Queensland

Waste Opportunist: Closing the plasticulture loop in QLD (part 1)
 Features, Online Subscription, Professional Services, Queensland

Waste Opportunist: Closing the plasticulture loop in QLD (part 1)

Of the many plastics used in Queensland’s agriculture, approximately one-third can be readily recycled, for example, clean plastics such as trickle tapes and plastic packaging. However, plastic products such as mulches and silage wrap are often contaminated with soil and residual plant vegetation, with this contamination accounting for up to 70% by weight. Besides creating storage and transportation complications, the contamination results in higher collection and processing costs, making the end-of-life plastics unattractive to recyclers. Read more

Waste Opportunist: The salt of the earth
 Australia, Features, Online Subscription, Queensland, Waste & Resource Recovery

Waste Opportunist: The salt of the earth

In January 2015, Queensland began exporting Coal Seam Gas (CSG, otherwise known as coal bed methane) to Asian markets. The volumes with these exports are expected to realise 1400BCF in 2017 alone, and combined with gas (including off-shore conventional gas) developments in Western Australia and the Northern Territories, are expected to ensure Australia’s elevation to be the world’s leading exporter of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) by 2020.  Read more

Future-proofing Mackay's operations
 Australia, Features, Online Subscription, Queensland, Waste & Resource Recovery

Future-proofing Mackay’s operations

In December, Inside Waste spoke to Council about the seven-month evaluation period and procurement process two years in the making that would ensure best practices are implemented at the Hogan’s Pocket landfill and Paget Transfer station, including bulk waste haulage between the two locations (see Related Articles).

At the time, Inside Waste provided an overview of the procurement process as well as key aspects of the new contract arrangements. But these key aspects, specifically haulage and leachate management, are worth digging into. Read more

Ageing kerbside collections
 Australia, Features, Online Subscription, Queensland, Waste & Resource Recovery

Ageing kerbside collections

The stats

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) surveys information from people with disability, carers and older people to determine not only how ageing impacts a person’s life, but how the combination of age and other factors affect the quality of life a person experiences (see the Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers [SDAC]). Within this survey, older people are defined as those aged 65 years or over. Read more

Suez wins $40M contract in novel procurement process
 Australia, Features, Online Subscription, Queensland, Waste & Resource Recovery

Suez wins $40M contract in novel procurement process

Council told Inside Waste the contract will ensure national best practices are implemented at the Hogan’s Pocket landfill and Paget Transfer Station, including the bulk waste haulage between the two locations.

Key aspects of the new contract arrangements include:

  • A new “next generation” industry-leading high productivity haulage fleet aimed at maximising legal payloads and equipped with intelligent transport systems to maximise productivity, efficiency and safety;
  • An optimised leachate management system including bespoke additional onsite containment infrastructure;
  • The latest machine control technology and incentivised operational targets to maximise void space and increase the life of the landfill asset;
  • A significant reduction in the use of virgin quarry products through the use of innovative landfill cover and performance management systems; and

Incorporation of national and international best practices through implementation of a “world class” environmental management system. Read more

Biogas: The ugly duckling of renewable energy
 Australia, Features, Online Subscription, Professional Services, Queensland

Biogas: The ugly duckling of renewable energy

While the golden children of the renewables sector – wind and solar, will likely take the early glory and admiration of the public, many questions remain as to which other technologies will fill the void.

While it’s widely known that wind turbines don’t produce power with no wind, and solar panels don’t produce power without sunlight, what’s not widely understood is the potential for the ugly duckling of the renewable energy litter – biogas, to prove itself indispensable in providing a base load power supply. Read more

Absence of waste issues in draft plan "beyond belief"
 Australia, Features, Online Subscription, Queensland, Waste & Resource Recovery

Absence of waste issues in draft plan “beyond belief”

Released last week, ShapingSEQ seeks to “promote the things that SEQ residents value like a connected region, affordable housing, protecting our natural environment and our unique lifestyle”. It notes that by 2041, SEQ’s population is expected to have increased by two million people.

“One of the most important issues facing South East Queensland is the provision of diverse and affordable housing. The new ShapingSEQ broadens this to include the idea of affordable living. Affordable living is about more than just the cost of a house it’s about how we interact with services and engage with our community,” Deputy Premier Jackie Trad said. Read more

Industry "blindsided" by waste tracking charges
 Australia, Features, Online Subscription, Queensland, Waste & Resource Recovery

Industry “blindsided” by waste tracking charges

The charge is associated with the Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage Protection’s Connect service launched last month.

Connect includes the ability to track waste online, which Environment Minister Dr Steven Miles said would make it more efficient for operators to lodge regulated waste transport data and track their operations in an easy-to-use online platform.

The department has produced a few tutorial videos to help the sector, including waste transporters, receivers, and generators, better understand their obligations. Read more