Waste Management Review Feb 2024

Waste Management Review

FEBRUARY 2024

2024 | FEBRUARY | ISSUE 81

Laying rubber

www.wastemanagementreview.com.au

An insight into Tyrecycle’s new $15m recycling plant FEATURES

Cleaning up the accommodation industry Women making waves in waste Diamond in the rough Climate action under the microscope

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COVER STORY

15

LAYING RUBBER

40 COMPOST HAPPENS

ALLU screening buckets give nature’s processes a helping hand.

Tyrecycle’s Ashley Battilana, Regional Manager Western Australia, showcases a new $15m plant that’s set to change the landscape of waste tyre processing.

“THERE’S AN INCREASED AWARENESS FROM RETAILERS THAT THEY NEED TO DO THE RIGHT THING. IT MAKES IT EASIER FOR THEM TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE RIGHT THING LOOKS LIKE WHEN THEY SEE PLANTS LIKE THIS.” - Jim Fairweather, Chief Executive Officer, Tyrecycle

In this issue

Features 09 CLEANING UP

Taking on one of the accommodation industry’s biggest waste streams and saving lives.

12 THE BREAKDOWN

30 LET’S GET SPECIFIC

Komatsu Australia knows the importance of designing industryspecific machines.

32 CUTTING EDGE

hat to expect in 2024 – industry W decision-makers share their views on the year ahead.

JCB CEA wheel loaders combine power, efficiency and versatility.

20

DRIVEN TO SUCCEED

Home collection service RecycleSmart is going national.

22

FRESH START

Suzanne Magro’s focus on getting down to the grind is a key to her success.

The next generation brings new energy and vigour to the industrial waste sector.

24

WOMEN MAKING WAVES

A female-led waste management consultancy with a passion for solving clients’ waste challenges.

27

CHAMPIONS OF DIVERSITY

Wastech Engineering: Fostering a positive culture and driving innovation.

NDER THE 44 UMICROSCOPE

The waste and resource recovery sector is on the cusp of sweeping climate change reforms.

46 STANDING GUARD

The next iteration of human recognition technology is released.

34 MANY HAPPY RETURNS 48 CUTTING THROUGH 36 ZERO-EMISSIONS DEBUT 50 REAL-WORLD CJD Equipment introduces zeroemission construction equipment into Australia.

How robust and reliable shears can increase daily productivity.

SOLUTIONS

Using global partnerships to bring the latest recycling solutions to Australia.

38 DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH 52 DANGER ZONE Horizontal grinders that align technology with environmental standards.

40 COMPOST HAPPENS

ALLU screening buckets give nature’s processes a helping hand.

42 FILL THE VOID

BOMAG compactors equipped with the latest tech and clever assistance systems.

Unpacking the e-waste challenges of 2023 and how to move forward.

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54 PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT 57 LAST WORD

www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 3

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CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Christine Clancy christine.clancy@primecreative.com.au

PUBLISHER

Sarah Baker sarah.baker@primecreative.com.au

From the Editor

Empowering equality For the past two years I’ve been privileged to have a box seat in a sector that is among Australia’s most essential.

What continues to surprise me is the number of talented people determined to find solutions to Australia’s waste challenges. Among them, some very accomplished women.

Women bring unique perspectives and contributions to the workplace, and the recycling, waste and resource recovery industries are richer for this diversity.

Think Susie McBurney, Executive General Manager Operations for REMONDIS; Michelle Mandl, General Manager of Communications at TOMRA Cleanaway and Gayle Sloan, Chief Executive Officer of the Waste Management and Resource Recovery Association of Australia.

They, and many others, are creating role models for future generations and reinforcing that success is measured by impact, not gender.

In the lead-up to this year’s International Women’s Day (8 March), Waste Management Review is shining a spotlight on some of the successful women in the often less than glamorous waste industry.

We follow the triumphs of a co-owner of a liquid waste solutions company, a next generation industrial chemist, and a female-led waste management consultancy.

Also in this edition, we talk with Tyrecycle Chief Executive Officer Jim Fairweather as the company gets set to open a new plant that will change the landscape of waste tyre processing.

A $15 million investment in Western Australia, one of three new recycling plants to come online, will help drive domestic demand for crumb rubber and penetrate export markets.

Happy reading

MANAGING EDITOR

Mike Wheeler mike.wheeler@primecreative.com.au

EDITOR

Lisa Korycki lisa.korycki@primecreative.com.au

JOURNALIST

Chris Edwards chris.edwards@primecreative.com.au

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

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Blake Storey blake.storey@primecreative.com.au

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Louis Romero, Kerry Pert

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CLIENT SUCCESS MANAGER Justine Nardone justine.nardone@primecreative.com.au

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ARTICLES

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COPYRIGHT

Lisa Korycki

6 / WMR / February 2024

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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FEATURE NEWS

Cleaning up

“A

A Victorian not-for-profit is taking on one of the accommodation industry’s biggest waste streams, and saving lives.

bar of soap is such a basic item, but it is profoundly effective to help save lives.”

Thirteen years and almost three million bars of recycled soap later, the impact is not lost on Mike Matulick, Founder and Chair of Soap Aid. What began as an environmental endeavour to eliminate the millions of tonnes of waste soap going to landfills has become a humanitarian operation with global reach.

Working with the accommodation industry, Melbourne-based Soap Aid has distributed more than 3,000,000 recycled soap bars to vulnerable communities in Australia, Asia, the Pacific, Africa, and New Zealand. Consequently, more than 422,000 children and adults were supplied with soap for 12 months, and more than 106,000 children’s lives saved.

“It’s hard to think of someone not being able to afford a bar of soap or not having access to one because of their living conditions,” says Carol Bellew, Soap Aid General Manager Operations.

“But it’s a reality.”

LANGUISHING IN LANDFILL Globally, about five million bars of waste or unused soap are thrown away daily by travellers and hotels. Most of it ends up in landfills.

It was that waste that initially piqued Mike’s interest. Working in a business that supplied soap and amenities to the hotel industry opened his eyes to the scale of the problem.

“When you look at the hotel world, guests can take shampoo and conditioner home. But generally, soap is a hardly

The Hotel to Hands program started with hotels and motels and has grown to include all types of accommodation partners to divert their soap from landfill. Image: Soap Aid

used product,” Mike says. “On some soap bars we receive, the emblem is still clearly visible on the surface because it’s barely been used. People use it once or twice, then check out. That’s when we check-in.”

The Hotel to Hands program started with hotels and motels and has grown to include all types of accommodation partners to divert their soap from landfill.

Soap Aid collects the soap from partners, it’s then hand sorted, separated from any packaging, and scraped clean of any foreign bodies.

All soap shapes, sizes, colours, and fragrances are returned to raw material, known as a soap noodle. The noodles are run through a series of filters and extruders to bring them back to a form that can be cut into new hygienic soap bars for distribution to targeted communities worldwide.

COMMUNITY PARTNERS It’s a labour-intensive process, but that is an example of Soap Aid’s determination to make a difference. The charity has

partnered with The Bridge Inc, a social purpose organisation that provides services and support to people with disabilities and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Carol says it’s a small but excellent team that works across Soap Aid’s warehouse and logistics.

Mike says the partnership is an example of the benefit that the Hotel to Hands program provides across the entire value chain, from the people who work on the lines, to the accommodation providers, and the end of the process where soap is physically delivered to communities in critical need.

“It’s a wonderful thing to see it come to life and be part of a wonderful team that makes it happen,” he says.

“The end beneficiary is someone we don’t often meet; it can be challenging to capture that story, but I’ve been able to witness first-hand the impact we’re having in communities in Cambodia and other markets we supply.

“I’ve met the families and the children that have ultimately received our soap.” www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 9

FEATURE NEWS

THE IMPACT More than two billion people across the world lack basic sanitation, causing the spread of infectious diseases and hygienerelated deaths.

Carol says research has shown that handwashing with soap is vital to improving the health and development of children and adults in disadvantaged communities and can reduce the number of hygiene related deaths and diseases, such as diarrhoeal and pneumonia cases, by more than 40 per cent.

In Vanuatu, Soap Aid provides soap to the Ministry of Health for distribution to schools to support hygiene education.

It’s also working with Days for the Girls Foundation and the Matato Foundation to provide soap and hygiene kits for girls.

In Cambodia, Soap Aid has provided a way for rural women to earn an income as hygiene ambassadors in response to many childhood deaths and disease incidences caused by lack of access to soap, hygiene education and handwashing Back home, Soap Aid distributes recycled soap to national country health programs. It’s also supporting good health, hygiene and handwashing through The Trachoma Control program, a Western Australia Country Health Service initiative.

Trachoma, a bacterial infection of the eye, causes blindness, and Australia has had some of the highest incidences of trachoma in the developed world. The condition frequently occurs in arid and dusty environments such as in rural and outback communities in Australia and cases are being reduced through this important program.

Soap Aid doesn’t deliver soap directly to communities but works with community impact partners who distribute the soap and education to those in need. Laura O’Leary, Soap Aid Partnership Engagement Officer, says Soap Aid wants to ensure there is an education component when soap 10 / WMR / February 2024

is distributed to help communities understand the importance of hygiene and handwashing to prevent diseases.

She says there’s been a significant increase in the demand for soap donations in the past eight months as the cost-of-living crisis deepens and local organisations struggle to help people who are homeless or can’t afford the basics.

As of November 2023, Soap Aid had distributed more than 17 tonnes of recycled soap Australia-wide.

“We’re able to help not-for-profits or community groups as long as they can fill the soap plus hygiene education criteria,” Laura says.

A SOLID CASE Demand for the recycled soap continues to grow, and Soap Aid is encouraged by industry take-up of Hotel to Hands, but it believes there is room to grow. One of the hurdles is the move away from bar soap to liquid soap, particularly during COVID-19.

Mike says Soap Aid continues to advocate for accommodation providers to use soap bars over liquid.

When comparing both, hard bars are consistently more eco-friendly and cost-effective.

Liquid soaps are often petroleumbased and require emulsifying agents and stabilisers to maintain consistency.

A 2009 Institute of Environmental Engineering study concluded that liquid soaps leave a 25 per cent larger carbon footprint than bar soaps.

Because of the chemical formula and ingredients, it takes about seven times more chemical feedstocks and processing to manufacture liquid soap. The chemicals used require more wastewater treatment than those used in bar soap during end-of-life disposal.

“It’s a debate within the accommodation world that’s still playing out,” Mike says. “Our experience is that liquid soap is gaining traction in the hotel space, but we ask those hotels to

consider it deeply and understand the choice to replace a bar of soap with a liquid soap bottle has quite an impact.

“While there may be a place for liquid soap in shared bathroom and washing situations, for accommodation providers, bar soap uses less packaging material than the thick plastic that liquid soap bottles are made of. Not having liquid soap dispensers can reduce plastic waste by about 20 per cent in accommodation bathrooms, which is significant.”

COVID-19 not only interrupted Soap Aid’s supply of used soap but postponed its relocation to new premises.

With support from a Sustainability Victoria grant, Soap Aid re-established its recycling plant and has been repurposing soap in the new plant since January 2023.

It was the beginning of a big 12 months for the organisation – it won a Keep Australia Beautiful Victorian Community award, was a finalist in the 2023 Premier’s Sustainability Awards and received recognition for Mental Health and Wellbeing Achievement, at the Australia Charitable Foundation, Community Achievement Awards in November.

The team is thankful for the attention on Soap Aid and the demand for its work.

“There’s a sense, at least that I carry, that the potential to grow this into much more is quite real,” Mike says. “That’s not coming from a selfish perspective, but from a need perspective.

“There’s still enormous potential, not just from the accommodation industry, to collect this waste to stop it from going to landfill, but also the demand for distribution of our soap far outweighs our supply.

“It’s very clear that what was a deeply embedded value to help reduce waste has now become not just a nice idea.”

For more information, visit: www.soapaid.org

OPINION

The Breakdown

The Breakdown is a monthly column giving industry leaders and decision makers a chance to share their views on topics central to the sector.

This month we asked: : “What can the industry look forward to, heading into 2024?”

Chris Foley Chief Executive Officer Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation

Jelena Hercegovac General Manager - Environment and Sustainability Repurpose It

Brett Lemin Executive Director Waste Contractors and Recyclers Association of NSW

“This year is critical for the packaging, waste and recycling industries. The Federal Government’s commitment to mandate packaging design and national packaging targets post 2025 has answered the calls of many, including APCO, for certainty, consistency, and equity.

We see the government’s upcoming consultations as a critical opportunity for organisations across the broader packaging and waste/recycling system to have their voices heard and influence policy outcomes.

Since the review of the 2025 Targets, APCO has strengthened its internal capabilities and capacity to work as the central convenor and administrator for stakeholders throughout the packaging system.

We urge businesses using packaging to adopt APCO’s Sustainable Packaging Guidelines and the Australasian Recycling Label as soon as possible to improve the circularity of packaging and help the community dispose of their used packaging responsibly ahead of mandates.

“While Australia has intensified its efforts to drive the transition towards a circular economy, the realities are that we’re not on track to meet our National Waste Targets.

We hope 2024 will see a greater collaboration of regulators, industry and the community as we tackle some of these challenges including regulatory gaps; lack of existing infrastructure and domestic markets for reprocessed material; and policy barriers.

As a business based in Victoria, regulatory compliance will be critical as we anticipate that more companies will finalise their permission requirements under the new Environmental Protection Act 2017 and the Environmental Protection Regulations 2021.

Community education will also play a big role in 2024, particularly as we support more councils rolling out their food organics garden organics (FOGO) collections. “

Other than the Waste Contractors and Recyclers Association (WCRA) 2024 Calendar of events, WCRA is looking forward to (hopefully) EPA NSW addressing and implementing the 22 recommendations from the Wilkinson report, the Waste Levy review and updating the asbestos detection and tolerance levels in construction and demolition (C&D) recycled products.

We are looking forward to the finalisation and implementation of the NHVR Code of Practice for the Waste and Recycling industry, this will improve the standards across the industry and provide a basis for further industry-led training and upskilling.

And we are patiently hoping to see a national education campaign on batteries and the risks they pose.

If you or someone at your organisation is an industry leader and would like to be a part of this monthly column in 2024, please get in touch with Editor, Lisa Korycki lisa.korycki@primecreative.com.au

12 / WMR / February 2024

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COVER STORY

Demand for crumbed rubber for Western Australia’s roads has grown with 3028 tonnes used in 2022-23. Images: Tyrecycle

Laying rubber

A

Tyrecycle eyes new markets with the opening of the most flexible and technologically advanced tyre recycling plant in its network.

$15 million recycling plant in East Rockingham is set to change the landscape of waste tyre processing in Western Australia.

The Tyrecycle plant, opening in February 2024, will have the capacity to process 42,000 tonnes of waste tyres of which there will be 7000 tonnes of crumb rubber produced per annum – double the size of the current Western Australia market.

The company has also secured a fiveyear offtake agreement with Japanese companies Daicel Corporation and Nippon Paper Group for steel-free, tyrederived fuel (TDF) as a coal substitute.

Jim Fairweather, Chief Executive Officer, says the plant will be the most

flexible and technologically advanced in the Tyrecycle network.

“There’s no plant even remotely close to this in Australia,” Jim says.

“This plant allows us to drive as much product back into the Western Australia market and domestic sales as physically possible. What we can’t sell domestically, it gives us the opportunity to target stable markets, like Japan.

“COVID taught us the importance of long-term offtake agreements and secure outlets. Tyrecycle was able to wear the cost and take the volatility out of the supply chain because we have invested time, effort, and money into offshore outlets.”

The East Rockingham plant was built with assistance from state and federal

government Recycling Modernisation Funds. It’s one of three new tyre recycling plants under the umbrella of global resource recovery leader ResourceCo, as part of a multi-million-dollar commitment to increase Australia’s processing capacity and capability.

Combined, the plants give Tyrecycle the ability to increase the sophistication of the product output, access to greater markets, hence guaranteeing services to collection customers.

When it was launched in December 2021, the Tyrecycle recycling plant in Erskine Park, Western Sydney, was described as the largest and most sophisticated recycling plant in Australia. www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 15

COVER STORY

The plant has capacity to process 42,000 tonnes of waste tyres, of which there will be 7000 tonnes of crumb rubber produced per annum.

It represented a massive win for the environment and Australia’s circular economy, giving end-of-life tyres a new lease on life.

Jim described the East Rockingham plant as Erskine Park – but bigger and more flexible.

The turnkey build by Danish company Eldan Recycling consists of much of the same core technology as Erskine Park but has been designed to maximise production and safety. In conjunction with this, modifications have been made so that the new plant can process off-road tyres (OTR) – an ever-growing feedstock within the tyre recycling market.

The straight-line building has several discharge bays along the line so that various products can be pulled out at stages of production without interrupting operations.

While this makes the plant more efficient, it also means there’s little to zero chance of cross contamination of the products being made, especially important when servicing markets such as Japan.

16 / WMR / February 2024

Collection bays are outside so services to collection providers can be maintained if the plant is undergoing upgrades or maintenance. More than $1 million has been invested in fire detection and suppression.

“We’re dealing with a material that can be flammable, and when you’re processing crumb rubber the risk is greater,” Jim says.

“You cannot cut corners. You have to have well designed systems and welltrained staff.”

Feeding into the East Rockingham plant will be a processing facility in Port Hedland, the first in Australia to target the thousands of tonnes of OTR waste from the mining industry.

Up to 245,000 tonnes of OTR products are used and become waste each year, according to the Tyre Stewardship Australia Tipping the Balance report.

Many are still being disposed of to landfill, buried or stockpiled. Their size, construction and remote location make their disposal or reuse difficult and expensive.

Jim says Tyrecycle is in discussions with most of the major mining companies in Australia to collect their OTR waste.

“They understand their responsibility in managing their waste streams effectively and sustainably and are very keen to engage with us to find a solution that works,” Jim says.

“We think this is the first time they’ve had that in front of them.”

Recycled OTR tyres processed in Port Hedland will be exported directly, or the processed material transported to East Rockingham for further refinement into crumb rubber to go back into Western Australia roads.

With both East Rockingham and Port Hedland plants due to come online in 2024, Western Australia is poised to become more self-sufficient in managing its own rubber waste.

Jim says that given its geographical isolation it’s difficult, but important, that the state has recycling facilities, no matter the waste stream. He says Tyrecycle has invested in the WA market on the back of

Ashley Battilana, Regional Manager Western Australia, will lead the charge at the new plant.

Ashley Battilana, Bryan Dunn, Alan Hoskins and Todd Halliday at the new Western Australia plant.

www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 17

COVER STORY

the Recycling Modernisation Fund and the state government driving procurement of crumbed rubber for roads.

Demand for crumbed rubber for the state’s roads has grown with 3028 tonnes used in 2022-23. Jim says the WA government forecasts that will reach 9000 to 10,000 tonnes.

“The Western Australia Government has made a significant investment and commitment to buying crumbed rubber for roads through Main Roads Western Australia, the transport agency responsible for the state’s network,” he says.

“They should be commended for that.

I think if other governments showed the same level of commitment, they may see more investment in their jurisdictions.”

Commissioning of the East Rockingham plant has been three years in the making – from securing the right location to design and build.

Jim says flicking the switch was rewarding not just for himself, but the entire team as it continues to

work to ensure Tyrecycle is fulfilling a responsibility as market leaders in tyre recycling.

“It’s important we do that better than anyone else,” Jim says.

“This will be the best tyre recycling plant in the world.

“There’s an increased awareness from retailers that they need to do the right thing. It makes it easier for them to understand what the right thing looks like when they see plants like this.”

Tyrecycle now has seven tyre processing plants across the national footprint, equipped with rubber re-manufacturing capability. Combined, it collects about 17 million tyres per annum with a recycling rate of 99 per cent.

Working with governments, communities, and multi-national companies to progress the circular economy, Jim says the company is positioned to play a leading role in the global expansion of the resource recovery sector and is determined to make an impact across a range of

industry sectors including waste, energy, and construction.

Having already re-purposed more than 60 million tonnes of materials, the broader ResourceCo Group, which includes Tyrecycle, is the largest energy-from-waste producer in Australasia, a large contributor to carbon abatement, as well as reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions.

But it’s not resting on its laurels.

The management team continues to push to pioneer new solutions and lead the industry.

“We must be better than our competitors, we must do things environmentally soundly and costeffectively, so we are the best operator in Australia,” Jim says. “I think it’s good to be pushed, and for us to feel that responsibility, because it’s important we develop the whole waste and resource recovery category, not just tyre recycling.

“Pressure creates diamonds.”

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

The plant gets the seal of approval from Ashley Battilana.

18 / WMR / February 2024

FEATURED TOPIC – WOMEN IN INDUSTRY

Driven to succeed

In the less-than-glamorous application of liquid waste removal, it isn’t every company that would place such an aesthetic focus on their transport fleet. However, it’s a point of pride for Suzanne Magro, co-owner of Adelaide Liquid Waste Solutions (ALWS).

Suzanne Magro standing proud in front of her Isuzu heavy-duty vacuum tanker fleet. Images: Arkajon

“T

he first trucks we ever bought had a bright paint scheme but now we get to do what we want with their design,” says Suzanne Magro, co-owner of Adelaide Liquid Waste Solutions.

“We’ve put a lot of effort into the appearance and usability of the fleet.

Even though they pump waste, they’re attractive trucks.”

The metallic black paint scheme with vivid blue company logo turns heads around Adelaide, and with the trucks kept sparkling clean, they mirror Suzanne’s attention to detail and care when it comes to how she runs the business and looks after customers. Like many women involved in a business with 20 / WMR / February 2024

the backbone of trucking, Suzanne’s focus on getting down to the grind has proven key to her success. She put in hard yards behind the books before enjoying the freedoms in expression and direction that come with owning a business.

“I like that we have built our own brand, whereas before we took on someone else’s … I’ve always felt that was like an apprenticeship of sorts,” reflects Suzanne of the business journey undertaken with her partner, Ben Harris.

“I worked hard bookkeeping until we were able to purchase our last business, Septic Pumping Services, before we founded Adelaide Liquid Waste Solutions in 2020.”

THE MAGRO FAMILY DRIVE Suzanne has been able to draw on a rich background of heavy vehicle experience to stay ahead in this hotly competitive industry. The taste and talent for transport was born into the Magro family some generations ago.

“I’ve always been around the big machines,” says Suzanne. “When my dad came to Australia in his teens, he was putting septic tanks in – it’s ironic that we’re pumping them out now – he’s 87 years old now and still has 10 trucks.

“My brothers have about 50 trucks between them, and my sister and her husband build semi-trailers.”

Having the guts to give things a go and the drive to move things

forward are virtues that Suzanne credits to her father and family. From a female perspective, it’s something that has also helped her succeed in managing her own business in the traditionally male dominated industry of waste collection.

“I learned a lot about standing my ground and try to run the business now with the same work ethics I learned back at the beginning of my career,” Suzanne says.

“I remember working for my dad years ago … he went on leave at one stage, and I was trying to manage the truck drivers, who absolutely wouldn’t have a bar of me.

“I was probably in my early twenties at the time, so I had to learn to deal with those big male personalities and some old-school thinking very quickly.”

Suzanne reflects on how the industry has changed over the recent years, especially when it comes to the role women have in it.

“I think there’s more respect for women in the transport industry now, especially if you stand your ground and expect it of your co-workers – you can see that things are definitely changing with the new generation for the better,” she says.

SMART OPPORTUNITY MAKER Suzanne’s success story took off in 2017, when she and Ben sold their previous liquid waste removal business, Septic Pumping Services, to an international waste giant.

Operating 11 trucks and known as local specialists in that field, selling the company was never the original plan – but they also appreciate that opportunities don’t come knocking every day and signed-off a deal.

However, it wasn’t long before that international operation left Adelaide, leaving a hole in the market. That’s when they returned to the industry with a fresh look and renewed vigour for the business.

With a new fleet of trucks run by a skilled and hardworking team of operators, they managed to make the malodourous task look and feel a bit exciting.

It’s their passion, plus the loyalty and hard work of their staff who have followed them from business to business, that makes ALWS tick.

“I always say that you don’t have to graduate to succeed, you just need hard work and loyalty,” Suzanne says.

“I left school at 15 years of age because it just didn’t suit me and started at an accountant’s firm when I was 16.

“I think the most important thing in business is learning everything you can ... particularly with our business and our brand, that has been around customer service and treating our staff right.

“If you do right by them, they’ll do right by you.”

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

Co-Directors Ben Harris and Suzanne Magro, and OperationsManager Armando Torres, of Adelaide Liquid Waste Solutions.

www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 21

FEATURED TOPIC – WOMEN IN INDUSTRY

Fresh start

E

The next generation of talent is bringing new energy and vigour to the waste and resource recovery sector.

nthusiasm and passion, tech-savvy skills, and new perspectives – just some of the benefits of hiring young talent.

Katy Rogers and Annie Ullinger bring all in spades to their new roles at Pure Environmental.

While both admit working in the waste industry was an accidental career path, it’s one they’re revelling in.

“It’s not where I saw myself heading, but I now don’t imagine doing anything else,” says Katy.

“I like that no two days are the same. I work outside, and there’s a lot of variety in the role. You react to what’s going on at the time.”

Studying in the United Kingdom, 26-year-old industrial chemist Katy, wanted to work in a lab – until she saw

how repetitive it was and realised it wasn’t for her.

When a recruiter called and offered a job in a transfer station Katy says she had no idea what the job entailed but said yes.

She doesn’t ever remember the waste industry being offered as a career path to students and says it’s not an industry you often hear about outside of the people who are working in it.

“The first time you tell anyone what you do they look confused,” Katy says. “I used to say I was an industrial bin man, that was my go-to description.”

Katy’s now part of a 10-strong technical working group that share’s ideas across Pure Environmental’s national sites. Pure provides liquid waste removal and treatment services.

The waste industry was an accidental career path for Annie Ullinger and Katy Rogers. Images: Pure Environmental

22 / WMR / February 2024

It’s Katy’s job to analyse the waste that comes on site and decide the best disposal or treatment method.

Six months into the role, she’s come across some challenges, not least the differences between waste treatment in Australia and the UK. “We don’t have controlled waste in the UK, it’s either non-dangerous or dangerous goods,” Katy says. “And the amount of landfilling in Australia is way more than in the UK where a lot of waste is exported.

“What’s allowed to be landfilled in Australia is definitely a surprise.”

New products, chemicals and regulations in an evolving industry mean Katy is constantly learning. While that’s one of the drawcards, so is being able to work in an industry that is making a difference.

“We’re dealing with hazardous material and it’s all about protecting the environment,” she says. “That’s a strong selling point. Not everyone does what we do.”

Twenty-seven-year-old Health, Safety and Environment advisor Annie’s, path into the waste sector has been a circular one. She studied environmental management at university before stepping into an administration and then health and safety role in the construction industry.

She began with Pure Environmental in September 2023 and says while her university studies were broad, there are synergies with her current role including care planning, rehabilitation, and water sampling.

“Waste is a very environmentally managed industry,” Annie says.

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“That’s, especially so here at Pure, where we recycle many different types of waste and try to recover as many resources as we can.”

Annie is working across three sites, understanding the health and safety management systems, and rolling out risk management and critical controls.

“You think of waste, and you think of a big rubbish truck and tip,” she says.

“But it’s so diverse. When you bring in the environmental aspect, and what can be done with waste, it puts a different perspective on it.”

Annie says coming into the industry with fresh eyes is an advantage and encourages others not to overlook the diversity of roles within the sector.

Elliot Ruseler, Pure Environmental’s General Manager - Commercial, says it’s a misnomer that you must be a garbo to

find yourself in the waste industry. He says the next generation is helping to dispel that image.

“The waste industry is constantly evolving and the need for new and fresh ideas is essential to keep pace,” Elliot says.

“Historically it has been a challenge to attract new talent into the industry, but with increased focus on the circular economy and the environment, the industry is becoming increasingly appealing to the younger generation wanting to make a sustainable difference.

“With a new generation comes a new way of thinking that benefits the entire team.”

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

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FEATURED TOPIC – WOMEN IN INDUSTRY

Making waves

R

Resource Hub is a female-led waste management consultancy based in Brisbane, with a passion for solving clients’ waste challenges and helping them navigate the complexities of the resource recovery sector.

esource Hub supports waste operators and Local Government Areas (LGAs) across Australia to help them become more financially and operationally effective and comply with waste levy and auditing regulations.

It’s also leading the charge to improved management of Australia’s waste data by leveraging intimate knowledge of the waste industry, a data-led approach to problem solving and Resource Hub Founder and Director Lacey Webb’s personal strong connections on the ground after two decades in the industry.

“Our mission is to work with local and state governments to get their business processes right, so we can truly work together to define and broaden what is considered to be best practice in this evolving and dynamic industry,” Lacey says.

The waste management industry, traditionally male-dominated, is witnessing a shift as women step into key roles

and drive significant change. Three clients of Resource Hub from across Australia: Outlook (Aust), Livingstone Shire Council, and Tamworth Regional Council, highlight the unique perspectives and contributions of women in waste management and the innovations and opportunities that come from a broader diversity of teams at all levels.

PIONEERING WOMEN Outlook (Aust), a leading not-for-profit organisation operating the resource recovery and gatehouse operations of LGA’s across Australia, stands out for not only its commitment to community and social procurement avenues for local government, but also its commitment to empowering people of all genders in waste management.

Outlook’s resource recovery and recycling operations in Queensland and Victoria are led by a team where women hold key positions at all levels – from

supervisor to regional manager and national executive roles.

For the past 30 years, Outlook General Manager Christine Blanchard has seen the opportunities of contractor support for LGA’s – what does and doesn’t work.

She says that Outlook is empowering her to lean into those opportunities to get the best job done with the best people.

“And that isn’t about gender, it’s about supporting the right people in the right roles!”

Resource Hub played a pivotal role in transitioning Outlook into new operations during COVID-19 restrictions when Victorian-based teams couldn’t access the state to begin awarded contracts.

It also provided comprehensive audit and efficiency outcomes across Outlook’s facilities in all states, bringing more effective data and process to gatehouse operations, infrastructure business units, and regulatory compliance. Resource Hub continues to provide on-going

Resource Hub supports waste operators and Local Government Areas across Australia become more financially and operationally effective. Images: Resource Hub

24 / WMR / February 2024

administrative support to Outlook’s three contracts, encompassing nine sites, in Queensland, and project management and customer service for its Victorian infrastructure business on a monthly subscription basis.

Lacey says women bring unique viewpoints and approaches to problemsolving, enhancing innovation and efficiency in resource recovery.

“As the industry evolves with new technologies and sustainability practices, developing talent and embracing diversity, ensures that Outlook has a skilled and diverse workforce ready for these changes.”

“The council’s diversion focus, driven by a centralised operational team, emphasises efficient, community-oriented waste solutions with a difference, and the representation of women in so many roles is evident in communication approaches and a drive to achieve outcomes,” Leanne says.

“This team empowers other women across the sector through their representation in decision-making roles.

Simultaneously creating role models for future generations and reinforcing that success is measured by impact and not gender.”

THE WOMEN OF WASTE Livingstone Shire Council is a tourism focused LGA in Central Queensland, with Yeppoon, the gateway to Great Keppel Island, at its heart.

The region has a focus on resource recovery outcomes across one major landfill and nine transfer stations/bin stations, with an in-house waste management team overseeing multiple contract operators in a complex regulatory environment.

Resource Hub’s engagement with Livingstone Shire Council has been ongoing and transformative. Training programs, tailored to the needs of both council and its contractors, have not only improved compliance and operational efficiency but have fostered talent development across teams – from on the ground staff at facilities, through to councillors and the executive leadership team.

Leading the charge in waste and resource recovery is a team fondly referred to as ‘The Women of Waste’. Leanne Randall, Principal Waste Officer, Carly Weston heading up landfill requirements, and Katie Mitchell, overseeing data and process, form a dynamic team.

Even the council’s on-the-ground contract resource recovery operations are female led at regional management and site supervisor level, and in the leading hand/ team leader role.

REGIONAL CHALLENGES Tamworth Region, in northern inland New South Wales, is challenged by distance. The region’s flagship Forest Road Waste Management Facility has led innovation for many years. Over time the faces in the team change, but what doesn’t is the opportunity that this heavily agricultural and industrial area takes to find new ways to get things done.

Having worked with the council across a range of projects, Resource Hub was most recently engaged for its expertise in grant writing and facility design, specifically to solve the problem of agricultural plastics such as pallecons, chicken crates and endof-life school and stadium chairs.

The grant application* proposed a closed loop plastics recycling plant, partnering with a national rail leader and a leader in circular building product solutions, plus 11 other councils.

Tess Dawson, Manager of Waste Services, and Angela Dobson, Waste Sustainability Officer at Tamworth Regional Council, identified avenues for partnership with industry that have not previously been seen in the sector, with a focus on ensuring that there would be viable funding avenues through New South Wales State Government plus revenue models from the waste stream to make the project commercially viable.

Lacey Webb, Resource Hub Founder and Chief Executive Officer.

Not only did it address waste challenges related to Tamworth and surrounding LGA’s but can be replicated across other regional councils with similar demographics.

“I’m a strong advocate for promoting end market development and embracing the circularity model. I firmly believe, as does Tess, that this is where government intervention is crucial to help the sector gain traction and momentum,” Angela says.

“Initiatives like seed funding for projects or supporting them as start-ups can provide the necessary confidence and resources to explore new avenues. This support can lead to the development of a self-sustaining income and employment model. The private sector alone faces too high risks to achieve this independently.

And for the few champions who are trailblazing in this field, national recognition is essential. They are paving the way, and their efforts should not go unnoticed.”

Lacey says organisations such as Outlook (Aust) Ltd, Livingstone Shire Council, and Tamworth Regional Council, exemplify the positive impact of female leadership and what diversity of opinions, experience and attitude can bring.

“As we celebrate these achievements, it’s clear that the future of resource recovery is increasingly inclusive, innovative, and diverse.” * The grant program remains under assessment at the time of publication.

For more information, visit: www.resourcehub.com.au www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 25

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FEATURED TOPIC – WOMEN IN INDUSTRY Brianna Armstrong and Megan Milner represent the diversity and positive work culture at Wastech Engineering.

Images: Wastech Engineering

Transcending diversity

F

Wastech Engineering is not just a pioneer in waste management, but also a champion in fostering a positive work culture, embracing diversity, driving innovation, and global collaboration.

or more than 30 years, Wastech Engineering has been at the forefront of design, engineering, and manufacturing, providing innovative and sustainable waste management solutions for resource recovery industries in Australia and New Zealand.

Beyond its commitment to shaping a more sustainable future, the company prioritises keeping a positive work culture, fostering an inclusive environment, and maintaining an open-door policy for effective communication and collaboration.

NURTURING A POSITIVE CULTURE Megan Milner, National Account Manager, and Brianna Armstrong, Account Manager Service, both from Wastech, share the same

sentiments on how the company oversees the team’s wellbeing and how supportive management is in creating work-life balance.

“So far, I’ve found Wastech quite dynamic; it’s fast-paced and solutionsfocused. If an issue arises, it’s addressed quickly as a team,” Brianna says. “Things don’t sit on executive-level desks for more than about a minute, which is something I really like to be a part of.”

Megan also highlights that the leadership style is collaborative, contributing to a positive work environment and supporting employees in their roles and learning endeavours.

EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT Wastech Engineering goes beyond the norm, caring for its employees’ career

growth and personal development.

Initiatives such as the R U OK? Day and the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) demonstrate the company’s commitment to mental health support for its employees and their immediate families.

“I always find Wastech to be an inclusive environment. They appreciate that people have lives outside of work and support people with flexible working conditions,” Megan says. “[They] provide acknowledgement and support for you.

[Wastech] provides a good working environment and opportunities for more training and building on skills and experiences.”

Wastech Engineering also supports employee development by allowing them to join events and conferences such as Waste Expo Australia. This will enable www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 27

FEATURED TOPIC – WOMEN IN INDUSTRY

them to grow their connections and enrich their industry knowledge. Brianna says she enjoyed meeting industry experts and sharing valuable insights.

Megan expanded her industry knowledge by attending the Partner’s conference in Denmark. While this allowed her to represent the company and meet its global partners, Presto and Bramidan Group, her visit also resulted in proactively working with the suppliers to learn more about the equipment and possibly integrate the development in Wastech Engineering systems.

SHARING PERSPECTIVES Wastech actively engages in corporate social responsibility and diverse initiatives, annually raising funds for charities supporting children and individuals with special needs.

Megan’s involvement in the Laps for Life ReachOut swimming challenge exemplifies the company’s commitment to positively impacting and providing a safe space for people within the community.

Aside from community programs, Wastech encourages open-mindedness and adaptability within the team, fostering diversity and collaboration.

“There’s a really good mix, I find at the moment, between a huge amount of experience, some invaluable experience, and some fresh new blood, or fresh eyes or skill-sets,” Brianna says of Wastech’s diverse pool of employees.

CUSTOMER GOALS Wastech Engineering continues its commitment to contribute to the nation’s circular economy by providing customers with solutions to their problems. Megan points out that they are not problem solvers but solution finders.

“I’ve got 20 years in sales and account management. In my experience, it’s about finding a win-win solution.

“I need to give the customers what they need, so they come back, tell everyone 28 / WMR / February 2024

Brianna Armstrong and Megan Milner have worked together on a range of collaborative cutting-edge solutions.

else, and reach out to new businesses.

It’s all about relationship management and doing what you say you will do,” Brianna says.

To compete in an intelligent marketplace, Wastech ensures that its employees understand the customers’ needs and solutions that can help them.

It’s all about having intricate knowledge, a genuine interest in servicing, and delivering innovations.

CUTTING-EDGE SOLUTIONS From concept to design, engineering, project management, manufacturing, installation, and after-sales services, Wastech Engineering has evolved over its 30-year journey.

Megan, Brianna and the rest of the Wastech team are working diligently to provide state-of-the-art products and services.

“I’m working with our engineering team now to design product solutions for the supermarkets of the future,” Megan says.

Internal and external collaboration has helped the team offer cutting-edge solutions and equipment for customers and the broader community.

GLOBAL SUPPLIERS Wastech collaborates with global partners to deliver innovative waste management solutions. The company carefully gathers global insights and combines them in its development plan.

It was because of the company’s continuous partnerships that Megan could attend the Bramidan Partner’s Conference, in which global distributors come together to share experiences, insights, and knowledge.

This reflects Wastech Engineering’s commitment to global collaboration, earning Megan the Bramidan ambassadorship for both Wastech and Australia. It was also recognition of her outstanding contributions in selling 2000 Bramidan balers.

“I was greatly honoured to receive this award; my success in selling such a high volume of Bramidan Balers is not a sole effort,” Megan says. “It comes through having a high-quality product from a global leader and an expert team, including our specialist installations co-ordinator and our national fleet of technicians and service support staff. It is through a team effort that our customers return to us time and time again.”

A VISIONARY WORKPLACE Wastech Engineering transcends being just a workplace; it is a second home to its employees, often called their “Wastech family.”

The company adheres to its core purpose of shaping a sustainable future and introducing the best global technology while allowing employees to grow within their roles and careers.

Megan and Brianna exemplify the calibre of specialists that Wastech produces, showcasing the company’s dedication to innovation, sustainability, diversity, growth, global collaboration, customer satisfaction, and culture.

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

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FEATURED TOPIC - WASTE COLLECTION AND TRANSPORT

Setting specification standards K

Komatsu Australia is a pioneer in machinery designed for distinct industries. Its range of waste-specific loaders provides managers with the equipment for maximum efficiency.

omatsu Australia has long had a range of wheel loaders for varied industrial purposes. Its range includes compact utility machines all the way to the largest mechanical and electrical drive mining loaders.

Australian companies have appreciated the lower operating costs, reliability and easy operation.

It’s with this background that Nick Vrontas enters the story.

He is the National Business Manager for Komatsu Australia and has been

involved with the company for nearly seven years.

“My journey has been different from most people in the industry,” Nick says.

“I went to the University of Western Sydney (now Western Sydney University), where I got a finance degree. I joined the family business and developed a range of skills there.

“Once the family business was sold, I got involved in logistics companies before joining Komatsu Australia.”

His first position at Komatsu Australia was in the rental yard in Ingleburn, between Liverpool and Campbelltown in southwestern Sydney. Nick worked his way through to the aftermarket or customer support side.

“That provided me with the opportunity to connect with a lot of customers from different sectors,” he says. “I touched base with many waste customers during that time, so I got to understand their requirements.

Over time, I worked my way up to

The waste spec loaders from Komatsu Australia ensure that waste management facilities get the best from their machinery. Images: Komatsu Australia

30 / WMR / February 2024

customers,” Nick says. “It’s key to our business, and showcasing the waste spec loader provided that tangible example for customers. We can show current and potential customers how much we can customise the loaders to satisfy their industrial needs.”

It was also an opportunity for Komatsu Australia to grow its footprint within the waste management industry.

The large number of new and existing customers examining the waste spec loader was relished by the company.

Keeping operators safe in its waste spec loaders is a key focus for Komatsu Australia.

the National Business Manager. While my path to this position may not be like others in the industry, I’ve enjoyed developing into the role.”

Nick says he’s become highly passionate about the industry and cannot see himself leaving.

CUSTOMISING A NEW STANDARD Komatsu Australia uses high-level engineering and design work to prepare its machines for each industry.

Nick says the importance of designing industry-specific machines can’t be overlooked. The waste management industry is like many others, with companies providing a long list of specifications.

“Most of the specifications tend to ensure the machines can survive and thrive in harsh environments,” he says.

“A lot of bespoke guarding is required to protect the machines, including the components and exterior, from any damage. Waste managers will use these loaders to travel through challenging environments without always knowing what they are travelling through.”

Another need of the waste management industry is the large number of attachments. A range of buckets, grabs, forks, and other attachments can be included with the loader. Nick believes this is very different from civil and quarry customers and has resulted in the development of specifications, or specs, tailored to the waste industry.

“It comes down to providing the industry with the best possible waste spec loaders,” Nick says. “With that in mind, we’ve developed a standard specification for our waste loaders. It allows our salespeople to provide more effective and accurate quotes. These quotes now include a series of standard items, including a bucket and cylinder guards.”

WASTE EXPO FANTASTIC Komatsu Australia was a sponsor of Waste Expo Australia 2023, hosted in Melbourne. Thousands of people entered the doors over two days, with Komatsu Australia showcasing its waste spec loader.

“The Waste Expo was a great opportunity to touch base with our

FUTURE FOR LOADERS The biggest change for Komatsu Australia may not be in the standard specifications for loaders. It’s a change that could affect its entire fleet of products.

“We are getting more and more questions about where our machines are headed in terms of environmental, social and governance (ESG) requirements,” Nick says. “There is a large focus on reducing carbon footprints, both as an individual company and a supplier to many industries. I believe the biggest focus will be on the ESG footprint for the industry and customers.”

Komatsu Australia is looking at plugin electric, batteries and hydrogen fuel cells, with these options approaching the prototype stage, as well as some released to the market overseas. While not commercially available in Australia just yet, Nick believes they are not far away.

“I believe that the movement from a yellow fleet to a green fleet is the biggest change for the industry.

Most of our fleet currently runs off diesel, and I think it’s inevitable that shareholders and other industry advocates demand change,” he says.

“That’s why we are working very hard to bring those changes about as soon as possible.”

For more information, visit: www.komatsu.com.au www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 31

FEATURED TOPIC - WASTE COLLECTION AND TRANSPORT

Cutting-edge technology

T

The JCB CEA 455 wheel loader gives style, visibility, power, speed, strength, efficiency, and quality.

he waste management industry constantly evolves, driven by the need for more efficient, sustainable, and environmentally friendly practices.

JCB, a global leader in construction equipment, is at the forefront of this transformation. With its innovative approach to design and manufacturing, JCB has developed a range of wheel loaders specifically tailored to the demands of the waste management sector.

A key machine within JCB’s waste management portfolio is the 455 ZX wheel loader. This powerful and versatile machine has features that make it ideal for a wide range of wastehandling applications.

People such as Greg Sealey are leading this transformation. He’s been in the machinery industry for more than 15 years and has a high level of knowledge across multiple customer sectors.

“The JCB 455 wheel loader is an ideal choice for the waste industry thanks to its exceptional combination of power, efficiency, and versatility,” says Greg.

“Equipped with a high-capacity bucket and robust lifting capabilities, the 455 model is well-suited for handling a variety of waste materials.”

UNMATCHED PERFORMANCE At the heart of the 455 ZX lies a powerful JCB DieselMAX 7.2 litre six-cylinder engine with an EcoMAX lean burn combustion system offering the ultimate in efficiency and reduced emissions. This means the loader can operate under the most stringent environmental regulations while delivering exceptional performance.

The loader’s fuel-efficient engine also contributes to lower operational costs.

The engine is coupled to a robust transmission and driveline, providing the

The 455 wheel loader from JCB CEA is a rugged device capable of operating in almost any environment. Images: CEA

32 / WMR / February 2024

loader with the power and torque it needs to tackle challenging tasks. Offering up to 221hp and a power-to-weight ratio that is among the best in its class, the 455 ZX easily handles heavy loads and navigates difficult terrain.

“Its advanced hydraulic system ensures precise control and swift operation, optimising productivity in tasks such as loading and handling bulky waste materials,” says Greg. “The machine’s durable design and reinforced components enhance its resilience in challenging waste environments, providing reliability and longevity.”

ENHANCED PRODUCTIVITY JCB understands that operator comfort is essential for productivity. The 455 ZX features a spacious cab with a range of comfort features, including a fully adjustable seat, easily adjustable tilting and telescopic steering column, a modern dashboard, air conditioning, and a lownoise level.

The cab also has advanced technology features, such as a large colour display, an optional rear view camera, and a joystick control system. These features make it easy for operators to control the loader and stay informed of their surroundings, even in the most demanding conditions.

“Notably, the JCB 455 prioritises ease of maintenance,” Greg says. “It features centralised greasing points, accessible service areas, and a user-friendly diagnostic interface which ensures

routine maintenance tasks can be handled easily, allowing for swift inspections and lubrication.”

The loader’s innovative LiveLink telematics system provides real-time machine health monitoring, enabling proactive maintenance scheduling and preventing potential issues before they escalate.

The intuitive diagnostic interface aids technicians in troubleshooting and streamlining the repair process.

Additionally, the modular construction of the JCB 455 ensures that components can be easily replaced or serviced individually, reducing the complexity of maintenance procedures.

RANGE OF APPLICATIONS The 455 ZX is a versatile machine that can be used for a wide range of waste management applications. It is ideal for loading and unloading trucks, sorting and segregating waste, and cleaning up spills.

With a proven Z-bar loader, the 455ZX is capable of exceptional productivity, courtesy of comprehensive penetration into the pile, high breakout forces, good roll-back angles and faster dig times.

Operators also benefit from reduced tyre wear and superior fuel efficiency, making this machine an excellent investment for any business.

The electronic management system can perform progressive clutch cut-off for efficient, productive loader control.

This feature controls tractive effort via the transmission, diverting maximum power to the loader hydraulics and reducing service brake wear and fuel consumption.

The loader is also equipped with a range of optional attachments, such as forks, buckets, and grapples, that can be customised to meet the needs of each application.

COMMITTED TO SUSTAINABILITY JCB is committed to developing sustainable products that minimise the environmental impact of its operations.

The 455 ZX is a prime example of this commitment. The loader’s DieselMAX engine features an EcoMAX combustion system that reduces emissions, and its fuel efficient design helps to conserve resources.

In addition, the loader is designed for easy maintenance and repair, further reducing its environmental footprint.

Greg says the JCB 455 ZX wheel loader is a game-changer for the waste management industry.

“There’s a growing emphasis on environmentally friendly solutions in the waste sector,” he says. “As the waste industry continues to evolve, wheel loaders

are also expected to grow, becoming smarter, greener, and more efficient in handling the challenges of waste handling and recycling.

“Increasingly, wheel loaders are expected to integrate advanced telematics and connectivity solutions, enhancing real-time monitoring, preventive maintenance, and operational efficiency.

“Automation and artificial intelligence may play a role in optimising waste sorting processes, making wheel loaders more adaptive and responsive to the dynamic demands of waste management.”

THE FUTURE Greg says the future of wheel loaders in the waste industry is driven by a desire to include better technology and a focus on sustainability. That will likely feature innovations such as electric or hybrid powertrains, reducing emissions and aligning with global sustainability goals.

Enhanced safety features and ergonomic designs will improve operator comfort and productivity.

He says that as the industry continues to evolve, JCB is well-positioned to lead the way.

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

The JCB CEA 455 wheel loader is fuel-efficient, making it a sensible decision for any company. www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 33

FEATURED TOPIC – WASTE COLLECTION AND TRANSPORT

Many happy returns R

Home collection service RecycleSmart is going national in its bid to help keep valuable resources in circulation.

ecycleSmart is going national.

During the past four years the Uber of waste has changed the way households and businesses recycle.

It’s grown from partnering with a dozen councils in New South Wales, providing an on-demand, free pickup recycling service to residents, to become a powerhouse in recycling tricky-to-handle items. Along the way it’s established an assortment of business partnerships.

In 2023, the start-up introduced its Power Pick-up service across Melbourne and Brisbane. This month it will take on Canberra, with plans to expand into Adelaide and the Gold Coast later in 2024. While it may seem like a rapid growth in reach, it’s the result of a lot of determination, says Giorgio Baracchi, Chief Executive Officer and co-founder.

“It seems quite quick, and we’re pleased with how far we’ve come,”

Giorgio says. “It’s been hard work, but I think we’ve found a spot in the market that was empty. We’re providing that last mile – the logistics – for hard-torecycle items.

“We also facilitate the return of items for people. From their house to where it needs to go.”

RecycleSmart’s mission is to accelerate Australia’s transition to a circular economy by making recycling easy and accessible for everyone.

Its Power Pick-up service has been the backbone of the company’s success, providing a channel for residents to recycle items that would otherwise not have an option, right from their doorstep.

The home collections were always targeted at “tricky” items. The list of what can be collected is much longer now, says Giorgio. For example, items added this year were all types of shoes,

Buby Pirina and Ricky Recalcati sort through items collected through RecycleSmart’s Power Pick-up service.

34 / WMR / February 2024

cookware, plastic bread tags, pillows and uniforms.

Giorgio says blister packs are currently the second biggest item collected in terms of numbers.

The list continues to grow with plans to move into ‘plus size’ items including furniture.

For everything that is collected there is a partnership with a company that provides a solution for that waste stream.

In January 2023, RecycleSmart teamed up with APR Plastics to bring soft plastics recycling back to residents.

The plastics collected are shredded and fed into a machine that uses pyrolysis (elevated temperatures with no oxygen) to create an oil that will be on-sold to VIVA ENERGY to be turned into flexible plastics again.

It has also partnered with Upcycle4Better, an international textile

Giorgio Baracchi, CEO and co-founder, says RecycleSmart has found a niche in the market.

Images: RecycleSmart

end-of-use organisation, to, recycle, reprocess, and repair textiles and shoes in unwearable condition.

Even household “misfits” have an end use. In 2021, RecycleSmart began collecting aluminium coffee capsules to be recycled through a specialist facility in Nowra, New South Wales. In 2023, it partnered with Sims Metal to recycle cookware collected from residents’ doorsteps, and polystyrene is transformed into raw material that can be used to make park benches, skirting boards and even bee hives through a partnership with Styrocycle.

Business also sees the benefit and the power of the recycling pick-up service. Since RecycleSmart expanded its Power Pickup service to businesses, more than 600 have expressed interest not only to organise a collection from their facility or head office, but also to offer a recycling solution to their customers.

Giorgio says that as the list of items collected is evolving, so too has RecycleSmart’s objective, in line with Australia’s transition to a circular economy.

“Our focus for the future is to place more emphasis on returning and reusing items,” he says.

“We help households and businesses take small, smart steps in the right direction and keep valuable resources in circulation. We’re facilitating the return of items to where they need to go so that they can be reused again.”

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For more information, visit: www.recyclesmart.com www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 35

FEATURED TOPIC – WASTE COLLECTION AND TRANSPORT

Zero-emission debut

Zero emissions, near silence, reduced vibrations, and a more comfortable work environment are some of the benefits of the new range. Images: CJD Equipment

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CJD Equipment introduces zero-emission construction equipment into Australia.

n an era of increasing environmental awareness and the need for decarbonisation, Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) is leading the way, introducing its first zero-emission machines to the Australian market.

The commercial expansion of Volvo CE’s range of electric machines aligns with the growing demand for sustainable practices and reinforces CJD Equipment’s commitment to transforming industry towards a greener future.

CJD Equipment has proudly distributed Volvo CE’s products in Australia for more than 30 years.

Volvo CE’s introduction of zeroemission construction machines aims to deliver high-performing electric power while minimising environmental impact. These electric machines and accompanying charging

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solutions allow companies to achieve zero-emission job sites without compromising productivity.

UNLEASHING THE POWER As part of its commitment to a sustainable future, CJD Equipment is bringing a range of compact electric machines to Australia, including the ECR18 and ECR25 electric compact excavator and the L25 electric wheel loaders, with more models to follow in 2024. The first three machines will be commercially available early in 2024.

Volvo CE’s zero-emission machines introduced into Australia perform the same as their diesel counterparts but have additional advantages such as zero emissions, near silence, reduced vibrations, and a more comfortable work environment.

These electric machines enhance the overall work experience, open new business opportunities, and help companies adhere to emission regulations.

“We are thrilled to announce the arrival of Volvo Construction Equipment’s electric machines in the Australian market,” says Grayden Leaver, Executive General Manager Sales and Marketing for CJD Equipment.

“Volvo CE’s commitment to leading the industry in this space reflects its proactive approach to meeting market demands.

“Our partnership underscores a shared pride in leading the transition towards sustainable equipment, marking a pivotal step in shaping a more environmentally conscious future.”

SUSTAINABILITY COMMITMENT As a world-leading manufacturer, Volvo CE recognises the need for collective action to combat climate change. The company aims to reduce its and its customers’ environmental footprints by developing and commercialising electric solutions.

Volvo CE has set an ambitious goal to achieve net-zero value chain greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, with significant emission reductions as early as 2030.

Hayden Grant, National Product Manager Volvo Construction Equipment, says being part of the transition from ICE (internal combustion engine) to what we see today is remarkable.

“When first I started my apprenticeship, this would not have been considered in my wildest dreams,” Hayden says. “Seeing what Volvo has been able to deliver with these compact construction machines shows that it will be a bright future for our children and the dawn of a new chapter in construction equipment with Volvo.”

CHARGING SOLUTIONS All Volvo CE’s zero-emission machines in Australia have charging solutions, allowing quick and efficient charging to ensure seamless operations.

These machines are fast-charge ready, where an off-board solution can allow a complete charge in about one hour, enabling companies to plan their activities effectively.

Volvo dealers collaborate with customers to calculate the expected operating time and provide the optimum charging solution tailored to their needs.

The availability of charging solutions also enables operation in noise-sensitive areas and outside standard working hours. Additionally, using electric machines eliminates the need for costly fume extraction systems, making them ideal for

low carbon projects and indoor work sites.

THE FUTURE Volvo CE’s introduction of zeroemission construction machines in Australia marks a milestone in the industry’s transition towards sustainability. By embracing electromobility, companies can reduce their carbon footprint, comply with emission regulations, and contribute to a cleaner and greener future.

“The launch of Volvo’s emobility construction equipment in Australia marks a significant step forward for sustainable construction practices in the country,” says Reid Gibson, Product Manager Electric and Sustainable Technologies, Volvo Construction Equipment. “We believe that these machines will be a game-changer for the industry, and we’re excited to see how they will transform waste management projects across the country.

“Through innovation and a commitment to customer success, Volvo CE is pioneering electric solutions that deliver both environmental benefits

and high performance. As the industry evolves, the integration of zero-emission machines will become increasingly vital in achieving sustainable practices.

Investing in zero-emission equipment demonstrates a company’s commitment to environmental stewardship and positions it as a leader in the industry.”

As more customers in Australia and worldwide prioritise sustainability, Volvo CE’s zero-emission machines are poised to drive the transformation towards a more sustainable and efficient sector.

For many years, CJD Equipment and Volvo CE have been supplying premium construction equipment tailored to the specific needs of Australia’s diverse industries. Their collaboration over 30 years has ensured the delivery of high productivity, fuel efficiency, and safety solutions, enabling machines to operate at peak performance.

CJD Equipment boasts an extensive national support network, guaranteeing comprehensive assistance regardless of location or time.

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

The commercial expansion of Volvo CE’s range of electric machines aligns with the growing demand for sustainable practices.

www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 37

WASTE MANAGEMENT IN ACTION - GRINDERS

Diamond in the rough A

Manufacturer Diamond Z has the experience and knowledge to offer one of the toughest horizontal grinders on the market today.

s a pioneer in the wood grinding industry, Diamond Z has established a global reputation for manufacturing quality, durable, easy to service, and productive industrial grinders.

Its innovative grinders are a cornerstone of the industry and continue to be costeffective and profitable for customers.

Diamond Z offers a range of industrial tub, horizontal and track grinders, and metal recycling equipment to suit any application – from high-volume composting needs and disaster cleanup to stockpile tyre disposal and solid waste reduction.

Robust and versatile, the Diamond Z horizontal grinder is designed for various wood processing and recycling applications. These grinders are known for their durability, efficiency, and ability to process a wide range of materials. Stumps, logs, yard waste, tyres, solid waste, and construction and demolition debris can be processed down to one-inch particles at unparalleled production rates.

KEY FEATURES Diamond Z products feature high levels of efficiency. To be fair, the primary purpose of a horizontal grinder is to efficiently process large amounts of waste, whether it is wood, green, or other.

Diamond Z horizontal grinders have powerful engines and advanced grinding mechanisms, enabling them to tackle tough materials. The grinding chambers horizontal orientation allows continuous and efficient grinding.

The flexibility to take on various materials makes the grinders indispensable in many industries, including forestry, 38 / WMR / February 2024

logging, recycling, and biomass processing.

When it comes to waste management, smaller pieces are generally easier to handle than larger chunks. Horizontal grinders excel at cutting waste down to size. They support easier handling, transportation and further processing. This reduction in material volume is particularly beneficial in recycling operations and waste management.

Having the right power output and size is important. Diamond Z offers a range of horizontal grinders with varying power capacities and sizes. Whether dealing with large-scale industrial operations or smaller projects, operators can choose a grinder that meets their requirements.

FLEXIBILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY There are numerous situations where an operator might want to move equipment to another location on site or another site altogether.

Most Diamond Z horizontal grinders are designed with mobility in mind.

They can easily be transported via their mounted wheels or tracks. This mobility enhances their efficiency by allowing operators to bring the grinder directly to the source of material, reducing the need for additional handling and transportation equipment.

Maintenance is just one reason a grinder might need to be moved. Routine maintenance is essential for industrial equipment, and Diamond Z horizontal grinders are designed to give easy access to key components. This simplifies maintenance tasks, reduces downtime and ensures that the grinder operates at optimal efficiency.

Diamond Z grinders cover an array of operations for waste management. Image: Diamond Z

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That said, Diamond Z products are known to be rugged and durable.

The horizontal grinders are made of tough, quality materials. They feature wear-resistant components that reduce the occasions for maintenance. This further ensures longevity and minimises downtime, even in demanding operating conditions.

Reduced maintenance requirements mean an increased amount of wood waste and green material can be processed.

Properly processing waste streams is crucial in today’s environmentally conscious landscape. Diamond Z horizontal grinders often incorporate dust suppression systems and noise reduction technology, aligning with modern environmental standards and regulations.

A Diamond Z horizontal grinder represents a powerful solution for efficiently processing wood waste and other materials.

For more information, visit: www.cea.net.au

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WASTE MANAGEMENT IN ACTION – EQUIPMENT

Natural Compost Co is using the ALLU bucket to make compost from manure on Central Victorian farms.

Image: Total Rockbreaking Solutions

Compost happens T

A Central Victorian contractor and ALLU buckets are giving nature a helping hand to create healthier soils.

o the right is a ramshackle pile of, well let’s be blunt, manure.

Straight from the farm, it’s mixed with straw, dirt, and all manner of contaminants. And a little unpleasant on the nose.

Just a few metres away is a mound of compost. A dark earthy brown in colour, it’s rich and moist to touch and smells natural.

It’s difficult to believe that just weeks ago, both piles looked the same. Even a seasoned farmer such as Gino is impressed by the result.

“It looks a picture,” Gino says. “The quality of the product is amazing once you send it through that bucket.”

That bucket, is an ALLU Transformer DN 2-12 screening bucket which, for the past two years, has lived up to its name and transformed Gino’s compost. Through his Natural Compost Co in central

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Victoria, Gino is cultivating a move away from synthetic farming and giving nature’s processes a helping hand, working with farmers to convert manure to compost, on site.

Working on farm means there are contaminants in the compost piles – stones, string and steel are the usual culprits. Early attempts to run the piles through a hired trommel proved expensive and often difficult to organise.

Gino even bought a shaker bucket – “a big bucket with holes in it” – but it wasn’t up to the job, (he’s since put a metal plate in the bottom of it and is using it as a digger.)

A bit of research led him to ALLU buckets and, as the saying goes, the rest is history.

“Sami Rahman, Area Sales Manager for ALLU, called me the next day to talk about the problems I was having and

what he thought could do the job,” Gino says. “He got the measurements of what machine I was using, organised a trial on site, and soon after had two buckets on a trailer to Newbridge.”

Gino spent that afternoon “playing’”with the recommended buckets.

He says he was so impressed; Sami and Carlo Costanzo, a service technician with Walkers Hammers who commissioned the demonstration buckets, went home that day with just one bucket – Gino was going to rent the other.

The next day he ordered a new bucket with TS 16 axe blades that enable a homogenous end-product.

“The compost fell out of the bottom of the machine like rain,” Gino says. “It looks a picture, all nicely processed and sifted. Any contamination and oversize items – we’ve got it set to 40-millimetres – are left sitting in the bucket.

The ALLU screening bucket is set to 40-millimetres to provide a consistent end product. Image: Natural Compost Co

“It’s magnificent.”

The ALLU Transformer D-Series bucket is compatible with excavators, loaders, and other earth-moving machinery. It’s designed to screen and separate various

materials including soil, sand, gravel, compost, and demolition waste on site, reducing the need for extra equipment and transport costs and minimising environmental impact.

Carlo provided support with installation of the new bucket and operator training, a service Walkers Hammers offers to all Victorian businesses that purchase ALLU products.

Gino uses the bucket on two excavators.

To make switching the bucket between the machines easy, ALLU built a head bracket to cater for the two different pin sizes and spaces.

He says it makes what is already a productive machine, more so.

Last year Gino was contracted to process about 5000 tonnes of compost for farmers. He’s currently working with a wastewater facility to convert sludge removed from a dam several years ago

into compost that can be used on site.

He says since buying the Transformer bucket in 2021 his clients also are noticing the difference in the quality of compost produced.

He cites a local farmer who in 2022 had three rows of compost on his farm, one of which was processed through the ALLU bucket. When Gino returned recently to consolidate the rows, the farmer singled out the ALLU processed row.

“The other two rows, they were good,” Gino says. “But that row that was sifted was like sand. From a quality perspective, running it through that bucket made a difference.

“Nature will get it there, but the bucket helps me get it there quicker.”

For more information, visit: www.attachmentspecialists.com.au/allu or www.allu.net

Rows of compost on site. Customers are noticing the difference in quality since the ALLU screening bucket has been used. Image: Natural Compost Co

www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 41

WASTE MANAGEMENT IN ACTION – COMPACTORS

Fill the void

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Equipped with the latest technology and clever assistance systems, the newest generation of BOMAG compactors are cementing themselves in landfills around Australia.

OMAG’s newest model compactors, including the high lift BC473RS or standard BC573RB, BC773RB and BC1173, are creating a buzz in the waste and recycling industry.

The addition of operational aids for operators, better vision and safety features, combined with the popular low service time required to keep the compactors moving, is being well received by customers says John Glossat, National BOMAG Business Development Manager for Tutt Bryant Equipment.

“A key factor in a landfill’s profitability is maximising its capacity,” John says. “To achieve this, the waste material must be optimally compacted to make full use of the space available.

“With a BOMAG landfill compactor, industrial and household waste, bulky refuse or building debris can be distributed, shredded, roughly mixed and compacted – all in one operation.”

Refuse arriving at a landfill is usually deposited in layers. It’s distributed, crushed, and then evenly compacted to create a homogeneous and stable landfill body. A BOMAG landfill compactor performs the individual tasks of spreading and compaction in a single operation.

John says a low centre of gravity gives the compactors stability. In combination with the oscillating articulated joint, which keeps all four wheels on the ground, the all-wheel drive ensures maximum traction so that the compactor always achieves the highest thrust. Load distribution is also optimal, which promotes homogeneous compaction.

42 / WMR / February 2024

The BOMAG BC1173 is equipped with the latest technology and clever assistance systems. Image: Tutt Bryant Equipment

Even the design of the wheels, with staggered polygonal rings and teeth, aid in making a BOMAG compactor effective. The geometry and placement of the teeth, combined with the machine’s high dead weight, ensure maximum static compaction. Scrapers are positioned in front of and behind each wheel, keeping the wheels clean.

Because the waste is compressed evenly there’s less room for oxygen in the landfill body, reducing the risk of fire even deep within the tip.

The volume flow rate of the BOMAG’s cooling system is automatically adjusted to the engine power required and the ambient temperature. A technical refinement that John says enables significant fuel savings.

Two of the main distinguishing features of a landfill compactor are its width and weight class: up to 30 tonnes, 30 to 40 tonnes, and up to 60 tonnes.

John says that for efficient operation, the absolute weight is not the only decisive factor; the machine’s design principle also plays a key role.

“Weighing in at more than 56 tonnes, BOMAG’s BC1173 can achieve a compaction performance of well over 1200 tonnes a day – thanks to clever in-house developed technologies and optimum ground pressure,” he says.

When equipped with a dozer blade, the BOMAG compactor can distribute household waste, bulky refuse, or construction debris. It can also be supplied with a loading bucket (RS).

John’s keen to highlight the benefits of the BOMAG compactor, but he says seeing is believing. The Tutt Bryant Equipment team is happy to demonstrate the capabilities of the BOMAG range.

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

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WASTE MANAGEMENT IN ACTION – SUSTAINABILITY

Under the microscope

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The waste and resource recovery sector is on the cusp of sweeping climate change reforms. BINGO Industries’ Matt Hyatt explains.

ustralian businesses are about to undergo what has been described as the biggest change in corporate reporting in decades.

The introduction of mandatory climate disclosures, based on the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), could be a shot in the arm for Australia to meet emissions targets, says Matt Hyatt, Head of Sustainability at BINGO Industries.

But he fears that many industries, including waste and resource recovery, are not prepared.

“Considering some of the biggest companies in our industry are going to be impacted by this within months, it seems to be going under the radar,” Matt says.

“If we’re serious about hitting emissions targets, the metrics that come from these disclosures will hopefully encourage companies to be ambitious, set actionable plans and really provide the financial impetus to make the big investments needed to minimise the impact of climate change.”

In June 2022, Australia committed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 43 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030 and net zero by 2050.

It’s already mandatory for large companies that meet reporting thresholds to report scope one – direct emissions, or those that are owned or controlled by a company – and two emissions that are a consequence of the activities of the company but occur from 44 / WMR / February 2024

sources not owned or controlled by it, such as electricity.

Under the new ISSB climate disclosure rules, they will now also have to report scope three emissions – all indirect emissions that occur across the value chain and are outside an organisation’s control. These can include employee travel, extraction and production of purchased materials, as well as the transport and disposal of waste.

Matt says while the new disclosures will be a challenge, it’s also an opportunity for the waste industry to highlight the good work being undertaken, particularly decarbonisation benefits through resource recovery and circular outcomes.

One of the focuses of the new disclosures will be putting a financial cost on the potential impacts of climate change on business.

The waste industry has not been left unscathed by recent climate change events including bushfires in 2019 and 2020, which cut off important infrastructure, and floods in Sydney in 2021 and 2022 during which landfills servicing Greater Sydney struggled to operate.

“These changes are significant and will push a company to proactively look at ways to adapt to current and future climate change risks,” Matt says.

BINGO is investing to increase the size and capability of its landfill leachate treatment and stormwater management systems to cope with high rainfall events.

With forecasters now predicting Australia will soon enter a drought, attention is turning to dust suppression with limited stormwater supplies or the possible increase in water prices.

Climate reporting will not only add internal pressure to the industry – companies will face external pressure from customers considering their own climate impact, including how they manage their waste. This is where recycling and a circular economy can come into play.

Circular economy strategies reduce the demand for raw materials and new products, and can help reduce global emissions from the extraction and processing of materials.

Transition to a circular economy can be a powerful driver to combat climate change. But Matt says the circular economy is at risk of being lost without fit-for-purpose legislation for the design of goods and services for reuse, repair and recycling.

“We’re working with linear products and services at the end of their life and trying to recycle and take them to the highest order of reuse or value,” he says.

“We’re stuck because the design aspect of the circular economy has not been implemented. There’s no legislation required to design products and services to be circular.”

He cites construction and demolition (C&D) waste as an example. When buildings that are now being demolished were designed there was no thought

about the circularity of the products being used.

Recovered metal has enough inherent value to be recycled and there are big offtakes of aggregates for reuse. Timber, however, has mostly been mulched for landscaping.

BINGO is transforming reclaimed timber from C&D sites into alternative fuels to displace coal, and back into timber product such as recycled particle board. However, the opportunities for recycled products are limited.

What’s needed now is collaboration between the waste industry, product manufacturers and government.

“We’ve gone above and beyond planetary boundaries for resource use,” Matt says. “We need to stop continuing down that pathway and have recyclability (as a minimum) a key part of the end-of-life considerations of a product.

“The carbon cost of many virgin materials is only going to continue to increase and companies who don’t look

Matt Hyatt, Head of Sustainability, BINGO Industries.

at incorporating recycled content now will be left behind.”

BINGO increased the production of recycled materials in the 2023 financial year by 13 per cent (compared to FY22) – materials that can be used instead of virgin materials.

The recovered and recycled materials in FY23 account for 424,575 tonnes of abated carbon dioxide emissions, the

equivalent of taking about 94,000 petrol cars off the road for one year.

Matt is sympathetic to manufacturers being wary of recycled content and understands a need to ensure their product is fit-for-purpose.

A lot of the concerns, he says, can be overcome with education, an understanding of the technical advancements, and legislation.

“The design aspect has to be resolved and the only way is to legislate,” he says.

“I understand it’s hard to legislate when many products are manufactured overseas, but there needs to be broader sustainable design legislation.

“The current product stewardship regime is piecemeal and too slow to hit the National Waste Policy targets.

We’ve spoken about how hard it is for too long. Someone needs to start things off.”

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

BINGO’s MPC2 materials processing centre in Western Sydney is the largest recycling facility of its type in Australia. Images: BINGO Industries

www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 45

WASTE MANAGEMENT IN ACTION – HEALTH AND SAFETY

Standing guard – Sentinel VISION AI

After five years of being at the forefront of human recognition technology in mobile machinery, Sentinel VISION AI, designed and developed by Queensland-based PRM Engineering Services, is ready for the next stage of its nationwide success.

Sentinel VISION AI is successful in landfills where there are interactions with members of the public.

Image: PRM Engineering Services

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rtificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming the world, and the waste and resource recovery industries are not immune. Since the first optical sensors and electronics were introduced in the 1970s, waste collection, transport and sorting processes continue to be streamlined and automated.

Bringing smart decision-making, and reduction in human error to operations, one of AI’s key platforms is safety.

Sentinel VISION AI has been detecting and alerting machine operators and nearby pedestrians of a potential near miss across the waste, rail, construction, and manufacturing industries and is launching an updated version that is now also proudly accredited and certified 46 / WMR / February 2024

as Australian Made and Owned. Mike Davis, Director PRM Engineering Services, says the next generation has been redeveloped on a new and improved hardware set, offering better processing capability, built-in cellular and GPS capability and complies with ISO16001.

“We have implemented a data logging solution,” Mike says, “and we are continually developing the algorithms and accuracy as better and more powerful hardware becomes available.”

PRM Engineering has a motivated team of engineers based in Brisbane constantly developing new features on Sentinel VISION AI and continues to improve the system in line, and in

consultation, with local industry feedback and unmet needs. Because the company is founded in the earthmoving industry, the systems are developed in alignment with customer and OEM requirements.

By using AI, as well as machine learning, Sentinel VISION AI assists and alerts a mobile machine operator and the pedestrians in and around a work zone.

Initially developed for the construction industry, the system evolved at the request of other industries, including from waste management companies.

Sentinel VISION AI has since been rolled out to transfer stations across Australia and is proving successful in landfills where there are interactions with members of the public who aren’t used to

recognising the dangers of being around heavy machinery.

One of the strengths of the Sentinel VISION AI is its ability to differentiate between humans and objects, reducing the number of false detections and alarms.

The system focuses on human detection. Machine operators are alerted once a human is detected within the programmed zone and pedestrians are encouraged to move out of the zone. The aim is to create behavioural change and awareness so that pedestrians learn to stay away from the machines.

The updated system allows multiple pedestrian zones to be programmed, along with multiple camera coverage to account for maximum blind spots. It’s also more compact for installation on smaller machines and has a waterproof processing unit to allow outdoor mounting. Backing up the technology is the Australian Made label and local service.

“Working alongside PRM Engineering Services, you are not only getting access to cutting-edge technology and expertise but also partnering with a proud Australian company that upholds strong values of integrity and professionalism,” Mike says.

Having boots on the ground locally means customers have instant serviceability and the ability to configure the system to suit their needs.

If a customer wants a certain configuration, PRM can engage with them straight away, designing the product around their scenarios. Those scenarios could be anything from setting different triggers and when alarms are activated, to combinations of alarms.

Different machine types also have different requirements for both camera locations and the number of cameras; a loader operator would be more concerned about

pedestrian movement at the back of the machine, whereas excavators require 270-degree vision.

Even the intensity of detection can be toned down to reflect different lighting conditions and environments to avoid false detections.

The system is designed to be simplistic and safe, providing machine and waste facility operators peace of mind.

In recognition of the game-changing technology, PRM Engineering Services and VISION AI have received a number of awards including Queensland Safe Work and Return to Work Awards 2021 (Winners – Safety category), Australian Earthmoving Awards (Winner) – 2020, Endeavour Manufacturing Awards – Winner 2020, Finalist Synaco Safety Awards 2022.

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

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WASTE MANAGEMENT IN ACTION – SHEARS

Cutting through

Scrap shears are important for waste facilities, as they can cut scrap to a manageable size. Caterpillar is at the cutting edge of this technology.

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here are many different scrap shears out there, but more operators are heading towards Cat® and its range of scrap and demolition shears, designed to make money for waste management facilities.

Innovative and robust design, and fast cycle times, provide the productivity and reliability waste facilities need to increase profitability.

“Our range of shears can handle everything from structural steel to mixed scrap,” says Bassem Ibrahim, Waste and Recycling Specialist, Caterpillar General Construction Division. “Cat shears are designed to get the job done.”

He says customers are selecting the S3050 rotating scrap and demolition shear, which matches the standard 360-degree rotator. It allows Cat customers to optimise their productivity on-site.

The S3050 scrap shears from Caterpillar are invaluable tools for waste management facilities. Images: Caterpillar

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FOCUS ON SCRAP Caterpillar has long had a commitment and focus on the waste and scrap industry while maintaining its support for responsible environmental management. It aims to help customers evaluate, revalue, re-work and transform recycled materials.

“The goal is to provide waste management facilities with the equipment to regain the original level of quality

for reuse,” Bassem says. “The Australian recycling industry has a wide range of recycled materials, from scrap steel and iron to lead, copper, and zinc. There is also lots of aluminium and stainless-steel in the system.”

Australia recycles and processes up to 42 million tons of material a year, according to the National Waste Report 2022. This material serves as raw feedstock for many metal industries.

The processing of this material relies on a range of work tools and machines, including those from Caterpillar.

“Adaptability and quality are reasons customers choose Cat equipment,” says Bassem. “We’ve compared the Cat S3050 shear and its equivalents across the industry. Its robustness, speed and performance are superior. The S3050 shear is increasing our customers’ daily productivity. It’s also easier to handle and has more visibility. This creates a significant impact on safety on the site.”

Australian Cat dealers are also strong advocates for high-quality customer service. Bassem has seen how Cat products maintain good resale value for work tools and machines. .

“These are important purchase factors for our customers,” says Jason Zhang, Prime Product Sales Representative.

“This recently upgraded line of scrap shears is answering the needs of our customers who seek robust and reliable shears that ensure optimal productivity.”

HOW DOES IT WORK? Cat scrap and demolition shears are designed to be a system solution that cuts more tons per day. The dual offset apex jaw increases cut efficiency by up to 21 per cent. Customers can accurately place the jaws of the shears in the optimum position using the standard 360-degree rotator.

“The Cat range provides consistent power throughout the cutting cycle,” says Bassem. “This increases cutting efficiency by using tapered space plates. They reduce

The scrap shears can easily cut through structural steel, ensuring that facilities operate efficiently.

the risk of jamming and drag on the Cat machine.”

The S3000 series keeps the cylinder rod protected inside the frame, further reducing downtime and the risk of damage. The jaw relief area allows the material to fall away freely without hindering the next cutting cycle.

LOW MAINTENANCE Cat designs its products to be high quality and easy to maintain. The S3050 is engineered to handle a range of job site stresses. The shear structure has a 40 per cent over-stress margin, and the major hydraulic components are built with a four to one safety factor.

“We’ve designed the S3050, along with the entire S3000 range, to be easier and safer to maintain,” Bassem says.

“The shears can be greased at ground level, along with the machine stick cylinder pin and boom pin. Once you add daily inspections at ground level, Cat has reduced service time by up to 40 per cent.”

There is no need for any special tools or equipment to service and adjust the pivot group. Blades can be changed and flipped in about 30 minutes using any workshop’s standard tools.

Even the cylinder’s hoses and speed valve can be accessed easily from the side of the shear. This feature is unique in that it eliminates the need for a cover.

CUSTOMISATION OPTIONS Cat has always considered the needs of its customers when developing any product range. With that in mind, connecting a S3050 to almost any Cat machine is simple. The two high-pressure ports allow the shear to be attached to any compatible device, regardless of its hydraulic layout.

“The entire S3000 offers both boom and stick mounting, along with the rotator,” Bassem says.

“We are seeing these mounting options being used across the scrap industry, as well as in primary and secondary demolition applications.”

Boom mounting is designed more for scrap processing, as it allows the use of a larger shear, increasing production. On the other hand, stick mounting maximises reach, making it ideal for demolition applications. Both are designed for optimal cycle times and positioning.

For more information, visit: www.cat.com www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 49

WASTE MANAGEMENT IN ACTION – PLASTIC RECYCLING

Real-world solutions Applied Machinery is using its global partnerships to bring the latest recycling solutions to Australia.

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eter Koueik has a front row seat to the waste and recycling industry’s pursuit of a circular economy.

While Australia is often seen to be playing catch-up, and in many cases, it is, the Sales Manager for Recycling at Applied Machinery, says the industry has a clear understanding of what it wants to achieve and is heading in the right direction.

Technology, Peter says, is going to be more important to reaching those goals.

“We’re heading toward technology with less labour and more purity,” he says.

“When you’re looking at recycling, purity is important. The purer your feed source, the more recycled content you end up A large-scale Genox e-waste recycling plant with a 10-chute Meyer sorter.

50 / WMR / February 2024

with. That also means less waste, less loss of recycled content, and so on. It’s important for the next step for recycling.”

Applied Machinery has recycling equipment and solutions to take on everything from size reduction, wash plants and recycling lines for plastics, endof-life tyres, construction and demolition waste, and metal.

It has partnerships with global brands, including Genox, Meyer Sorting and Starlinger–Viscotec (recycling PET into food grade sheet) that are continually

The Meyer CG360 can sort plastics based on colours, including transparent from white.

Images: Applied Machinery

developing new solutions in line with best practice.

Optical sorting is not new in recycling, but the next generation models are integrating artificial intelligence that can better distinguish between different plastics by looking at a broader range of factors such as size and geometry, in addition to polymer type and colour.

Peter says this is becoming more common and he sees the call for it increasing.

“Technology and these machines have to evolve to keep up with the market,” Peter says.

“The more rigid plastics Australia aims to recover and the more quality we require, the more these machines must perform.

“The technology used, the size of the lines, and configurations are all changing.

Sorting is one of the key areas that is being developed.”

At Waste Expo 2023, held in Melbourne in October, Applied Machinery lifted the veil on a new offering to the recycling market.

The expo was the first time the Meyer CG360 colour sorter, was on display in Australia.

A Starlinger-Viscotec rPET-tofood-grade-PET sheet line.

The machine can sort plastics based on colours, including transparent from white, detecting and removing even the smallest impurities.

It comes with a 15-inch (38-centimetre) user-friendly LCD control display, six chutes for material entry and has dust and fines control within the system.

There are currently about 10 Meyer sorters operating in Australia between the plastics and food (grain) industries.

Peter says the machine attracted plenty of attention at the expo, from those who

were actively seeking sorting equipment and those new to the technology.

The exhibition unit has since been set up at Applied Machinery’s Melbourne factory for customer trials and continues to attract attention.

Peter says that as the industry finds new ways to increase plastics recycling, machines such as the Meyer CG360 colour sorter will be vital.

With decades of experience in the recycling industry, he’s witnessed the industry’s maturity first-hand and is excited by what lies ahead.

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

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WASTE MANAGEMENT IN ACTION – BATTERY RECYCLING

A national network of collection points has been established for post-consumer batteries. Images: EcoBatt

Danger zone

E-waste, battery recycling, vapes, and product stewardship. The challenges of 2023 need attention to protect the industry, says Ecocycle’s Zoltan Sekula.

I

ncorrectly disposed lithium-ion batteries, single-use vapes, and e-cigarettes caused the greatest damage to waste management and recycling industry assets in 2023.

Millions of single-use vapes and e-cigarettes are accidently crushed at kerbside collections, landfills, material recovery facilities and transfer stations – the resultant fires making headlines almost daily.

Ecocycle’s Zoltan Sekula says the Federal Government’s ban on personal vape importation and commercial possession and sales expected by the end of 2024 is no surprise, but the current waste problem with vapes remains.

“The question of who shall fund end-of-life, single-use vape collection and their recycling services remains unresolved,” he says.

52 / WMR / February 2024

Ecocycle is a leader in e-waste recycling, providing national recycling solutions for industrial, commercial, and post-consumer products such as batteries, mercury-bearing lighting waste and dental amalgams, and all e-waste – including vapes, e-cigarettes and X-rays.

Together with sister company EcoBatt, it operates an advanced national post-consumer household battery collection network.

There are more than 7000 collection kiosks deployed at supermarkets, hardware stores and associated retailers.

In 2023, EcoBatt welcomed Coles, JB Hi-Fi and The Good Guys retail stores to the fold, completing a rollout of collection kiosks.

The kiosks are equipped with advanced sensor technology that reports fill levels, internal temperature, and other operational state-of-health data. They’re

all company owned and recognised as best-in-industry to ensure safe and secure collections of spent household batteries and mobile phones.

A range of purpose-built Dangerous Goods transport vehicles, with automated routing software and service scheduling, provide a cost-effective collection and transportation option for post-consumer battery waste recycling services in Australia.

It’s been an expensive exercise to provide a national collection network.

One that Zoltan says is at risk because of low recycling rates of household battery recovery.

He says a lack of consumer education and point-of-sale information are some of the reasons for the low rates. And while low collection rates mean valuable resources in batteries are not being recovered, they also mean companies

like EcoBatt can’t achieve economies of scale. Zoltan believes collection networks could be shut down if amendments aren’t made to the household battery product stewardship collection funding model.

Behind the scenes, negotiations to improve the model have been ongoing but Zoltan says there may be no other option but to ask for the Federal Government to step in.

“Nobody could have predicted the rapidly escalating collection costs in the B-cycle scheme design or understood just how underfunded it is for the elite standards it is demanding,” Zoltan says.

“Very few understood the scheme – from the start – only ever had in mind to fund 60 per cent of the recycling of the batteries.

“The collectors must achieve suitable returns on investments and need economies of scale for the survival of the scheme or bear mounting losses, which is not an option for most.

“The Federal Government supports voluntary industry-led product stewardship schemes to provide solutions for legislated priority waste products.

At the same time there are options to regulate and impose a co-regulated or mandatory scheme to ensure market failure cannot occur.”

Zoltan believes many consumers are unaware of their battery recycling

The disposal and collection of end-of-life vapes remains a concern for the waste management and recycling industry.

opportunity – it’s estimated that more than 80 per cent of household batteries are still being lost to landfills.

European recycling rates as high as 65 to 70 per cent are reported but returns in Europe are higher for recycling and are without Australia’s tyranny of distance and sparse population densities.

“The fact remains, the recycling industry cannot implement government policy seeking to achieve the recycling of 80 per cent of all wastes generated in Australia by 2030 when producers of wastes attempt to limit proper shared financial responsibility,” Zoltan says.

“Product stewardship collection services must be available to all Australians nationally at least on a cost-recovery basis within a commercial setting.”

Zoltan says the answer could be as simple as provisions of inflationary adjustments to be recognised on an annual basis.

“Some argue that overall, voluntary product stewardship schemes are unlikely to offer fair and reasonable funding models or seek high recycling rates in the quickest time possible to assure economies of scale for collectors and recyclers for resources otherwise lost to landfills,” Zoltan says. “Therefore, collectors and the recycling industry are left with difficult decisions to limit their losses.

“It seems the recycling industry is expected to carry the burden of cost minimisation when every percentage point to increase recycling rates can only be achieved with investments that are sadly not supported by waste producers with short-term concerns.

“It’s a shared responsibility and Ecocycle is meeting the challenge headon but we’re asking if all the innovation and investment to be part of Australia’s leading circular economy are appropriate for household battery collections.”

Zoltan believes 2024 will bring

more challenges for many recyclers and collectors.

While he’s looking forward to the Federal Government’s proposed new framework and regulation for e-waste, solar PV and small household appliances, he highlights the need to address singleuse vapes, energy storage devices and electrical vehicle batteries.

In addition to mixed household battery collections, Ecocycle operates recycling services for all battery chemistries from micro-mobility, hybrid and electric vehicles, and solar energy storage devices.

These large batteries require specific solutions for their safe transport, handling, charge neutralisation and resource recovery.

EcoBatt offers Australian Dangerous Goods-approved bulk mixed battery storage bins, EV battery safety boxes, and EV fire-safe containers designed for the safe transport of accident damaged vehicles.

It’s also the Australian and New Zealand agent for CellBlock (USA) fire containment systems, which offers advanced, non-toxic lithium fire, heat, and smoke suppressant, specialist lithium-ion transportation drums and industrial-grade emergency safety response kits.

This year Ecocycle commissioned the design of energy discharge control equipment to enable the safe return of residual energy from end-of-life EV and solar battery energy storage devices to the electricity grid for reuse.

The residual energy stored at end-oflife for EV batteries can be equivalent to a day’s electricity requirement for an average size family home. It is intended that energy returned to the grid will qualify for inclusion in scope three environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting.

For more information, visit: www.ecobatt.net www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 53

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

KOMATSU FOREST, ASTEC PETERSON 2710D HORIZONTAL GRINDER Since 1981, Peterson has specialised in the development of processing equipment that turns lowgrade material into high value products.

The Peterson 2710D is designed for operations requiring high production and frequent moves between jobs. It’s powerful, with a Caterpillar Tier II C18 765 hp (570 kW) for export, heavy duty, and mobile which results in outstanding production throughput for a machine of its size.

The 2710D large feed opening is ideal for processing odd-sized feedstock. Measuring 153 x 81-centimetres, when boosted by Peterson’s high lift feed roll, the feed opening’s maximum lift of 112 centimetres, is among the largest in its class.

The 2710D features a large grate area that enables it to produce materials to exact specifications. The quick-change multiple grate system makes it easy to customise grate configurations to produce a variety of finished materials. Grates are removed through an easy-access door on the side wall.

Triple grouser 50cm-wide tracks enable better handling on hilly or rocky terrain, maximising productivity. Unique features include Peterson’s powerful up-turn three-stage grinding

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The Impact Release System’s air bags provide uniform grinding and protection from contaminated feedstock, a feature unique to Peterson grinders, while the Impact Cushion System Urethane cushions and shear pins are a second line of defence, helping to protect the mill from catastrophic damage in the event of a severe impact from contaminants in the feed stock.

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ALLU, SKID STEER CRUSHER AC 5-17FD The ALLU AC 5-17FD is a purpose-built screener crusher bucket for skid steers that enables waste to be reduced on site.

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ALLU Crusher buckets are also available for excavators

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The jaw can be run in both directions, forward mode

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vibration to the machines, resulting in operator comfort.

Importantly, the crusher is designed to allow the operator to 54 / WMR / February 2024

Contact – ALLU Australian Dealer Network W www.attachmentspecialists.com.au/allu

The JC cab. D feature

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IVECO ACCO, DUAL CONTROL SYSTEM Owners and operators of IVECO’s latest generation ACCO, will benefit from a customised dual control system which has been engineered locally, specifically to meet the preferences of Australian and New Zealand refuse customers.

A project of IVECO’s Melbourne-based Customer Innovation Centre (CIC), the dual control system was developed over an 18-month period, after consultation with waste industry partners and leading bodybuilders.

The resultant design provides seamless integration with the cab chassis and an OEM quality finish that will provide drives with functional, easy-to-use controls and enhanced comfort levels.

As a model specifically designed for the rigours of the waste industry, the new dual control system will closely meet the needs of operators using side and rear loading compactors, overhead front lift trucks and skip bin vehicles. IVECO engineers have spent hundreds of hours testing several dual control ACCO models to simulate real world operating conditions, with positive outcomes.

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LAST WORD

Export bans on secondary paper and cardboard traded commodities will hurt the industry, says Rick Ralph.

Image: Siwakorn1933/stock.adobe.com

Reflections of past

I

Rick Ralph, Chief Executive Officer of the National Waste and Recycling Industry Council (NWRIC), lays bare the need for industry to be recognised as a major player in Australia’s social and economic future.

n terms of government engagement with our industry, when the subject starts with the word/s waste, recycling or resource recovery, it seems everyone has an opinion.

As I begin my 44th year working in the industry, it’s fascinating to look back where one’s journey started – in the early 1980s – to observe how fundamentally things have changed in terms of industry advocacy and government engagement.

Significantly, the advocacy landscape couldn’t be more disparate from times of past, with what has now become policy interference practiced by all tiers of government – local state

and federal. A crevasse so large even modern-day engineering solutions would be challenged linking the two sides equitably.

I reflect on times where government would provide its stakeholders with written feedback on why an option couldn’t be implemented, but often offered an alternative. Where on occasions, following meetings with government departments and / or elected representatives or the exchange of detailed industry submissions and reports, a written government response was provided in a timely manner. Now, responses are being ignored or kept hidden from public view. If you are

lucky to get a response, it usually takes months, and most are so sanitised by bureaucratic wordsmithing its hardly worthy of consideration.

While no one level of government is better or worse at it, the disconnect in terms of policy alignment for our industry is fundamentally broken.

Take as just one example, from the many I can immediately put on paper, the 2019 export ban decision by the Federal Government.

After years in the wilderness in terms of it leading any kind of conversation on waste and recycling policy, and having cut in real terms the environmental agency budget year on www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 57

LAST WORD

year, suddenly Canberra becomes an expert, telling us commercially, we have had it all wrong, and they must now legislate in order to save the planet from the international environmental harm occurring, resulted by industry sending its “waste” overseas.

The Federal Government, despite repeated requests from myself that it provide evidence of the international environmental harm occurring from Australian businesses trading their secondary mixed paper and cardboard commodities to legitimate international end users, continues to perpetrate that our industry is exporting “waste” not secondary commodities, as justification for its regulatory intervention.

Further, it has failed to explain how secondary paper and cardboard traded commodities somehow become a ‘“waste with contamination” after those same products have been separated at either a home or business, are placed into a specialty container, to be collected by a specialised recycling vehicle, delivered to dedicated recycling facility where the product is processed to a contract specification and exported.

Over the past two years I have consistently and repeatedly provided the evidence and facts that demonstrate that there is no need for the introduction of this government regulatory disruption to the industry’s trading market of its secondary mixed paper and cardboard commodities, particularly as the proposed “Rule” only applies to international trades.

The “Rules”, currently understood as I write this piece, are anti-competitive, and only serve to unfairly place a burden on critically important secondary exports that would otherwise be landfilled in Australia.

To add further insult into the debate.

It was confirmed by government representatives at a November senate estimate hearing that July 1, 2024, 58 / WMR / February 2024

Rick Ralph, Chief Executive Officer, National Waste and Recycling Industry Council. Image: Rick Ralph

is the scheduled time frame for its Regulation of Waste Exports: Cost Recovery mechanism.

Read as, “Australia’s Recycling Boomerang Tax”. For every tonne of commodity our industry exports from July 1, 2024, it will pay the Federal Government an annual registration fee, plus a tax of $3.98 per tonne (without industry costs added) for trading internationally.

Why a Boomerang Tax? It’s the tax that keeps coming back.

As industry must pass these additional business costs through to everyone, all Australians will pay the tax on all yellow-top bin recyclables and on recycled tyre products, that are exported and sold internationally. Only for the products to again be used as valuable feedstocks internationally, which in turn are returned to Australian consumers and the export cycle continues over, and over again … unless of course we choose to just landfill and avoid the tax.

In the case of used tyres, some of these are being used as fuels, displacing coal as a fuel source internationally.

As we head into 2024, faced with a Queensland state election and a short

time later a federal election, it’s timely that we shift our advocacy narrative to a new order. No longer can our industry be shackled to what I consider are outdated policy owners where we are lost in an environmental quagmire, competing against government’s broader environmental priorities with little alignment to the sector’s real social or economic business opportunities.

Waste, recycling, resource recovery and all its subject matters are no longer the environmental levers of old. Our industry is being denied its rightful place to one that recognises this essential industry as being a major sectoral player in terms of its genuine economic and energy influence to all Australians.

Only when the industry’s policy levers and ownership reside within government industry portfolios, will we see an end to the policy interference by being shackled to environmental portfolios across the nation.

I hope one day the advocacy lessons of old are returned, where real reforms can be delivered by a more transparent and candidness advocacy approach between government and our industry. www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 58

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