South Australia is known for its leadership in waste management, recycling and resource recovery. Increasingly, it is being recognised internationally for its innovative practices and legislative reform through its container deposit legislation in place since 1977, ban on checkout-style plastic bags introduced in 2009 and landfill bans. A UN HABITAT report, Solid Waste Management in the World’s Cities lauds aspects of South Australia’s waste and resource management as global best practice. This status is a legacy of the strategic and collaborative approach to waste management reform taken by the South Australian Government, through Zero Waste SA and the waste industry, particularly in resource recovery. The South Australian Government’s policy on minimising waste to landfill and its management of landfill sites has been a key factor in reaching its recycling and resource recovery targets. In 2010-11 79.9 per cent (4.3 million tonnes) of material was diverted from landfill in South Australia. The State’s per capita recycling rate, at some 3.250 kilograms per person per year, is still one of the best in the country. These recycling efforts prevented the equivalent of about 1.3 million tonnes of carbon dioxide entering the atmosphere. This equates to taking approximately 300,000 passenger cars off the road. South Australia’s waste management capability Industry Insight Zero Waste SA’s investment in infrastructure, market development, and research and innovation, has helped expand South Australia’s resource recovery sector. Since 2003, $59.9 million of waste levy funds have gone into programs and projects that have stimulated councils, businesses and the community to reduce, recover, reuse and recycle, and cut the volume of waste going directly to landfill. Paul Caica, Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation
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South Australia is known for its leadership in waste management, recycling and resource recovery. Increasingly, it is being recognised internationally for its innovative practices and legislative reform through its container deposit legislation in place since 1977, ban on checkout-style plastic bags introduced in 2009 and landfill bans.
A UN HABITAT report, Solid Waste Management in the World’s Cities lauds aspects of South Australia’s waste and resource management as global best practice. This status is a legacy of the strategic and collaborative approach to waste management reform taken by the South Australian Government, through Zero Waste SA and the waste industry, particularly in resource recovery.
The South Australian Government’s policy on minimising waste to landfill and its management of landfill sites has been a key factor in reaching its recycling and resource recovery targets.
In 2010-11 79.9 per cent (4.3 million tonnes) of material was diverted from landfill in South Australia. The State’s per capita recycling rate, at some 3.250 kilograms per person per year, is still one of the best in the country.
These recycling efforts prevented the equivalent of about 1.3 million tonnes of carbon dioxide entering the atmosphere. This equates to taking approximately 300,000 passenger cars off the road.
South Australia’s waste management capability
Industry Insight
Zero Waste SA’s investment in infrastructure, market development, and research and innovation, has helped expand South Australia’s resource recovery sector. Since 2003, $59.9 million of waste levy funds have gone into programs and projects that have stimulated councils, businesses and the community to reduce, recover, reuse and recycle, and cut the volume of waste going directly to landfill.
Paul Caica, Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation
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UNITED NATIONS ACCOLADEThe UN HABITAT report Solid Waste Management in the World’s Cities concludes that South Australia has demonstrated a high level of political commitment and willingness to “stick its neck out’ and implement some policies and legislation which other governments treat more conservatively”:
South Australians are highly
environmentally conscious. Since the
adoption of container deposit legislation
(CDL) over 30 years ago, which imposed
a deposit fee on packaging such as
beers and soft drinks, and also due to
the acute water shortages in the state,
South Australians are used to working
for the environment and expect the
same standards from their industry and
government. The sophisticated nature
of the industrial sector in Australia,
combined with the tendency towards
large nationally operating companies
mean that all stages of the waste
management process are well developed
and regulated, and are capital/technology
intensive rather than labour intensive.
Waste industry key capabilities• Development and supply of new
technology waste handling equipment
• Design and development of integrated resources recovery centres (waste transfer stations)
• Consulting and training in the development and implementation of domestic waste management collection systems and procedures
• Specialist waste needs including liquid waste treatment facilities
• Commercial and industrial waste recycling and resource recovery
• Expertise and training in waste management supply chain and logistics
• Collection services for putrescible wastes
• Research and development of innovative waste technologies and systems
• Expert advice on land use and development proposals
• Consulting advice on all aspects of site remediation and organics management
• Market research surveys and behaviour analysis and measurement
• Commercial composting
• Education campaign design, delivery and evaluation
• Zero waste strategies
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South Australia’s waste strategySouth Australia’s first waste strategy, introduced in 2005, was the catalyst for implementing wide-ranging waste reforms such as:
• Australia’s first ban on checkout-style plastic bags
• Australia’s most comprehensive pilot of household food scrap recycling
• the Zero Waste SA Centre for Sustainable Design and Behaviour, a partnership with the University of South Australia for world-leading research into consumption and disposal behaviours, waste generation, and market development and design
• regional waste planning and infrastructure improvements
• new recycling ventures for organics, electronic waste, construction and demolition material, waste to energy, recycling services to industry and plastics recycling
• a partnership of government agencies, the Business Sustainability Alliance, to assist business and industry with sustainability
• improved quality of recyclable material by reducing contamination and introducing high performing collection systems
• the state Environment Protection (Waste to Resources) Policy under the Environment Protection Authority.
South Australia’s Waste Strategy 2011-2015 sets new key targets:
• Diverting 70% of household waste – including organic waste - from landfill by 2015.
• Diverting 75% of commercial and industrial waste by 2015.
• Diverting 90% of construction and demolition waste by 2015.
South Australians currently divert about 55% of household waste, 60% of commercial and industrial waste and 80% of construction and demolition waste.
Since 2004 Zero Waste SA has adopted a strategic approach towards waste management by working with industry, local and state governments and community. The agency has rolled-out many programs which ensure recycling and resource efficiency remain a priority.
The widespread introduction of the three-bin kerbside collection system (householders have individual bins for waste, garden organics and recyclable material), the start of food scrap recycling, incentives for business and industry and the successful ‘Wipe Out Waste’ schools program have also helped to transform attitudes towards waste.
The waste strategy also feeds into the South Australia’s Strategic Plan 2011 target of reducing waste to landfill by 35% by 2020.
Waste management in South Australia has progressed apace and now provides a platform for South Australian industry to take advantage of its intellectual property through export opportunities. The Waste to Resources Fund, incentives and regulation have assisted in gaining this recognition.
Vaughan Levitzke, Chief Executive, Zero Waste SA
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Amcor Operates four plants in South Australia that manufacture packaging products such as glass bottles, caps, cardboard boxes and specialised cartons. To support this business Amcor operates a recycling facility for paper, cardboard and plastics at Wingfield.
Chemsal Resource Recovery Part of the Tox Free Group, operates a facility in Gillman in Adelaide’s north providing services for hazardous waste collection and disposal, resource recovery, fluorescent light globe recycling, surplus chemical trading, laboratory relocations, decontamination, and site remediation.
CMA EcoCycle Operates a facility in Wingfield and is a specialist recycler of mercury containing wastes such as fluorescent tubes.
LMS ENERGY Leaders in renewable energy generation and carbon abatement, offering a complete in-house service in energy recovery from waste.
MASTEC Australia Pty Ltd An Adelaide-based family-owned company which is one of the country’s leading local manufacturers of products including 80, 120, 140, 240 and 360 litre Mobile Garbage Bins (MGBs) and 660 and 1100 litre bins plus compact kitchen organics bins and suppliers of compostable bags. It provides distribution services for councils and collection contractors throughout Australia.
Sims Metal Management Operates facilities in Wingfield, Roseworthy, Lonsdale and Murray Bridge.
SITA Australia In conjunction with joint venture partner ResourceCo, operates the SITA ResourceCo alternative fuel facility. This plant produces a process engineered fuel from commercial and industrial and construction and demolition waste which is used by Adelaide Brighton Cement as an alternative for fossil fuel in their cement kilns. SITA Australia also operates a Resource Recovery Centre in Wingfield which includes resource recovery operations and a medical waste treatment facility.
Transpacific Operates a Resource Recovery and Waste Transfer Station at Wingfield, catering for commercial and industrial waste, municipal solid waste and mixed construction and demolition waste. Transpacific also operates a landfill at Inkerman, about 75 kms north of Adelaide, providing a disposal point for putrescible and low level contaminated waste.
Veolia Environmental Services (Veolia) Provides sustainable waste management, resource recovery, industrial services and facilities management. In South Australia Veolia operates 12 sites providing domestic and industrial waste collections services. Its facilities treat and recover all waste streams. Veolia also operates a NATA accredited laboratory. It partners with Integrated Waste Services (IWS) which operates an industrial waste recycling centre and an engineered landfill. IWS also specialises in treating high level contaminated soils and exports its bale fill systems internationally.
Visy Operates three material recovery facilities at Elizabeth, Wingfield and North Plympton in Adelaide. It processes about 145,000 tonnes of co-mingled material each year from these facilities.
Industry overviewSouth Australia supports more than 50 local companies reprocessing paper, metal, glass, plastics, concrete, asphalt, timber, electronic waste and garden organics.
In Adelaide, South Australia’s capital city, the resource recovery industry has the advantage of being close to waste stream sources and markets for recycled materials, and is buffered from residential areas.
The industry is concentrated in Adelaide’s northern suburbs near Port Adelaide. The Wingfield Waste and Recycling Centre includes a cluster of resource recovery businesses including Adelaide Resource Recovery, Amcor, Jeffries Group and Transpacific Industries. Also conveniently located in the precinct is a waste education centre for school and community groups operated by KESAB environmental solutions, a non-government organisation.
Major facilities in Adelaide’s south include Peats Soils and Garden Supplies. One of the state’s largest waste management facilities, capable of processing more than 50,000 tonnes of waste a year with more than 75% recycled, will open at the end of 2012 in a joint venture between Integrated Waste Services and the Southern Region Waste Resource Authority.
South Australia’s reprocessors treat most recycled material: 82% (2.1 million tonnes) is treated locally; 5% (123,250 tonnes) is treated interstate; and 13% (325,177 tonnes) is shipped overseas.
Companies operating in South Australia include many with a global or national presence.
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Industry developmentThe South Australian Government has helped expand the sector, investing in financial incentives for infrastructure, market development and research and innovation. New or expanded businesses and facilities in South Australia serve industry by replacing fossil fuel energy, and reusing, reprocessing or recycling electronic waste, compost, demolition and building waste and plastics.
Mixed recycling
Integrated Waste Services Its new state-of-the art $4 million commercial and industrial materials recovery and sorting centre in Wingfield (in northern Adelaide) received a $300,000 boost from Zero Waste SA and the Australian Packaging Covenant. It will divert an extra 100,000 tonnes from landfill every year.
Northern Adelaide Waste Management Authority (NAWMA) More than $2 million is being invested in the development of a regional transfer station and a ‘Salvage and Save’ operation. The centre will provide a facility to receive material direct from residents or kerbside hard waste collection accepting general waste, hazardous waste and other difficult waste sources such as mattresses. Zero Waste SA will contribute $300,000 towards the facility. This is an innovative project with a social enterprise organisation operating the facility to provide local employment opportunities for disadvantage people or those with a disability.
Electronic waste
CRT Recycling Australia The only facility in Australia able to recycle cathode ray tube (CRT) glass from televisions and computer monitors. CRT glass contains lead, cadmium, phosphor and arsenic, and must be processed to strict specifications for glass to glass recycling. The facility is expected to recycle glass from more than 300,000 television and computer screens annually.
Sims Recycling Solutions Sims propose to establish a facility for the collection, aggregation and part-processing of e-waste materials. It is estimated up to 4,000 tonnes per annum could be part processed before transportation. A Zero Waste SA grant of $175,000 is supporting the project.
Alternative waste technologies
Alternative Fuel Company Pty Ltd A joint venture between Adelaide Brighton Cement (ABC), ResourceCo and SITA Australia. Combustable material usually destined for landfill is being used as fuel in ABC’s cement kiln. Construction and demolition, and commercial and industrial waste is shredded for use as an alternative fuel. A grant of $250,000 enabled the purchase of a secondary shredder to shred the oversized material from the existing process.
SA Waste Management The company has dramatically improved sorting and processing efficiency at its Lonsdale transfer station in Adelaide’s south thanks to a $175,000 grant from Zero Waste SA. It is expected to exceed its initial diversion of 3,000 tonnes of mixed waste materials from landfill each year.
Solo Resource Recovery The company is investing $1.225 million in the expansion and upgrade of facilities at its Adelaide Waste and Recycling Centre in North Plympton. Targeted material will be paper and cardboard, rubble, timber, organics, e-waste, plastic packaging, mattresses, tyres and scrap metal. Zero Waste SA is supporting the project with a grant of $300,000.
Transpacific A major $4 million upgrade of facilities at the Wingfield Resource Recovery and Waste Transfer Station will include construction of a new Material Recovery Facility targeting recovery from mixed commercial and industrial, and construction and demolition waste. Projected recovery rates are in excess of 48,000 tonnes per annum. The centre will provide a facility to receive material direct from residents or kerbside hard waste collections accepting general waste, hazardous waste and other difficult waste sources such as mattresses. Zero Waste SA will contribute $300,000 towards the extension of this facility. This is an innovative project and will be instrumental in meeting the State Government’s material recovery goals.
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HIGHLIGHTSSouth Australia’s industry for recovering and recycling construction and demolition material is particularly well developed with 80% diverted from landfill.
The organics recovery industry is also a strong performer.
In 2010-11 more 954,400 tonnes of organics (including food and garden organics and timber) were recovered for reprocessing.
Zero Waste SA provides grants to stimulate South Australia’s capacity to develop new products and expanded markets for recycled material.
For example, grants have been awarded for developing markets or investigating the feasibility of new products such as specialised composts and fertilisers produced from constituents out of effluent waste water and using recycled aggregates in recycled material road pavements.
Construction and demolition
ResourceCo South Australia’s largest specialist processor of construction and demolition, and commercial and industrial waste. It crushes and recovers rubble for use in construction and road base, and grinds combustible materials for use as an alternative feed to fossil fuels. Zero Waste SA has provided grants to support trials for using recycled asphalt back into new asphalt roads. The Bitumix can be used as a more cost effective alternative to the more expensive hot mix.
Adelaide Resource Recovery (ARR) The company recycles materials such as bitumen, concrete and mixed construction and demolition waste. After a comprehensive resource recovery process, ARR sells Recycled Rubble, aggregates and a range of graded sands to building and engineering operations throughout South Australia.
Plastics
Plastics Granulating Services (PGS) The company is the largest processor of post-consumer and post industrial waste plastics in South Australia. A Zero Waste SA grant of $300,000 will support installation of equipment for shredding, washing and drying plastic films with a focus on polyethylene-based films. This project could recover an estimated additional 4,000 tonnes per year of waste packaging for reprocessing. PGS currently processes more than 120,000 tonnes of waste plastic every year.
Advanced Plastics Recycling Zero Waste SA’s grant has enabled the company to invest in new equipment which has doubled the company’s capacity to process mixed plastic waste into recycled plastic products such as posts and bollards.
Organics
Organic material is a valuable resource for South Australia’s severely nutrient-deficient soils. Zero Waste SA provides financial incentives to improve the organics processing industry to maximise the beneficial use of waste materials, decrease greenhouse gas generation and reduce the disposal of waste to landfill.
Jeffries Group Organics recycling company, the Jeffries Group, has completed a $3 million upgrade of its Buckland Park composting facility in northern Adelaide with the assistance of a grant from Zero Waste SA. The custom designed Recycled Organics Screening System will help South Australia maintain the state’s nation-leading role in reducing organic waste to landfill. A Zero Waste SA grant of $300,000 is assisting with installing an innovative sorting system which includes the use of x-rays to remove glass, stones, metal, ceramics, brick and some plastic from mulch and compost products.
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Peats Soils and Garden Supplies The Willunga-based company continues to grow and now has three production sites located around Adelaide. It continues to invest in key infrastructure with the assistance of Zero Waste SA grants for specialised grinding and screening machinery. This has enabled an increase in the quality and quantity of compost processed from kerbside collected garden organics and other putrescible waste streams. Zero Waste SA grants are also assisting with market development with research into new products such as Tricho-compost®, a specialised compost with a natural additive effective against botrytis in vineyards and white rot in onion crops.
Compost for Soils A collaborative venture which was initiated by the South Australian compost industry including the Jeffries Group, Peats Soil and Garden Supplies and Van Schaik’s BioGro and has been implemented nationally. With support from Zero Waste SA the venture was established to:
• Raise awareness by focusing on the economic benefits and positive experiences of using compost and mulch and publishing case studies and articles in media.
• Participating in high profile events such as the International Symposium 2011 Conference trade display, Promoting Farm Ready program and field days.
• Preparing a desktop industry report that summarises key agriculture sector profiles as a snapshot of land area under crop type and the number of potential compost customers.
• Researching new markets and technologies nationally and overseas to gain insight and suggest priority areas for South Australian producers.
Research and development
Zero Waste SA Centre for Sustainable Design and Behaviour is a partnership between the University of South Australia (UniSA) and Zero Waste SA. The research centre is examining issues of waste management and reduction, recycling and resource efficiency. It brings together elements of design and behaviour change across many academic disciplines from architecture to childhood development.
National Centre for Contamination and Remediation of the Environment (CRC-CARE) in affiliation with the University of South Australia develops new technologies for treating contaminated soils and difficult-to-treat waste streams.
Flinders University has world class researchers in the areas of bioremediation, composting and oil refinery clean-up. The University is affiliated with Flinders Bioremediation, a unique consulting and research based organisation specialising in organics recycling.
University of Adelaide and CSIRO carry out extensive research on materials recycling, phytoremediation (use of plants to treat contaminated wastes), bioremediation and mine site rehabilitation.
ARRB Group Ltd (ARRB) provides research, consulting and information services for the Sustainable Aggregates South Australian group. ARRB researches the use of recycled aggregates in road pavements and works to improve market awareness of the technical capabilities for using recycled materials.
Barbara Hardy Institute (University of South Australia) Barbara Hardy Institute researchers conduct collaborative research across a broad spectrum of disciplines that are fundamental to the sustainability of natural and built environments and society. They are involved in a number of Australian Research Council funded projects, Cooperative Research Centres and conduct research and consultancy for various international, national, state and local government and industry organisations.
Consultants and contractors
Zero Waste SA has detailed knowledge of consultants and contractors providing professional services in waste reduction strategies, energy and water savings, industry symbiosis and sustainability.
ContactZero Waste SA Level 8, Statewide House 99 Gawler Place ADELAIDE SA 5000
Government of South Australia. 2011. South Australia’s Strategic Plan 2011. Government of South Australia, Adelaide.
Rawtec. 2012. South Australia’s Recycling Activity 2010-11. Zero Waste SA, Adelaide.
United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN HABITAT). 2010. Solid Waste Management in the World’s Cities. Earthscan Ltd, London, UK.
Zero Waste SA. 2011. South Australia’s Waste Strategy 2011-2015. Zero Waste SA, Adelaide.
Zero Waste SA. 2011. Annual Report 2010-11. Zero Waste SA, Adelaide.
About Zero Waste SAZero Waste SA promotes waste management practices that, as far as possible, eliminate waste or its consignment to landfill, and advance the development of resource recovery and recycling.
It provides strategic policy advice, guidance and leadership to government and stakeholders to bring about change. Zero Waste SA establishes programs and projects that maximise waste reduction, and promote recycling and ecological sustainability.
South Australia’s Waste Strategy 2011–2015 has two key objectives:
• maximising the useful life of materials through reuse and recycling
• avoiding and reducing waste.
It is guided by the concept of zero waste which challenges ‘end of pipe’ solutions and shifts a focus to encouraging the cyclical use of materials in our economy.
Zero Waste SA was established in 2004 by the Zero Waste SA Act. This Act also established the Waste to Resources Fund which is made up, primarily, of 50% of the levy paid by waste depot licence holders under the Environment Protection Act 1993. The levy is collected by the Environment Protection Authority and the appropriate proportion is transferred to the Waste to Resources Fund.
Directory of partners and industry associationsAustralian Council of Recyclers Inc www.acor.org.au
Australian Landfill Owners Association (ALOA) www.aloa.com.au
Australasian Bioplastics Association www.bioplastics.org.au
The Environment Protection Authority manages environmental impacts of waste in South Australia and minimises adverse effects on human health and the environment.
KESAB environmental solutions www.kesab.asn.au
KESAB environmental solutions is a non-government organisation which develops and implements awareness and behavioural change programs to encourage environmental improvement and sustainability. Zero Waste SA supports KESAB through a partnership agreement.
Plastics and Chemicals Industry Association (PACIA) www.pacia.org.au
Waste Management Association of Australia (WMAA) www.wmaa.asn.au
Zero Waste SA supports the South Australian branch of WMAA through a partnership agreement.
