Effective waste management in Central NT Remote waste management best practise

What changes are we making CAWMWG Challenges Why Change What changes are we making New Issues Why Separate Moving Forward Overview

Central Australia Waste Management Working Group Formed in 2012 with members including; BRC, CDRC, MRC, NT Department of Environmental Health, NTEPA, DHCD, NT Worksafe and LGANT. Aim to work together to develop sustainable and best practise waste management for remote communities in the Central Australia.

Communities CAWMWG services 33 remote communities Populations range from approx. 100 to 800 people

Best Practise We are trying to achieve Environmental Sustainability by; Maximising resource recovery and waste to landfill is minimised. By meeting Occupants service requirements satisfactorily. Achieving statutory obligations of any predicted waste streams.

Councils Budgets include Providing bins where required including; Households Businesses & Government buildings Public Places Emptying the bins Effectively dispose of the waste to comply with statutory requirements. Landfill Management

Extras Include; Picking up Litter from community events Remediating illegal & legacy dumping sites Removal of car bodies from yards Storage of car bodies Leading Community clean ups projects Maximise resource recovery Community litter education beyond the levels of other state councils

Challenges Limited Income (rates cover only 2% approx. of costs) Limited waste infrastructure or cost effective access to markets for recyclables. Recruitment and ongoing retention of staff is a challenge. The vast distances and poor road conditions between communities (towns) restricts viable opportunities to remove and transport recyclables and hazardous wastes to appropriate facilities.

Challenges cont. Landfill are generally designed below minimum standards for environmental protection. Few regional councils can afford the cost of relocating or redesigning existing landfills to achieve best practise standards. And the selection of land can be impeded by the need for landowner consent, and the complexities with identifying appropriate custodians of the land.

Why was change needed

Poor waste management practises Community and Environmental Effects Issues Contamination of groundwater & soil Dust Vermin & Bacteria Fire & smoke GHG production Runoff into water bodies Weeds Odour Infection & Disease Long term health problems Deterioration of drinking water quality Environmental degradation and destruction

Why Change RESULT COMBINE Tidy Towns Best waste practises Clean environment Better quality of life Bridging the gap in indigenous life expectancy Best waste practises Reducing Smoking improved personal and household hygiene improved diet

How are we making the change Upgraded Procedures Improve Staff training Updated Facilities Create Recycling Facilities & Opportunities

Providing Training & Direction

Upgrade Facilities

Improving waste separation Installing Public Drop Off Bays

Locking Council Compounds Limiting Public & contractor access Creating Clean recyclable stockpiles

Proper Burial of General Waste Improved pit design Stepped sides Bund walls around perimeter Ramped entrance Clean fill stockpile

Better Signage Standardised landfill signage Colour coded Pictures for drop off bays Pit and stockpile signage

Progress in 5 Years

New Issues 5500 Vehicle stockpiles at community landfills & growing Stockpiles are growing (metals in excess of 480 tonnes) 5500 Vehicle stockpiles at community landfills & growing

What Markets are currently available SCRAP METALS & VEHICLES CONTAINER DEPOSIT

What markets are currently available Tyres Alice Tyres Beaurepairs Ewaste Techcollect

Issues with getting product to market Industry wants councils to complete all the work and wear the costs. Bale and transport to sealed road for collection. Pay well below market rate or charge to collect. The cost to Freight or no interest from transport companies to back load because it is a waste product. Industry inability to send staff or plant to community.

Why continue to separate & stockpile? Because waste volumes will continue to increase. Metal is worth approx. $400 plus per tonne to industry. Councils could see an income ($100-$150) per tonne to finance the removal of metals and other stockpiles. There’s a cost to bury (upwards of $200 m3). Industry costs to service our communities will only increase! (So its cheaper now!) It’s poor environmental management not to!

Game plan to get recyclables off Communities Combine recyclable volumes as a working group/s Store materials at centralised depots close to sealed roads e.g. Alice Springs Hermannsburg, Imanpa, Ti Tree, Tennant Creek Transport material to depots utilising existing plant operations (e.g. back loading or during towns visits)

Game plan cont. See materials as commodities (e.g. scrap metal) and use this income to fund other materials and transport to markets. Seek funding for equipment to bale and transport materials

Moving forward Much better community buy in Assistance from government Grants (e.g. Regional Recycling group) Know our volumes Understand our waste management costs Improve budgets Create markets and transport options

Thank You