Making it easier for households to separate and recover their waste

Introduction There has been steady progress towards the 66% municipal waste target but significantly more material needs to be recovered. Improvement relies on Increasing the efficiency of recycling services Increasing diversion of organics from landfill Decreasing the toxicity of materials in the bins

Improvements to diversion depend on the correct context householders finding the new services convenient householders skilled and motivated to use the new services correctly a regulatory framework that provides certainty for investment in new infrastructure environmental, social and economic costs and benefits

Convenience

Convenience Dry Recyclables and Organics Collection in Small Centres Kerbside dry recyclables but not organics, drop - off for organics, 98,781, 48% No kerbside dry recyclables or organics, drop both, 48,421, 24% Kerbside recyclables but not organics, no drop organics, 24,054, 12% Kerbside organics but not recyclables, no drop- recyclables, 3,130, 1% No kerbside dry recyclables or organics, drop–off for recyclables, 6,808, 3% organics, 10,405, 5% or organics, no drop off, 13,405, 7% Dry Recyclables and Organics Collection in Small Centres (by population, total 205,004) Convenience

Household problem wastes Household problem wastes – 85% collected at events: Paints (55%) Oils (12.5%) Batteries (11.6%) Gas cylinders (6.3%) Others: Fluorescent globes Smoke detectors

Randwick City Council

Any questions on the information presented related to convenience of household waste services?

Householder skills and motivation What material goes where ?

Geelong, VIC EDUCATION: Victoria’s “Detox Your Home” program established 11 drop off centres to accommodate the problem household materials. They have proved to be an efficient means of collecting these materials. However the use of the name “Detox Your Home” for both the household chemical events (for the high toxic waste) and the drop off centres (for the low toxic materials) caused confusion with the users. Taking on this learning we would need to develop a label (brand) for the drop off centres to differentiate them from the events. It’s recognised that this would require comprehensive education and communication strategies in order for householders to put the right waste in the right place. This slide leads into Education and Marketing Education plan to include: - Training for site operators Householder education program for council delivery so householders know what waste goes where. Marketing – Uniform branding across the State to avoid confusion between differing council services

Householder skills and motivation Why should I bother ?

Householder skills and motivation How do I recycle correctly ?

Any questions on the information presented related to skills and motivation?

THE RIGHT WASTE IN THE RIGHT PLACE! Primary aims Protection of the environment and human health from the inappropriate use of waste. Licensed Food Waste Composting Facility Odour Management Requirements. To reduce the amount of waste generated and disposed of in NSW. Food Waste Compost Resource Recovery Exemption. THE RIGHT WASTE IN THE RIGHT PLACE!

Licensed waste facilities What is a Waste Facility? Any premises used for the storage, treatment, processing, sorting or disposal of waste. What is a Lawful Waste Facility? One that has the appropriate authority for that activity: Landowners Consent; and Development Consent; and Environment Protection Licence. (where triggered under POEO Schedule 1) Environment Protection Licence

Licensed food waste composting facilities When is a food waste composting facility scheduled? If any premises receives more than 200t of putrescible waste per year for composting, it is considered to be a scheduled activity and requires a licence. This applies to the whole of NSW not just the regulated area.

Odour management for food waste composting Food waste contributes a high risk of odour issues. Category 3 organics includes commercial, municipal food waste and co-collected food and garden waste. Proposed site design criteria correlated with site location: ‘Urban’ ‘Non-Urban’ ‘Remote’

URBAN licensed food waste composting facilities One in an industrial area; or Within 500m of a Commercial or Residential area; or Identified by odour impact assessment; or Receiving commercial food waste. <500m

Odour management at URBAN licensed food waste composting facilities A fully enclosed facility for unloading, processing and pasteurisation; that is Under negative pressure; and With rapid shut doors; and Odour destruction technology; and Captures any liquid or leachate; and Leachate dams fully aerated. Mandatory review of performance every 3 years.

NON-URBAN licensed food waste composting facilities Not in a built up area; and Greater than 500m from a current or known residential land release area; and Not in locations that have been identified by an odour impact assessment to adversely impact on the community. >500m

Odour management at NON-URBAN licensed food waste composting facilities Aeration controls and monitoring technology; and Hardstand surface; and Forced air composting; and A proven method to control odours from the receival, sorting and preparation of materials; and Leachate dams fully aerated; and VOC and NH3 impermeable covers or biofilters where required.

REMOTE licensed food waste composting facilities Greater than 2Km from a residential or commercial business area. >2Km

Odour management at REMOTE licensed food waste composting facilities In accordance with statutory requirements; and Receival and pre-processing/mixing areas must capture any liquid or leachate. Environment Protection Licence

Current compost output regulation Compost made from waste is managed for reuse under the Resource Recovery Exemptions. Recovered fines Raw Mulch LOW RISK HIGH RISK CONDITIONS EXEMPTIONS Sampling Testing Recording Applications Definitional

Adding food waste Food waste collections may increase levels of contamination received at composting facilities. This may lead to higher concentrations of physical contamination in the compost outputs. It is proposed that there should be two separate exemptions for composting: Without food waste - definitional. With food waste - physical contamination limits.

Possible physical contaminant limits for food waste compost Usage AS 4454 Food Waste Compost Exemption Glass, metal, rigid plastic >2mm Plastic – light flexible, film >5mm Unrestricted <0.5% <0.05% Restricted as above <1.5% < 0.2%

Drop off centres Design Standards/Specifications and Operational Guide for Drop Off Centres for Household Problem Wastes. Storage control measures: Storage isolated from surface drains. Bunded to contain any spillages. Rain covers Site drainage plans. Cleaning activities in designated areas. Discharges to sewer not stormwater. Care during deliveries and collections.

Drop off centres Scheduled if more than 5 tonnes of hazardous or liquid waste is stored on the premises at any one time.

Any questions on the information presented related to regulatory framework ?

Workshop discussion Dry Recycling Should work be undertaken with industry to enable household dry recycling services to collect the same materials ? Should work be undertaken on a statewide education program for dry recycling ?

Workshop discussion Household problem wastes Are permanent drop off centres the best way to compliment Chemical cleanOut events ? What are the major barriers to drop off centres? How can we overcome the barriers to permanent drop off centres ?

Workshop discussion Food Organics Based on your experience with odour issues do you agree that the buffer distances proposed for food and garden composters are reasonable? What are the major barriers to source separated food and garden collection systems? How can we overcome the barriers to food and garden collection systems?