Waste Management Review September 21

SEPTEMBER 2021

Establishing the Global Standard East Rockingham Waste to Energy’s Jason Pugh on setting a new bar for residual waste treatment in Australia

FEATURES Sustained growth of organics recycling The road to zero-carbon emissions Setting a precedent for material repurposing Supporting local recycling infrastructure

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COVER STORY

12

ESTABLISHING THE GLOBAL STANDARD

44

East Rockingham Waste to Energy’s project in partnership with Hitachi Zosen Inova promises to set a new bar for residual waste treatment within Australia.

NO TIME TO WASTE AORA’s 10-year industry roadmap is set to lay the framework for the sustained growth of the organics recycling industry.

In this issue Features

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17 UNITY FOR ENERGY

Remondis on the emergence of Waste to Energy within Australia.

THE NEW TREND IN 21 EUROPE

How Ramboll technology can contribute to achieving a zerocarbon emission standard.

25 HYDRO EMERGING

CDE Global aim to ease the cost burden for hydro excavation operators in the Australian market.

27 SUPPORTING GLASS

The ResourceCo glass waste road base contributes to a growing national circular economy.

COLLABORATION OVER 29 COMPETITION CEFC’s local recycling solution to support emissions reduction.

- East Rockingham Waste to Energy General Manager Jason Pugh

I NNOVATION MOVES 31 INDUSTRY

OOKING AHEAD PAYS 48 LDIVIDENDS

LEXIBLE, SCALABLE 35 FAND COST-EFFECTIVE

50 MAINTAINING INDEPENDENCY

UD Trucks continues to move the waste industry through its range of Quon products.

COVER STORY

East Rockingham Waste to Energy and Hitachi Zosen Inova on its revolutionary WtE facility.

“FOR US, THE FACILITY IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN ACTION. THERE IS NO USE TALKING ABOUT THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY, ACTION IS REQUIRED.”

Our Management Group provides operation platforms for waste management businesses.

38 A NEW CLASS

Komatsu details its new range of modern dozer products.

40

PLASTIC SEPARATION

ScreenPod, with its AirVac Range, assists operators to guarantee best price and practice.

42 IN THE PIPELINE

New Life Waste sets a precedent for material repurposing within the Northern Territory.

Aerofloat explains the process leading to the recently awarded Shellharbour Council tender.

Introducing a newly founded hazardous waste handler with the mindset of an independent business.

DELIVERING WASTE 52 ACTION

Lincom Group becomes a dedicated distributor of Action Vibratory Equipment.

ACUUMING FOR A 54 VGREENER PURPOSE

Dust Collector Rentals provides environmentally friendly machinery through its ECS.

NO TIME TO WASTE

56 THE RIGHT TO REPAIR

XPANDING GLASS 46 EOUT

58 PRODUCT SHOWCASE

44

AORA lays the framework for sustained growth in organics recycling.

Australian Paper Recovery grows its kerbside collection services.

A preview of Dr Matthew Rimmer’s speech at the Cleantech Conference on an emerging issue within the industry.

www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 3

PUBLISHER

Christine Clancy christine.clancy@primecreative.com.au

MANAGING EDITOR

Sarah Baker sarah.baker@primecreative.com.au

JOURNALIST

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

From the Managing Editor

Trust and support

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

ART DIRECTOR

Blake Storey blake.storey@primecreative.com.au

DESIGN

Household waste levels normally soar during the Christmas season, but with an influx of residents working from home due to COVID-19 restrictions, the industry is experiencing an exponential rise in waste production. The concoction of more time spent at home, record online retail sales, the urge to spring clean, and singleuse items such as masks and takeaway containers are some of the contributing culprits.

Just like our working situations have, dare I say, “pivoted” in the past 18 months, the ways in which we manage waste consumption have to evolve to ensure the long-term sustainability of our cities. With increasing pressure comes the challenge of finding an efficient and cost-effective alternative for waste removal.

Methods such as Waste to Energy (WtE) is one such option to ease the burden.

Perth-based East Rockingham Waste to Energy, in collaboration with Hitachi Zosen Inova, is pioneering the emerging WtE market domestically. Its WtE facilities will significantly contribute to not only Perth’s waste reduction targets – no more than 15 per cent of waste going to landfill by 2030 – but also national zero emission targets.

Industry support for such projects is increasing, as knowledge around the technology continues to grow. Perhaps uncertainty has held back what is truly a ground-breaking solution. It’s such doubt that has led to the creation of Aora’s 10year industry roadmap to lay the framework for sustained growth of the organics recycling industry. The organics recycling rate currently sits at 51 per cent, but it must be supported by local recycling facilities.

Industry leader CEFC is working with Cleanaway, Pact Group and Asahi Beverages to support local projects with its first investment in the Australian Recycling Investment Fund. The investment will deliver a PET recycling facility in regional NSW, capable of producing more than 20,000 tonnes of new food packaging and bottles annually, not only diverting materials from landfill, but contributing to Australia’s circular economy.

Collaboration is key, and has long been a common theme to influence change in the sector. Making bold decisions with confidence, and supporting projects that embrace innovation and security, will ultimately lead to sustainable solutions.

Sarah Baker

4 / WMR / September 2021

Kerry Pert, Madeline McCarty

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

CLIENT SUCCESS MANAGER

Justine Nardone justine.nardone@primecreative.com.au

PHOTOGRAPHER

Kyle Spyrides, Hufton&Crow

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News

Momentum within industry favouring zero emission methods The transition to a zero emissions economy is radically re-shaping the waste sector.

An important area where the sector is progressing towards is cleaning up the collection and transport of waste by rapidly transitioning waste fleets to zero emissions vehicles.

For Canberra, transport accounts for 60 per cent of the ACT’s emissions and 19 per cent across Australia. As such, industry members are looking to work in conjunction with community to reduce that volume.

The ACT is already powered by 100 per cent renewable electricity, eliminating a source of harmful emissions through the state’s early investment in clean wind and solar.

The state is pushing ahead with its transition to cleaner methods with the initial procurement of 90, battery electric buses, and a plan to transition its whole fleet.

This transition has already benefitted commuters, with the state’s light rail system already powered by 100 per cent clean and renewable energy.

The municipal waste fleet represents a different challenge as, like most Australian councils and governments, the ACT utilises private providers for the ACT’s household waste collection and recycling services.

The ACT Government is currently preparing to re-tender the city-wide waste collection contract, servicing more than 176,000 households. It will target a partner provider who has

6 / WMR / August 2021

Chris Steel, Minister for Transport and City Services ACT Government.

the capacity to progressively deliver a zero-emissions waste fleet.

Canberra’s household waste services are currently delivered by a fleet of 50 diesel vehicles across multiple companies. As one of Australia’s fastest growing cities, that number is likely to rise in the next few years.

The ACT will set the ambitious goal to have every waste truck servicing Canberra transitioned to a zero emissions vehicle by the end of the next contract term.

Transitioning these vehicles is expected to benefit the environment in avoided emissions, as well as the community through cleaner air and quieter streets.

Trials by local councils around Australia have identified important

issues like range and supporting infrastructure, which will be addressed as more of the ACT fleet is transitioned.

The city of Canberra is an ideal place for testing innovations such as zero emission vehicles, with a pilot stage of the program likely to provide enough feasibility to scale-up the trial.

The trial will also be large enough to provide a ‘proof-of-concept’ at a larger city-wide scale, as well as a suitable testing location to examine the effectiveness of both the range and supporting infrastructure.

Canberra’s household waste service is expected to improve through designing better waste management practices and rolling out new services in partnership with all levels of government.

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News

AWRE postponed until August 2022

The next AWRE event is scheduled for August 2022, in Sydney.

With the COVID-19 situation across the nation and particularly in Sydney unfolding rapidly, together with the expansion of the lockdowns in multiple cities, the organisers of AWRE 2021 have decided to cancel the event, which was scheduled to run 25-26 August 2021.

AWRE represents the national waste and recycling community which brings in exhibitors and visitors predominantly from a large number of different states across Australia. The extension of the lockdowns New South Wales, Victoria and most recently South Australia has impacted interstate travel for the industry to connect, which has an adverse effect for the event to be to

8 / WMR / August 2021

delivered at this time.

The event has always centred around showcasing the full circle of innovative products and sustainable solutions from across Australia, with the opportunity to connect with influential professionals.

While the organisers were committed to delivering a much anticipated face to face event this year, they aim to continue to deliver a national event that AWRE has become renowned for in 2022.

“The team have been working hard to plan and deliver AWRE 2021 with new initiatives, it is extremely disheartening to not run AWRE this year. With much reviewing and replanning in the background over the past few weeks, the ambiguity of the coming months has

led to the outcome, and we will focus all efforts into delivering a stronger AWRE 2022 instead,” Bill Hare, AWRE commercial director.

Although the organisers are disappointed not to be able to host AWRE this year, they were appreciative of support they have received from their exhibitors, partners, sponsors, speakers and suppliers. Hare wants to thank all of those organisations and companies that were interested in and supported the event. He said the AWRE will continue keep the industry up to date via email and look forward to seeing everybody next year for the event, which is scheduled for 24-25 August 2022 at ICC Sydney.

We see opportunities for change REMONDIS Australia supports 15,000+ commercial and industrial customers with waste collection, processing, resource recovery and disposal solutions – including landfill. REMONDIS has long been at the forefront of clean energy generation from waste, operating progressive waste, water and recycling services in 30+ countries.

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News

VIC circular economy projects receive $6.3M funding investment The funding will support 23 projects which will contribute to the circular economy.

Sustainability Victoria has been awarded a total of $6.3 million in grants for 23 projects.

Each project will aim to speed up Victoria’s transition to a circular economy.

This will mark the first round of funding from the Circular Economy Business Innovation Centre.

The 23 projects will help to identify more than 150 circular solutions to deal with approximately one million tonnes of waste. They will also reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 42,760

tonnes each year.

Twelve of the initial 23 funded projects will aim to tackle food waste.

In total, these projects will implement solutions to reduce food waste by 50,280 tonnes annually.

They will also aim to develop solutions to reduce an additional 693,000 tonnes of food waste each year.

The Victorian Government has invested more than $515 million to deliver reform for the states recycling and waste sector.

Queensland Government announces industry ‘scale up’ The Queensland Government have announced a $80 million boost to grow and expand the states waste and recycling industries.

The Federal and Queensland Government will each invest $20 million respectively into the $40 million Recycling Modernisation Fund (RMF). Queensland industries will match the funding, delivering the $80 million investment.

The RMF is open for applications until 7 September 2021, with funded projects set to protect the environment and support the Queensland economy.

The $190 million Recycling Modernisation Fund investment, and associated measures to support Australia’s National Waste Policy

10 / WMR / August 2021

Action Plan, will create approximately 10,000 new jobs across Australia over the next 10 years.

Additionally, it will divert 10 million tonnes of waste each year, which will no longer go to landfill.

The fund will lead to more materials being recycled, following the ban on the exportation of waste.

The projects will aim to progress the state towards becoming a zero-waste society.

Nearly 10,000 new jobs will be created within the industry in the next decade.

Scan to learn more

COVER STORY

Establishing the Global Standard EAST ROCKINGHAM WASTE TO ENERGY’S PROJECT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HITACHI ZOSEN INOVA PROMISES TO SET A NEW BAR FOR RESIDUAL WASTE TREATMENT WITHIN AUSTRALIA.

S

ituated in Rockingham, South of Perth, a new 10-hectare facility will leverage off the overseas expertise of Waste to Energy (WtE) provider Hitachi Zosen Inova (HZI) to deliver one of Australia’s first major WtE projects.

The WtE process involves the processing of residual waste to create energy from materials which would otherwise end up in landfill.

The process is complementary to recycling and composting and is

12 / WMR / September 2021

initiated by the collection of waste from households and businesses, which is delivered to the facility.

The embodied energy from these materials is then returned to those households and businesses, supplying their power through the Western Australian power network.

East Rockingham Waste to Energy General Manager Jason Pugh tells Waste Management Review the project has adopted best practice global standards to set a benchmark in Australia. With no

such WtE facilities within the country, that meant looking to European facilities for inspiration.

“It’s really important to us that this project is successful. The waste to energy projects under construction in Perth are the largest investments in waste infrastructure in Australia’s history. The waste sector is undergoing a generational transformation and WtE is a big part of that,” Jason says.

Hitachi Zosen Inova Australia Managing Director Dr Marc

Stammbach says the support of the Western Australian State Government strongly assisted with the delivery of the WtE facility.

“The State Government embraced the technology as a preferred solution to landfill years ago, so the attitude around the plant was supportive. We are working towards having best-in-class waste management on the same level as it is in Europe.”

Jason adds that the community is the most important stakeholder in the project.

“The benefits of waste to energy over landfilling are now clearly understood by the community and our council customers. We have maintained an ethos of transparency, arming the community with the facts, and highlighting the benefits, which led to overall support,” he says.

The bottom ash treatment section of the plant is a $17-million-investment that will recover metals and repurpose the material for civil engineering applications. It can be used in road construction, drainage materials, cement products, kerbsides, and footpaths.

“It will cater for projects which are the responsibilities of our council customers,” Jason says.

Hitachi Zosen Inova’s Marc says the benefits and demand for repurposed bottom ash was considered when developing the initial site of the WtE plant.

“We planned to have a proper recycling solution for our bottom ash instead of landfill, so this means you need space for bottom ash to be treated.

You also need to store it as treating the product can take time,” Marc says.

This treatment will also contribute to increasing diversion rates of residual waste ending up in landfill. The State Waste Strategy 2030 aims to have no more than 15 per cent of Perth’s waste going to landfill by 2030.

Situated in the Kwinana Industrial Area, offering truck access off the

Credit: Kyle Spyrides

East Rockingham Waste to Energy took inspiration from Europe for the design of the facility.

“Those benefits include contributing to the emerging circular economy within Western Australia, offering an alternative to landfill for treating waste, and creating products that can support Australia’s construction industry.”

The facility will achieve a 96 per cent diversion rate of residual waste from landfill, ensuring that the wastes’ imbedded energy can instead contribute to the areas power demands.

“The project will treat 300,000 tonnes per annum of residual waste, the majority of that will come from residual (red top) waste bins from our council customers,” Jason says.

“The project will generate 224,000 megawatt hours of electricity and will operate for 8000 hours per annum.

Additionally, we will produce around 60,000 tonnes of recycled aggregates and 12,000 tonnes of metals that will be recovered from bottom ash.”

Bottom ash is the non-combustible residue which is collected during the municipal waste incineration process.

This material can include elements such as sand, bricks, aggregates, glass as well as ferrous and non-ferrous metals

East Rockingham Waste to Energy General Manager Jason Pugh.

www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 13

COVER STORY

A diversion rate of 96 per cent from landfill for residual waste will be achieved when the facility is fully operational.

Kwinana freeway at Mundijong Road, East Rockingham’s WtE plant doesn’t impact any nearby residential areas. What it does, however, is allow customers to enter and exit the plant freely.

“We need to service councils coming from the north of the river, so we designed the facility with space in mind. With more space we will be able to manage large trucks and trailers to service our council customers,” Jason says.

HZI SUPPORTING INDUSTRY Selecting internationally proven and trusted technology was essential for East Rockingham Waste to Energy during the development of the project, and for Jason, HZI was the obvious choice.

14 / WMR / September 2021

“When we looked worldwide, we recognised that HZI was a market leader. It has the most established reference plants throughout Europe and Asia. It also brings the whole scope of processing equipment,” Jason says.

“Having a single partner responsible for the waste to energy process equipment was critical, it is so important that the project is successful and using HZI products and services gives us the best chance to accomplish that.”

Jason adds that HZI support for the project continues from the construction phase through to the operations of the WtE plant.

“HZI will continue to develop technology at the leading edge of the industry. One of the great things

about our partnership is that HZI not only supplies the technology but also operates the plant with SUEZ on a 25-year basis,” Jason says.

HZI’s Marc Stammbach says that the company’s experience with WtE plants overseas played a major role in providing the product vision required for the first HZI project in Australia.

“HZI designs and supplies everything from the chute to the stack, including the moving grate, boiler, flue gas treatment, bottom ash recycling, all auxiliary equipment and fans,” he says.

“The design of these components is continuously being optimised but importantly it’s the integration of all the overall process that provides our customers with the best outcomes.

The installation of all these products

“The benefits of waste to energy over landfilling are now clearly understood by the community and our council customers.

We have maintained an ethos of transparency, arming the community with the facts, and highlighting the benefits, which led to overall support.”

Jason Pugh East Rockingam Waste to Energy General Manager

is now fully underway together with construction partner Acciona.”

HZI’s extensive international experience is also benefiting the project as it moves to full operations.

The projects appointed operator, EROC (a joint venture between SUEZ and HZI) has appointed an experienced plant operator from the United Kingdom. The next level of staff will be hired locally, with HZI using its established education programs and training to ensure the facility’s performance.

Groups of 12 people will attend the trainee program, which is coordinated from Zurich. In the course, employees gain experience for the operation and maintenance of facility components.

“The employee training course is part of the package we deliver. We don’t only supply the products, we also supply the necessary training to maintain an operational standards and asset performance,” Marc says.

HZI is also working to improve the efficiency of its services, with upgrades already in development for facility components.

“We are constantly improving on the combustion itself and improving

in heat recovery,” Marc says.

“If we have higher efficiencies, we have less corrosion and less overheating. This will improve the quality of the ash. It also means that equipment can have a improved lifecycle performance, refurbishment cycles are reduced, and the viability of our facilities increase.”

In time, it is hoped that the

experience of running WA’s new WtE plant will serve as an example for the wider waste sector within Australia to follow.

“We are going to learn more about Perth’s waste than ever before. By the time we have been operating for two years we are going to have a great database of information.

This data will only help the industry going forward to design more efficient contributions to the circular economy.”

This contribution will also aid the Western Australian Government’s Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Strategy 2030, which aims to move the state towards becoming more sustainable.

“For us, the facility is a great example of the circular economy in action.

There is no use talking about the circular economy, action is required. So that is what we are hoping to provide, action,” Jason says.

For more information, visit erwte.com.au/technology/waste-toenergy/

A joint venture between SUEZ and HZI will support the operation of the facility.

www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 15

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SPECIAL REPORT – WASTE TO ENERGY

Unity for Energy ENERGY FROM WASTE TECHNOLOGY IS A WAY OF LIFE OVERSEAS. AS REMONDIS’ STEFAN DITTRICH AND SARAH COLLINS TELL WASTE MANAGEMENT REVIEW, THE TECHNOLOGY IS INEVITABLE IN AUSTRALIA, BUT THERE’S AN ONUS ON THE WASTE INDUSTRY TO EDUCATE COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL DECISION MAKERS OF THE BENEFITS.

A

s a waste management and power sector specialist in Europe and Asia, Germanborn Stefan Dittrich and so many of his global colleagues know Energy from Waste facilities as a way of life.

Arriving in Queensland earlier this year as Project Director for Remondis’ proposed $700 million Clean Energy

and Resource Recovery Precinct at Swanbank near Ipswich, Stefan said a priority was understanding and responding to some community misunderstandings about the technology.

“It’s apparent that some people in Australia just aren’t aware of how successful Energy from

Waste technology is all over the world,” Stefan says.

“Many Australians just don’t know that [it’s] a way of life and a tremendous solution to waste management problems in densely populated cities such as London, Paris, Copenhagen, Cologne, Zurich, Vienna, Palm Beach

Remondis will expand its EfW expertise within Australia, with plans to establish a $400 million facility in Swanbank. www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 17

FEATURED TOPIC - WASTE TO ENERGY

“We can do our best to manage the resulting problems – such as land disturbance, odour, leachate and methane – but we and others in the waste management sector need to make it clear that this approach is light years from Energy from Waste solutions overseas.”

Sarah Collins Swanbank Clean Energy and Resource Recovery Precinct Project Manager

and Singapore. Two are situated adjacent to Remondis’ head office in Lunen, Germany.

“Remondis has been in the Energy from Waste space for 30 years. With evolving technology and operating under the strictest international technical and environmental standards, Energy from Waste facilities have a track record of operating successfully and safely, which is why they’ve been embraced by cities and communities globally.”

Remondis plans to build a $400 million Energy from Waste facility at Swanbank as part of a broader waste management precinct. This would be the first of its kind in Queensland.

However, Stefan says there was a big onus on Remondis to educate the community of the benefits as the company seeks approval from the Queensland Government.

“We know there’s a lot of support, but because this technology is relatively new in Australia it’s understandable that some people might have reservations, especially those living closest to the precinct,” Stefan says.

“With Australia falling way behind

18 / WMR / September 2021

world’s best practice when it comes to waste management, it’s obvious and inevitable that Australia will need to embrace Energy from Waste technology in the near future.

“It’s just not sustainable for Australia to stick to the ‘same old’ approach of burying non-recyclable waste in the ground, especially when you look at the technological advances being made overseas.”

Swanbank Clean Energy and Resource Recovery Precinct Project Manager Sarah Collins said community engagement and consultation was a vital part of the approvals process.

“The more we talk with people in the community, the more they grasp the benefits. It’s about having open conversations and dealing with facts,” Sarah says.

“We can do our best to manage the resulting problems – such as land disturbance, odour, leachate and methane – but we and others in the waste management sector need to make it clear that this approach is light years from Energy from Waste solutions overseas.”

Sarah adds that residents around Ipswich are surprised when told

that several million tonnes of nonrecyclable waste goes into the ground locally each year.

“People are just as surprised when hearing that we can eliminate more than 95 per cent of landfill through a tightly controlled combustion process that in turn produces cleaner electricity to power 50,000 homes a year, while heat and power can be used for other recycling activities in the precinct,” she says.

“There’s assurance and acceptance when it’s explained that this technology works safely and successfully all over the world, and that Remondis has been leading the way for decades.

“In addition, we’re offering a massive economic shot for Ipswich – a $700 million precinct investment with up to 70 new full-time operational jobs and 200 full-time construction jobs.”

Sarah explains that the ultimate goal at Swanbank and other waste management locations around Australia was to build a one-stop-shop precincts where Remondis can treat different materials, with recycling leading the way.

“This fits well with the Queensland Government’s Waste Management and Resource Recovery Strategy, which is focused on reducing waste and landfill and boosting recycling. This is a vital strategy, because many of the state’s landfill sites will be exhausted in less than 20 years,” she says.

“It’s there for the taking if Australian communities want world’s best practice when it comes to waste management. Very good things are possible if the waste management industry, communities and government decision makers can go on the journey together.”

For more information, visit www.remondis.com.au/en/home/

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The new trend in Europe E

fW technology plays an important role in closing the gap in the circular economy, since residual non-recyclable waste is utilised in energy and resource recovery facilities.

EfW produces stable renewable energy and is therefore part of the solution against global rising temperatures, due to excessive greenhouse gas emissions. By landfill diversion, emissions of harmful substances are reduced, such as methane, which is more than 80 times more potent that CO2.

Additionally, EfW reduces residual waste volumes and masses by 95 per cent and 80 per cent, respectively. Bottom ashes are a suitable and safe material for road construction.

With this considered, the residual mass which needs to be landfilled is as low as 3 to 4 per cent of the incoming waste.

In terms of emissions to air, EfW facilities are equipped with comprehensive flue gas cleaning systems complying with extremely strict emission requirements. They also avoid inflicting negative impacts on human health.

Ramboll’s EfW Project Manager Lasse Sander Tobiasen says regulations have heavily influenced what is now a safe, efficient, and developed technology.

“Since 1989, the European Union has regulated harmful emissions to water and air from EfW plants and thus provide EU-wide environmental governance

Image: Hufton&Crow

ENERGY FROM WASTE (EFW) FACILITIES ARE WELL ESTABLISHED IN EUROPE WITH AROUND 500 OPERATING PLANTS. BY FURTHER IMPLEMENTING CARBON CAPTURE, IT IS POSSIBLE TO GO CARBON-NEGATIVE, MEANING A NEW STANDARD COULD BE WITHIN AUSTRALIA’S REACH. The Amager Resource Center in Copenhagen.

creating a level playing field across the EU,” he says.

“Over the years, EfW technologies have matured to meet ever stricter emissions requirements – EU emission limits are now the most stringent in world.”

In Europe, it is common for EfW facilities to be in urban areas where energy demand is high, and to minimise transport of residual waste.

European statistics show that in 2019, 48 per cent of residual waste was recycled and 27 per cent was utilised in EfW facilities, while 24 per cent was sent to landfills.

Although there are large differences across the EU, figures show that countries with a high share of recycling also have a high share of EfW. This debarks the myth that EfW is in competition with recycling, in fact recycling and EfW complement each other in countries which feature a mature and well-developed waste sector.

Denmark is an example of this trend, where 52 per cent of all residual waste was recycled and 48 per cent was utilised in EfW in 2019 – with all but zero being landfilled.

The EU has set a goal of 55 per cent reduction of CO2 emissions since levels

www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 21

FEATURED TOPIC – WASTE TO ENERGY

are smaller than and different to the proposed facility at ARC in 2025, it confirms that the technology is technically viable.

The captured CO2 can be stored in depleted hydrocarbon subsurface geology, utilised as feedstock in Power-to-X green fuel production, or for boosting growth in greenhouses growing tomorrow’s vegetables.

CO2 capture is an already proven technology, having been utilised throughout Europe.

in 1990, and to be carbon neutral by 2050.

Some European countries have set even more ambitious goals, with countries like Denmark aspiring to reduce CO2-emissions by 70 per cent by 2030.

To reach such high reduction rates, action is needed across many sectors, however, a new evolving technology being introduced is carbon capture, where CO2 is removed directly from the flue gas in power plants.

BREAKING DOWN CARBON CAPTURE Carbon Capture is a term usually applied to describe the removal of CO2 from gas streams, such as flue gas from EfW or other energy facilities.

Of the CO2 capture technologies available, CO2 capture is the most studied and commercially mature technology.

Amine CO2 capture systems can be fitted to the tail-end of all power generation facilities. The CO2 removal takes place in an absorber column where an aqueous amine solution is brought into contact with the flue gas, whereby CO2 is absorbed by the amine.

After the absorber column, the amine solution, now loaded with CO2, is directed to a stripper column where the solution is heated which strips the CO2 from the solution for later collection and compression.

22 / WMR / September 2021

Amager Resource Center (ARC) in Copenhagen is an award-winning EfW facility that entered commercial operation in 2017. ARC is one of the world’s cleanest and most efficient facilities.

Supporting political demand, ARC now has the ambition to become one of the world’s first CO2-neutral facilities and has already taken the first steps to achieve this goal.

A Carbon Capture pilot project commenced operation in June 2021 with a pilot unit capable of capturing 850kg of CO2 daily.

The pilot project’s objective is to gain knowledge and experience to develop the future full-scale Carbon Capture facility planned for 2025.

It is also designed to capture 90 per cent of the plants’ total CO2-emissions, equaling some 500,000 tons of CO2 annually.

As Lasse explains, the facility will largely contribute to diminishing carbon emissions.

“As a matter of fact, around twothirds of the CO2 from EfW facilities is derived from feedstock from biogenic sources, which is recognised as a renewable source in Europe,” he says.

“If this is considered, carbon capture equipped on EfW facilities would actually be carbon negative.”

There are already large-scale Carbon Capture facilities in operation in Europe. Even though these facilities

THE AUSTRALIAN CONTEXT EfW is a mature technology with many benefits. In terms of greenhouse gas emissions, an estimated 0.8–1.0 tons of CO2 are saved for each ton of waste diverted from landfill.

As Lasse adds, such technology would be a big boost for reducing Australia’s emission production.

“While landfill diversion by implementing EfW facilities is the most low-hanging fruit, adding carbon capture will give approximately 500kg more CO2 reduction per ton of waste,” he says.

“This technology can play a key role in Australia’s efforts towards becoming more carbon neutral in the future.”

Circa 93 per cent of Australia’s energy supply in 2019 was from fossil fuel sources. With an EfW transition, the potential for decreasing CO2 emissions from energy production is abundant.

The exciting expansion with Carbon Capture is also a further step to abide the climate goals that are set, both domestically and internationally, and battle the challenges of global warming.

However, carbon capture is not financially viable without some sort of subsidy or financial compensation for the benefits relating to greenhouse gas emissions. For carbon capture to be more widespread, a proper framework needs to be developed.

For more information, visit https://ramboll.com/services-and-sectors/ energy/waste-to-energy

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WASTE MANAGEMENT IN ACTION – DEWATERING EQUIPMENT

Hydro emerging TO FACILITATE EASY AND EFFICIENT PROCESSING OF HYDRO EXCAVATION WASTE, CDE HAS LAUNCHED HYDRO:TIP FOR HYDRO EXCAVATION DEWATERING IN THE AUSTRALIAN MARKET.

A

lthough trenchless technology has advanced, and hydro excavation (often also referred to as Non Destructive Digging or NDD) has become a preferred method for the installation of services and pipework in civil engineering, it comes with a costly waste burden for drilling operators.

The by-product of hydro excavation is slurry, often laden with chemicals, which is difficult to dispose of or reuse responsibly due to its substantial volume and weight. With the introduction of CDE’s Hydro:Tip solution to the local market, operators can now process slurry with ease and efficiency.

Often, drilling mud is mixed with bentonite, a soft clay, which is mixed in because it expands to prevent the collapse of an area during drilling.

While necessary for engineers, it leaves drilling operators with an onerous waste disposal issue at the end – tonnes of waste, clay-logged slurry.

This waterlogged, thick mud and clay by-product is financially prohibitive as operators face high gate fees at landfill sites due to its substantial volume and weight, which is essentially around 70 per cent water. Indeed, some landfills are reluctant to accept this bulky waste at all.

While there are alternative disposal methods, including burying the material in ponds and fields to dry, these approaches come with their own environmental and legal risks due to possible leaching of hydrocarbons or TPH (total petroleum hydrocarbons).

With CDE’s Hydro:Tip, operators can not only handle this waste mud

in a cost-effective and responsible manner, they can recover recyclable materials that can be re-sold to generate additional revenue streams.

Suitable for urban environments, Hydro:Tip enables hydro excavation fleets to set up closer to extraction sources to reduce transport time, cost and fuel emissions.

It achieves total landfill diversion with solids recovered from hydro excavation activities being 100 per cent reusable in drainage rock, bedding sand and clays for road base.

It also features an installed power base of 63kW, which is less energyintensive than a 20 tonne excavator operating at 90kW. In addition, Hydro:Tip dewaters material twice as fast as conventional systems resulting in a reduction of total energy consumption by two-thirds.

It utilises high-frequency screens to ensure maximum dewatering efficiency and separation of waste material. And, as an automated system, it allows tankers to discharge their loads directly into Hydro:Tip, eliminating the need for a plant operator and excavator.

This rapid ‘direct tip’ enables waste material to be processed at the fastest rate possible, minimising downtime and ensuring tanker fleets are fully utilised by getting them back on the road and on their way to the next location.

Most of the functions of CDE’s Hydro:Tip are automated, therefore minimal operator input is required, saving time and cost.

By harnessing the Hydro:Tip

solution to process drilled mud at bespoke waste treatment sites, operators can remove the need for a dedicated excavator and operator to dig out pits or mix sawdust for water absorption.

Additionally, it can integrate seamlessly into downstream CDE systems, such as the AggMax, EvoWash and AquaCycle to recover sand and aggregate and recycle process water.

Hydro:Tip has been designed with safe access platforms to enable in-place washout of tankers, while keeping the operator safely out of harm’s way. Its stairs and walkways are standardscompliant, allowing for safe access for inspection and maintenance.

Hydro:Tip comes with standard safety features including isolation systems, emergency stops and guarding, and includes level and position sensors to enable safe-automated running, as well as a clear visual traffic light system to inform the operator of the unit’s readiness and status.

With recent changes in state government landfill levies, dumping behaviour has significantly changed.

This, alongside a high level of hydro excavation operations across Australia, has resulted in a large appetite for the Hydro:Tip’s unique technology.

In the coming months, CDE will install four Hydro:Tip units across Australia.

For more information about CDE and its solutions, visit CDEGlobal.com.

www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 25

Accelerating investment in waste solutions Australia’s Clean Energy Finance Corporation is making substantial investments across the waste sector – driving down our emissions through the power of ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’.

Global market pressures, changing consumer preferences and an escalating focus on carbon emissions add up to exciting opportunities across the waste sector:

Investment potential Between $4 billion and $7.8 billion in new investments in the period to 2025

Employment benefits Up to 9,000 construction jobs, 2,600 indirect jobs and as many as 1,400 direct and ongoing jobs

Emissions reduction Reduce landfill emissions by as much as 60 per cent based on current forecasts (3MtCO2 -e) Source: Energising resource recovery: the Australian opportunity, 2021.

cefc.com.au

Australian Recycling Investment Fund Through its $100 million Australian Recycling Investment Fund, the CEFC is focusing on large-scale projects which use clean energy technologies to support the recycling of waste plastics, paper, glass and tyres.

Eligible projects must draw on renewable energy, energy efficiency and low emissions technologies, contributing to lower emissions.

One billion PET bottles recycled into a second life Cleanaway, Pact Group and Asahi Beverages have joined forces to develop a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) recycling facility that will ‘close the loop’ on the equivalent of one billion plastic bottles a year.

The Circular Plastics Australia (CPA) recycling plant in Albury, NSW, will see the PET bottles recycled to produce more than 20,000 tonnes of new bottles and food packaging a year.

The venture is backed by $16.5 million in CEFC debt finance, delivered as part of the Australian Recycling Investment Fund.

We are particularly proud that the Australian Recycling Investment Fund’s first investment builds Australia’s capacity to generate high value recycled commodities that create an important revenue stream while also reducing carbon emissions from landfill.”

Ian Learmonth CEO, CEFC

WASTE MANAGEMENT IN ACTION – GLASS RECYCLING

Supporting glass AUSTRALASIAN RESOURCE RECOVERY COMPANY RESOURCECO IS PLAYING ITS PART IN DRIVING HOME SOLUTIONS TO THE RECYCLING AND RE-USE OF GLASS WASTE AS A ROAD BASE.

E

arlier this year, Australia introduced a ban on the export of unprocessed waste glass, increasing the urgency for domestic-led solutions.

While about 56 per cent of Australia’s glass packaging is successfully recovered for recycling, co-mingled glass from household or commercial sites has always presented a challenge.

In the past, the poor quality of this waste glass, and the relatively low price received for this material, has been an issue in kerbside collection, recycling, sorting, and sale.

Now companies such as ResourceCo are investing in leading-edge technology, capable of processing both ‘clean’ and ‘unclean’ glass waste streams.

With joint support from the South Australian and Federal Government under the Recycling Modernisation Fund, ResourceCo will begin construction of a new plant north of Adelaide later this year. The plant will enable the separation of co-mingled glass into clean, singular waste streams for repurposing.

As ResourceCo CEO Jim Fairweather explains, the investment will support the emerging circular economy throughout the industry.

“This investment in new infrastructure could ultimately see tens of thousands of tonnes of waste glass repurposed into construction materials each year,” he says.

“It will be the state’s first designated glass crushing and resizing plant, capable of repurposing 30,000 tonnes per annum

of glass previously destined for landfill.”

Work is due to begin on the new plant in the coming months, which will facilitate the use of processed glass ‘fines’ (typically between 3mm and 8mm) as a substitute for sand in the base of roads and footpaths.

ResourceCo recently completed a trial with the South Australian Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT) on the Regency to Pym construction project (R2P) using glass as a fine aggregate replacement.

“We successfully placed 170 tonnes of Class 2 pavement material with five per cent glass as a virgin aggregate replacement in what was a first for South Australia. The trial alone equated to 8.5 tonnes of glass repurposed and diverted from landfill,” Jim says.

“It was a significant initiative in paving the way for the use of more recycled materials in South Australian roads.”

ResourceCo is in advanced discussions with many of South Australia’s material recovery facilities to take their glass waste and continues to work with DIT on specifications for use of glass in their road base on major projects.

“We are investing a significant amount of time and resources to work closely with our partners to achieve the best results – both economically and environmentally. It’s about backing leadership in sustainability and building progressive and environmentally conscious partnerships,” Jim says.

“Ultimately, there is huge opportunity for governments, the construction industry, and the recycling sector, to play a big role in setting new benchmarks in repurposing and recycling waste materials into quality products.”

For more information, visit resourceco.com.au

A new facility in Adelaide will enable the separation of glass from contaminated waste streams.

www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 27

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WASTE MANAGEMENT IN ACTION – PLASTIC RECYCLING

Collaboration over competition THROUGH ITS FIRST INVESTMENT UNDER THE AUSTRALIAN RECYCLING INVESTMENT FUND (ARIF), THE CEFC IS CONTINUING TO SUPPORT EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS INVESTMENT THROUGHOUT AUSTRALIA’S WASTE INDUSTRY.

“I

f you look at what is happening in the market today, including the waste export ban, recycling modernisation fund and the modern manufacturing initiative, recycling is a very hot topic,” says Mac Irvine, Acting Head of Waste and Bioenergy at Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC).

“Opportunities to back projects which will support the waste industry is a very exciting proposition for the CEFC.” Mac has witnessed a significant increase in momentum towards plastic management and recycling within Australia’s waste sector.

He says regulations such as the waste export ban have heavily influenced a change of thinking in the sector towards self-sustainable operations.

With its first investment under the ARIF, the CEFC is working with industry leaders Cleanaway, Pact Group and Asahi Beverages to deliver a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) recycling facility in regional New South Wales.

The CEFC support for the PET recycling plant remains consistent with its vision of supporting the waste industry to use materials more efficiently, according to Mac. “The CEFC had previously made investments worth about $180 million in the recycling sector and the announcement of the ARIF in 2019 has further focused our attention on the opportunities in this area,” he says.

Throughout its experience, the CEFC has helped support the development of projects led by industry leaders within the waste sector.

By collaborating with Cleanaway, Pact Group and Asahi Beverages, the potential outcomes for this project should excite the industry.

“I think that is one of the most exciting aspects of this project – that you have three industry players all utilising their different skill sets and experience to deliver a project, and this is one of the first times we have seen this within the market,” Mac says.

Upon completion, the facility will have the capacity to recycle the equivalent of approximately one billion PET bottles annually, as well as create employment opportunities for the Albury-Wodonga region.

The PET plastic will be used to produce more than 20,000 tonnes of new food packaging and bottles a year, not only diverting materials from landfill, but also contributing to Australia’s circular economy.

“Historically, many parts of the world have relied on the Asian region to accept material. Here, we are providing a test case for materials recycling locally,” Mac says.

“The waste export ban has resulted in a real push to develop facilities such as this one within Australia, rather than bailing up the material and exporting it

offshore for processing.”

Asahi Beverages has committed to the use of 100 per cent recyclable, compostable or reusable packaging across its supply chain by 2025.

Pact Group is aiming to provide 30 per cent recycled content across its packaging portfolio by 2025.

“Any one of those parties could have tried to deliver the project individually, but I think the benefit is industry working together rather than co-parties competing against each other,” Mac says.

In addition to $16.5 million in debt finance provided by the CEFC as part of the ARIF, on behalf of the Australian Government, the project is also funded by a further $16.5 million in debt finance from the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.

The joint venture will benefit from some $5 million from the Environmental Trust as part of the NSW Government Waste Less, Recycle More initiative.

“The Recycling Modernisation Fund is managed by the Federal and State Governments and grants have already been awarded to eligible projects,” Mac says. “It may take some time for these projects to be delivered but it will create significant opportunity in the marketplace.”

For more information, visit www.cefc.com.au/

www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 29

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WASTE MANAGEMENT IN ACTION – WASTE COLLECTION TRUCKS

Quon trucks are fitted with cutting edge safety features, including its ‘Traffic Eye Brake System’.

Innovation moves industry FOR MARK JEFFS, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF WM WASTE MANAGEMENT AND KNOX TRANSFER STATION, USING SAFE, RELIABLE, AND MODERN VEHICLES TO MOVE WASTE PRODUCTS HAS NEVER BEEN MORE IMPORTANT.

R

unning two waste businesses, which service more than 16 Melbourne suburbs, Mark Jeffs, WM Waste Management and Knox Transfer Station (KTS) Managing Director knows that using safe and modern vehicles is essential for his fleet of more than 120 trucks.

Recently purchasing Quons from UD Trucks, Mark has seen the distinction between using fuel-efficient and

productive trucks, compared to previous generation vehicles.

As Mark explains, both businesses require proven trucks to transport waste products across metropolitan Melbourne.

“We’re probably the largest mattress processor in Victoria, taking in around 350,000 mattresses a year,” he says.

“We do about 16 Melbourne Council contracts for hard rubbish, 80 per cent

of that work is collecting, transporting and processing hard rubbish.”

Since 1985, WM Waste Management Services has provided rubbish skip collection and drop-off services across the state, including kerbside, solid waste and recycling.

The company then processes materials at KTS, a subsidiary that helps to reduce landfill volumes in Victoria.

To satisfy its commercial and council

www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 31

WASTE MANAGEMENT IN ACTION – WASTE COLLECTION TRUCKS

UD Trucks products support WM Waste and Knox Transfer Station to service 16 Melbourne councils.

“For modern requirements you need vehicles which are safe and reliable. The days of using older machinery in the waste industry are over.”

Mark Jeffs Managing Director of WM Waste Management and Knox Transfer Station.

customers, Mark has increased his fleet of UD Quons to seven, including two water trucks, two single drive hook trucks, a bogey drive truck, and one twin steer hook truck.

Used for bulk lifting waste products and moving residual waste, Mark says the price point of the Quon was a major factor that led to the purchase.

“Probably the biggest advantage is the bang for buck. Some other trucks that perform inferior functions are more expensive on the market. For KTS and WM Waste we are always looking to improve our service. These UD Truck purchases definitely play a large part in that,” Mark says.

Price is just one of the many differentiating factors for operators comparing products on the market.

Installed with its environmentally friendly GH11 Euro 6 engine, Quon

32 / WMR / September 2021

prime movers are the essence of what makes Quon products popular within the waste industry with its powerful output.

With a maximum power of 460hp and maximum torque of 2200Nm, operators such as Mark can have confidence when moving heavy waste products across metropolitan Melbourne.

Increased power is also balanced with a decreased overall vehicle weight, allowing for increased payloads and productivity for operators. This also includes a maximum rear load limit of 20,000kg.

Of course, with increased power comes an increased demand for safety for operators. Confidence for operators is essential when completing loads in a range of applications.

Predicting future outcomes can

be difficult, especially in an industry such as waste where risk plays a major role in decision making. Luckily for operators, Quon models can help to see what’s ahead, even when operators can’t.

Quons Traffic Eye Brake System can detect and alert operators of upcoming traffic ahead. If not actioned, the system can detect whether a collision is likely, and apply the brakes quickly to prevent contact.

Additionally, the Quon features disc brakes as standard, providing a quick and smooth response for more reliable braking. The ergonomically designed cabin provides greater driver comfort, meaning a stress free and safe drive for operators.

For Mark, the Quon’s exclusive and advanced features are just some of the reasons why UD Trucks make up a part of his existing fleet.

“For modern requirements you need vehicles which are safe and reliable.

The days of using older machinery in the waste industry are over,” he says.

UD Trucks goes the extra mile for its customers. Operators like Mark are supported well after their purchase by the largest dealer network in Australia and New Zealand. This means help is never far away, with more than 130 service touch points and 1200 expert technicians that are committed to customer uptime across the Volvo Group network.

For Mark, the convenience of the service support allows him to optimise his fleets productivity.

“Being Melbourne-based, we are able to drop off machinery to the Dandenong site during the afternoon shift. This reduces waiting times on our end and enables us to keep servicing our 16 council contracts across Melbourne,” he says.

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WASTE MANAGEMENT IN ACTION – WASTE SOFTWARE

Flexible, scalable & cost-effective KARVAN JAYAWEERA, FOUNDER AND TECHNICAL DIRECTOR OF THE OUR MANAGEMENT GROUP, TALKS TO WMR ABOUT HIS COMPANY’S AFFORDABLE OPERATIONS PLATFORM FOR WASTE MANAGEMENT.

O

ur Management Software (OMS) was founded out of a sense of frustration with operating high compliance waste management businesses on a tight budget.

For those running small-to-medium sized businesses – especially waste management businesses – there are proliferating demands when it comes to operations, customers and compliance. And this is to speak nothing of the mountain of paperwork that accompanies all these management processes.

Karvan Jayaweera, Founder and Technical Director of Our Management Group, says that the growth and complexity of these requirements makes operating waste management businesses increasingly onerous.

Prior to founding OMS, Karvan did serious work in the waste industry – including co-founding an electronic waste operation and holding senior management roles in ASX-listed waste management companies.

“Waste management can be a challenging environment,” Karvan says. “Among the challenges I faced were ever-growing regulatory requirements. And at the same time, many of the companies I worked with were still reliant on manual- and paper-based systems and spreadsheets,” he says.

“Naturally, this necessitated heavy administrative involvement and guaranteed a lack of real-time insights – often resulting in data discrepancies.”

Karvan says that although electronic management tools are available, they are usually either too expensive – pricing many businesses out of the market – or too slow to implement.

And if they are implemented, he adds, they are often difficult to adapt to changing circumstances.

With such issues in mind, Karvan and his team have introduced Our Management Software Platform (OMS), a cloud-based operation service delivery platform. Karvan says that OMS provides a set of tightly

Our Management Groups services are tailored for mobile use.

integrated management tools as well as the ability to affordably build customised solutions.

“In brief, it is an operation platform that focuses on serving the waste sector,” Karvan says. “Usually, if you are going to get a system like this it would cost an arm and a leg.

What’s unique about our system is the way it’s designed. You can create a tailored solution for each individual

www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 35

WASTE MANAGEMENT IN ACTION

Our Management Group’s service is suitable for small- to medium-sized waste operating businesses.

waste company.

“Every waste company has their own individual risks and challenges, as well as their own processes for accepting waste – so what sets OMS apart is its ability to provide bespoke solutions to these companies in a price range that’s appropriate for them.”

Market leaders Cleanaway are one of many waste operators who have seen exemplary results while utilising OMSs software platform.

Cleanaway Major Contracts Manager Silas O’Hara says the tailor made OMS software has enabled the waste giant to optimise its operation.

“We required waste tracking for an upcoming project basically from the point of excavation through the onsite classification process and the final downstream disposal location,” he says. “OMS actually customised their software to suit our needs.”

“The software allows for the same data set to be accessed by our clients, management and contractors on site.

The level of reporting functionality has offered a whole new scope of accessibility for our clients, which has created a level of transparency

36 / WMR / September 2021

throughout the whole process.”

The evaluation of operations in real time has been a major benefit for Cleanaway, allowing the business to enhance the efficiency of its projects.

Our Management Software’s customers range from small recycling operations and not-for-profits all the way up to top ASX-listed waste management groups. The OMS platform allows for scalability both in

Programs can be viewed by clients and contractors.

terms of functionality and cost, says Karvan. That way, smaller companies needn’t pay for functions they don’t need – but they can also flexibly scale up as their business needs grow and adjust.

“A client will come to us asking for a solution around waste tracking, so we supply them that system,” he says.

“But they may also need help with day-to-day stuff such as safety and environmental management – and we have a set of tools to accommodate that on our single platform. Our service can be extended to areas such as safety management training – and much else besides.”

Karvan says that OMS’s core market is the waste industry, and that its eco-system replaces traditional spreadsheets and word documents for areas including waste and process tracking, Supplier and downstream recycler management and document management.

He adds that OMS has been built as a progressive web application that can be used on both desktop and mobile devices, with all data stored and encrypted within Australian Amazon cloud servers.

There are a multitude of tools available on the easy-to-use OMS interface to track key metrics in waste management, Karvan says.

“By using OMS, the various areas of waste management are rolled into one, reducing problems associated with multiple subscriptions – such as excessive expenses, and staff training problems as they come to grips with multiple software applications,” he says.

Karvan says that the single ecosystem also means customers can focus on a single problem, and then add additional modules to address new issues as they arise.

“The real time data is also a real boost in terms of decentralising information to the entire staff, which in turn optimises efficiency and increases accountability,” he says.

And “accountability” might be the key word in waste management, for individuals and for organisations.

Karvan points to a notable instance of the accountability imperative, with the new Victorian environmental laws that came into effect in July 2021.

“There is more focus on environmental duties and compliance,” he says. “In addition to the new Victorian laws, recent incidents concerning illegal operations and fires has meant the Victorian Environment Protection Authority (EPA) is focusing much more on stockpile management and disposal pathways.

“This push towards greater environmental oversight and regulatory compliance also means that insurers have become more focused on operations management.

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Karvan says that the risk profile of waste businesses is a paramount consideration in this context.

“OMS can assist our customers by tracking on-site waste as well as the processes being utilised,” he says. “We can also assist in general day-to-day management of operations around safety, environment, and quality.”

Yet while Victorian businesses operate within certain constraints, each state and each business has its own unique conditions to contend with, Karvan says. And that’s why a flexible, cost-effective, scalable solution is needed.

“Everyone has different problems.

They may be similar – but they are never the same.”

For more information visit www.ourmanagement.com

WASTE MANAGEMENT IN ACTION – DOZERS

A new class KOMATSU HAS RELEASED A NEW LINE OF 22-TONNE CLASS DOZERS THAT FEATURE HYDROSTATIC DRIVE FOR INCREASED MANOEUVRABILITY AND ENHANCED VISIBILITY TO WORK AREAS.

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omatsu’s D71EXi/PXi-24 dozers – a new class of machine for the company – combine iMC 2.0 enhancements and Tier 4 Final emissions technology to deliver high levels of performance, versatility and low operating costs.

In the same class as its D65EX-18 dozer, the 23-tonne D71EXi-24 (also available in swamp dozer configuration as the D71PXi-24 and Wide Gauge swamp dozer configuration as the D71PXi-24W) is the largest hydrostatic drive dozer on the market to incorporate iMC capabilities.

It is also one of the first machines on the market to feature Komatsu’s recently released iMC 2.0, an update that delivers major productivity, efficiency and cost saving advantages to its latest model “intelligent” dozers.

Power for the new dozer comes from a Komatsu SAA6D114E-6 Tier 4 Final-compliant engine rated at Gross 179 kW, through a fully hydrostatic transmission.

According to Komatsu Dozers Product Manager Pat Munro, the move to hydrostatic drive has allowed for a redesign of the D71EXi/PXi-24 & D71PXi-24W, making it more versatile, productive, manoeuvrable, and with high levels visibility to the blade edges.

“While it’s in the same class of machine as our D65 series dozers, moving to hydrostatic has allowed us to adopt a cab-forward design. This, combined with our ‘super-slant’ nose design, gives incredible visibility to the work area,” he says.

38 / WMR / September 2021

Increased visibility, hydrostatic drive and versatility are just some of the major benefits of the D71EXi-24.

“This means the operator can see blade tips and everything around them.

They get an excellent view forward, something that’s not typically the case in dozers in this size class, which traditionally have had a high hood and limited visibility out the front window to the work area.”

Pat says the combination of hydrostatic drive and super slant nose makes the new dozer nimble and versatile, allowing an operator to work efficiently and effectively in tight areas.

“It’s a very versatile machine that can quickly go from bulk dozing through to fine detail work – particularly when you take advantage of its iMC 2.0 capabilities. This provides unmatched flexibility on any jobsite,” he says.

“Hydrostatic drive makes it extremely manoeuvrable, particularly as it’s matched with our Palm Command Control System (PCCS), giving the operator very fine control.”

Its iMC 2.0 capabilities provide improved automated dozing operations, in bulk earthworks through to finish grade work.

Features of this include lift layer control, quick surface creation, proactive dozing control, tilt steering control and two GNSS antennas.

These can track multiple satellite constellations such as GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and BeiDou. The two GNSS antennas allow the machine to always know it’s immediate location, making it more accurate on steep embankments as well as providing information for tilt steering control.

“Lift layer control, and tilt-steering control are both exclusive features of iMC 2.0, and represent a significant advancement in automated dozing technology,” Pat says.

“With lift layer control, the dozer automatically spreads fill material from existing areas of the worksite with the press of a button. The machine then measures the terrain it’s tracking over – and uses that data to plan the next pass.

“The result is a doubling of production rates compared with conventional dozing operations, while 100 per cent automatic operation means each layer is completely

consistent and accurate.” iMC 2.0’s one-touch tilt steering control feature frees the operator from having to steer the dozer to maintain a straight heading, by continuously and automatically tilting the blade as required to maintain straight-line travel.

“This greatly reduces operator fatigue and increases comfort, because operator input is reduced by up to 80 per cent, while straight-line travel guarantees a cleaner cut,” Pat says.

The D71EXi/PXi-24 and D71PXi24W also features Komatsu’s INPAT (Intelligent Power/Angle/Tilt) blade with adjustable pitch that offers maximum dozing versatility across multiple applications, including a blade capacity increase over D65-18 series dozers by 13 per cent.

The D71PXi-24 model has a 3M Folding Blade (non-folding blade

is optional) that when in travel position, is only 2960mm across. This allows contractors to transport this model without requirement for Pilot Vehicle as the width of machine is only 2990mm wide, future reducing operating costs.

Work equipment speeds, to both blade and ripper, have also been increased for greater responsiveness and accuracy of finish.

According to Pat, the new D71 class of dozers also offers best-in-class operator comfort and safety.

“It’s got a very quiet and comfortable cab, including a redesigned fully adjustable air-suspension, high-comfort seat, with in-cab noise levels of just 76 dBA,” he says.

“Our unique super-slant nose design gives the operator an excellent view over the entire worksite, including

other machines, work vehicles and personnel that may be nearby.”

Pat says the D71EXi/PXi-24 and D71PXi-24W line of hydrostatic dozers set new standards in mid-size dozer performance and productivity.

“This size of dozer is being used more and more on job sites. The introduction of machine control systems has brought a new level of versatility to dozer operations,” he says.

“Now with our fully integrated iMC 2.0, combined with the efficiency, flexibility and power of hydrostatic drive, customers will see significant improvements in jobsite productivity and accuracy, while further lowering their costs of operation.”

For more information, visit www.komatsu.eu/en/crawler-dozers/ d71i-24

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WASTE MANAGEMENT IN ACTION – STOCKPILE MANAGEMENT

Plastic separation the aim of the game MAINTAINING A CLEAN PRODUCT IS IMPORTANT FOR WASTE OPERATORS TO INCREASE QUALITY, PRICE AND SITE SAFETY. WMR SPEAKS WITH SCREENPOD ABOUT HOW ITS AIRVAC RANGE UTILISES THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY TO REMOVE PLASTICS FROM FEED STOCKS.

F

rom the first of July, Victoria’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has enforced the biggest change in environmental laws since its inception 50 years ago. The changes are in response to a public independent inquiry conducted five years ago, which gave the EPA more powers and tools to prevent environmental risks, as well as sanction polluters.

Matt d’Abbs, Director, Regulatory Approach & Capability at EPA Victoria says Victorians wanted a more preventative approach to environmental protection.

“The focus on preventing harm The Windsifter Clean-Up Conveyor comes with an on-board control panel.

40 / WMR / September 2021

requires us to rethink the way harm arises,” he says. “This means starting with the source, in particular the activities that people engage in that create a risk of harm occurring.”

Simon Humphris, Product Manager at CEA, the Australian distributor for Screenpod, says keeping a clean site and removing loose plastics is more important than ever.

“With these new rules, there’s a lot more onus and responsibility going on the processing facility to remove plastic from the feedstocks,” he says. “Among other things, it’s about cleaning up feedstock to make

it saleable and being at a higher quality.”

Feedstocks free of plastics allow a higher price for the clean product, but also reduce the risk of stockpiling.

The ‘Hazardous Waste Stockpiles and Approved Long Term Storages in Australia’ report, released in 2018, found that an estimated 6.2 million tonnes of hazardous waste could be found in stockpiles around Australia.

Addressing stockpiles has now become a priority for many waste businesses, with operators looking for products that can support waste stockpiling reduction.

ScreenPod’s AirVac Range is a compact diesel or electric vacuum system. The product acts as an ‘industrial vacuum,’ removing light plastic from feed stocks, such as green waste or mulch, as well as oversize and heavy material, such as recycled aggregates and skip waste rejects.

The ScreenPod AirVac uses a vacuum head fitted over a stockpile conveyor belt or screen box. A suction fan then transfers light plastic contaminate through a flexible hose and into a waste skip or cage.

“The AirVac range consists of the mobile unit and 400mm

Screenpod’s vacuum heads can be mounted in different positions.

hosing to the head, which can be mounted on a vast arrangement of extraction conveyors,” Simon says.

“With a great deal of adjustment and air speeds, the unit is capable of removing unwanted plastic in finished product.”

Simon says every site is different and adapting the solution to its environment is essential.

“The product can be set up on a conveyor belt that’s, for example, 50m long and put springboards all the way along it,” he says. “You can manually attach them to apply it to any kind of set up.”

An on-board electrical control panel, and infinitely variable vacuum control and choice of vacuum drive systems, further add to the flexibility of the product.

Vibrating rollers can be added to any conveyor, making it easier for the vacuum head to lift the material as it bounces and separates on the belt.

“The Airknife works perfectly with the AirVac. The knife sits at the end of the belt to catch the unwanted lights that fly off, contributing to messy sites,” Simon says.

Screenpod’s Typhoon conveyor system can accompany the AirVac has a low-level infeed position, and an allin-one package with two 30kW suction units, and one 15kW Airknife blower unit.

Positive air pressure allows the light contamination to sit on top of the feedstock the vacuum, then has more surface area of plastic to be effectively removed.

As Simon adds, the AirVac and Air knife have the capacity to complement one another on inside stationary projects or on mobile units in the field.

The belt has a fast on-site setup time and can be shipped inside a container.

“This Screenpod series can remove light plastic from green waste, fast and efficiently,” Simon says. “The demand for this product exists and won’t go away.”

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WASTE MANAGEMENT IN ACTION – PIPE RECYCLING

In the pipeline

BY REPURPOSING USED PIPELINES FOR THE MINING SECTOR, NEW LIFE WASTE IS SETTING A PRECEDENT FOR MATERIAL PLANT RECYCLING IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY.

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ith more than 20 years’ experience in material recycling, New Life Waste state consultant Doug Faulkner has seen first-hand the industry’s momentum to material repurposing and recycling.

“I initially started in material recovery, now with the plastic export ban alternative methods for treating waste have become a priority. Rather than a hindrance, the export ban has provided a great opportunity for us within the waste industry,” he says.

New Life Waste saw an opportunity to partner with major mining companies to treat piping. Rather than sending it to landfill, it is repurposed as plastic pellets.

As the first facility of its kind within the Northern Territory, the pipe recycling plant will offer a direct solution for pipe removal for some of the areas largest mining sites.

As Doug explains, the circular process not only benefits New Life Waste, but also reduces costs for mining companies.

The facility will be the first of its kind throughout the Northern Territory.

42 / WMR / September 2021

“The mines have to pay for some transport, but the mines love the idea that they are able to recycle piping rather than leave it in landfill. It’s a positive outlook for their business and reduces costs for treating the piping in the long run,” he says.

As well as a boost for the mining industry, the pipe recycling plant will also provide a major boost for the Norther Territory economy, especially in rural towns.

Situated in Humpty Doo, just 40km from Darwin, the pipe recycling plant will also provide employment opportunities to communities throughout the region.

Doug says the decision to base the plant in rural areas allows the plant to be closer to the product source, and rewards rural communities with jobseeking residents.

“It is rewarding to be able to provide the opportunity to bring employees through our system where they can be

certified for plastic treatment,” he says.

“We anticipate that we will employ 33 people in the factory by the end of the year, which is an amazing boost for the economy. All staff will be trained on plastic pellet handling and will allow the plant to have a 24-hour operating capability.”

Staff will also be trained in pipe stacking and washing, with some mining sites containing contaminated products.

The entire project has been entirely self-funded by New Life Waste, who has plans to expand its recycling network across the waste industry nationally.

“It’s in our name. We are always looking at other avenues of recycling which will grow our operation to treat other waste materials such as tyre,” Doug says.

In terms of the material volume, New Life Waste is developing two other sites in Perth and Adelaide to treat what Doug expects to be a surplus of piping supply.

“Perth will reflect our current facility. Darwin has been the rock and the stepping-stone for our entire operation,” Doug says.

“The way that we have set up this plant is unique and incredibly efficient.

We have the right equipment and possibly the largest shed in recycling.”

The Perth installation will also engage with an indigenous stakeholder in the region, who will support the project.

Current projections for the facility predict that the manufacturing scale will be more than 400-tonne of product per month, with hopes that

further developments can triple the facility’s production.

“Our ambition for growth will only be matched by the incoming supply of piping. From just one installation currently we have enough product to keep the facility going for two years,” Doug says.

Facilities for plastic pellet production will also be developed in Queensland.

“We are looking to put in a fretting facility in Mount Isa, where we will treat and pelletise product on site,” he says.

“Mining companies are very excited about the sheer volume of material that we will be able to treat once fully operational at these sites.”

New Life Waste uses Applied Machinery for its facility equipment as well as servicing. Doug says his relationship with the supplier has enabled the facility to successfully treat its first piping products.

“Applied Machinery have looked

New Life Waste will be expanding its operations into Perth and Queensland.

after our current needs. I have been dealing with Applied Machinery for nearly 30 years now. So, I know their services will support New Life Waste into the future as well,” Doug says.

“There are different ways you have to handle different types of plastic, there are teething problems.

Some people think that establishing a

functional material recycling plant is simple in principle. It isn’t.

“By working together, you solve problems in our industry. It doesn’t happen overnight.”

For more information, visit newlifewrnt.com.au and www.appliedmachinery.com.au

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WASTE MANAGEMENT IN ACTION – ORGANICS

No time to waste AORA’S 10-YEAR INDUSTRY ROADMAP IS SET TO LAY THE FRAMEWORK FOR THE SUSTAINED GROWTH OF THE ORGANICS RECYCLING INDUSTRY. AORA’S NATIONAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER PETER OLAH EXPLAINS.

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or AORA, the national organics association, the next 10 years will be critical in supporting Australia’s organics recycling industry to become a world-recognised market.

With goals to increase recycling rates of organics to 80 per cent by 2026, and 95 per cent by 2031, AORA developed a 10-year roadmap with a plan to overcome the barriers to achieving further growth and innovation.

Vision 2031: The 10 Year Roadmap for Australia’s World Leading Organics Recycling Industry report contains what AORA National Executive Officer Peter Olah says is “some of the most comprehensive survey data ever undertaken in the industry”.

As he explains, the development of a collective vision for the organics recycling industry was an essential first step to ensuring the sector’s sustainability and development.

“During the COVID-19 lockdown last year, the AORA Board saw a great opportunity to look at who we are, how we operate and how we can best represent the industry,” Peter says.

“There are a number of documents which came out of that, all of which culminated in this 10-year roadmap for the waste industry.”

Through conducting studies into the industry’s existing economic contribution, and its current productive capacity, AORA was able to develop the strategy for achieving increased recycling rates for organic waste.

“The 10-year roadmap contains data from AORA studies, to draw a picture of where the sector could and should be

44 / WMR / September 2021

by 2031 in a good case scenario,” Peter says.

“The data also helped us to identify the barriers stopping us from getting there and how we will remove those blockages.”

The roadmap considers barriers such as government policy, operating permits, development applications, and short council contract periods.

Currently, the national recycling rate for organic waste sits at 51 per cent, with expectations that organic growth within the industry will also contribute to an increased uptake and recycling rate over the next 10 years.

“We need to nurture the industry and allow for its own processes to grow internally, while at the same time encouraging further growth and new investment,” Peter says.

“The roadmap establishes what we can do to create a stronger market and how we facilitate this market to reach those end results, rather than

prescribing solutions. It’s about creating an environment for that growth.”

Rather than outline the path towards increasing national recycling rates of organics, the roadmap was developed to offer guidance for operators and governments in what can be an unpredictable industry.

“The roadmap deliberately doesn’t define exact solutions. One thing we can predict for sure is that there are going to be a lot of twists and turns within the industry throughout the next 10 years,” Peter says.

“How we cope with that change as an industry is really what’s important.”

Establishing an increasingly collaborative relationship between industry and government was a key goal in developing the roadmap.

As Peter explains, government support has been a key factor in the sustained growth and health of the sector.

“Just as importantly, and in some ways more importantly, we’ll be

The AORA 10-year roadmap will help to maintain the strong growth of Australia’s waste industry.

working really hard to communicate the roadmap to senior decision makers and politicians at all three levels of government,” he says.

“Their ownership stake in this is absolutely key. Currently, it’s a great environment for growth in organics recycling as you have politicians pushing more ambitious targets than they ever have previously.”

Peter believes that maintaining a relationship between government and the industry will be essential for the future development of the nation’s circular economy.

“We already have a strong industry. If we can line up decision making between industry and government, we are confident we can continue to close the loop within our industry,” he says.

In terms of overseas development, Peter stresses that the industry’s wealth

of knowledge with recycling and re-using organic waste is already making an impact.

“We are already informing and advising based on our industry knowledge for the emerging compost and organics industries across Southeast Asia and parts of Northern Asia, including China and parts of the middle east,” he says.

“We think we can build on that. The technical capacity of our industry at its best is incredibly strong even by world standards.”

Through using the industry’s existing knowledge base around organics, Peter is hoping to establish a world-leading standard of quality.

“What we want to do is make that standard consistent across every state and territory in Australia. If we can do that, then we will be a global exemplar,

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whilst achieving amazing results for Australia,” he says.

Vision 2031: The 10 Year Roadmap for Australia’s World Leading Organics Recycling Industry will be launched in coming weeks, initially to AORA members.

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

WASTE MANAGEMENT IN ACTION – GLASS SEPERATION

Australia Paper Recovery’s ‘glass out’ service has assisted local councils to optimise the effectiveness of their kerbside collection services.

Expanding Glass Out FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS, AUSTRALIA PAPER RECOVERY (APR) IS CONTINUING TO GROW ITS ‘GLASS OUT’ SERVICE. AS DARREN THORPE TELLS WASTE MANAGEMENT REVIEW, GREATER UPTAKE OF THE APR SERVICE FROM LOCAL COUNCILS IS A PROMISING SIGN.

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ince its origins in wastepaper, plastic, and cardboard collection in 2002, Australia Paper Recovery (APR) is continuing to develop its commercial and industrial (C&I) processing capabilities.

With five facilities across Victoria, including a materials recovery facility in Truganina, a C&I processing site in Dandenong, and a shredding facility in Fairfield, APR has a maintained focus on providing waste sorting services for councils such as the Yarra City Council.

For APR Managing Director Darren Thorpe, the next stage in the company’s advancement is the development of its successful ‘glass

46 / WMR / September 2021

out’ approach.

“When councils conduct kerbside collections, glass shards can get mixed in with paper and cardboard. Once compacted by the collection truck, it is very hard to separate the glass through treatment,” he says.

“That’s why it has been critical to sort glass contamination for the efficient treatment of waste.”

Using a singular resource stream for collection exponentially increases the chance of glass contamination with general waste. Other than fibres, Darren explains that glass is the largest source of contamination within kerbside resources today.

“We can encourage residents to stop putting glass into the wrong bins

but for the circular economy we need to find outcomes for materials such as soft plastics and glass,” he says.

“Reducing the contamination is the key to providing an end-of-life cycle for glass products for re-use throughout the market.”

With its “way of the future” facility, the APR is servicing the collection needs of Yarra City Council.

Joe Agostino, City Works Manager at Yarra City Council, says the APR ‘glass out’ service provides a whole new level of efficiency for its kerbside collection service.

“We’ve rolled out a separate purple lid glass bin, removing the chances of glass contamination in the commingled

recycling. APR specifically sort the remaining recycling through what would otherwise be a heavily contaminated commingled recycling product,” he says.

“Glass in the commingled recycling has been a problem for many years as it causes quality problems. The glass bin has given us high quality glass, which is now suitable for re-production within our local glass manufacturing market.”

Joe adds that supporting a circular economy throughout the Yarra City Council region is a top priority.

“We are assisting to drive that local market with re-using that recycled glass and commingled recycling rather than ship that product overseas,” he says.

“If you have recyclable materials which are mixed with glass you are clearly going to get a reduction in quality for that product. With APR we are seeing higher yields and increased quality, which are both essential for a sustainable kerbside system.”

Due to COVID-19 restrictions throughout Victoria, more people were disposing of an increased volume of kerbside waste.

This caused the contamination levels of glass within waste to rise, and increased the need for a resilient and proven sorting system.

“Reducing the contamination is the key to providing an end-of-life cycle for glass products for re-use throughout the market.”

Darren Thorpe Australia Paper Recovery Managing Director

“Councils have been doing a lot of work with residents to educate them around separating glass from plastics.

We have seen contamination levels spike and dip, and this may continue over time,” Darren says.

“To achieve a different outcome, we need to make changes. The residents in these councils required time to adapt to change which was expected. Even as we work with more councils, we are improving our own education around glass treatment.”

Waiting is another factor that Darren says has affected the

embracing of APR services.

“People need to know that the ‘glass out’ facility is ready, that it works in removing glass from kerbside waste,” he says.

Since its focus is on quality, APR is now shifting its sights onto the further growth of its operation. This will include an increase in quantity of waste sorting throughout its facilities.

With all Victorian councils being required to have access to glass recycling services by 2027, which will include the introduction of the purple lidded glass bin, Darren believes the uptake of APR services will only increase.

“We expect our output to almost triple in the next few years. Councils who are ahead of the curve are being prepared for the 2027 requirements.

These are the councils who will have a successful transition period,” he says.

“We want to help with this rollout and with embracing the new. With so much unknown currently in the world due to factors such as COVID, there has been a tendency to rely on conventional methods.

“It’s time for APR to take that next step with our council and C&I customers into the unknown.”

For more information, visit australianpaperrecovery.com Glass separation has drastically reduced levels of contamination throughout kerbside waste collections.

www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 47

WASTE MANAGEMENT IN ACTION – WASTEWATER

Looking ahead pays dividends WASTEWATER SPECIALIST AEROFLOAT WON A TENDER FOR SHELLHARBOUR COUNCIL NOT ONLY BASED ON EXPERIENCE, BUT HAVING FORESIGHT. IT EXPLAINS HOW.

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ike any local authority, the Shellharbour Resource Recovery facility needed to reduce costs in its operations, which is why it decided to commission a report to consider alternative options to its current offsite treatment arrangements – due to ever increasing disposal costs.

Historically, leachate produced from the Dunmore Recycling and Waste Deposit Depot was collected in 200,000L of onsite tanks, and then disposed of by either onsite irrigation, or trucking to a third-party for treatment. The outcomes of the commissioned report showed that onsite pre-treatment and connection to sewer was a good value option for disposal of the leachate.

Council identified the nearest existing sewer and began developing concept designs with the assistance of external consultants.

Through an expressions of interest process prior to the design and construction tender, Shellharbour Council staff leveraged the expertise of several companies to understand the risks and benefits of several concept process designs. It eventually selected a two-staged process design to proceed with and construct tender.

The plant was required to achieve an effluent quality suitable for discharge to Sydney Water’s sewer with a design capacity of 65m3/day based on an ammonia concentration of 1200mg/L.

48 / WMR / September 2021

The nearest sewer main capable of accepting the discharge was some 1.2km away. The land zoning and size of the treatment plant meant it could be delivered under the State Environmental Planning Policy (Infrastructure) 2007 as development permitted without consent, whereas the pipeline required development consent due to parts of the alignment being with the proximity area of a coastal wetland. As such, the works were delivered as separate projects and under separate contracts.

Even during tender stage, one of the key elements, and something that helped the company get over the line in terms of securing the contract, was having foresight. Something that Aerofloat’s Managing Director Ray Anderson had when reviewing the design of the system.

“I anticipated there would be more nitrogen in the future and it wouldn’t cost much more if we modified the design to account for this from the start,” Ray says. “Which, as it turns out was a good move, as the concentration changed throughout the course of the project but design changes were not necessary half way through the project.

“We tend to be a little bit more conservative with our designs. The plant was designed for 65m3 per day, with an average ammonia concentrate of about 1250mg/L. The testing that we have been doing over the past few weeks of commissioning has shown it has been

up around the 1500 to 1800mg/L, or up to 50 per cent higher than the original design concentration. Due to our conservative design, the plant has the capacity to handle this higher load.”

It was this attention to detail and critical thinking that led to Aerofloat being awarded the contract and ultimately resulted in delivering a successful project.

The scope of the build included preparation of the site, constructing piles under concrete tanks, slabs, and bund walls, as well as installing two new leachate tanks. There were also three large concrete tanks that had to be installed that comprised an anoxic reactor, a nitrifying reactor, and a sequence batch reactor (SBR).

To complete the build there are internal recycle sludge pumps between the nitrifying reactor and anoxic reactor, and between the SBR and nitrifying reactor. The treated effluent is decanted into a treated effluent tank prior to being pumped to the sewer. Different chemicals are added to optimise the process performance, including sucrose as a carbon source and caustic soda for pH correction. Excess biosolids are pumped to a thickening tank for disposal back into the landfill.

The plant is contained within a concrete bund and has a purpose-built mezzanine floor that was installed to ensure critical mechanical and electrical componentry is positioned above the

Aerofloat consulted directly with Shellharbour Council to deliver the project.

top of the bund wall level. The entire system is PLC controlled and automated with remote monitoring capabilities.

“The site also required a different approach to that of many other leachate treatment plants,” says Council Project Manager James Brumpton. “The common approach usually consists of large upstream leachate storage ponds to provide balancing and mixing, feeding a relatively consistent leachate into one or more sequence batch reactors.

“One of the issues was that the site does not have any upstream storage, so the leachate quality is highly variable, with ammonia occasionally as high as 2000mg/L,” says James.

Mick Anderson, Aerofloat’s General Manager of Engineering and Projects, knew the challenges of removing the main contaminant, ammonia, from the leachate and the impact the resultant nitrate formation, can have on the stability of the treatment process.

“In other leachate treatment plants, ammonia levels are often around 300 to 500mg/L. Shellharbour is vastly different from a typical leachate treatment plant where ammonia concentrations up to 2000mg/L can occur,” says Anderson.

“Understanding the nitrification and denitrification process is extremely important in treating leachate with such high ammonia levels to ensure the treated effluent quality consistently

meets the acceptable limits for discharge to sewer. It is these in-house process skills from years of experience that Aerofloat prides itself on,” says Anderson.

PROJECT DELIVERY Due to the high disposal costs, Shellharbour staff had a desire to promptly deliver a treatment facility.

Following an extensive tender review process, the contract was awarded to Aerofloat at the end of November 2020 with a practical completion date of 30 June 2021. Detailed design started immediately with preliminary earth works commencing in early January.

“Throughout the project we had weekly meetings between Council and Aerofloat to constantly challenge the timeframe and work out ways to bring forward the completion date,” says James. “The initial scope of the project did not include the hot commissioning of the plant. However, Aerofloat agreed to seed the plant with biomass, prior to practical completion to enable the biosolids to acclimatise and to ensure that the plant could treat and commence discharging the treated effluent to sewer as soon as possible. There was a high level of collaboration between Council and Aerofloat as well as key subcontractors Dynamic Civil and Panthers Tanks to ensure the project was

completed on time, on budget and to a high standard of quality.”

Mick Anderson and Aerofloat Project Manager Nick Lowe are happy with the way the plant is functioning through its commissioning phase. “Having only been running for a few weeks it has already reached its designed capacity, which means Ray’s intuition was right when he insisted more capacity should be built in,” says Lowe. “We were producing an effluent quality that met discharge requirements early in the commissioning phase.”

Aerofloat has a strong aftersales business and will continue to have a long-term relationship with the council and its operator, Innaco, during the ongoing operations contract.

“We have good relationships with our clients,” says Mick. “We will have production managers, commissioning engineers, and process engineers dial in remotely to the plant to review trends and advise if needed.”

And what does the council think of the end result?

“From the beginning, Aerofloat critically analysed the process design by leveraging its in-house knowledge and experience in treating industrial wastewaters,” says James. “[Its] attention to detail and passion for excellence was evident throughout the entire design, manufacture, construction, testing and commissioning phases. Aerofloat truly has been fantastic and a real pleasure to work with.”

Once the civil works and large tanks were constructed, Aerofloat made the build seem simple, despite being a very complex project. Completing the project ahead of schedule enabled council to commence discharging treated effluent to sewer much sooner than expected.

Needless to say they were satisfied with the result.

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

www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 49

WASTE MANAGEMENT IN ACTION – HAZARDOUS WASTE

Maintaining Independency CONSTANT CONSOLIDATION BY SOME OF THE HAZARDOUS WASTE INDUSTRY’S LARGEST PLAYERS HAS CREATED NOT ONLY A DYNAMIC ENVIRONMENT, BUT EXCEPTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE REMAINING INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES.

“I

t is the larger players in this industry that often seek to blend a business culture into a homogenous single model. But many of our industry people value their autonomy and independence, and their ability to make client decisions close to the ground.”

As the Director of Alpha Resource Management and former COO of Toxfree, Peter Goodwin believes in the importance of businesses being able to maintain their operating independence.

Following the takeover of Toxfree

by Cleanaway, Goodwin has spent time developing an alternative business opportunity for the hazardous waste market.

This led to the development of Pure, a sector-focused alternative for waste industry clients, who like relying on the service of an independent, but who may benefit from the scale of an industry leader.

“The intent is to put together a group of like-minded organisations and offer a very focused service to the major customers within the hazardous waste industry,” Peter says.

This model will be built out in time, including by acquiring other independents to increase the company’s market share.

As a first step, Pure has acquired

50 / WMR / September 2021

Pure will create a consistent independent culture, while acquiring suitable waste businesses to build its market share.

the businesses of the WestRex Group, a successful hazardous waste treatment provider based in Queensland.

Now with a number of major shareholders backing them, Gregg Chapple, Mark Scott and Goodwin are working hard to implement a seamless transition process for employees and businesses that have similar values and aims for the future.

“It is partners such as ours at Pure, that make all of the difference. The differentiator at Pure will be the way we support the founders, and their staff to continue to be fully engaged,” he says.

CREATING CULTURE As Goodwin explains, the key to the future of Pure is differentiating the organisation’s operations to that of the majors.

“Some of the larger players are trying to be the best in all facets of the industry – and that’s great – but it can be very difficult in practise,” he says.

“Some people within the industry believe a nimble, more specific, sector-focused business can challenge the larger operators. In my view, this dynamic model is an exceptional recipe for success.”

Creating a unified culture, while acquiring businesses with existing

cultures and employees, is a matter of balance, Peter says.

“We are aiming to support those business and their culture growing within Pure, as successfully as we can, rather than just trying to change them,” he says.

Having experienced many acquisitions firsthand during his time at Toxfree Solutions, and before that Veolia, Peter understands how important the connections between employees and the original business can be during the acquisition process.

As he explains, maintaining independency is important when creating an organisational culture.

“A secret to success in both our industry, and perhaps business in general is the maintenance of a successful culture, and building strong relationships,” Peter says.

“The strategy is to build on what are a common set of values across multiple businesses. Sometimes, the more you centralise control, the less autonomy and satisfaction many of your staff members have.”

While major players within the waste industry have significant resources and facilities, Peter says staff can sometimes be highly regulated, and have little autonomy to operate. This is what he believes will differentiate Pure from some of the competition.

The business will be an alternative service for waste operators within the industry.

Pure hopes to enter the Sydney and Melbourne metro markets soon.

MARKED WITH AMBITION Peter says maintaining a consistent organisational culture, and safe and secure operations during a high level of growth present an exciting opportunity for the company.

As he explains, not only Pure, but potential clients will benefit from the business’s alternative and innovative disposal solutions.

“In the hazardous waste industry, each customer often has unique requirements, so implementing a standardised operations model to solve different challenges may not always be the best way to go,” he says.

Through further acquisitions also comes plans for expansion. With a growing foothold within Brisbane and regional Queensland, Peter says in time, Pure will enter both the Sydney and Melbourne metro markets.

In this way, Peter plans to utilise the company’s focused strategy to service some of the most significant hazardous waste streams in the industry.

Pure already services infrastructure, resources, and commercial sectors.

Further development will grow Pure’s reach and capabilities within each of these sectors, as well as the healthcare and municipal sectors.

“If we are successful, we should create a significant position within two to three of these sectors within the next 18 months,” Peter says. “There are opportunities to rapidly become a large player in the hazardous waste space.

“A lot of the businesses in the marketplace I admire, and hope to offer an opportunity within Pure, [and] in my view operate as well, or better than some of the major players.”

What they lack however, is scale, and the support to expand their network across the waste industry, Peter says. “They lack a national footprint, something in time we anticipate Pure can provide,” he says.

“If people have can continue to have fulfilling roles in the business, and they enjoy competition, together we can create a winning environment within the waste industry.”

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

www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 51

WASTE MANAGEMENT IN ACTION – SORTING AND SEPERATING EQUIPMENT

Delivering waste action F

LINCOM GROUP IS EXPANDING ITS OPERATIONS THROUGHOUT THE AUSTRALIAN WASTE INDUSTRY, BECOMING THE DEDICATED DISTRIBUTOR OF ACTION VIBRATORY EQUIPMENT NATIONALLY.

ounded in 1972, Action Equipment has been a market leader internationally for the design, manufacturing, and installation of some of the industry’s most trusted equipment.

Now servicing more than 33 countries, Action Equipment has found a new home in Australia and New Zealand. As Lincom Group National Sales Manager – Forestry and Recycling Mark Malone explains, the decision to become the exclusive distributor of Action Vibratory Equipment was made easy by the company’s reciprocated values.

“Action are a family-owned company, so they are very much like Lincom Group in that way. Just like Lincom Group, Action also places an emphasis on delivering quality products for its customers,” he says.

“Also, much like Action, we invest most of our earnings back into the company, to support innovation within the organisation and to continue to service our loyal customers.”

A United States-based manufacturer, Action has developed its range of products from its Oregon base.

The distribution agreement will complement Lincom Group’s services and ambition to grow, Mark says.

“The agreement will allow Lincom Group to distribute quality vibratory conveyors, feeders, screeners and separators nationwide,” he says.

52 / WMR / September 2021

Lincom Group will distribute Action Vibratory Equipment throughout Australia and New Zealand.

“These products are expertly designed for the recycling industry, especially construction and demolition, which requires robust equipment.”

The distribution agreement will further expand Lincom Group’s equipment portfolio, with Action products servicing quarries, recycling plants and mines.

Having already won the annual Powerscreen Regional Dealer of the Year Award in three consecutive years (2015, 2016 and 2017), the distribution agreement is set to bolster Lincom Group’s position as a nationally renowned equipment distributor.

It will also support plans for Lincom Group’s emergence within the recycling industry, where the

company is looking to gather a larger foothold to service its established customer base.

Reflecting its values of leadership, dependability, passion, integrity, customer focus and long-term value is at the core of Lincom Group’s operations.

Becoming the distributor of Action will help Lincom Group to re-enforce these core values within its everyday servicing of the waste industry.

“As part of our operations we invest heavily in spare parts, equipment and support. Our service ensures that customers are able to access spare parts no matter where they are across Australia,” he says.

“Distributing Action products is the next step towards offering

more quality products to more customers nationally in the waste and recycling sector.”

Action products will also form part of Lincom Group’s national product support coverage, which Mark says is now available throughout Australia and New Zealand.

“We’ve got five locations Australiawide, which are strategically located, including sites in Perth, Queensland, Wollongong, Hunter Valley and Ballarat,” he says.

“We also have sites in the South Island and North Island of New Zealand. This ensures that our customer base can be supported, no matter where they are.”

optimal performance, whether it is situated in wet, sticky, or fine applications. The double-deck design for the screener is also available, allowing for the screening of materials which are of multiple sizes.

For recovering the highest quality and quantity for end products, The Dense-Out vibratory air separator grants operators the ability to separate materials based on density and bulkiness.

This is done by offering a machine that can reliably run for 24 hours a day, while also being efficient

and reducing costs for labour and maintenance.

Materials can also avoid being put into landfill, reducing disposal fees for operators who can see the machine retrofitted to their existing plants.

Action’s bespoke range of machinery includes five more products, of which customers can be assured will be of high quality and supported by Lincom Group’s service support team.

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

Action Vibratory Equipment help to reduce maintenance and operation costs with its robust line of machinery.

THE ACTION DIFFERENCE For Lincom Group, creating quality products to service the Australian and New Zealand waste sector required an increased level of robustness, quality, and longevity.

Action Equipment’s line of vibratory equipment is purpose-built for a range of Australian and New Zealand applications.

Reduced maintenance, operation noise and moving parts are just some of the many benefits of installing Action vibratory equipment.

Compared to other conveying and screening equipment, Action vibratory machines were built to be heavy duty.

The Taper-Slot screen, Vibra-Snap screen and Dense-Out vibratory air separator are just three of the exclusive high-quality Action products that will be distributed by Lincom Group.

The Taper-Slot screen combines high stroke with low rpm and the ability to be custom designed per the application.

Ease of installation, maintenance and operation are a mainstay of all Action equipment.

The Vibra-Snap screen can maintain

www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 53

WASTE MANAGEMENT IN ACTION – ODOUR REDUCTION

Harmful odours and gasses can now be treated safely, thanks to the ECS.

Vacuuming for a greener purpose THROUGH ITS SPECIALISATION OF INDUSTRIAL VACUUMING SYSTEMS AND SERVICES, DUST COLLECTOR RENTALS IS CONTINUING TO PROMOTE CLEANER AND CONTROLLED WASTE SITES.

T

hroughout its 30 years’ experience in odour control and dust extraction, Dust Collector Rentals (DCR) Environmental Services has seen many changes occur within the waste sector.

The necessity for reducing both the environmental and social impacts of its services has become a priority for many businesses and Environmental Protection Authorities (EPA) across Australia.

As DCR’s Toby Burns explains,

54 / WMR / September 2021

this commitment to a cleaner and increasingly environmentally friendly operation has led many contractors to use its rental services.

“In a lot of waste sites, you have residential areas or other work sites nearby. With any hazardous odours or smells that are released, there is a risk that they could affect the immediate area,” Toby explains.

“What our rental products do is reduce the odours and volatile organic compounds for the community, as well

as prevent unseen odourless fumes from entering the atmosphere.”

DCRs’ Environmental Control Systems (ECS) help diminish the environmental impact of waste works, which include the remediation of waste and soil products.

“Inside waste sites they may have to dig up the soil, but the process of digging up the soils can release chemical gasses, fumes and odours,” Toby says.

“We want to make sure that businesses can control their fumes

and odours, so that the impact on the community can be minimalised.

“The main focus for our company is that we are environmentally friendly, and we support our clients to be as well.”

The ECS model functions by using filters and airflow to sort the hazardous air, which may contain fumes and odours, from the clean air.

This is done by producing negative pressure within the work area, removing any dust, and subjecting the odorous air to cassettes filled with activated carbon.

The odorous gasses are retained with the carbon bed and the de-odourised air is refiltered yet again through HEPAstyle filters before being released into the atmosphere.

Joe Keane, DCR’s manager, explains the ECS is simple in design and is manufactured for 24/7 operation.

“Basically, the ECS extracts harmful odours and gasses from any situation.

The ECS keeps the odours inside, filters via three different filtering systems and only clean air goes into the atmosphere,” he says.

By working with a company like DCR, operators can not only ensure better health for residents, but also that they comply to EPA regulations.

“Currently, the EPA is pushing for more companies to reduce the emissions and odours that are released into the atmosphere,” Toby says.

“These restrictions are changing the way waste businesses operate; these client requirements are a major driving factor for businesses to use machines such as the ECS.” Based in Sydney, New South Wales, DCR Environmental Services continue to supply ECS models that can be fitted to different site requirements, depending on the type of job and operation requirements.

“Different site requirements can require different ECS designs. We can

“What our rental products do is reduce the odours and VOCs for the community, as well as prevent un-seen odourless fumes from entering the atmosphere.”

Toby Burns Owner and Director, Dust Collector Rentals (DCR) Environmental Services

construct the ECS with that in mind.

If an application requires a greater filtering capacity, the modular design can allow for expansion or reduction of the ECS,” Toby says.

“The customer can come to us and say which odours or chemicals they need to be removed.”

EPA Victoria’s Environment Protection Act 1970 includes the State environment protection policy (Air Quality Management). The policy establishes health and safety protocols that must be taken when undertaking operations that could contribute to air pollution.

Under the Management of Emissions section, the policy states that operators “should apply best practice to the management of their emissions or reduce those emissions to the maximum extent achievable”. The ECS achieves this by combining a diversion design

that can separate the gasses from chemically impacted soils.

“If you go back 15 years, clients were using our machinery as it was correct business practice. Now, it is a necessity for businesses, especially in the waste sector, to comply to EPA regulations,” Toby says.

The modular designs of DCR’s ECS allows for fast installation, usually less than two days. The ECS produces a closed-loop solution for carbon. The unique vacuum system can remove saturated carbon, while also reducing the amount of residual dust during the process.

DCR’s design capability is based on experience and an attitude to reduce the impacts for customers and the environment.

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

Dust Collector Rentals ECS model can be installed in under two days.

www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 55

EVENTS

Addressing the right to repair DR MATTHEW RIMMER WILL BE SPEAKING AT THE CLEAN TECH CONFERENCE IN BRISBANE IN NOVEMBER. HE TALKS TO WASTE MANAGEMENT REVIEW ABOUT RIGHT-TO-REPAIR RESTRICTIONS, AND WHAT ATTENDEES CAN EXPECT FROM HIS TALK.

W

ith the explosion of new technologies over the past 20 years – from high-end PCs, mobile phones and gaming consoles, through to smart fridges, cars with in-built computers and high-definition televisions – it is not surprising that the amount of e-waste has increased exponentially.

It is not lost on Dr Matthew Rimmer either, who is a Professor of Intellectual Property and Innovation Law and the Queensland University of Technology.

Matthew will be a key speaker at the Clean Tech conference that is being held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre from 1 to 2 November, 2021.

Matthew’s interest in the e-waste sector takes on many facets. As well as innovations in the sustainability arena, he is keen to foster more research about cleaning technologies and making sure the circular economy meets its goals.

However, one roadblock is the right-to-repair. Like many people over a certain age, he remembers a time when certain technologies lasted a long time. And if something did happen that warranted a repair, then it wouldn’t cost too much to do so.

Today, that has changed in many ways. Not least, the big technology developers making rules around fixing their products if something goes

56 / WMR / September 2021

wrong. This is all and well if your latest smartphone is under warranty, but what if it has passed that date?

As a lot of consumers can attest, the cost of repair can be too much, so they dispose of the product and buy a new one. Cynics will claim this is the manufacturers intent all along.

But some budding entrepreneurs had other ideas – what if they could fix the technology at a much cheaper rate?

Great idea. However, there has been a catch – the big tech companies sue independent repairers as they see it as an infringement on their intellectual property.

This is where the right-to-repair has become an issue. Do big tech companies have the right to stop their products being repaired by third-party vendors?

Those in the ‘yes’ camp believe that, as well as saving on costs, there is the issue of making sure products don’t become e-waste casualties.

“There has been a lot of interest in right of repair in respect of PCs and gadgets and tablets and iPhones,” says Matthew. “There’s also been a lot of interest in some of the contents in relation to vehicles. Tesla for instance, has been opposed to right to repair – there has been lots of issues in terms of some smart cars and autonomous vehicle, too.”

One of the reasons Elon Musk’s

Professor of Intellectual Property and Innovation Law Dr Matthew Rimmer.

company has an adverse reaction to right-of-repair is that some of the technology in the car is proprietary and therefore under trademark. However, can a huge conglomerate – whether it be a tech developer or car manufacturer – do anything about stopping right of repair?

“Apple famously and successfully sued an independent repairer in Norway, called Huseby, for trademark infringement,” said Matthew. “That was a significant dispute. There has been lots of threats against [global repairer community entity] ifixit over making manuals available online.

“In Australia, there has been a couple of interesting incidents. We’ve had a messy patent dispute over refurbishing printer cartridges in the High Court

of Australia. In that case, it was found that the patent rights are exhausted at a certain point – once a product is sold and has been commercially exploited.”

As an academic who specialises in such things, how does Matthew feel about it? It all comes back to his thoughts on sustainability.

“It has been an urgent issue in terms of litigation in Australia,” he says.

“Intellectual property is an important field over the right to repair. My personal perspective would be that I think that the intellectual property regime needs to promote sustainable development and a circular economy.

“I think we need to rebalance our intellectual property regimes to better encourage that sort of innovation. At the Clean Tech conference, I am hoping to talk a little about some of the innovation opportunities in the that field.”

And he says there are some influential people in both politics and business who think the right-of-repair issue, needs a fresh look. You couldn’t get anybody more powerful than US president Joe Biden, or somebody with more influence than Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak.

“The US federal trade commission said they are going to take enforcement action on the right to repair restrictions, so Joe Biden is very keen on the right to repair,” says Matthew.

“Lina Khan, his new appointee to the federal trade commission, has said she is going to make it a priority. That is a big development.

“Steve Wozniak…has come out very strongly criticising Apple for its litigation against independent repairers and efforts to thwart repair legislation.

He noted, when he founded Apple, it was meant to be an open platform – you could tinker with it, you could hack it. Now Apple has created this closed proprietary walled garden. He’s been upset at that particular evolution.”

On the local front, the Productivity Commission of Inquiry into e-waste,

Dr Mattew Rimmer will address the right to repair at the 2021 Cleantech Conference.

product stewardship, sustainable development and the development of the circular economy is focusing on the issue. Australia in some ways has been lagging behind in some jurisdictions in trying to think about sustainable production and consumption, according to Matthew.

Overseas, the US sustainable development goals, in particular, have a heavy emphasis on the need for more sustainable approach to the modern economy. The EU has been pushing ahead with an eco-design regime – France introduced a repairability index this year.

“There has been a lot of questions from the productivity commissioners about whether or not Australia should adopt a similar index,” says Matthew.

“In Australia, the key champion of the right to repair has been the ACT Attorney General, Shane Rattenbury, who is a Green Party politician. He is part of a Green/ALP coalition. As well as being concerned about consumer

rights and competition policy, he has been very interested in e-waste, product stewardship and sustainable development and he also says that is raises larger questions about taking actions in terms of climate change.”

When presenting at the Clean Tech conference in November, Matthew will be covering off on that subject as well as the aforementioned sustainability and innovation aspects.

“There a definitely opportunities there to develop sustainable businesses,” he says. “This includes green forms of innovation that capitalise on the ingenuity and imagination of Australian researchers in this area.

“At the Clean Tech conference, I will be interested in having that conversation. My hope is that the Productivity Commission Report will be taken up by the government and that will create good market conditions to encourage some research, development and acceleration of clean technologies in this area.”

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BENEFIT FROM THE HYVA ADVANTAGE Increased payload is achieved through high compaction force and lightweight body design. A longer lifetime is ensured from high tensile and wearable steels. This delivers structural strength and high durability against corrosion and abrasion.

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PRONAR MPB 20.55 MOBILE TROMMEL SCREEN

The Pronar MPB 20.55 is backed by Lincom Group and its network of after-sales support.

The Pronar MPB 20.55 mobile trommel screen is suited to work with a wide variety of materials, including soil, compost, waste, coal, aggregate and biomass. The trommel screens have easy-to-use, intuitive electronic controls that allow the operator to tailor the operation parameters to the materials to be separated.

Quick and easy to transport, the Pronar is robust and easy to use, ensuring optimum levels of performance every time. The remote controlled, two speed, track undercarriage allows for safe, precise movement around the site.

Wide-opening access doors provide excellent accessibility for quick screen drum changes when required, with the engine and hydraulic pumps positioned on a hinged platform for easy maintenance.

Back up by the reputation of Lincom Group and its national after-sales support, parts, and service coverage, the MPB 20.55 comes with cleanfix cleaning systems fitted to both the engine radiator and hydraulic cooler, plus a central greasing system as Australian spec standard.

Some of the options available include hydraulic adjust chassis, hydraulically operated tipping grid, magnetic head drums for discharge conveyors, wind shifter for oversize conveyor, and trackpads.

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www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 59

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LAST WORD

Time to ban scrap metal export

Australia’s scrap industry in recent times has had to utilise imported material to satisfy demand.

THE SCRAP METAL INDUSTRY HAS LONG BEEN THE RECYCLING ‘POSTER’ CHILD IN AUSTRALIA. WITH A RECYCLING RATE OF 90 PER CENT IN 2018-19 ACCORDING TO THE 2020 NATIONAL WASTE REPORT, IT OUTPERFORMS ANY OTHER MATERIAL CATEGORY.

T

his high level of recycling in Australia would not be possible without the millions of dollars invested by the scrap and steel industry into building infrastructure across the country to collect, sort, shred, and process scrap metal.

In 2018-19, more than 5.6 million tonnes, or 223kg per capita, of metal scrap was generated.

Ferrous scrap that remains on shore is used as feedstock to Australia’s $29 billion steel industry, which produces around 5.5 million tonnes of steel annually, and according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, employs 110,000 Australians (201718) and generates annual revenue of $29 billion.

There are four steel producers in

Australia and more than 300 steel distribution outlets through the country, in addition to manufacturing, fabrication and engineering companies.

Primary steel production using virgin raw materials supplemented by scrap occurs in New South Wales and South Australia with secondary production predominantly using scrap

www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 61

LAST WORD

occurring in NSW and Victoria.

The majority of steel end use is in the building, mining, rail, and construction sectors, with locally made steel also supplying the manufacturing, infrastructure, and distribution sectors.

Currently, an average of 24.2 per cent recycled and recovered content (17.4 per cent and 6.8 per cent respectively) is included in the range of steel products manufactured at BlueScope’s Port Kembla Steelworks.

National Waste and Recycling Industry Council (NWRIC) CEO Rose Read says the carbon emission reduction benefits of substituting virgin ore with ferrous scrap are significant.

“On average almost two tonnes of carbon dioxide are emitted for every tonne of steel produced from virgin ore, accounting for approximately seven per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions,” she says. “By comparison, a tonne of steel produced from scrap produces just 25 per cent

NWRIC CEO Rose Read says substituting virgin ore with ferrous scrap will provide a range of benefits for the industry.

62 / WMR / September 2021

“Moving to green steel presents an enormous opportunity for Australia to create jobs, boost exports and help tackle climate change.”

Rose Read National Waste and Recycling Industry Council (NWRIC) CEO

of the emissions of scrap made from virgin ore.

“The greenhouse benefits are clear, and Australia’s steel industry recognises this with BlueScope’s demand in NSW for ferrous scrap trebling over the past ten years.”

While Australia’s scrap industry has been able to meet the steel industry’s growing demand for ferrous scrap, the industry has had to supplement its supply with imported scrap to satisfy additional markets.

At the same time, Australia has been exporting an average of 2.39 million tonnes of scrap metal per annum from 2017 to 2021 according to data from the Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment (DAWE).

“There are several potential pathways to manufacture greener steel.

Increasing scrap content in existing primary and secondary steelmaking facilities is an immediate step the steel industry can take as they move towards low carbon “green” steel while hydrogen technology is being developed,” Rose says.

She adds that the value of Australia’s scrap metal industry to Australia’s steel production overall cannot be underestimated.

“Moving to green steel presents an enormous opportunity for Australia to create jobs, boost exports and help tackle climate change,” she says.

“However, if the scrap metal industry is to support the steel industry’s transition to “green” steel by suppling more ferrous scrap, several

national and state regulatory changes must happen to keep ferrous scrap in Australia.

“This includes the federal government banning the export of unprocessed scrap, state EPAs licensing all car breaking operations and waiving landfill levies on residual wastes from legitimate scrap shredding activities.”

How is ferrous scrap metal processed?

Recoverable materials are removed from metal-based goods such as old cars, white goods and other postproduction and consumer goods.

Lighter gauge materials are often processed through a shredder, with ferrous and then non-ferrous metals separated by large, sophisticated downstream separation plants.

Heavier grade materials are size reduced by large industrial shears or by manually oxy cutting the metal.

The ferrous scrap metal is then melted in large electric arc or blast furnaces, cooled, and formed into shaped to produce metal products.

Much of the waste generated from the shredding process is known as known as automotive shredder residue (ASR) or floc and often ends up in landfill. Companies such as Sims Resource Renewal are building facilities to transform ASR into its core elements of hydrogen and carbon dioxide for transport fuel and industrial purposes respectively and aiming to divert more than one million tonnes of this material from landfill.

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