Building a partnership - Paul Wall explains how a Sydney partnership continues to reduce construction waste - AWS
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APRIL 2018 Building a partnership Paul Wall explains how a Sydney partnership continues to reduce construction waste. FEATURES PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY: Tyre Stewardship Australia’s new market development strategy Industry profiles: Mark Smith and Peter Schmigel Container Deposit Scheme: lessons learnt in SA The future of waste in metropolitan Melbourne
I’M PROUD TO HAVE SUPPORTED AN AUSTRALIAN MANUFACTURER. “I’ve been using Iveco ACCOs for 15 years and I reckon they’re one of the best trucks you can get. They do everything I ask of them and don’t cost much to run – they’re reliable, don’t give me grief and have never broken down. Another great thing about the ACCO is that it’s Australian-made.” It’s a decision all of us here at KADS Hire are pretty proud of.” Don Emtsis, Proprietor – KADS Plant Hire THAT’S COMMITMENT. THAT’S AUSTRALIAN JOBS. THAT’S IVECO. www.iveco.com.au/manufacturing
COVER STORY BUILDING THE FOUNDATIONS OF 14 SUSTAINABILITY Sydney’s Better Buildings Partnership has helped significantly reduce waste in the building and construction sector, but just how problematic is waste in the sector as a whole? “TENS OF THOUSANDS OF NEW HOMES ARE BEING BUILT EVERY YEAR ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF CITIES 44 LIKE MELBOURNE AND SYDNEY AND A FEW TONNES FOR EVERY HOME CREATED IS COSTING THE BUILDER MONEY, WHICH IS THEN PASSED ON TO THE PURCHASER. ONE OF THE REASONS WHY IT’S DIFFICULT TO RECYCLE IS THAT WASTE IS MOSTLY JUST DUMPED ON SITE IN A CAGE OR SKIP AND IT’S MIXED, WHICH IMPOSES ADDITIONAL COSTS IF IT IS TO BE RECYCLD.” –Stan Krpan, Chief Executive Officer of Sustainability Victoria In this issue Features 21 WTEACH HAT SA CAN US 42 MARKET RESOURCES ResourceCo’s new Wetherill 58 AINUSTRALIA’S FUTURE THE UK’S PAST The South Australian Park facility has the capability to The United Kingdom has been Government implemented its divert 250,000 tonnes of waste steadily investing in waste to container deposit legislation 40 per annum, reduce emissions and energy, but what lessons can years ago. Now other states are save costs for businesses in the Australia learn from their looking at one, so what lessons be long-term. experiences? learnt from SA? 46 MARKET MAGIC 62 TWASTE HE FUTURE OF 30 BRIGHT FUTURE A AHEAD The South Melbourne Market’s innovation has led to a 90 per cent reduction in organic waste IN METRO MELBOURNE Victorian Government statutory Waste Management Review speaks to Peter Schmigel, the new volumes and more than 600 authority Metropolitan Waste Chief Executive Officer of the tonnes of organic waste per and Resource Recovery Group Australian Council of Recycling, annum diverted from landfill. lays out its vision for the future about some of the key issues of alternative waste treatment in facing the recycling sector. 56 CNATIONAL OULD CHINA’S SWORD BE Melbourne, providing updates on its progress. 38 ASTRATEGY USTRALIAN-FIRST TARGETS OUR GREATEST GIFT? China’s ban on waste imports offers challenges, but with every TYRE RECYCLING The release of the National challenge comes opportunity, Regulars Market Development Strategy writes Brooke Donnelly, for Used Tyres creates a strategic Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Packaging Covenant 6 NEWS framework for the market development of Australian tyre- Organisation. 69 LAST WORD derived products. www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 3
PUBLISHER John Murphy john.murphy@primecreative.com.au MANAGING EDITOR Robbie Parkes From the Editor robbie.parkes@primecreative.com.au Pushing on EDITOR Toli Papadopoulos toli.papadopoulos@primecreative.com.au JOURNALIST William Arnott william.arnott@primecreative.com.au ART DIRECTOR IT’S BEEN A COUPLE OF DIFFICULT MONTHS FOR THE RECYCLING INDUSTRY Michelle Weston michelle.weston@primecreative.com.au but, despite the hiccups, there may be opportunities. What started out as a customs inspection program in China soon escalated when its DESIGN ban on 24 categories of solid waste with a contamination rate of more than 0.5 per cent Blake Storey, James Finlay, Adam Finlay was flagged to the industry in the middle of last year. Some in the industry, including BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER waste consultant Mike Haywood, said it was foreseeable in the Oct/Nov edition of Waste Chelsea Daniel-Young chelsea.daniel@primecreative.com.au Management Review – Transport’s Macroeconomic Headwind. p: +61 425 699 878 Following the suspension of a number of Victorian council contracts, the state CLIENT SUCCESS MANAGER government responded to the issue with a $13 million package to give councils and Justine Nardone contractors time to develop long-term solutions, including renegotiating contracts. The justine.nardone@primecreative.com.au state government also moved to establish a recycling taskforce to develop a plan for the COVER PHOTOGRAPHER transition. In southern central Australia, the SA Government allocated $300,000 in grant Liam Lim funding to recycling businesses as part of its response. HEAD OFFICE Prime Creative Pty Ltd In February, the National Waste and Recycling Industry Council (NWRIC) also warned 11-15 Buckhurst Street that without urgent action to address market changes, Australian recycling contracts South Melbourne VIC 3205 Australia p: +61 3 9690 8766 f: +61 3 9682 0044 could face default. On page 69, Alex Serpo, Policy Officer at NWRIC, explains five enquiries@primecreative.com.au beneficial recycling programs that could be implemented at scale in response. www.wastemanagementreview.com.au At this year’s Waste to Energy Forum in Ballarat, I had the pleasure of listening to SUBSCRIPTIONS +61 3 9690 8766 numerous inspiring talks on the future of waste to energy in Australia. As a result of subscriptions@primecreative.com.au the China ban, some noted the potential that exists in Australia to embrace a circular Waste Management Review is available by subscription from the publisher. The rights of refusal economy and local manufacturing. Others pointed out that China’s ban is not an are reserved by the publisher “outright ban”, but rather a limit on contaminants, which should encourage cleaner ARTICLES recycling processes. All articles submitted for publication become the Off the back of Victoria’s recycling contracts impasse, I sat down with the new property of the publisher. The Editor reserves the right to adjust any article to conform with the Chief Executive of the Victorian Waste Management Association, Mark Smith. On magazine format. page 26, Mark outlines some of the measures VWMA will be recommending to the COPYRIGHT Victorian Government taskforce and how a collaborative approach between industry Waste Management Review is owned by Prime Creative Media and published by John Murphy. and government needs to be prioritised, as the industry potentially faces a market reset. All material in Waste Management Review is Waste Management Review will continue to follow this issue in 2018 and speak to other copyright and no part may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means (graphic, electronic stakeholders as it evolves. or mechanical including information and retrieval We also welcome a new journalist, William Arnott. On page 21, William’s report systems) without written permission of the publisher. The Editor welcomes contributions but reserves the discusses the impact of the Container Deposit Scheme in South Australia over its more right to accept or reject any material. While every than 40-year history, lessons learnt and whether a similar scheme is long overdue in effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information, Prime Creative Media will not accept Victoria. William can be contacted via email at william.arnott@primecreative.com.au responsibility for errors or omissions or for any For article ideas or general enquiries, you can contact me directly by email at consequences arising from reliance on information published. The opinions expressed in Waste toli.papadopoulos@primecreative.com.au or phone (03) 9690 8766. Management Review are not necessarily the opinions of, or endorsed by the publisher unless otherwise stated. Official media partners of 4 / WMR / April 2018
WHAT YOU THINK IS THE END IS JUST THE BEGINNING. Here at ResourceCo, we believe there’s no such thing as waste. It can almost always be recycled, reused or reduced to protect the earth’s limited resources. If you have a waste problem, we’ll take it away, then bring it back as something better. Alternative Fuels & Carbon Abatement Construction & Demolition Materials Recycling Transport & Logistics Solutions Asphalt Recycling Concrete Recycling Bulk & Engineered Fill Supply Fixed & Mobile Pre-mixed Concrete Batching Commercial & Industrial Materials Recycling Aggregate, Screenings & Asphalt Based Product Supply Disposal, Treatment & Management of Waste Soils Mine and Quarry Rehabilitation Management of Project Specific waste Tyre and Conveyor Belt Recycling Renewable Energy Carbon Abatement Sales & Auditing End of Life Landfill Call (08) 8406 0300 or visit resourceco.com.au TOMORROW’S SOLUTIONS. TODAY
News NWRIC warns recycling contracts could face default The National Waste and Recycling Re-negotiating contracts Waste Contractors and Recyclers Industry Council (NWRIC) has warned between local governments and Association of NSW Executive that without urgent action to address recycling providers, increasing Director Tony Khoury said that market changes, Australian recycling stockpiling allowances where thoroughly checking firefighting contracts could face default. environmentally safe, and assistance and emergency equipment is It follows the controversial move from the Federal Government were vitally important. by the Chinese government to ban identified as strategies to help the “In relation to unprocessed the imports of 24 categories of current market. stockpiles or bales of stored sorted solid waste. The best long-term solution to material, please ensure that you China’s National Sword initiative, the problem is reinvigorating local comply with your Environment a continuation of its Green Fence re-manufacturing capacity, according Protection Authority (EPA) and program, has also tightened standards to NWRIC. development approval requirements,” on import contamination by limiting Recycling market shortfalls can Mr Khoury said. which businesses can obtain scrap lead to large stockpiles of papers “If you are approaching your import licenses. The NWRIC explained and plastics, which could lead to a authorised, lawful stock pile limits, this means lower contamination levels fire hazard. please consider your options, and fewer import licenses issued. “The NWRIC is urging all including negotiating with the EPA, Following their latest meeting, customers, including local government finding alternate drop-off facilities the NWRIC believe that without and commercial waste generators, to and talking to your council or significant changes to the current meet with their recycling supplier to commercial clients.” market, kerbside and commercial plan for these sudden and unforeseen According to Mr Khoury, there is at recycling contracts could be changes,” said Chairman of the least one fire per week at NSW waste cancelled. NWRIC, Phil Richards. facilities. Glass is being stockpiled due to market issues. 6 / WMR / April 2018
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News Victorian Government responds to China waste ban In response to China’s National Association (VWMA) called for a suite importation of waste entirely, new Sword decision, Victorian councils of measures to improve the situation. restrictions on the contamination rate and industry will be provided a In a statement, the VWMA means that they require a cleaner $13 million package to support welcomed the opportunity to and more processed version of the ongoing collection of represent its member base on any these materials. household waste. proposed taskforce and said it has “While recycling is ultimately The assistance will go towards been assured by relevant government a matter for local councils, we’re helping councils and industries agencies that it will have a seat at the stepping in to help councils and that have been affected by the table. It advocated for the taskforce industry affected by China’s new Chinese policy, giving them and to have fair representation of the import rules,” said the Minister for their contractors time to develop waste and resource recovery sector, Energy, Environment and Climate longer-term solutions, including including small and medium operators Change Lily D’Ambrosio. renegotiating contracts. and the waste transportation sector. It “This is about protecting jobs and The Victorian Government has said the taskforce should be steered ensuring Victorians have confidence also moved to establish a recycling by principles such as a competitive to continue recycling.” industry taskforce to develop a plan resource recovery sector and circular Council assistance will be provided for the industry’s transition. economy principles that prioritise until 30 June, though they will be The decision comes not long after local jobs over exports or landfilling. required to meet an increase in the Victorian Waste Management While China has not banned the recycling costs from 1 July. Councils will be supported with the transition right through to June 30. 8 / WMR / April 2018
There has to be There is. a better way! Crumbed rubber asphalt using recycled tyres. Over 56 million used tyres are generated in Australia, each year.* Tyre Stewardship Australia accredited recyclers are committed to supporting sustainable outcomes for the 56 million used tyres generated every year in Australia*. TSA is a Federal and State Government supported industry initiative and is free to join. Reduce your fleet footprint and get behind the drive towards sustainable management of your customer’s waste tyre stream. Make your business part of the solution – not the problem. To join the drive for change contact: tyrestewardship.org.au or info@tyrestewardship.org.au TRP TSA 0198 Volume based on Equivalent Passenger Units (EPUs). An EPU is standard passenger car tyre. Full EPU Ratio Tables available at www.tyrestewardship.org.au *
News New recycling technology processes tyres into resources Tyre processing company Pearl Global products, according to the company. reclaim and recover valuable products has begun commissioning its first Over 51 million used tyres get for resale,” Mr Foster said. production plant to recycle tyres into discarded in Australia per year, but “Our technology is a significant valuable secondary products. only five per cent are recycled. Pearl’s advancement on other methods of The technology uses an applied technology focuses on extracting processing waste tyres because it heating process called thermal the resources from tyres instead of has low emissions, no hazardous desorption, which converts waste tyres using them for constructing children’s by-products, requires no chemical into liquid hydrocarbon, high tensile playgrounds or exporting. Pearl intervention and is the only process that steel and carbon char, and can be sold (formerly Citation Resources Limited) meets the standard emissions criteria separately or processed further. in February rejoined the ASX following set by the Australian regulators for this Pearl has constructed its first a reconstruction and a $5 million type of technology,” he said. production plant, with two thermal capital raising. Mr Foster said the technology will desorption units (TDUs) in Stapylton, Pearl recently received planning help Australia handle a serious global Queensland and initial commissioning approval from the Gold Coast environmental problem. under way. The second TDU is owned City Council and has approval “We believe there is great potential by Pearl’s intellectual property licensor from Queensland’s Department of in Australia to immediately deploy our and contracting partner Keshi, and Environment and Heritage. technology at sites close to where tyres will be purchased by Pearl as soon It already holds an environmental have been stockpiled,” Mr Foster said. as practical. licence from the Western Australian “With governments seeking or Each TDU can process approximately Government Department of mandating solutions for waste, Pearl 5000 tons (4536 tonnes) of shredded Environment Regulation. is well placed to offer a solution that rubber at full production, equivalent “This is a turning point for used tyre is both environmentally sound and to 50,000 car tyres. On average, this processing in Australia. We are the first commercially viable.” equates to a weekly output 1.5 million company in Australia to receive licenses Pearl has applied to be an accredited litres of raw fuel. for the thermal treatment of rubber, to member of Tyre Stewardship Australia. “This is the first plant of its type in Australia and we expect to be ramping up to full production over the coming months,” Pearl Executive Chairman Gary Foster said. The materials are being developed into potential commercial products, including a degreaser product. With assistance from the Centre for Energy at the University of Western Australia, Pearl’s degreaser products have been tested and compared to existing commercial degreasers and surpassed the required standards, with one of them showing the best Pearl Global’s technology uses an applied heating process to convert end-of-life tyres into fuel. performance of all the degreaser 10 / WMR / April 2018
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News National Plan for PFAS released to protect environment and health The heads of all state and territory The National Environment pesticides, stain repellents and fire- environmental protection authorities Management Plan for PFAS describes fighting foams. (EPA) and the Federal Government how to properly deal with and clean “PFAS compounds have had a have released a National Environment up contaminated sites, how to best wide range of uses because they Management Plan for PFAS (per- treat soil and waste, and methods for resist heat, chemical and biological and poly-fluoroalkyl substances) to safely destroying the chemicals. degradation and are very stable,” Mr help protect the environment and PFAS can make products heat Eaton said. human health. resistant, non-stick, water repellent, “There is now growing concern PFAS are a group of manufactured and weather and stain resistant. worldwide about the effects chemicals which have historically been Prior to the plan, there was no of PFAS on our health and on used in firefighting foams and other consistent guidance or direction for animals and plants, because of that industrial and consumer products for communities that had been affected chemical stability and the fact that decades, according to EPA Victoria. by PFAS. they easily enter the environment, PFAS can also be found in soil, surface Environment Protection Authority moving into soil, creeks, rivers water and groundwater in urban areas, Victoria’s Executive Director and lakes. We know there are and some are being phased out around Assessments, Tim Eaton, said PFAS sites with PFAS contamination, the world as they may pose a risk to chemicals have been used in a range so we are working collectively to human health and the environment. of products in the past, including manage them.” More than 100 million containers collected by NSW Return and Earn More than 100 million containers canteens, have been supporting the BMX to help fundraise for the club have been returned since the NSW scheme and having a positive impact and encourage locals to donate their Return and Earn scheme began in on the local community, according to refunds to charities like the African December last year, according to the Environment Protection Authority NSW. AIDS Foundation. official website. In two months, Nepean Distributors Reverse vending machine technology, has processed 133,034 containers, alongside over-the-counter and with over a record of 11,879 in a day. automated depots have helped NSW “It is making people, especially kids reach this goal. and teenagers, think about recycling. NSW Minister for Environment, We want to help change their mindset Gabrielle Upton said more than five to think about their environment and million drink containers had been cleaning up their local park,” Managing returned over the second weekend of Director of Nepean Distributors, February. Anthony Morrissey said. Nepean Distributors, a drinks product They have also teamed up with local Reverse vending machine technology helped Return and Earn achieve its goals. supplier to schools and sporting club sports groups such as Macarthur 12 / WMR / April 2018
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COVER STORY BUILDING THE FOUNDATIONS OF SUSTAINABILITY SYDNEY’S BETTER BUILDINGS PARTNERSHIP HAS HELPED SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE WASTE IN THE BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION SECTOR, BUT JUST HOW PROBLEMATIC IS WASTE IN THE SECTOR AS A WHOLE? TOLI PAPADOPOULOS REPORTS. I n 2011, some of Sydney’s leading commercial floor space in the city to landfill due to contractual red tape. property owners and managers, centre. It’s worked with industry Stripout waste refers to removing investment firms, peak bodies and professionals to create and embed all or part of a building’s internal waste industry influencers formed a best practice standards in key areas, wall, flooring, ceiling and furnishing partnership to reduce their waste. including leasing, operational waste, components when a tenant vacates Known as the Better Buildings refurbishment waste, solar installations a space. Partnership (BBP), the efforts aimed and optimising water use. The end The initiative forms part of to improve the performance and result has led to the creation of new Sustainable Sydney 2030, which lays sustainability of commercial buildings in waste management guidelines for out a vision for a green, global and the City of Sydney and across Australia. contracting and reporting and 60 per connected city. According to the organisation’s most cent resource recovery targets for The BBP works by engaging the recent annual report, the partnership creating stripout waste. BBP estimates building industry and government represents more than half of Sydney’s that 80 per cent of stripout waste goes on key environmental policy and Sara Rathborne and Paul Wall work on a floor refurbishment at the Gateway building in Circular Quay, Sydney. 14 / WMR / April 2018
regulatory issues to enable markets, guidelines for the procurement of refurbishment project in Sydney’s scale up sustainability and benchmark waste management services, effective Central Business District. its progress. The leadership panel waste diversion and reporting. BBP’s In 2015, Edge Environment was comprises senior representatives from operational waste guidelines range from commissioned to investigate resource its member organisations, including tips on the billing of waste management recovery across several floors. University of Technology Sydney, AMP services, to more accurate waste data, Using inputs from BBP members, it Capital, Lendlease, Mirvac Group, and established roles and responsibilities was estimated that without careful Investa Property Group, Dexus, for cleaners and contractors in waste planning, recycling rates in office Brookfield, Stockland, ISPT, Frasers, disposal. strips can be as low as 20 per cent, University of Sydney and the City of Paul says it complements a new and that every 1000 square metres Sydney. Its 2017-18 annual report certification introduced for waste of office space generates around 63 indicates that during the financial year, contractors by GECA (Good tonnes of waste during a stripout. It BBP projects covered 54 per cent of Environmental Choice Australia) which found that high diversion rates could commercial office space in the Sydney BBP has recently worked collaboratively be achieved at no extra cost. The trial Commercial Business District, which on. The new certification will be helped inspire the Stripout Waste includes 100 commercial buildings in launched for use by contractors in Guidelines, released in mid-2016. that financial year. early 2018. The guidelines are a practical tool Paul Wall, Head of Group “GECA has now developed a to help tenants, building owners and Sustainability and Energy at Dexus and certification process so that when contractors reduce waste and improve BBP Chair, says the BBP is a unique building site managers go to tender resource recovery through improved initiative. for various works, they can select the stripout processes. “Once you start understanding waste GECA certified waste contractors – this A framework from learnings was streams and documenting the process improves supply chain governance,” outlined for Governor Macquarie you can create more markets for he says. Tower, which is jointly owned by recycling,” Paul says. Paul says the BBP has provided more PREVENTING STRIPOUT WASTE certainty to business by opening up The BBP’s recovery of waste these markets, which will allow the cost project focuses on maximising Fast Fact of recycling to reduce over time, adding diversion from landfill from office that it remains commercially viable due tenancy stripout. 10 steps to good practice in waste management in construction: to a higher landfill levy in Sydney. According to the BBP website, Sydney’s The BBP has focused on a range office tenancies are on average • Specify your corporate outcomes of sustainability projects, from renewed every seven to 10 years, with • Develop a waste management plan in green leasing, to operational waste, an estimated 25,000 tonnes of waste collaboration with stakeholders refurbishment waste and energy and ending up in landfill each year. By • Allocate clear roles and water efficiency. Most relevant to improving its processes, it’s estimated responsibilities the waste industry are its operational the City of Sydney could divert 55,000 • Agree the fees per waste stream and and refurbishment waste projects. tonnes of strip out waste from landfill the nominated facilities Operational waste focuses on raising the each year from the commercial office, • Know your nominated facilities bar on procurement and management accommodation, entertainment and • Use coloured translucent bags and of waste contractors and services, retail sectors. onsite contamination checks to minimise load rejection which helps to contribute to the Several research projects in this space NSW Government’s target to increase have been conducted with partners such • Preference onsite weighing over lifts/ volume commercial recycling from its current as the University of Technology Sydney, rate of 51 per cent to 70 per cent by GPT and Dexus. • Audit your current practice 2021-22. One of the many case studies from • Rate your data quality BBP’s aim is to improve the quality the BBP included Sydney’s Governor • Meet regularly to address challenges and flow of information through set Macquarie Tower, a substantial and make system improvements www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 15
COVER STORY Dexus, GPT Group and Lendlease, “It is really a demonstration that the tolerance for contamination is to move the industry in the long term if you plan well you can find an extremely low, so we had a couple of towards 80 per cent resource recovery end market for 80 per cent of your loads rejected. The waste industry just in an office stripout and refurbishment. materials,” he says. needs to learn how to manage this Under the trial, an overall resource “With materials such as plasterboard, accordingly,” he says. recovery rate of 61 per cent was we found that instead of ripping it off A large proportion of office furniture achieved, with progress tracked the wall and putting it into a skip, you was also sent to charities to help find it through receipts. Recycling alternatives can place it on a pallet and send it off a second home. He says office furniture were also found to offer a lower gate for re-processing.” is another challenging stream, and Edge fee than landfill as they could monetise He says companies such as Regyp Environment is now working with the on recycled product. were able to re-process the plasterboard City of Sydney to help find new markets Tom Davies, Director of Edge into a soil amendment. They can also for items such as laminated desktop Environment, the diversion manager send it back to the manufacturer in a chipboard and plastic. throughout the process, says the firm circular-economy approach. An issue, he says, is contractors worked across the BBP with numerous and demolishers not having the time commercial builders to help them find FUTURE OPTIONS FOR RECOVERY and contractual incentive to take ways to reduce their waste, including Numerous lessons were learnt from the responsibility for waste reduction and GPT Group, one of Australia’s trial, including that glass, plasterboard, to better understand their roles. Tom largest diversified property groups. hard fill and metals were 100 per cent says the BBP is now looking at a second The company received a grant under recyclable. It also noted take-back round of funding to further develop the NSW Government’s Waste Less, schemes exist for some materials, the resource recovery industry for the Recycle More initiative to recover in as some suppliers offer closed loop building sector. excess of 10,000 tonnes of material as solutions. Onsite separation and removal The BBP is working with its members part of the BBP project. was also identified as a key factor in to develop a register of upcoming Tom says that the Governor ensuring clean material streams and an stripout projects, ensuring more lead Macquarie Tower trial looked at 1000 organised approach to material recovery. time is given before contractors move square metres of net lettable area on Tom says one of the most challenging on site. It is also looking at take- five floors – a measurement of the total waste streams was glass, which could be back product stewardship schemes, occupiable floor space and land area made into insulated glass, but was often in addition to new markets for re- of a property, which assists in rental at risk of contamination. processing and keeping a record of price calculations and property market “A high proportion of waste fluctuations. assessments. transported included glass and Paul says once the 80 per cent diversion of fitout waste target is achieved, the next step will be to get contractors to adopt a “business as usual approach”, negating the need for external managers. “With Stripout Guidelines in place, we think contractors will be able to drive progress within this framework. However, we will always support the head contractor to educate the supply chain and ensure it is aligned,” Paul says. “We’re finding there’s a lot of awareness and intent, but we still have a way to go with educating contractors across Sydney and the broader recycling market.” Paul says BBP members are now using Every 1000 square metres of office space generates about 63 tonnes of waste during a stripout, according to a BBP case study. the Stripout Waste Guidelines in most stripout projects. 16 / WMR / April 2018
Other areas of improvement being looked at by the BBP include an online marketplace and equipment inventory to help find a new home for used office furniture for other commercial enterprises. Once launched, customers and tenants will be able to purchase the products. The success of the project has led Paul to believe that the building industry can take the lead in reducing its waste, and in time, reduce the need for government-led product stewardship schemes. “I think the market will get there as a lot of our research has proven that BBP estimated that without careful planning, recycling rates for office stripouts can be as low as 20 per cent. coordination is the key to securing higher diversion rates,” he says. In Australia, the same report and then incorporating them into HOW DOES BUILDING shows 64 per cent of C&D waste was residential or commercial construction. SUSTAINABILITY OPERATE recovered nationally, a figure which has This reduces the amount of waste ELSEWHERE? fluctuated since 2006-07. on site and improves productivity by Paul hopes the BPP model can be rolled “We’re seeing new growth in reducing time that materials spend out nationwide. Talks are underway particular in infrastructure. We on site. Another technique is pre- with statutory authority Sustainability work closely with the Infrastructure cutting individual housing components Victoria to develop a similar program Sustainability Council of Australia including plaster, roofs and timber in Victoria and a forum was held earlier (ISCA) and have a strong relationship offsite and then fitting them as the this year in Melbourne to discuss the with them. Most large government structure progresses. These practices success of the BBP model. infrastructure projects in Victoria are were used by companies such as It will build on past work to improve now being rated with the ISCA tool.” Burbank in pilot programs funded by the NABERS waste rating tool and more He says Sustainability Victoria is Sustainability Victoria. recent work looking at waste separation partnering with ISCA to encourage the In Victoria, home builders Burbank in commercial buildings and shopping use of recycled glass, plastic, tyres and a partnered with the Housing Industry centres. number of problem waste streams and Association, RMIT University and Stan Krpan, Sustainability Victoria’s looking at their end destinations. Sustainability Victoria in 2013 to Chief Executive, says the building and “One of the exciting developments develop a Zero Waste Home, achieving construction industry is leading the way for me is around procurement. There’s a 99 per cent reduction in waste going in the area of using recycled parts in a new international standard around to landfill. building projects. sustainable procurement – ISO 20400. An investigation by RMIT University, “After research investment from What we’re also seeing in the market which audited and reviewed processes Sustainability Victoria we’re seeing a is people questioning how they can use and the materials used, waste avoidance lot of interest in low-carbon concrete, finance to drive innovation and reduce and working with suppliers, found containing recycled glass for instance. the environmental footprint of what waste at the site was largely due to Hazardous waste, including fly ash is they’re buying.” oversupplies of materials and material also being used in concrete now, so offcuts. I think the industry has been quite TECHNIQUES TO REDUCE WASTE innovative,” Stan says. ON SITE CHALLENGES The Australian National Waste Report Stan says a growing interest in building According to Stan, state and local 2016 shows 76 per cent of construction sustainability is the concept of lean government procurement is the next and demolition waste (C&D) in Victoria manufacturing and pre-fabrication – the area which Sustainability Victoria was recovered. practice of making components offsite wants to target, due to the size of their www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 17
COVER STORY spends and ability to stimulate markets recycling sector for household, out what they can share among them, and innovation. Volume homes are commercial, industrial and construction particularly when it comes to spoil on another priority area with room for materials, but across the board there infrastructure projects,” he says. improvement, he adds. are many opportunities to expand this “I’m confident that the private sector “Tens of thousands of new homes are sector into new areas and capture more is innovative to deliver, they just need being built every year on the outskirts of what now goes to landfill.” the right market signals.” of cities like Melbourne and Sydney and Antony Sprigg, Chief Executive Michael Roberts, Executive Director a few tonnes for every home created is Officer of ISCA, says the challenges Planning & Development at Housing costing the builder money, which is then in Victoria include a lack of recycling Industry Association (HIA), puts passed on to the purchaser. One of the targets in the state to send the right the challenge of waste management reasons why it’s difficult to recycle is market signal to industry. in building down to three issues: that waste is mostly just dumped on site ISCA is working closely with economies of scale for the quantity in a cage or skip and it’s mixed, which Sustainability Victoria to encourage the of materials for smaller projects, site imposes additional costs if it is to be deployment of its IS v.2.0 rating scheme, size and the practical challenges of recycled,” Stan explains. which evaluates sustainability across the sorting materials, and recycling options Working with sub-contractors design, construction and operation of within proximity to where construction to reduce waste is another area infrastructure. is occurring. for improvement, Stan says, as all Its latest rating scheme, which “Waste management is a complex stakeholders have a role to play. includes a circular economy credit issue for the housing industry as no “It’s an issue we all have to work on within the resources category, has been single waste management approach in coming years. How are we training reviewed and is expected to launch in guarantees significant waste reduction. and educating tradespeople such as June of this year. Part of the challenge is in the fact that electricians, carpenters, plasterers and Overall in Australia, Antony says quite different responses are required sub-contractors more broadly? waste minimisation needs to be to address the issues faced by the new “I think there are good business prioritised prior to procurement, as the home building sector as opposed to the opportunities in this space and we’ve sector often doesn’t have the contractual renovation sector,” Michael says. partnered with the Australian Supply flexibility to help process unrecyclable “Even within the new building sector, Chain Sustainability School to promote material due to regulatory and other the challenges and options available their educational resources and materials constraints. He says government entities vary significantly between for example which include tips on waste reduction in particular should make sustainability the construction of a high-rise unit and recycling.” a focus in their procurement strategy. project and the construction of a one off The costly problem of mixed loads is “It all comes back to planning. One of designed house.” one that needs to be reconsidered, he the things we advocate with government He says the residential construction says, with additional work required. procurers is how they can better work sector is predominately dominated “Victoria already has a mature among themselves to reduce and work by small business, and reliant on subcontractors as a result. “On a single house site as many as 50 contractors can be involved in the construction of the home. Getting buy in from all contractors on any issue is a challenge.” The larger the project, and larger the site size, the more opportunities there are for a waste minimisation strategy, he notes. “The challenge for house builders is that while they do generate waste the amounts of individual products (plaster board, timber, masonry ISCA’s Antony Sprigg says waste minimisation products) generated on a single site is needs to be priorotised prior to procurement. relatively small.” 18 / WMR / April 2018
Michael says the frustration then “Improvements in the quality of is that even if the material is able modular construction is also providing to be sorted onsite, which due to options in the construction of high- rapidly shrinking allotment sizes and rise apartments. HIA is seeing the local government site management installation of elements such as requirements is a challenge in itself, bathroom pods steadily growing in who will be interested in the relatively popularity.” small quantities of each material? Michael says the construction What collection facilities are available associated with boutique designs and what are the transport costs? or renovations creates a range of Michael says the biggest savings are additional challenges. He says this delivered where a business is able to can be exacerbated when you have develop a suite of designs that they local government planning provisions build on a repeat basis. Improvements or developer covenants that require in software estimating packages helps boutique designs or the use of particular volume builders know within a couple Stan Krpan, Chief Executive materials. Officer of Sustainability Victoria. of shovels of concrete how much of Despite these challenges, Paul remains these materials go into a standard optimistic about a waste free future. design, he adds. “Modular construction, particularly “The better we are able to measure Equally, the improvements in in relation to walling systems, is also and manage our resources upstream, factory truss manufacturing has also emerging as a legitimate option that the more people can extract value from significantly reduced timber wastage, provides a range of potential benefits, them later. Its a win-win scenario, and he says. including waste minimisation. we’re pleased to be leading the way.” Ready 3860 17670 02:12 PM kg (Payload) kg (Truck Total) © 2017, Trimble Inc. All rights reserved. (10/17) Accurate bin weights mean accurate invoices Increase profits by matching bin revenue to dumping costs and eliminate overload fines. For more information: visit loadritescales.com/waste or call +61 2 9531 6732 Accurate invoicing with Trimble LOADRITE scales
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UP FRONT What SA CAN teach us THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT IMPLEMENTED ITS CONTAINER DEPOSIT LEGISLATION 40 YEARS AGO. NOW THAT OTHER STATES ARE FOLLOWING SUIT, WHAT LESSONS CAN BE LEARNT FROM SA? WILLIAM ARNOTT REPORTS. I n 1977, the South Australian Government implemented a scheme with impacts that are still being felt today. The container deposit legislation (CDL) began as a way to deal with single-use containers littering streets and drains. The world has changed since then, but South Australia adapted and has worked with both the beverage and waste industries to not get left behind. Products changed and the packages they came in have too. Reusable glass bottles have become rarer and mixed plastics are now the norm. Container design also changed, with plastic mixes becoming more common – a drink bottle could be made of one plastic, the lid another and the label another variety. As packaging evolved, so did the legislation, keeping up with the changes in consumer behaviour. Because the CDL was able to change as the industries did, it was able to adapt to new introductions as they happened. In 2003, the SA Government extended the legislation to keep up with the changing packaging designs. It now covers fruit juice, non- carbonated soft drinks and flavoured milk containers. Now in 2018, the CDL program is still going strong. The return rate on drink containers is reaching 80 per cent. Since 2005, more than six billion The CDS remains popular in SA, with 98 per cent of South Australians supporting the scheme, according to a 2012 report prepared for EPA SA. containers have been diverted from www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 21
UP FRONT them to help raise funds. Over 2016- who can hand it in later for cash.” 2017, almost $60 million was returned This kind of recycling is important, back into the community. not only for resource collection, but It still remains popular in the state, also because cleaning up litter can with 98 per cent of South Australians be costly. supporting the program, according According to the Victorian Litter to the CDL Awareness & Support Action Alliance, maintenance for litter Research Report, prepared for bins, traps and clean-up costs just the South Australian Environment under $28 million. Roadside litter Protection Authority (SA EPA). It was and dumped rubbish ends up costing even listed as a state heritage icon in Victorian councils nearly $22,000 a 2006 as improving the quality of life day to keep the street clean. in SA. The CDL also makes a significant John Phillips, Executive Director impact for people in lower socio- of Keep South Australia Beautiful economic areas. (KESAB) believes that the legislation It covers drink containers easily has helped South Australians reduce available outside the home, specifically litter and encourage recycling. lunchtime beverages. John Phillips is Executive Director of KESAB. “Ultimately, while it was originally If the 10 cent refund was expanded a way to encourage people to think to other recyclables like wine bottles, landfill and returned for recycling. about their litter, it has really helped restaurants and hotels could also be The CDL in SA has helped to the community. Depots have not only encouraged to increase how much they instil positive behavioural change encouraged the resource recovery recycle, John says. when it comes to recycling. Beverage of containers, but have become a containers now only make up 2.9 per place where people can easily recycle cent of litter items. In comparison, materials like cardboard, scrap metal, Clean Up Australia’s 2017 Rubbish or even car batteries.” Report found that in Victoria, KESAB began 50 years ago as a Fast Fact Tasmania, and Western Australia, the litter reduction campaign and has There are three main ways to return percentage of beverage containers since evolved into a non-governmental items collected in the NSW Return and ranged from 14 to 26 per cent. organisation that works with its earn scheme. The CDL is based around rewarding stakeholders to reduce litter. It The reverse vending machine system consumers for recycling by providing works with governments, recycling accepts and scans barcodes of up to 500 items and are found often near them with a financial incentive. When companies and depots and schools to shopping centres and major littering a drink container is purchased in SA, help educate people on sustainability. locations. They can provide a refund consumers are encouraged to visit a What helps the CDL shine is the fact in three ways: A voucher that can be redeemed at a participating retailer, an local depot to drop it off. Originally, that it can encourage everyone to pitch e-payment to a PayPal account via the the refund was five cents, but was in and clean up the streets, not just the myTomra App, or donating the proceeds changed to 10 cents in 2008 to original consumer. to a consumer’s charity of choice. Some encourage more South Australians to “If we look closely, there are reverse vending machines are set up only for charities. get involved. two segments that come into play,” Ten cents can add up fast and says John. “You have the types of Over-the-counter collection points allow consumers to hand in around 50 to 100 organisations began jumping on board consumers who will hold on to containers per transaction. An operator to collect litter from community containers to give it in for recycling will verify the eligibility of the container members to fundraise money. These later at a depot or community centre, before providing the refund. could be a local sporting club, a and the consumers that buy a drink, Automated depots accept up to 500 or charity, school or a scout group, whose finish it, then throw it out the window more containers per transaction through mechanical scanning or a counting members donate their cans to the as litter. Even if they do that, it will system. Refunds are available through organisation that are then recycled by most likely get picked up by someone cash or eftpos. 22 / WMR / April 2018
S YAWEI AWEI LASER LASER IS IS SIGNED NED TO TO CUTCUT OVE EWTHE THE REST. REST. THAT’S APPLIED Similarly, the legislation could be expanded to non- drink related containers that are recyclable. THAT’S NKING. APPLIED“If we look at all the plastics we use in the kitchen or bathroom, there’s a lot that could be included, like ING. shampoo bottles. These are all ways we can minimise the amount of waste that goes to landfill and have been proven before to have an extensive impact across the state.” A spokesperson for the South Australian Environment Protection Authority said the SA Government is not currently considering expanding the legislation to other beverages or packaged products. “However, with any future legislation amendment proposals there will be an opportunity to consult with the community and industry on whether the scheme should be expanded,” the spokesperson said. The impact of China’s waste restrictions has impacted Australian recyclers, according to John. The nation’s change in policy saw a crackdown on imports of 24 different types of solid waste from Japan, USA, Australia and other source countries. Because SA has a clean waste stream, partially due to its CDL, it has avoided a lot of the stress, but there is still plenty of work to be done. “We need to be more innovative in looking after our waste and reduce the need to export it,” John says. “We’re at a knife’s edge at the moment based on how we progress. Rapid change is needed to address issues like climate change and resource recovery, and at the moment eme accuracy, speed and consistency of cut, combined with very low operating in the waste management industry, we have a perfect ew acy,Yawei speed HLF andfiber laser is the consistency perfect of how cut, way to take combined with veryyour low business to the next level. operating opportunity to demonstrate we can perform.” HLF fiber laserJohn is the perfect believes wayistopositioned that Australia take your business perfectly to to the next level. ollar, the new HLF is in a league of its own, opening up possibilities for companies influence worldwide change. e w laser HLF iscutting in“With sector; a league offrom start-ups its own, our innovative minds,opening through we could up toasfull possibilities use this an production, 3-shift for companies ts. ting sector; from start-ups opportunity through to set global standardstoand fullhelp production, influence 3-shift some of our northern neighbours.” ty German NSW built has Precitec recently auto-focus begun its own cutting recycling head, scheme IPG laser source, Siemens ntroller and built Preciteca fabricated, similar to SA’s CDL.stress-relieved auto-focus cutting The Returnhead, fully IPG and Earn annealed laser scheme source, began frame it really is a cut above Siemens a fabricated, stress-relieved in December of 2017, andfully annealed has collected moreframe than 100it really is a cut above million containers in the three months. Return and Earn is based around a similar 10c refund on beverage containers, but also relies on a system rmation: of reverse vending machines as well as a number of 8066 automated and over the counter return depots. appliedmachinery.com.au John says that the differences between Sydney and pliedmachinery.com.au hinery.com.au Adelaide aren’t that great when it comes to recycling. ery.com.auPeople want to do the right thing, but infrastructure is with us socially Connect important to make sure that happens. Connect with us socially “From the very beginning of the SA CDL, it was connected to the industry and a network of recyclers. 22/12/16 9:27 am 22/12/16 9:27 am
UP FRONT Adjustments to the scheme have introducing their own in 2012. on a recent trip to Melbourne, the occurred, but it’s flowed on from there Lily D’Ambrosio, Victorian aesthetics were vastly different, with and remained solid.” Minister for Energy, Environment much more visible litter in the streets. “NSW doesn’t have that luxury. In and Climate Change, says the State “In South Australia, I don’t see any Sydney, the infrastructure needs to Government is “continuing to look CDS-eligible cans lying around. be built from the ground up. RVMs at container deposit schemes in “In Melbourne, I could see a lot of can be quite slow when attempting other jurisdictions to understand these types of containers everywhere to recycle 200 to 300 items and all of the benefits and costs of various on the streets. I think it would be a sudden you’ve got a queue a mile models, and how they might work good to see [a CDS] implemented long. It’s important to make sure that in Victoria”. in Victoria, but there’s a lot of they expand their local collection According to the Victorian development that needs to occur. points, because RVMs are not the Government, litter levels in the state There needs to be super collectors, answer to everything,” John says. have been decreasing for seven years depots and co-operation with the A spokesperson from the NSW in a row, including an eight per cent drink manufacturers themselves,” Environment Protection Authority decrease in beverage container litter he says. said the NSW community has over the past year. Other countries around the world embraced the Return and Earn John says with the other states have much different recycling scheme, returning more than 100 mounting pressure on the Victorian standards. Philip explains that in million containers in just 10 weeks. Government, it could only be a many countries the recycling culture The SA implementation of matter of time before it is available is significantly different. container deposit legislation and nationwide. “In Europe, there is even a similar similar projects globally were also “Wheels will begin to turn once scheme for electronic waste. Certain explored to help inform the design all states and territories have come items like phones and other mobile of Return and Earn, according to the on board. Common sense tells me devices have 10, 20, or even $50 spokesperson. that Victoria will be obliged to start added onto their cost. When the Victoria is currently the only state one up to keep up with the rest of device reaches the end of its lifespan, that has not started or begun to plan the country.” you’re able to hand it in and get that implementation of CDL. QLD, WA, Dr Philip Kwong, Senior Lecturer money back. and ACT have schemes planned to at the University of Adelaide’s School “Japan in particular has a begin in 2018 and 2019, with the NT of Chemical Engineering, notes that sophisticated household system. Each John believes the CDL helped encourage recycling in SA. Fast Fact Once a container is given into a recycling depot for a refund, the items are sent to a super collector. The super collector is a larger collection depot that handles and sorts through containers sent to them from smaller depots. They then sell the recyclable material to market. These super collectors have contracts with beverage suppliers such as Coca-Cola and Pepsi which help fund the cost of the beverage. Retailers purchase the beverages from the supplier which have a 10c refund and handling fee, which is added on to the final price of the beverage. 24 / WMR / April 2018
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