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| Householder education Working to educate householders on contamination from kerbside collected green organics. |
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News from the CE - by Vaughan Levitzke, Chief Executive, Zero Waste SA.As Councils have started planning their budgets for the next financial year now is a good time to review the issues coming forward in waste management. Some of the issues raised here will also form the basis of topics for discussion at the Local Government/Zero Waste SA forum Waste Pathways: Outlook 2007 on Friday 23 March 2007 at the Entertainment Centre. Most of the Adelaide metropolitan area has now adopted the preferred three-bin system. Two years ago Zero Waste SA set out to reduce the eight different systems in operation to the one common system, preferably three bins. Crates are clearly an Occupational Health & Safety issue – and yes, Ian Kiernan of Clean Up Australia did break his leg recently while putting out his recycling in a crate! I understand that Adelaide City Council is under pressure to change, pending a review of costs. Adelaide City, however, has some special circumstances with narrow streets, high rise apartments (multi-unit dwellings) that make three-bins difficult or almost impossible. With urban infilling, new developments along our coastline and more apartments being built in prime locations, the situation in relation to multi unit dwellings is of growing concern. Living in high rise developments in a sustainable way is compromised by limited recycling. Residents often have to carry their recyclables down to a basement. We need to turn our thoughts to how we can adapt recycling to a range of urban living patterns. In the future, councils with split bins or crates could possibly change their systems as their waste contracts come up for renewal. Most rural cities with populations over 20 000 are also moving towards kerbside recycling - Mt Gambier and Whyalla have done so, with Port Augusta and Murray Bridge committed, and Pt Lincoln is a way away – although some more arid rural cities will not have green organics bins. Smaller communities, however, are not encouraged to take up kerbside recycling as the low economies of scale, and tyranny of distance negate most benefits. Metropolitan councils offering three-bin systems are now recycling up to 55% of kerbside collected material, some more. This is a significant improvement from figures in 2002 when Councils, on average, diverted only 20% of material collected from kerbside from landfill using less efficient methods such as crates and bags. Impact of drought Green organic material coming in from Council kerbside collections for processing is drier and there is less of it – up to a 30 per cent drop in tonnage. Compost depot gate fees are down and the market in the rural sector is depressed. The home market may have picked up as householders mulch to save water, however, if the drought continues for any length of time the industry will be in severe difficulties. How to address this issue? It is hard to say - drought relief could be one option. Food waste Household Hazardous Waste Illegal dumping and litter Regional Implementation Program Assessment Panels have been held in each of those regions to determine the projects of highest priority in their areas. Zero Waste SA is now reviewing the outcomes of those panels before making decisions about project funding. It is hoped to advise successful applicants in April. Zero Waste SA has allocated $860,000 for projects to be undertaken in 2007/2008. In November 2006 Environment and Conservation Minister, Gail Gago, called for regional communities to apply for a share in almost $3.6 million(over three years) of state government funding to help improve recycling and cut the amount of waste going to landfill. Further information: Fiona Jenkins, telephone (08) 8204 2634,
Review of the Solid Waste Landfill Levy During February and March 2007 Zero Waste SA is seeking community views on the solid waste landfill levy. The levy supports South Australia Strategic Plan’s target of achieving a 25% reduction of waste to landfill by 2014. The levy enables the Government to provide grants and incentives to improve waste management in South Australia. The levy will increase by $10m from 1 July 2007, however the structure of the levy has yet to be determined by the Government. A discussion paper has been prepared by Hyder Consulting which outlines options to implement the levy, taking into account metropolitan and regional differences, and different types of waste. The paper also discusses timeframes for any future levy increases. The Hyder Review is an independently prepared report which provides the basis for wider public discussion regarding the levy. The Review, together with submissions received, will guide the Government’s decision-making in relation to aspects of the levy. The discussion paper is available from www.zerowaste.sa.gov.au. Written submissions must be received at Zero Waste SA by Friday 23 March 2006. Further information: Angus Mitchell, telephone (08) 8204 2586,
ECOtvc Zero Waste competition Innovative and creative partnerships underpin Zero Waste SA’s approach towards engendering behavioural change in the community. Zero Waste SA has been one of several sponsors for the 2006 ECOtvc competition which has used the theme of zero waste. ECOtvc is a competition to create a 30 second-commercial that raises awareness about sustainability. Its aim is to develop creative ways to increase community knowledge about the environment and to inspire people to change their behaviour. For the 2006 competition more than 60 concepts were submitted with at least half from students under 18 years. The seven shortlisted finalists’ entries will be screened throughout the Adelaide Film Festival, 22 February – 4 March 2007. The winning entry was announced by the Premier at ‘Made in SA’, Monday 26 February 2007 and will be screened on Network 10 and at Wallis Theatres. Zero Waste SA’s research has shown that people attach less importance to the issue of waste and recycling than older members of the community, hence the sponsorship has been an innovative method to target and make a difference with young people. Further information: Marcia Hewitt, telephone (08) 8204 2672,
Wipe Out Waste (WOW) The Wipe Out Waste Schools (WOW) program launched in September 2006 by Environment and Conservation Minister Gail Gago is going from strength to strength. Educators, impressed by the WOW’s holistic approach towards action learning, regard it as a template for other sustainability educational programs. The program consists of a school resource folder with CD ROM, the website www.wow.sa.gov.au and training workshops for teachers throughout the state. The program, which is delivered by KESAB environmental services, will help schools reduce waste and raise student awareness about waste disposal and recycling – particularly as solid waste audits conducted in 10 South Australian schools revealed that more than half of the material that ends up in bins at South Australian schools could be composted, recycled or reused! Since the program’s launch more than 50 schools have been represented at workshops, attracting 73 staff in metropolitan Adelaide and the South East region. Field Day visits to: – Wormswork- Snuggery All sites can accommodate school visits During 2007 the WOW aims to target the majority of the State to raise awareness of the program, assist in establishing local support networks and strengthen links between council and industry. Further information: Erin Henson, telephone (08) 8204 1576,
Business case for food waste recycling Zero Waste SA has commissioned John Comrie (J A C Comrie Pty Ltd in partnership with TJH Management Services Pty Ltd and Sustainable Outcomes) to develop a business case which will help councils determine the costs and savings associated with food waste collection – including the set up of new systems and the ongoing costs associated with undertaking a kerbside food waste collection. The business case will take into account the food waste kerbside collected trial held by the City of Burnside and other trials conducted by other councils around Australia. The business case will include information specific to each metropolitan Council and selected non-metropolitan Councils. The business case is expected to be completed by the end of February, and presented to Councils on March 23rd at the Waste Pathways: Outlook 2007 forum. Further information: Philip Matthews, telephone (08) 8204 1947,
Householder education campaign for green organics contamination Zero Waste SA is developing a householder information campaign in consultation with an Organics Contamination Working Group to educate householders on contamination from kerbside collected green organics. Incidences of contamination from kerbside collection of recyclables and green waste is an area of concern following waste audit reports received by Zero Waste SA from Councils who participated in the 2004-2005 round of the Kerbside Performance Incentives program. The composting industry has raised serious concerns through a special industry group working on this particular issue. The campaign is expected to be rolled out in April and completed by June 2007. Further information: Marcia Hewitt, telephone (08) 8204 2672,
State Government strenghtens building waste management requirements The Building Management division of the Department of Transport, Energy and Infrastructure has developed and secured approval for a range of measures to be incorporated into the State Government's building procurement processes for projects valued at more than $4 million. These measures, which will be applied to all new projects in 2007, will ensure a reduction in waste from building activity. This is a significant achievement, given the amount of waste attributable to the building industry is around a third of all material going to landfill. The package of waste reduction measures has required a review and amendment of the relevant tender and contract documentation, which now includes clauses to reduce waste generation from the building design and construction procurement process. Further information: Bill Lambie, telephone (08) 8226 5039,
Contacts and funding programs Manager, Programs and Policy - Ian Harvey Industry Efficiency Program – John Blumson Greening of Government (waste) - Sharon Ede Kerbside Performance Incentives, Local Government Education Package, Regional Implementation Program - Fiona Jenkins Waste Levy Review, Reuse andRecycling Infrastructure Grants, Research and Market Development Grants - Angus Mitchell Events and Public Place Recycling – Erin Henson Collection Depot Recycling Infrastructure Grants - Philip Matthews Plastic Bags Reduction Program - Richard French Sponsorship Grants, Social Enterprise Incentive Grants Program - Marcia Hewitt
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| News from the CE - Focus on local government | ||
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| ECOtvc Zero Waste competition | ||
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| Business case for food waste recycling |
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