Mike Ritchie

Methane
 Circular Economy, Features, Gas capture, Landfill gas capture, Landfills

The rising challenge of methane emissions from waste

By: Mike Ritchie and Ilan Levy Nadelsticher, MRA Consulting Group Methane is one of the most powerful greenhouse gases driving climate change, responsible for nearly 30 per cent of global warming. Over a 20-year period, it is far worse than carbon dioxide, warming the planet 84 times more. A major source of methane comes from waste – especially decomposing organic matter in landfills – which accounts for 18 per cent of human-caused methane emissions. Read More
Plastic packaging
 Opinion, Packaging, Plastics

Recycling plastic packaging will not fix plastic pollution

Single use plastic packaging is very useful stuff. It makes our modern lives easier. There are two key issues with plastic packaging that we need to focus on – litter (pollution) and recycling. In that order. Unfortunately, most of the discussion about plastic packaging is about how much is or is not being recycled or how much recycled content is being added into packaging manufacture. Read More
FOGO
 Features

Composting our way to sustainability

FOGO is taking off across Australia. That is a good thing. It will reduce waste to landfill, divert up to 3 MT of organics from landfill, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by millions of tonnes and create thousands of new jobs. Win, win, win. Read More
Waste Targets
 Battery Stewardship Council, Federal, Federal Government, Latest News, Legislation, State

Hitting the NSW waste targets is good politics

On 1 November 2024, during the NSW Circular Economy Summit in Sydney, the Minister for environment Penny Sharpe and the CEO of the NSW EPA Tony Chappel in separate landmark speeches said “NSW has a waste crisis and we are here to fix it”… or words to that effect (my emphasis). Most in the audience breathed a sigh of relief that finally someone was listening and going to act upon repeated warnings that NSW is in trouble. Waste disposal options in Sydney are nearing critical shortage while the State has fallen behind in delivering on the National Waste Targets set in 2019. Read More
FOGO
 FOGO, Food Waste, Latest News, Recycling

FOGO is the future but it’s future is not certain

Many State Governments are now mandating the separation of domestic food into a FOGO (food and garden organics) bin: WA – Perth and Peel councils must have FOGO SA – All Adelaide metro Vic – All of the State starting with Melbourne NSW – All of the State by 2030 (Sydney is the laggard) ACT QLD – nothing announced Tas – nothing announced NT – nothing announced Read More
Commercial food
 Compost, Features, FOGO, Food Waste

Commercial food waste collections coming to NSW

The NSW Government is going to mandate commercial food waste collection (COFO). This is excellent for NSW, and the Minister Penny Sharpe and Premier Chris Minns are to be congratulated for this reform. For those of you who don’t know what we’re talking about, from July 1, 2025 large food waste generators will need to have a dedicated food waste collection system. Food waste will no longer be able to go to landfill. Food waste in landfill is a massive greenhouse gas generator, contributing most of the 11 million tonnes of greenhouse gases released from landfill each year. That is equivalent to the annual emissions of about 3 million cars. Read More