manager says the company had planned a “big event” to mark its 70-year milestone, but COVID-19 put that on hold.

The anniversary models will go some way to celebrate the occasion. Four of the special edition models had already been sold before the first truck came off the production line in November 2021.

Daniel says the anniversary editions build on the popular ACCO model with additional safety features such as front zone detection, which warns drivers of pedestrians in close proximity, a

five-camera system to allow visibility around the entire truck, and a roof safety harness. They’re also “throwing in a few extras” including a fridge and seat covers, stainless-steel mud guards and a special weigh system.

Daniel says it’s nothing “over the top,” but is a way to recognise Bucher Municipal’s contribution to the industry.

“When you look back to the ‘90s and 2000s, when a lot of manufacturing was going offshore, we’re pretty proud to say we’ve been manufacturing and designing in Australia for 70 years,” he says.

“Having that Australian history of designed and built for the Australian market is definitely a plus.”

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

FEATURED TOPIC - WASTE COLLECTION & TRANSPORT

Driving equal opportunity GREEN COLLECT, SUPPORTED BY ISUZU FOR ITS VEHICLE REQUIREMENTS, IS HELPING TO CREATE NEW LIFE FOR WASTE PRODUCTS, WHILE CHANGING THE LIVES OF ITS DISADVANTAGED EMPLOYEES.

A

s the Co-Founder of Green Collect, Darren Andrews has seen first-hand the transformative impact of employment.

Green Collect places an emphasis on the reuse, upcycling and recycling of materials in order to ensure they can be diverted from landfill. But, as Darren explains, it is so much more than a resource recovery-oriented business.

“We are a non-for-profit social enterprise with the objective of creating employment and training for people who have experienced disadvantage in the workforce,” Darren says. “Many of our staff come from a broad range of backgrounds and life stories, all of which we value. We believe that they contribute greatly to our business.

“Some of those life experiences, including homelessness, cultural exclusion or refugee status means that finding employment through conventional streams is difficult. That is part of our service; to provide employment training.”

Green Collect is the initiative of Darren and Co-founder Sally Quinn.

“Sally has a background in social work. I have a background in environmental policy and planning,” Darren says.

“In 2001 we worked on an idea to create a business which collected items previously discarded to landfill that had potential to be recycled. This also

44 / WMR / February 2022

Green Collect uses Isuzu vehicles for delivery and collection services.

provided work for people who had faced barriers to employment.

“Employment was, and still is, one of the key metrics in making a difference in people’s lives.

“Being able to provide employment means that these workers, some of whom may be homeless, now have referees and are able to secure private rental accommodation.”

The foundation for Green Collect was a pilot program, which began in 2002. Darren and his team initially focused on the recovery of corks from champagne and wine bottles within the hospitality sector. Today, they recover redundant office items, such as IT equipment, stationery, videos and DVDs, and furniture.

Darren says an increasing demand for Green Collect’s services required

upgrades to both its vehicle fleet and operating infrastructure.

“Previously, we required smaller vehicles as our site had tight access for vehicles. As the size of our service has grown we have moved sites, which is why we were searching for larger vehicles,” he says.

Green Collect has a collection service that works with 11 councils to pick up materials not covered by traditional kerbside waste. It also sells a range of second-hand furniture, which meant it required a truck that could provide adequate unloading and loading capabilities, for a reasonable price.

“We needed a bigger truck for efficiency and optimisation, so less trips and more volume. But we still needed a vehicle which could have the mobility of a smaller vehicle, as a lot of the work

we do with these products is CBDbased,” Darren says.

Isuzu was the truck supplier of choice, with the NNR 45-150 Vanpack selected

by Darren and the Green Collect team.

“Isuzu was able to give us a great deal on that vehicle as part of its support of Green Collect and our mission,” he says. “We had been searching for a new vehicle but due to COVID-19 disrupting supply and demand it was difficult to find a suitable truck for a good price.”

Isuzu customised the NNR 45-150 Vanpack, which features automated manual transmission, multimedia kit and a reversing camera. As an added bonus for Green Collect, a hydraulic tailgate and side entry to the vehicle were installed to aid with the unloading and processing of products.

To enhance the comfort and safety of the vehicle for Green Collect’s

commutes, the NNR 45-150 Vanpack also features Isuzu Electronic Stability Control, which detects when the wheels of the vehicle begin to spin, then applies power, or the brakes, to ensure that the vehicle is able to achieve traction.

The four-metre by two-metre pantech body, which is made from fibreglass honeycomb panels, provides strength and stiffness to the body without adding weight.

For security, the NNR 45-150 Vanpack also features camlocks on the barn doors, to safeguard precious cargo.

Darren says the NNR 45-150 Vanpack so far has been a complimentary, and essential, addition to Green Collect’s vehicle fleet.

“We are able to safely load and unload materials when we are both dropping off and collecting as part of our services,” he says.

Green Collect Co-founders Sally Quinn and Darren Andrews.

“It was a while before we found a suitable truck. Isuzu was able to provide one that was perfect for our operation.”

For more information, visit: www.isuzu.com.au and www.greencollect.org

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Packing a punch: The power of the Miner

The Miner won the Innovative Product award at the Australian Waste and Recycling Expo in 2014.

GARWOOD AUSTRALIA’S MINER IS THE NATION’S SMALLEST REAR LOAD COMPACTOR BODY, BUT IT STILL PACKS A PUNCH. ANTHONY ZAMMIT, GENERAL MANGER OF CAPITAL CITY WASTE EXPLAINS.

T

itled the “world’s smallest rear load truck”, Garwood’s Miner has been praised for its ability to enter areas considered inaccessible for larger trucks.

Since winning the Innovative Product award at the Australian Waste and Recycling Expo in 2014, the Miner Rear Loader has been deployed in many metropolitan waste service fleets.

One such operator is Capital City Waste, which has operated throughout

46 / WMR / February 2022

New South Wales since 2009. It recently added three of Garwood Australia’s Miner units to support its industrial and commercial waste recycling and collection. Anthony Zammit, General Manager, says it was an “obvious decision”.

“The Miner units are used for residential and commercial waste and recycling removal from laneways and, more importantly, basement car parks. Both can be difficult areas to

access with larger loaders,” Anthony says. “The units eliminate the need for garbage bins to be brought to a central area, which saves both time and money.

It removes potential barriers such as the height and width of access areas and is a lot safer for traffic, as well as cleaners, because we are able to go straight to the source.”

Miner units have a maximum cab plus body height of only 2080 millimetres, which allows Capital

City Waste to service underground basements with entry points as low as 2.1 metres in height.

“There are also some ramps on buildings, which are weight limited,” Anthony says. “You can take these trucks on those ramps.

“Before the Miner units there was really no option to service the waste removal needs inside of the basement.

Cleaners would need to use a trolley or a tow vehicle to move bins into an easily accessible location.”

Anthony says a truck that is able to access office blocks, shops and even exhibition halls also provides benefits for building owners.

“The owner of the building does not need to purchase a tow vehicle, which can be an expense anywhere between $15,000 to $30,000. People previously have had to move bins two or three times a week, now they don’t need to do that,” he says.

The Miner unit has been designed to cater for a range of bin capacities, from 120 litres up to 1100 litres, while also containing a fast compaction cycle.

Anthony says the flexibility of the machine complements the adaptability required for Capital City Waste’s operation.

“The thing that stands out is the flexibility of where you can take these vehicles, our drivers can do

The Miner can cater for bin volumes ranging from 120 litres up to 1100 litres.

so much work that a larger truck can’t,” he says.

“With the Miner units, you have so many options. More and more developers are wanting to use the Miner because it saves a lot of money by not needing a big dock or large area to collect bins.”

He says the simplicity of the Miner has aided inner city travel for Capital City Waste’s drivers, who are required to conduct services in crowded metropolitan areas.

“The ease of operation of the vehicle is important for us and saves the headache of travelling throughout congested Sydney traffic,” he says. “We Garwood Australia’s Miner provides improved manoeuvrability to access areas such as basement car parks.

have also found that it has been easier to find drivers who are able to operate a smaller truck.”

In terms of maintenance, Capital City Waste has put the Miner units through routine engine checks, but Anthony says they have held their own during the three years of operation in the company’s fleet.

“We have conducted routine maintenance every 5000 to 10,000 kilometres. But the body itself is very low maintenance and it has great hydraulics,” he says. “The bodies can be refurbished if required and placed on another model. The lifter can be easily replaced, so you can potentially get at least 10 years of use out of these trucks.”

He says that Capital City Waste has been supported by Garwood Australia every step of the way.

“Garwood has a great back-up service and parts. When they don’t have parts on hand, they are able to get them in very quickly. In terms of this product, we haven’t required major changes.

This truck can do what most can’t.”

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

www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 47

WASTE MANAGEMENT IN ACTION – BATTERY RECYCLING

Battery recycling: doing it right ECOBATT IS EMERGING AS THE GO-TO COMPANY FOR ALL THINGS BATTERY RECYCLING IN AUSTRALIA.

EcoBatt has specialised DGlicensed transport vehicles to pick up end-of-life batteries.

W

orking away quietly in the background over the past eight years, EcoBatt has developed the safest and most efficient recycling methods across the sector.

“It’s interesting to listen to, and watch, the developments and stories other recyclers are putting out there and promoting,” says Doug Rowe, Director of EcoBatt and Recycal. “We don’t try to say we are Australia’s only alkaline recycler or the only Australian battery recycler – we are not – but the team at EcoBatt can confidently say that they are the safest and largest battery recycling company in Australia.”

Doug says EcoBatt does things that other companies don’t and won’t; including investing more than $8 million into a range of secure battery cabinets to safely hold and transport the full range of batteries around Australia.

48 / WMR / February 2022

EcoBatt has specialised DG-licensed transport vehicles to pick up end-oflife batteries with company-employed DG-licensed drivers. Vans and tautliners have an inbuilt automated aerosol fire suppression system for early detection and extinguishing of any onboard thermal issues.

EcoBatt has a range of specialised European imported galvanised bins, stamped and approved for the safe and legal transportation around Australia of batteries by WorkSafe and the EPA. The 4A containers are a world-class, universally accredited receptacle for transporting batteries under the packaging class P908. The containers can safely be stacked three high and have a solid, sealed-hinged lid that is clamped down with safety pins.

Additional safety measures include purpose-built, 24/7 monitored on

site aerosol fire suppression storage containers to handle distressed batteries, and a mobile 20-foot container designed for holding distressed or damaged electric vehicles or batteries. With sprinkler systems, a range of lithium fire extinguishers, thermal imaging cameras, and heat detection systems linked to security cameras, the containers are at the forefront of innovation to detect, extinguish and protect.

“Battery recycling has its challenges,” says Doug. “They need to be respected, and the very real risks acknowledged and dealt with. Too little has been invested, and too many corners have been cut by too many over the past few years – and it’s now time to ensure that recycling is carried out to the standards being seen around the world.”

EcoBatt has more than 5000 unique smart sensor units (battery cabinets)

“It’s convenient, it’s accessible, it’s safe. We need the community to get behind it and do their bit. Let’s keep these batteries out of recycling bins and our landfills, and into these specialised safe recycling cabinets.”

Doug Rowe, Director of EcoBatt and Recycal

EcoBatt has battery cabinets in every Australian state.

positioned throughout Australia, including at most major supermarkets.

It even has cabinets in King Island, Alice Springs, Broome, Cairns and many remote areas. Doug says the cabinet locations ensure the public has a convenient and accessible place to deposit batteries within a few kilometres’ radius of their homes.

Button cell batteries can be dropped off at these Smart Sensor Supermarket cabinets or at any Mister Minute store around Australia. The units even take old mobile phones for recycling.

“It’s convenient, it’s accessible, it’s safe,” Doug says. “We need the community to get behind it and do their bit.

“Let’s keep these batteries out of recycling bins and our landfills, and into these specialised safe recycling cabinets.”

On site, EcoBatt has a state-of-theart AI sorting system that separates and

sorts all types of batteries. Batteries are separated into specific categories, types and chemistries, and any mobile phones, e-waste or other mixed waste is removed for recycling. Plastic bags are opened and emptied – with the old plastic bags recycled. The end result is bins full of separated batteries ready for processing.

EcoBatt can safely and efficiently process the full spectrum of batteries including electric vehicles, storage batteries, tool pack batteries and smaller batteries, such as button cell batteries.

EcoBatt’s sister company, Ecocycle, removes the mercury from any small button cell batteries by distilling them in a batch dome distilling process. This allows the remaining metals to be refined and recovered, completing the full recycling process safely and efficiently.

Doug says EcoBatt is committed to ensuring that the Australian public has a recycling solution for their batteries.

He says that while most batteries will be covered by the new Battery Stewardship Scheme, large EV batteries and storage batteries will be a paid service.

“There is a solution for recycling your batteries and EcoBatt wants everyone to be part of it,” Doug says.

“Let’s ensure that batteries don’t end up in general waste streams and landfills where they can cause major fire risks in waste and collection vehicles and ultimately, the contamination of the environment and water ways.

“There are no longer any excuses not to do what’s right.”

For more information and nearest dropoff points visit: www.ecobatt.net

Disposing of batteries the right way is child’s play with EcoBatt battery cabinets.

www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 49

WASTE MANAGEMENT IN ACTION – LANDFILL COMPACTORS

Robust and sturdy – TANA lives up to its name INNOVATION HAS KEPT THE MACHINE MANUFACTURER AHEAD OF THE GAME IN WASTE MANAGEMENT.

I

t’s often said when you’re onto a good thing, stick with it.

At a time when many companies feel the need to diversify, manufacturer TANA has stayed the course and focused on its core product.

Fifty years on, compactors remain the company’s “bread and butter”.

Mirja Yli-Erkkilä, Vice President of Marketing, says it’s what makes TANA stand out from other manufacturers in the waste industry.

“We’ve looked at waste and the treatment of waste since the company’s beginning. Ours is the only purposebuilt landfill compactor on the market,” Mirja says.

“There was a time when we had no other product, so the compactor was our focus. Knowing we have a concept

on the product that nobody else has, clearly makes us different.”

TANA was built on the imagination of a Finnish inventor who, in 1970, developed a landfill compactor based on an ordinary tractor with rubber wheels.

Following several modifications, including the installation of two fullwidth iron drums, the “first” TANA compactor was manufactured for an exhibition in Hanover, Germany in 1971 where it was sold.

TANA expanded to manufacture plastic products and patrol boats, which were delivered to the Iraqi military in the late 1970s.

But when current owner Kari Kangas acquired the company, together with two partners, 25 years ago they

“stripped everything back” to focus on developing the best tools for landfill customers. All product lines other than landfill compactors were discarded.

AUSTRALIAN CONNECTION The company’s new focus also involved looking at its distributor network. Enter, GCM Enviro.

The waste management and recycling equipment supplier remains the sole Australian distributor of TANA products.

Adam Krajewski, GCM Enviro Marketing Manager, says they’ve continued a relationship with TANA because “they’re the best compactor for the landfill market”.

Adam says GCM sold its first TANA landfill compactor in 2000. More

TANA launched a new H Series landfill compactor during its 50th anniversary year.

50 / WMR / February 2022

The TANA compactor offers good landfill compaction.

than 140 landfill compactors have since been delivered to customers in Australia, with TANA being the preferred choice for many councils, landfill managers and operators.

“Many councils keep coming back to buy second and third machines,” he says. “You’re getting at least 10 per cent better landfill compaction as a TANA guarantee.

“From a design standpoint, you’re reducing the number of landfill passes from six to four. Operations are using less fuel therefore you’ve got less time in the cabin, which is saving money.

For the lifespan of a landfill that means a lot. When you take those savings over 10 years, it’s a big difference.”

Mirja says “continual improvement and development have been the cornerstones” of TANA’s success.

Over the years, the appearance and design of machines has changed and new technology introduced.

TANA developed digital solutions in the waste industry, including the TANA ProTrack remote monitoring system. In 2006 it also recognised a shift in waste management and introduced a waste shredder.

ANNIVERSARY EDITION To coincide with the company’s 50th anniversary, TANA

launched the H Series landfill compactor during a virtual event in November 2021.

The new H Series has models in the 38-52 tonne range. Smaller model 2632 tonne units have been available for some time already.

While the basic design has not changed, with forward drums, rigid frame and cabins with optimal driver visibility standard, it has been “finetuned” based on market feedback.

Maximum operating speed has increased to 10 km/h and air filtering has been improved.

The touch-screen control system is “more user-friendly for the operator” and can be tailored for individual operator preferences.

The reversing camera has been improved and add-ons are available, such as side and roof cameras, to improve driver visibility.

“There are little improvements here and there based on customer feedback,” Mirja says.

“Landfill and compactors are both areas where it is rare for anyone to bring anything new to market.

“Even though it’s not a new product, it’s a new model and new updates. We wanted to make the market aware of the changes and make a little noise about them.”

That “little noise” was heard more than 14,500 kilometres away in Australia.

Mirja says that strong Australian connection is due to GCM Enviro.

“GCM Enviro is crucial to our success,” she says.

“They have always been a support leg for us that we could rely on.

They have always performed and exceeded our expectations.

“They’re working remotely, far away from us with limited chances to get support when needed because of time differences, and still they have managed to grow a good customer base of happy, satisfied customers.

“Some years ago, we used to do customer satisfaction surveys. Feedback about customer service and availability of service from GCM Enviro customers was always very good. That’s a very big thing to say in a country like Australia, which is so big.”

At a dealer meeting last year, GCM Enviro was presented a trophy in recognition of its work with TANA over the years.

Mirja says it is “extremely satisfying” for TANA to be where it is today, but they’re not done yet.

“The future holds interesting and good things for us all.”

For more information, visit: www.gcmenviro.com

GCM Enviro was recognised for its contribution to TANA’s growth within Australia.

www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 51

WASTE MANAGEMENT IN ACTION – WHEEL LOADERS

SDLG wheel loaders are widely used in landfill and resource recovery operations.

Tried and tested SDLG WHEEL LOADERS HAVE EARNED A REPUTATION AS THE “WORKHORSES” OF THE WASTE AND RECYCLING INDUSTRY. LINDSAY DANIELS, NATIONAL PRODUCT ENGINEERING AND TRAINING MANAGER FOR CJD EQUIPMENT TALKS WITH WMR.

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utch computer scientist Edsger Dijkstra once said “simplicity is prerequisite for reliability”.

It’s a mantra that machinery and construction company SDLG can vouch for. For decades, the SDLG name has been synonymous with wheel loaders that deliver reliable performance, simple operation and low maintenance.

Lindsay Daniels, National Product Engineering and Training Manager at CJD Equipment, says the SDLG wheel loader is “reliability in action”.

“They just keep going and going and going,” he says.

“In the waste industry, you want something that’s going to continue to operate in pretty harsh environments.

The SDLG does that.”

SDLG wheel loaders have been available in Australia for more than 10 years and are supported nationwide by CJD Equipment.

While they’re ideal for a variety of applications across farming and mining industries, their robustness

52 / WMR / February 2022

and ease of operation has made them the “workhorse” of the waste and recycling industry.

Available in five models, ranging from the LG918 with 77hp through to the 217hp L958F, it’s the LG946L wheel loader that is the machine of choice for many.

Lindsay says the LG946L wheel loader’s horsepower, bucket capacity and operating weight suits the waste and recycling industry and it’s widely used in landfill and resource recovery operations.

Ideal for loading and unloading loose materials, the LG946L wheel loader is designed for easy daily access and service checks.

The cabin is vast, with a focus on comfort, ergonomics and practicality.

It is a fully certified rollover protective structure (ROPS) and falling-object protective structure (FOPS). A wraparound pillarless front and rear windscreen offers superior vision and safety.

SDLG wheel loaders have axles designed and built at the SDLG factory, ensuring a perfect driveline match, which results in increased productivity.

The wheel loaders come standard with a Volvo-compatible quick hitch and a general-purpose bucket with a bolt-on cutting edge, designed and built to increase productivity.

The engine is high torque, high performance and fuel efficient. It is connected to a tropical cooling package allowing it to work at full capacity in tough conditions. Minimum fuel consumption is 7 litres per hour from its 160-litre tank.

The transmission is heavy duty, smooth and reliable and incorporates a kick-down function enhancing the wheel loader’s ability to work in all applications.

“They are very straight-forward machines,” Lindsay says. “They have all the safety features in the cab. An ergonomic layout makes it easier for the operator to use and there are good

daily service points, which makes it easier for operators to do daily checks.

“The general feedback is that they are very, very reliable.”

SDLG is a member of the Volvo group, the world’s largest manufacturer of construction equipment.

Lindsay says, importantly, that its manufacturing expertise is backed up in Australia by a national dealer, CJD Equipment, with a good reputation for supporting the products it represents.

CJD Equipment’s core business involves the national distribution of construction equipment and trucks. It has a network of dealers and service centres stretching across the nation, from Australian capital cities to regional country towns and mining centres.

Lindsay says the SDLG and CJD Equipment partnership gives customers

“a reputable product with proper aftersales support”.

“It’s one thing to buy a machine that’s not very expensive but all machines break down. It’s a matter of how quickly you can get back on the road again and how much you can rely on the person that sold you the machine,” he says.

“CJD has got a very good reputation Australia-wide for representing its machinery and looking after customers.

“You don’t get to stay in the industry for nearly 50 years without looking after your customers.”

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

SDLG wheel loaders are known for their reliability.

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WASTE MANAGEMENT IN ACTION - WHEEL LOADERS

Multiplatform performance WITH SHARED FEATURES AND DESIGNS TAILORED TO THE WASTE INDUSTRY, JCB’S 436 AND 455 WHEEL LOADERS OFFER A STRESS-TESTED MACHINERY PLATFORM FOR THE SECTOR.

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CB’s approach to machinery for the waste industry is simple – design a suitable machine from the ground up, rather than repurpose equipment from the construction sector.

JCB’s 436 and 455 model wheel loaders, both developed with individual options for operators, are proof the process works.

Deon Cope, JCB CEA National Product Manager says customers need machines that are purposely configured to meet their modern requirements, rather than taking shortcuts.

“A lot of our dedicated waste customers will order a wastespecific machine, rather

than taking a construction machine and converting it to waste, which is actually what a lot of our competitors do,” he says. “We provide the option for customers to factory order dedicated waste machines.

“These generally start with an inspection or consultation carried out by the JCB CEA sales teams, from there we can identify if operators require a waste-specific machine.”

JCB’s waste-specific machinery, such as the 436 and 455 wheel loaders, feature heavy duty axles, as well as centred disc pads, to support the use of solid tyres.

The design has a key focus on protecting and maintaining the driveline and transmission if operators were to select a solid tyre.

The 436 wheel loader can be fitted with either a Z-bar or tool carrier configuration, while the 455 wheel loader supports only the Z-bar carriage.

FOCUS ON DESIGN “Z-bars offer more breakout at the floor level and more speed throughout the bucket, so it is suited to applications where material needs to be thrown or shaken with the bucket,” Deon says.

“The tool carriers offer even torque throughout the bucket arc. You don’t get high

JCB CEA develops waste-specific machinery, instead of repurposing construction machinery to suit.

54 / WMR / February 2022

speeds through the bucket but you can get more control, as well as greater sight lines, as you don’t have the Z-bar linkage situated at the front of the machine.”

Deon says while the tool carrier is most commonly used in the waste industry, both carrier options give operators of the 436 wheel loader the ability to load materials into different kinds of machinery.

“The tool carrier variant allows us to equip high lift motor arms from the factory. In waste, when they are loading into hoppers or shredders, there is a common height required, but sometimes they require a higher load application.”

The 436 wheel loader is designed to optimise efficiency. This is achieved through a load sensing hydraulic pump and speed cooling fan, both of which consume power only when required.

Both the 455 and 436 wheel loaders use a four-speed ZF fully automatic powershift transmission and ZF axles.

“Operators can also make the most of the ZF efficiency pack,” Deon says.

“The transmission features intelligent clutch cut-off which gives an inching ability similar to that of a hydro-static transmission.”

INCREASING POWER Deon says that for applications which require more output, the 455 wheel loader is the most appropriate option.

This is in part due to its maximum engine power of 165 kilowatts – an increase from its 436 predecessor, which boasts a maximum output of 129 kilowatts.

“With the 455 wheel loader you are stepping up to a larger platform, so a larger driveline and larger axles,” Deon says. “It is really suited to green waste applications where operators need a higher platform in order to get a larger payload.

Both the 436 and 455 wheel loaders include JCB’s ‘smooth ride’ feature.

The 436 wheel loader supports both the Z-bar and tool carrier configurations.

“The 455 is on a Z-bar platform and comes standard with LSD (limitedslip differential) axles. Operators will normally go for a pneumatic tyre as they may be working in areas which have poor traction.”

He says that the combined qualities of the 455 wheel loader, including an EcoMAX lean-burn system to reduce emissions for its 310-litre fuel tank, provide a long-lasting solution for operators.

“The LSD front and rear, combined with the larger driveline in the 455 and the Z-bar frontage, offers a more durable platform. It’s about selecting the right loader for the right application, which is where our sales team can assist,” Deon says.

Both the 436 and 455 wheel loaders include JCB’s ‘smooth ride’ feature as standard.

“This feature is speed dependant, so when the operator gets up to a certain speed the arms will cushion independently from the loader frame,” Deon says.

“It offers a smoother ride, particularly for those who may be doing longer loading runs which can be prevalent in green waste.”

Both the 436 and 455 wheel loaders have long service intervals and centralised maintenance.

Deon says that customers can trust the knowledge of JCB CEA’s sales and support staff.

“JCB focuses on the European waste markets. We are able to provide that expertise back into the waste sector here in Australia,” he says.

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

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WASTE MANAGEMENT IN ACTION – LANDFILL OPERATIONS

Leading the way CENTRAL COAST COUNCIL IS INCREASING WASTE MANAGEMENT EFFICIENCY, THANKS IN PART TO MACHINE GUIDANCE OF LANDFILL COMPACTORS.

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s New South Wales’ second largest council by population, Central Coast Council supports about 333,000 residents with more than 14.5 million domestic, commercial, and public waste collections each year.

The council operates waste management facilities that include both landfill and resource recovery activities at Woy Woy, south of Gosford, and Buttonderry, between Gosford and Newcastle.

Combined, the facilities receive about 450,000 tonnes of waste and resources per year, of which about 230,000 tonnes go to landfill, according to Andrew Pearce, Unit Manager for Waste and Resource Recovery at the council.

Andrew is responsible for all active and closed waste management facilities in the council area, including both landfill and resource recovery.

He says the amount of waste processed at Woy Woy and Buttonderry make both sites regionally significant.

“The domestic waste collection trucks alone travel the distance equivalent to two round trips to the moon and back each year,” he says.

Both waste facilities have a Tana 52-tonne compactor fitted with Carlson Landfill Grade machine guidance, supplied by Australian distributor Position Partners.

Andrew says that there are 12 operators trained in the use of the machine guidance system.

“We have a multi-disciplinary workforce and rotate our staff to operate different plant, including traxcavators, material handlers, loaders,

56 / WMR / February 2022

The Carlson Landfill Grade machine guidance accurately records the placement of material.

excavators, and the compactors,” he says. “It adds some variety to their work, which they enjoy.”

The council installed machine guidance in conjunction with the procurement of new compactors: first in Buttonderry in 2016 and more recently at the Woy Woy site in 2020.

Andrew says the Buttonderry compactor will be updated this financial year.

He says operating two of the largest waste facilities in the region requires the team to be continually focused on maximising efficiency.

“Procuring grade control technology was seen as an integral step to increasing efficiency and successfully delivering on our business plans,” he says.

The Carlson Landfill Grade machine guidance uses precise GPS technology with an easy-to-follow design displayed in the cab of the machine, to give the operator a clear visual display of the machine’s position relative to compaction design.

Andrew says the system was recommended to the council through Tana distributor GCM. “We went to market with our criteria of performance requirements for a new landfill compactor incorporating a machine guidance system and the Carlson solution best met those criteria, being specifically designed for landfill,” he says.

Andrew says implementing the grade control system had enabled the workforce to optimise

the use of airspace at the landfills. He says the council has already noticed time savings through using pre-set design levels on the system and has increased time, cost, and safety benefits by eliminating the need for surveyors to be on site as regularly.

By entering the design plans of landfill cells into the on-board system, operators can continuously apply the design from start to finish, eliminating rework.

Continuous monitoring allows for greater density control and gradient of landfill compaction and the final form of landscaping while helping operators avoid critical zones, such as gas well and hazardous material placement areas.

Machine guidance also records the operator’s work, helping to prevent overfill and accurately record the placement of material.

Andrew says the council has achieved

Implementing the guidance system has optimised the use of airspace at the Woy Woy and Buttonderry landfills.

legislative requirements, including a minimum compaction rate of 85 per cent, or 850 kilograms per cubic metre, as well as material placement records.

He says optimised and efficient use of the machines to achieve design results had resulted in reduced fuel consumption, with associated environmental and cost benefits.

“From a management perspective, the technology certainly assists us in

meeting our legislative requirements and improving productivity,” he says.

“Importantly, our landfill spaces are finite, so we have a responsibility to use that space as effectively as possible. The Carlson system from Position Partners helps us pack as much material as we can into every cubic metre.”

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

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WASTE MANAGEMENT IN ACTION - C&D RECYCLING

Australia’s greenest road ALEX FRASER’S SUPPLY OF SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS HAS HELPED TO ENABLE THE EARLY COMPLETION OF ONE OF MELBOURNE’S MAJOR DOMESTIC ROAD PROJECTS, THE MORDIALLOC FREEWAY.

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s one of Melbourne’s oldest companies, Alex Fraser has long innovated recycling to become the construction industry’s go-to provider for sustainable civil construction materials.

Its network of Sustainable Supply Hubs surround Melbourne, with major facilities in Laverton, Epping, Dandenong and Clarinda, supporting its capability to supply the Mordialloc Freeway project with the most sustainable civil construction materials available, on time and at scale.

Peter Murphy, Alex Fraser Managing Director, says the company’s commitment to quality road construction with greener outcomes paved the way for the project’s success.

“When McConnell Dowell and Decmil were tendering for the

Reduced cartage distance for contractors helped to reduce traffic on local roads.

58 / WMR / February 2022

project, they made it very clear that their client – the Victorian Government – wanted to achieve the best sustainability outcomes possible, to achieve the greenest freeway in the country,” he says.

“It was something we were very confident that we could deliver.”

The Mordialloc Freeway project is one of many major projects across Victoria with an increased focus on the use of recycled and sustainable products. Peter says this has been supported through legislation introduced by the state government.

“The Victorian Government’s Recycled First policy calls on government and industry to prioritise the use of recycled materials. Customers are now prioritising the use of locally sourced, recycled materials,” he says.

Peter says that Alex Fraser worked closely with McConnell Dowell and Decmil (MCDDJV) to maximise the sustainability outcomes of the Mordialloc Freeway project.

“Our people worked closely with MCDDJV’s project managers to innovate and improve sustainability on the ‘Mordi’. A great example of this collaboration is when we found a way to substitute around 80,000 tonnes of 20SS asphalt with a comparable green roads asphalt mix containing 40 per cent recycled content. This markedly increased the use of recycled material in the road and reduced CO2, with no compromise on quality.”

Peter says it was most rewarding when this sustainability improvement was recognised by the Department of Transport, which updated

the specification (VicRoads 407) accordingly – “paving the way for greener roads throughout Melbourne.”

“Every month we would give MCDDJV updates on the outcomes they had achieved through the use of green roads materials,” Peter says.

“This included the number of tonnes diverted from landfill, the number of glass bottles recycled in the road, the reduction in truck traffic and carbon savings achieved.”

In total, Alex Fraser supplied 351,179 tonnes of its green roads materials, including asphalt and roadbase, to the Mordialloc Freeway. This resulted in the diversion of 249,739 tonnes from landfill, and the re-use of almost 205 million glass bottles as Recycled Glass Sand, recovered from Melburnians’ yellow wheelie bins.

Peter says sustainability was not the only outcome under the spotlight.

“One of the most important outcomes for our client was to achieve an outstanding ride quality for commuters,” he says.

“I’m proud to say our asphalt crews rose to the challenge and delivered one of the smoothest pavements we’ve seen.

This is a result of their commitment to quality workmanship.”

Alex Fraser’s crews used a proven pavement process for the project, where two pavers are continuously fed hot asphalt by a single shuttle buggy, and work in unison to seamlessly pave multiple lanes.

“The results speak for themselves,” Peter says. “When motorists drive on this freeway they will experience one of Melbourne’s smoothest rides, and a pavement quality that has surpassed all expectations.”

LOCAL CONTENT Another important aspect of the project was the procurement of locally sourced products and services,

Thanks to the use of recycled products, more than 249,739 tonnes of waste was diverted from landfill.

which Alex Fraser’s metropolitan production network delivered.

Peter says having facilities within a stone’s throw of the freeway site directly increased efficiencies and reduced costs.

“Our Clarinda Recycling Facility was on the project’s doorstep, and our Dandenong Asphalt Plant was just a few minutes away. This made it easier to adapt to the changing needs of the project, and helped ensure a reliable, on-time supply, while reducing truck traffic and associated emissions,” he says.

Due to the density savings achieved by using recycled roadbase, the number of truck movements required to supply the project was reduced by 572 trucks (when compared with truck movements required to cart the equivalent in quarried products).

In total, more than 158,171 tonnes of green roads asphalt and 193,008 tonnes of green roads roadbase were used in the project, offering carbon savings of up to 65 per cent.

Peter says the considerable demand for material to the project required a supplier who could deliver a reliable supply of quality products at large volumes, and enable the sustainability outcomes expected.

He says Alex Fraser delivered on this promise; recycling more than 249,739 tonnes of material for re-use in the project, diverting it from landfill.

“Projects like the Mordialloc Freeway call for massive volumes on very tight timelines. This is where Alex Fraser works very hard,” he says.

With a network of sites around Melbourne and Brisbane, Alex Fraser has the capacity to deliver, but Peter says efficient scheduling of resources is key.

“Our customers are working in very dynamic environments; our people work very closely with them, and conduct a huge amount of planning to ensure we hit their tight project timelines,” he says.

“I think the Mordialloc Freeway is a prime example our industry should look to when planning for the future. This nine-kilometre stretch is a demonstration of what can be achieved through collaboration and an unwavering focus on quality and sustainability.

“The ‘Mordi’ might not only be Melbourne’s greenest road, but its best road.”

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

www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 59

WASTE MANAGEMENT IN ACTION – CABLE RECYCLING

Real steel COLORADO INDUSTRIAL RECYCLING IS COMBINING OLD SCHOOL VALUES WITH NEW TECHNOLOGY TO CONTINUE A FAMILY TRADITION.

A wire processing plant will open new opportunities for Colorado Industrial Recycling.

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he recycling industry is in Dave and Mike Koscove’s DNA. A quick look around the Colorado Industrial Recycling site in the United States and it’s clear it’s more than just a job for the fourthgeneration recyclers.

A conference table constructed from old engine parts, and a couch made from the hood of a 1941 Dodge, take pride of place in its boardroom and lobby. The scale house was built from a repurposed trash compactor and the scale refurbished from a castaway recovered from a demolition clean-up job. All designed

by Dave, who explored engineering but kept being pulled back to the family business.

60 / WMR / February 2022

“Our family has been recycling for over 100 years,” Dave says. “It started similarly to what we recycle today – metal, rubber and maybe some glass.”

The company’s website states that the 1911 Colorado Springs’ phonebook lists Isaac Koscove, Dave and Mike’s great grandfather, as a ‘junk dealer’.

Today, Colorado Industrial Recycling is melding old school values with cutting-edge technology.

A recently installed wire processing plant, engineered by Eldan Recycling, is set to open new opportunities for the company.

“Historically, we’ve always served a localised market,” says Andy O’Riley, Colorado Industrial Recycling’s Relationship Manager. “Most of our

marketing has been word-of-mouth and it’s very much a business built through relationships within our community.

“This will give us the opportunity to branch out beyond our local network and elevates us in terms of what we are capable of doing.

“Ultimately, it gives us a platform to display to this wider audience all that we do.”

In 2010, Dave and Mike decided to find ways to distinguish the company from others and began looking at wire processing facilities.

They went with Eldan Recycling after seeing its equipment in operation at other sites.

“It’s Eldan designed from the ground up,” Dave says of the Colorado wire

processing plant. “They saw what we needed and designed it. The technology they provide, as well as key environmental aspects – they knock it out of the park. What makes the Eldan plant special is the area of efficiency.

The plant produces no wastewater, almost no air pollution and requires minimal electricity.

“If the product level increases, we have the ability to expand the chopping line. We’ve set ourselves up for expansion as we go.”

It took 11 overseas containers to get the plant equipment to Colorado and several months to assemble.

The plant processes three types of materials – number one copper, which runs from about 40 kilograms to 80 kilograms a minute, number two copper which starts at 4.5 kilograms and goes as high as 22 kilograms a minute, and aluminium, which runs from 36 to 68 kilograms a minute.

A “bag house” at the back of the plant takes out most of the particulates.

Contamination produced is often measured in fractions of a per cent.

Dave says the plant is “really impressive and a great way to introduce recycling to uninitiated audiences”.

Staff at the recycling plant are “getting a feel” for how the system works.

“Knowing how different materials respond and how the machine is operating and running comes

The Eldan Recycling-designed plant processes three types of materials.

with time,” he says. “You have to listen and feel.”

Andy says the process has been a learning curve for both Colorado Industrial Recycling and Eldan.

“Obviously, wire is produced differently in Denmark, where Eldan is based.

“The products being recycled in the United States are unique and this is a relatively new market for Eldan.

They see us as a way of fine-tuning their technology specifically for a US market.”

Andy says the new plant is a “game changer” for the company on several levels.

“Previously, we fulfilled only the middle stages of recycling. We were collecting but not changing the composition of the material.

We had to outsource that final stage of processing. Sometimes that has

The new plant has been described as a game changer for the company.

required us to export the material to foreign processors.

“When you’re sending things overseas you don’t always know what the environmental consequences are.

Being able to keep all stages of the recycling process localised reduces the carbon impact and allows us to ensure everything is done with integrity.

Processing the material in-house also has an economic benefit.”

Colorado Industrial Recycling sees itself as a “partner” with the community and has always had a mindset that it should give back to the community.

Part of the value policy of the company is to create job opportunities for people with barriers to employment.

It partners with several social service agencies and non-profits to employ people with disabilities, refugees and people transitioning out of homelessness.

Andy says adding the processing component to the business gives more job opportunities to help people build a skill-set.

“The Eldan plant has given us a new opportunity for a specific type of work for a part of the community that is not always given an opportunity,” he says.

“We’ve always been wired to look for those opportunities.”

For more information, visit: www.eldan-recycling.com

www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 61

WASTE MANAGEMENT IN ACTION - DRUM SCREENS

A clinical solution KOMPTECH’S NEMUS 2700 DRUM SCREEN IS BUILT-FOR-MARKET, DEVELOPED WITH USER EXPERIENCE AND THE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OF OPERATORS IN MIND.

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hen Simon Humphris, Product Manager at Komptech describes the Nemus 2700 Drum Screen, the words “flexibility” and “robust” are used regularly.

With a design that includes proven features from its predecessors, and an improved material feed and discharge system, the Nemus 2700 Drum Screen aims to satisfy the screening needs of operators within the waste industry.

Komptech has years of experience in manufacturing screening machines and understands the importance of both flexibility and mobility.

Simon says this understanding was a key influence during the development of the Nemus 2700 Drum Screen.

“The Nemus 2700 Drum Screen is designed with a great deal of flexibility so operators can screen different sizes of product,” he says.

“The goal for users is to make sure that their compost, or whatever material

it might be, touches the majority of the screening area throughout its whole cycle. Or else users are effectively not using the drum at its highest efficiency.”

This efficiency all starts with the hopper at the point of entry on the Nemus 2700 Drum Screen.

Incorporating a low-wear hopper belt drive, along with an automatic hopper belt control, ensures that users can have precise straight-line travel for the input material.

Material entering the Nemus 2700 Drum Screen is processed at an optimal level, thanks to a number of components, including a helix coil.

“The helix coil inside of the drum screen acts similar to a cement mixer,” Simon says. “It helps all of the compost make contact with the screen, in its full rotation and to the full extent of the screen.

“What that is doing is giving operators access to the full square

meterage of the screen. This makes it significantly more efficient.”

The Nemus 2700 Drum Screen can also process larger volumes of material.

“The Nemus 2700 Drum Screen also has a slightly larger gate, the gap between the drum wall and inside wall,” Simon says.

“When operators increase their drum size, it also increases the throughput of the machine.

“If the material is coming through at a higher volume, it can jam between the drum and side wall. The larger gate helps to prevent this.

“The Nemus 2700 Drum Screen also has a load sensitive hopper, which means that if the machine is overloaded then the drum will shut down. It’s a protection piece, so users don’t have issues with overloading.”

Whether screening large or small volumes, the Nemus 2700 Drum Screen maintains its fuel efficiency, even during higher throughput rates.

The machine features a load-sensitive hopper in order to prevent overloading.

62 / WMR / February 2022

The Nemus 2700 Drum Screen provides processing for large and small material volumes.

“The Nemus 2700 Drum Screen uses around six to eight litres of fuel an hour, which is pretty low,” Simon says.

SUPPORTING CHOICE The Nemus 2700 Drum Screen provides two chassis variants, the track chassis or the trailer chassis, both manufactured to suit the specific needs of operators.

Simon says customers can choose either of the two variants, depending on the type of screening work and frequency of movement they require.

“Track chassis is particularly useful for moving the machine out each day to clean underneath it,” he says.

“This provides a benefit for those operators who are using the machine every day. The trailer chassis requires a machine to move the Nemus 2700 Drum Screen every day, whereas with the track chassis, operators can move it with the touch of a button.”

Komptech understands that unpredictable compost and mulch volumes can sometimes require smaller or larger drums, so various drum sizes are available.

“The Nemus 2700 Drum Screen can accommodate drum changes very quickly and efficiently, so we have some customers who may have three to five

drums, depending on what they are doing,” Simon says.

“For those who sell mulch, they are going to require a level of flexibility day in and day out and that is what this machine provides.”

MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT The Nemus 2700 Drum Screen has been designed with maintenance in mind, as well as the safety of the operator when servicing the machine’s components.

“When it is critical to make adjustments to the engine, it can

sometimes be unsafe to crawl into a unit,” Simon says. “The Nemus 2700 Drum Screen has a slide-out engine, which allows for the component to slide out on its own frame. This means that servicing can happen on the engine away from the machine.

“The Nemus 2700 Drum Screen also comes with a set of brushes, which is a one-piece brush set that runs along the barrel. Operators who have drum screens know that you need to keep the drum screens clean to preserve efficiency.”

Simon says that Komptech customers can be reassured that required support and service will be offered long after the purchasing of a product.

“For each state in Australia we have our own CEA branch, we have our own parts and our own national distributor centre.

“We have sales teams, service teams and support teams in every state,” he says. “We’re completely understanding of what customers require to keep their machines going and we are here to support the customer.”

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

The Nemus 2700 Drum Screen comes in two chassis variants, the track and trailer chassis.

www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 63

COUNCIL IN FOCUS

Breaking the barriers THE CITY OF COCKBURN IS HOPING TECHNOLOGY WILL HELP THE COMMUNITY TUNE IN TO ITS LATEST WASTE EDUCATION CAMPAIGN.

A new education program includes videos that show local heroes demonstrating various sorting, recycling and waste reduction methods.

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irtual Reality (VR) headsets and videos featuring local waste champions will be among a suite of tools the City of Cockburn will use to help its Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CaLD) community learn about the importance of reducing waste.

The city has received a $16,500 State Government Infrastructure and Community Education 2021-22 WasteSorted grant to help with the education program.

It aims to foster waste avoidance by improving waste sorting by the community.

64 / WMR / February 2022

Clare Courtauld, City of Cockburn Waste Education Co-ordinator, said diverting more items from landfill through better waste sorting would help the city achieve its local government targets, as set out in Western Australia’s Waste Strategy. The program will use multilingual waste education kits, games and videos, plus virtual reality tours of recycling and landfill facilities to demonstrate how everyone plays a vital role in preventing rubbish from ending up in landfill.

“There are many alternative uses and streams of recycling for so

many products that we all use every day and it can be quite confusing unless you understand the reasons behind this,” Clare says.

“We hope this fun educational opportunity will help people understand why it’s important for the planet and our hip pocket that we all take responsibility for the rubbish we generate.

“From plastics and packaging to paper, bottles, tins and cans that pass through our hands every day, there are lots of ways to recycle these and to reduce

“There are many alternative uses and streams of recycling for so many products that we all use every day and it can be quite confusing unless you understand the reasons behind this.”

Clare Courtauld, City of Cockburn Waste Education Co-ordinator

our reliance on some of these materials, too.”

Many of the city’s 117,000 residents are culturally and linguistically diverse, with 21.5 per cent speaking languages other than English at home.

Nearly three per cent of these people reported difficulty speaking English and both parents of nearly 45 per cent of City of Cockburn residents were born overseas, according to the 2016 Australian Census.

The Be a GREAT Sort waste education program highlights include subtitled virtual reality tours of Henderson Waste Recovery Park and the Suez Material Recovery Facility in Bibra Lake. Clare says the VR tours are great for people unable to attend facility tours in-person.

Subtitled waste education videos featuring local talent will be provided on the City of Cockburn YouTube channel and other online platforms.

Clare says the videos will feature “ordinary people who are already walking the walk when it comes to waste reduction” by correctly sorting their waste for recycling, hence reducing materials being sent unnecessarily to landfill.

“They will help demonstrate various sorting, recycling and waste reduction methods and practices that are easy to include in everyday life to help people embrace choices to promote our personal and community choices and

responsibilities when it comes to waste generation and reduction.”

Super-sized waste education games will be developed for local schools, as will waste education toolkits with translations. Some elements of the education program will be available at city events, school incursions and community workshops, and available to loan from the city’s libraries.

The City’s Waste Education team has begun preparing the program,

which will be progressively rolled out from early this year.

The Western Australian Government’s Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Strategy 2030 sets out a plan to reduce waste generation by 10 per cent per capita by 2025 and 20 per cent by 2030. Aligned with that is increasing material recovery to 70 per cent by 2025, and 75 per cent by 2030.

To help reach the targets, a consistent three-bin kerbside collection system, which includes separation of food organics and garden organics from other waste categories, must be provided by all local governments in the Perth and Peel region by 2025.

Local governments must implement waste plans, which align their waste planning processes with the waste strategy.

For more information, visit: www.cockburn.wa.gov.au

A new program aims to teach the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CaLD) community about the importance of reducing waste.

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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

TUTT BRYANT BOMAG RS650 The key profitability factors in soil stabilisation or cold recycling are machine utilisation and daily output, combined with low operating costs.

Based on more than 40 years’ experience, BOMAG has set new standards in the development and manufacture of soil stabilisers. The BOMAG RS650 stabiliser/recycler guarantees consistently high quality on any application and long-term profitability.

Tutt Bryant Equipment inducted the first RS650 (Tier4 final but also available as Tier3) in Queensland. What stood out for operators immediately was the vision all round when raising the cabin and access to the working tools on the rotor.

BOMAG offers an all-round package and has made a positive impact in New South Wales and Victoria where more than 10 machines (RS460/RS600) have sold into the market.

The BOMAG RS650 Contact - Tutt Bryant P 1300 658 888 W www.tuttbryant.com.au

RONCO CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT, HYVA LIFT NG2016TA XL SKIP LOADER The Hyva Lift NG2016TA XL Skip Loader has a large lifting capacity from 10,800kg up to 16,000kg and comes in two deck lengths – 4320mm and 4820mm – to suit both short and medium wheelbase chassis.

A heavy-duty torsion tube helps give the loader its bigger capacity, while larger main lift cylinders with 80mm rods and stroke protection ensure a longer working life.

The skip loader comes standard with tipping hooks and tipping chain options. Lifting and tipping chains both have safety hooks and are fully certified grade 100, 13mm.

Shorter arms give the loader a lower profile, allowing it to fit into lower height areas.

Improvements on previous models include a stronger cab protection guard, heavy duty top bar and valve bank on the driver’s side.

The Hyva Lift NG2016TA XL Skip Loader

The Hyva Lift NG2016TA XL Skip Loader comes with radio remote or in cab control option.

Contact - Ronco Construction Equipment P (08) 9459 6212 E ronco@ronco.com.au W www.ronco.com.au

RONCO CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT, SANY SMHW30 MATERIAL HANDLER The SANY SMHW30 delivers both power and reliability in the one machine, thanks to a Japanese Mitsubishi engine delivering 147kW, paired with a Japanese Kawasaki hydraulic system.

Superior performance and powerful lifting capacity make it popular for use in a wide range of working environments but it is ideally suited to scrap and recycling yards.

It comes with solid tyres, two-wheel steer and four-wheel drive configuration and an assortment of boom lengths, grabs and magnets.

The 30 Series Material Handing Machine can work at depths of up to 3-metres and up to 12-metre height. The machine meets both Australian and European standards

66 / WMR / February 2022

The Sany SMHW30 Material Handler

and comes with an unmatched warranty and easy access to parts for servicing.

Contact - Ronco Construction Equipment P (08) 9459 6212 E ronco@ronco.com.au W www.ronco.com.au

KOMATSU FOREST, ASTEC INDUSTRIES : PETERSON 5710D HORIZONTAL GRINDER The Peterson 5710D Horizontal Grinder is a tracked grinder designed for high volume producers with very demanding end-product specifications.

The Australian version is powered by a Tier II Caterpillar C32 839kW (1125hp) engine, the 5710D provides the highest power to weight ratio of any Peterson grinder. At 40,150kg the 5710D is designed for operations requiring high production and frequent moves between jobs.

With a feed opening of 152cm x 192cm, combined with Peterson’s high lift feed roll, the 5710D can readily reduce a wide range of material including stumps.

Peterson’s powerful upturn 3-Stage grinding process provides better material fracturing and a far more consistent product which ensures the required product can always be produced. Upturning rotors are ideally configured to produce lighter mulches with fewer fines.

The rotors perform more of the reduction process through shearing and cleavage fractures in the wood, making them more productive using less energy.

Peterson’s unique patented Impact Release System’s air bags provide uniform grinding and protection from contaminated feedstock. In addition, a second line of defence of urethane cushions and shear pins help protect the mill from catastrophic damage.

The Peterson 5710D Horizontal Grinder

Contact - Komatsu Forest P +61 2 9647 3600 E info.au@komatsuforest.com W www.komatsuforest.com.au

APPLIED MACHINERY, GENOX TYRE RECYCLING SYSTEM Suitable for car and commercial tyres, truck and Offthe-Road tyres, the Genox Tyre Recycling System is designed to minimise operational costs and simplify maintenance of the line.

A pre-shredder can be equipped with bolted cutting tools, while a two-stage rasper liberates the steel from the rubber enabling effective separations and producing clean wire.

The rubber passes through a fine granulation system equipped with a rotor designed specifically for tyre rubber size reduction. It provides maximum throughput while minimising the number of fines created.

Textile and dust is aspirated at several points, aided by a central Reverse Jet Filtration that extracts dust from the entire system.

Automation ensures that component actions are linked and the system runs at maximum capacity.

Contact - Applied Machinery P 03 9706 8066 E sales@appliedmachinery.com.au W www.appliedmachinery.com.au

The Genox Tyre Recycling System.

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LAST WORD

Big farms, big opportunity AN INCREASING INVESTMENT IN LARGER FARMS IS PROVIDING FERTILE GROUND FOR THE ORGANICS INDUSTRY, SAYS MATT GENEVER, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER AT SUSTAINABILITY VICTORIA.

Sustainability Victoria is investing across the organics value chain.

T

he number of agricultural businesses in Australia reduced by some 34 per cent between 2010 and 2019. Over the same period, the total area of agricultural holdings went up by more than 6 per cent, pointing to a trend of farm aggregation across the country.

This is in large part good planning, with opportunistic farmers leveraging equity from the rapid growth in property prices and record low interest rates to expand into adjacent areas.

It is unclear whether this aggregation will continue and for how long (other countries such as Canada and New Zealand are experiencing similar trends, moving toward fewer, larger farms), but for the time being it appears that larger farms with fewer owners presents a significant opportunity for the use of processed organic material.

That opportunity exists on two fronts. Firstly, there is an opportunity that is purely a product of economies of scale. As the size and complexity of farms increase,

so too does the need for data-driven land management, ensuring that each hectare is maximised for short- and long-term production.

This has become even more important with the increase in strategic crop rotation optimised with relay cropping, where use of multiple crops seeks to maximise the outputs from each growing season. It’s no longer a game of feet but a game of inches.

Secondly, it’s important to look at who owns our farms, both now and into the future. In 2018, a House of

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LAST WORD

“We’re investing to deliver the combination of engaged households, committed to putting the right things in the right bins, with an organics processing sector that is focused on product quality and innovation.”

Matt Genever, Chief Operating Officer at Sustainability Victoria

Representatives inquiry found that Australian super fund investment in agriculture was disproportionately low. It’s been baby steps since that report was released, however the market is showing positive signs from institutional investors. A good example can be seen in Equilibrium’s Controlled Environments Food Fund, which aims to capitalise on bankable food and aquaculture products. After an initial raise of about $300 million in 2019, the second offering closed in July 2021 at more than $1 billion, showing keen interest exists in the market.

Large investors are typically more driven and resourced to invest in sustainability and social outcomes, keen to ensure that their clients can see both economic growth while being good corporate citizens. So that’s a long-winded way of saying we are moving into a very willing market, where demand for composts and soil conditioners, which can both improve soil quality and hold carbon, is likely to keep rising.

Of course, there is always a “but”.

While larger farms backed by larger investors present fertile ground for the organics industry, it also comes with a focus on risk management and a keen want for consistent products made to specification. Last month I ordered a few cubic metres of AS4454

70 / WMR / February 2022

compliant compost and mulch and pulled out half a bucket of visible, gross contamination. That’s not aimed at calling anyone out, it’s just the reality of what is the industry’s most enduring challenge. This is a shared responsibility, with the organics industry needing to take a leadership position on product quality, supported by upstream education and behaviour change at household level.

Like most jurisdictions in Australia, building a strong and resilient organics sector is a key priority in Victoria, backed by a target to see all households having access to a combined food and garden organics service or composting system by 2030.

At Sustainability Victoria (SV), we remain committed to investing across the organics value chain. Upstream, we’re implementing a $25 million behaviour change program to support the rollout of the state’s 4-bin system, including combined FOGO collections.

This is amplified by more than $100 million for industry development, including infrastructure and market development grants, such as the recent Recycling Victoria Organics Sector Transformation Fund, which aims to leverage the new national Food Waste for Healthy Soils Fund. In short, we’re investing to deliver the combination of engaged households, committed to

putting the right things in the right bins, with an organics processing sector that is focused on product quality and innovation.

Looking forward, one of the emerging areas of innovation that SV sees as a significant opportunity for the organics sector is subsoil amelioration.

This essentially involves improving the characteristics of subsoil by adding organic carbon and nutrients, which in turn facilitates root growth into the previously unutilised subsoil and increased yields. This is in contrast to the typical use of organics as a topsoil improver.

About 20 per cent of all Australian soils are sodosols (which tend to have dense subsoil structure that inhibits root growth). Field trials show that subsoil amelioration can improve crop yield by 20-40 per cent. At the recommended application rate (10-20 tonnes/ha) and targeting land that is close to a composting facility, SVs conservative estimate is that this market could be close to nine million tonnes per annum for the Australian organics industry.

Targeting subsoil has longerlasting impacts, however it does come with additional cost through the need for specialist agricultural equipment to apply organic material into the subsoil layer and is still at the innovation phase of its lifecycle.

These are the opportunities we love at SV, with significant opportunity that can be unpacked through the R&D and demonstration stages and commercialised at scale. I don’t need to recite the literature on the benefits of organics in supporting long-term soil health, the evidence is clear. What does need to be reinforced, now and most likely in perpetuity, is the need for a systems approach to industry longevity. Clean inputs, quality outputs, customised products…and happy, prosperous farmers.