In a frank interview with the Australian Financial Review (AFR) Cleanaway Waste Management’s CEO Vik Bansal, explained why he needed to be tough on staff to fix the company. Read more
Queensland needs an EPA, says leading associations
Six weeks out from the Queensland election, both the Waste Recycling Industry Association of Queensland (WRIQ) and the Waste Management and Resource Recovery Association of Australia (WMRR) have appealed to the government to set-up an independent Environment Protection Authority.
Bucher Municipal acquires Spoutvac
Bucher Municipal, a division of Bucher Industries, is acquiring the leading Australian manufacturer of sewer cleaning equipment and accessories.
Evans says time is up for Tyremil site
The Minister for Waste and Assistant Minister for the Environment, Trevor Evans described the Tyremil site in Queensland as a “ticking time bomb” and called on the Queensland government to shut it down.
Dual control kerbside range meets industry needs
Isuzu’s new dual control waste and refuse truck line-up with four models available, plus wheelbase options has arrived when the company said it is optimistic about the future.
Battery Stewardship Scheme takes off
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has granted the two authorisations necessary for the implementation of an industry-led Battery Stewardship Scheme.
WMMR renews with state working groups
Following on from the recent Board and State Branch Committee elections, Waste Management and Resource Recovery Association of Australia (WMRR) has announced its 2020-2022 state working group leaders.
“To all who nominated and voted, thank you. The nomination process drew a number of responses from a wide range of members, and we’re delighted to welcome all chairs, vice chairs, and secretaries,” WMRR CEO, Gayle Sloan said.
“WMRR is excited to be working with all these leaders over the next two years and thanks outgoing chairs, vice chairs, and secretaries for their time and commitment to the association.
“As new State Branch and working group leaders settle in, the WMRR national office is working closely with them and we are really keen to drive further engagement and participation across all states. Tasmania is the last of the completely new leadership teams to meet, so please get involved and reach out if you would like to participate.”
WMMR added that financial members are also welcome to join their State Branch Committees and working groups.
WMRR’s 2020-2022 State Working Group leaders
| Working group | Chair | Vice chair | Secretary |
| New South Wales | |||
| Resource Recovery and Market Development (RRMD) | Vanessa Seaton, Veolia | Dayne Steggles, Benedict Recycling | – |
| Energy from Waste (EfW) | Edward Nicholas, Tribe Infrastructure Group | Miles Mason, New Energy Corporation | Jade Garth, Arup |
| Waste educators | Reyhaneh Behboudi, WSROC | Claire Mahendradatta, MRA Consulting | Tarah Slattery, City of Canterbury Bankstown |
| Young Professionals (YPs) | Celine El-Khouri, SLR Consulting | Claire Mahendradatta, MRA Consulting | Susann Noe |
| Landfill | Ark Du, Veolia | Shaun Rainford, Arup | Tricao Vo, Global Synthetics |
| Construction and demolition (C&D) | Jason Sweeney, Boral | Terry Martin, Brandown | – |
| Queensland | |||
| RRMD | Steve Robertson, AECOM | Gavin Crawford, Bundaberg Regional Council | – |
| EfW | Blake Almond, Henshall Capital | Chris Alexander, Phoenix Power Recyclers | – |
| Waste educators | Christine Blanchard | Alix Baltais, EnviroCom | – |
| YPs | Shady Goodarzi, AECOM | Darcy O’Brien, EnviroCom | – |
| Landfill | Colin Kangas, Remondis | Amir Shahkolahi, Global Synthetics | Hayley Page, Townsville City Council |
| South Australia/Northern Territory | |||
| RRMD | Marina Wagner, Sustainable Solutions | Sarah Barrett, Adelaide Hills Region Waste Management Authority | – |
| EfW | Raoul McAlister, RDM Solutions | – | – |
| Waste educators | Grace Barila, KESAB | – | – |
| YPs | Matthew Allan, Rawtec | – | – |
| Landfill | Thomas Gallasch, Cleanaway | – | – |
| Tasmania – no nominations held at this time | |||
| RRMD | Brad Mashman, Recovery (TAS) | – | – |
| Landfill | Christine Bell, Southern Waste Solutions | – | – |
| Victoria | |||
| RRMD | Kelvin Davies, Nextek | Bettina Zimmerman, GHD | – |
| EfW | Gillian Hand-Smith, Sustainability by Innovation | Andy Race, SUEZ | Stuart Banks, GE |
| Waste educators | T.B.C. | T.B.C. | T.B.C. |
| YPs | Julian Howard, SMEC | Gerianne Robles, Sustainability Victoria | Roger Britto, Tonkin+Taylor |
| Landfill | Lachlan James, SMEC | Luke Adams, Tonkin+Taylor | – |
| Western Australia | |||
| RRMD | T.B.C. | T.B.C. | T.B.C. |
| EfW | Jason Pugh, Laing Investment Management Services | John King, Talis Consultants | – |
| Waste educators | Libby Eustance, WMRC | Teresa Belcher, SMRC | – |
| Landfill | Ian Watkins, IW Projects | – | – |
| C&D | Jake Hickey, Instant Waste | – | |
WCRA says public needs safety education
The Work, Health & Safety Group of the Waste Contractors & Recyclers Association of NSW (WCRA) has agreed that there is a compelling need to educate the public about the safety issues around the heavy collection vehicles.
Exploring the merits of a WARR carbon plan – towards net zero together
The Monday, May 18 2020 episode of Four Corners was a sobering reminder of what Australia has lost while the wheel of exhausting and riven climate change politics has been turning.
Landmark recycling and waste legislation for Australia
Groundbreaking legislation, the Recycling and Waste Reduction Bill 2020, that will enable Australia take responsibility for its waste and establishes a national industry framework for recycling is being tabled in Parliament.