More than 12 million tonnes of our 21.7 million tonnes of landfilled waste is organic. Of that, close to seven million tonnes is food waste and garden organics.
Dear Minister: NSW needs help now
Industry advocate, MRA Consulting managing director Mike Ritchie, has called on NSW Environment Minister Matt Kean (pictured) to act soon to give the state strategic clarity on waste reform.
20 Year Waste Strategy takes shape within uncertain times
Despite the constraints of COVID-19, more than 10,000 residents of New South Wales along with Australia’s leading resource recovery bodies and councils have made submissions to the NSW 20 Year Waste Strategy.
Waste management facilities are not the same as shopping centres
The Federal government is to be congratulated for overhauling procurement rules to require recycled content in new building and civil works.
The imminent ban on exports of recyclables is going to turn the market on its head. We need to urgently expand markets and build new processing facilities in Australia or we could drown in 1.3 million tonnes (MT) of recyclables that we previously exported.
MRA has estimated that we need to build at least 100 new pieces of kit to meet the existing State Government waste targets and process the new 1.3 MT of exported materials. Industry is keen to invest and there is plenty of superannuation money looking for a secure home right now.
With the stage set, all that remains is getting the kit approved and built. How hard can it be?
Quite hard… And time consuming… And expensive…
So here are a few pointers from a waste planning consultant, for proponents:
1. Choose your site carefully
Sites located too close to people, water or other special places require in-depth assessment (environmental impact statement; EIS). And ensure the zoning is right – preferably “Industry” zoning, but some other zones work as well.
2. Understand Thresholds
EPA and Council Thresholds (t/yr) determine planning and licensing requirements. They should be used to define short term and long term goals for the project and options for future expansion.
3. Be practical in scale
Be aware that the more tonnes through a facility, the greater the requirement for environmental controls from the regulators. So be realistic about how big you need it. There are pros and cons of going big early vs late.
4. Prepare a professional planning application
Waste facilities have the potential to locally pollute the environment (even though they ultimately contribute to a cleaner and better world).
A good application will provide a robust assessment of everything from stormwater to truck movements to waste classification and stockpiling of materials. Providing information up front results in quicker assessment timeframes with less wrinkles to be ironed out and happier regulators.
5. Use a waste planner not a town planner
A professional planning application requires a good understanding of the business of waste. Most general planning companies do not understand waste. That means waste supply, market demand, Government policy, recycling, offtake agreements, social licence, environmental footprint and diversion targets etc. These are critical to your application but don’t generally apply to housing or shopping centre applications. The regulators want to know in much more detail about the role and function of the facility in a broader policy context. So recommending a waste planner may sound self-serving but it nonetheless, makes a difference.
MRA often sees rejected proposals done by non-waste town planners. It is good for our business but a waste of your money. Get it right the first time. It may mean slowing down a bit at the start to get the context right, but better that than being interminably stuck in planning revisions, appeals, the Courts or ultimately a refusal.
Esther Hughes is a principal environmental planner at MRA Consulting Group.
Waste 2020 launches (virtually)with a message of collaboration
The Waste 2020 webinar series kicked off yesterday, May 6 with more than seventy participants. The weekly event (which this year replaces the Coffs Harbour conference) will cover topics pulled from the conference program.
Evans says green light remains on for government investment
Assistant Minister for Waste Reduction and Environmental Management, Trevor Evans recently attended a virtual meeting held by the Waste Management and Resource Recovery Association of Australia (WMRR) and assured the industry that government commitments are on track.
Good News: NSW to fast track planning approvals
In a bid to combat the economic downturn brought about by COVID-19, NSW Minister for Planning and Public spaces, Rob Stokes, has revealed the government’s Planning System Acceleration Program.
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Rebuild after COVID-19: All governments should ban organics to landfill
How on earth are organics connected to a COVID-19 recovery plan you ask?
COVID recovery is all about investment and job creation in industries that add value and insulate Australia from international shocks.
Expert group aims to help keep workplaces safe through pandemic
An Industrial Relations (IR) Working Group has been established by the National COVID-19 Coordination Commission to help as many businesses as possible to operate and keep their employees and customers safe through the COVID-19 crisis.
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Leadership changes at VWMA and WRIQ
A senior leadership change has been made at the Victorian Waste Management Association (VWMA) with the appointment of Alex Serpo as the new executive officer commencing in May. He will be leaving the National Waste and Recycling Industry Council (NWRIC) where he held the position of secretariat since 2017.