the greening of mt eden prison RETHINKING

RURAL dec 2014 issue 153 RECYCLING $9.00

Resource Recovery in Taranaki

PRODUCT STEWARDSHIP:

Workplace health & safety: CHILD Legislation update Contaminated land: CAR Asbestos in soil The e-waste experience SEATS in Australia SUSTAINABLE

 SUSTAINABLE SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIES industry better a Building economy. land stream. To advance the advance To We are also pleased to also pleased are We announce that in 2015, in 2015, that announce the Roundup will feature feature will the Roundup a dedicated contaminated contaminated a dedicated circular economy in New in New economy circular a smarter and more sustainable and more a smarter Zealand we must engage with the must engage with we Zealand interactions between our industry and between our interactions business at large, with a view to creating to creating with a view large, business at better industry”, where we will explore the explore we will where industry”, better business sector to develop smart solutions smart solutions to develop business sector which approach the concept of waste from from waste of concept the which approach theme is “Sustainable Economies - Building a - Building Economies theme is “Sustainable ormation visit bit.ly/roundup2015 For more information every angle. In 2015 the WasteMINZ Roundup Roundup WasteMINZ the 2015 every angle. In Crowne Plaza Hotel, Auckland Plaza Hotel, 2015 | Crowne April 24 23 & Friday Thursday WasteMINZ Roundup 2015, Sustainable Economies - Building a better industry a better - Building Economies 2015, Sustainable Roundup WasteMINZ ECONOMIES Building a better industry den E kinner mart, the new Y S S eat omputer Recycling S wen NZ on managing managing on NZ C E I

Angela Atkins afety Reform Bill on S aper: aper: P ). P S R C uncan profiles ouncil to provide convenient D C paul's desk from paul's your board COUNCIL NEWS events members gold + silver 4 5 7 news BITES 30 sector groups 32 34 35 istrict orrections Facility. cheme (NT product stewardship solution for children’s car seats. regulars & Kimberley Hope profile the region’s progress in minimising landfill dependency. Michelle 24 LAND: MINATED CONTA ASBESTOS IN SOIL WasteM from update An soils. contaminated asbestos 26 THE GREENING OF MT EDEN PRISON Jane Palmer describes the successful Zero Waste to Landfill initiative at the Mt 28 EXPERIENCE THE E-WASTE IN AUSTRALIA Miles Lochhead reviews the Australian National andTelevision S KING RURAL RETHIN RECYCLING Winner of Best outlines the initiatives taken by Hastings D 14 OVER RESOURCE REC KI IN TARANA Runner Up Best 18 & workPLACE HEALTH UPDATE LEGISLATION SAFETY: Grant Nicholson explains the implications of the new Health & waste and recovery businesses. 20 : PRODUCT STEWARDSHIP CHILD CAR SEATS C 10 recycling facilities to rural communities.

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c c ffi ew Zealand ew nit 2, 5 5 2, nit ditor, revolve e e + Chief exe U N [email protected] [email protected] PO www.wasteminz.org.nz [email protected] T design, revolve + \ Lassman Leanne E + \ Mundell Kim S + \ Quilty Nic z [email protected] S + \ Marshall Jenny [email protected] O + \ Dooner CJ Me + \ Inglis Carole [email protected] Paul Evans \ + \ Evans Paul [email protected] on the cover the on oris ruminate aisy & Doris ruminate Barbara, D waste. their place to next where over INZ is the authoritative voice on WasteM in New Zealand, recovery waste and resource and seeks to achieve ongoing and positive development of our industry. INZ publishes Revolve magazine five WasteM in ensuring it plays a vital role times a year, up-to-date with the latest in our members are industry news, policy and legislative changes as well as innovations and advances. ISSN 2324-5417 (Print) ISSN 2324-5425 (Online) SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIES Building a better industry Talk to me from paul's desk +64 9 476 7172

Paul Evans, CEO, WasteMINZ [email protected]

Great planning is the foundation • Water coolers were only stocked venue staff were bundling of any successful venture, but with reusable glasses recyclables up with waste and planning alone isn’t enough. For a • Waste and recycling stations dumping it all in the skip. Definitely plan to come to fruition, there must were set up which separated not the outcome we wanted and also be effective monitoring and landfill waste, from glass, plastics definitely not what should happen at enforcement. This became apparent (1-7) and paper a WasteMINZ conference! to us at our recent conference. Rather than sweep this On the face of it, it was a good As the organisation representing transgression under the carpet, I system. We had worked closely the waste and resource recovery want to bring it to your attention! with the venue to ensure they industry, we take waste minimisation I want it to be front and centre! understood our expectations, so we and management at our events Because I know that you all work patted ourselves on the back for this seriously. Consequently, a lot of very hard on your plans, just as we great planning. time and thought goes into how did. I want you to learn from our But here’s our mea culpa! things should be done at our annual experience. Don’t forget about We were so busy managing the conference. In preparation for our that all important monitoring and conference that we forgot about the 2014 conference therefore, we enforcement! monitoring and enforcement. We put in place a plan to execute the We have raised this issue with assumed that our plan would be put following: the venue and are working with into action as we had so fastidiously • Site tour packed lunches them closely to ensure that they up directed. Unfortunately it wasn’t! were packed in compostable their game. Not just when it comes Many good things still packaging, so any leftovers to WasteMINZ events, but when it happened. Food waste and could be composted comes to all events held there. packaging were composted; I want to assure you that • We analysed historical catering Kaibosh liaised with the venue, monitoring and enforcement will be trends to minimise food waste you all used glasses for your water. a key part of our plan as we move • We arranged for edible food But when it came to those waste forward. I hope you make it part of waste (which met strict criteria) stations, it fell down. Apparently yours! to go to food recovery although at the management • Any inedible food waste was level the venue understood our collected separately and expectations, this simply hadn’t composted been translated to the people on the ground. In some instances, how to CONTACT YOUR BOARD MEMBERS

Paul Bishop Chair Darren Patterson Deputy chair Grahame Christian \ EnviroWaste Services Ltd \ Patterson Environmental \ Smart Environmental [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

4 John Dragicevich Your Board [email protected]

“Who would have thought we are creating a community around rubbish?” this is what one of our community partners said, reflecting on all the enthusiasm and energy that has emerged from communities within Auckland around waste.

Auckland’s journey towards its goal This network will maximise Partnering with communities of Zero Waste in 2040 started in the diversion of reusable and and supporting local community 2012, with the council signing up to recyclable materials from landfill organisations to lead engagement a plan with some challenging and and, in the process, generate has been another key initiative, transformative projects. Among the multiple environmental, social, tapping into people’s creativity service changes Aucklanders will cultural and economic benefits. and fuelling passion for minimising see are a new food waste collection These benefits include local job waste, building community pride service in urban areas, enhanced creation, training opportunities, and opening up opportunities for recycling, and a user pays system for community engagement, reduced social enterprise. Who knows better rubbish collection across the region. carbon emissions and redistribution how to connect to the community In addition to these significant of low cost goods and materials but the community itself. kerbside service changes, another throughout the region. It has also led to greater transformative initiative endorsed The transformation of waste collaboration within council by the council is the Resource services will be the largest yet to departments such as community and Recovery Network. The network be undertaken in the southern economic development, working is an essential tool to achieve hemisphere, with a huge number on tangible projects around waste Auckland’s waste diversion targets. of challenges. How to get 510,000 minimisation. It is likely to take 10 to 20 years households, who are socially and Jared Blumenfeld in his inspiring to establish fully and will, to a culturally diverse, on board with presentation at the WasteMINZ large extent, develop organically the changes? The first campaign conference said, Zero Waste should from within the Auckland business “Recycle Right” was a massive multi- not be an aspirational goal it should and community sectors. However media campaign from social media be a target which can be achieved. Council has chosen to take a to door-knocking, designed to Auckland’s journey towards Zero strong leadership role initially, to communicate with Aucklanders, to Waste is well underway. ensure the network achieves its full influence their behaviour and make potential. an impact on the contamination levels in recycling bins.

John Dragicevich Simonne Eldridge Dominic Salmon \ Auckland Council \ Tonkin & Taylor \ Hastings District Council [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

december 2014 \ WWW.WASTEMINZ.ORG.NZ \ 5 News Bites

2014 Conference winners 1 Best Written Paper Rethinking rural recycling in the regions, by Angela Atkins, Hastings District Council. Angela received $750 prize money sponsored by SULO (N.Z.). A précis of this paper can be read on page 10.

2 Runner up Best Written Paper Collaborative relationships: Planning and negotiating increased resource recovery in 1 3 Taranaki, by Ewen Skinner, Morrison Low and Associates & Kimberley Hope, New Plymouth District Council. The authors received $250 prize money sponsored by SULO (N.Z.). A précis of this paper can be read on page 14.

3 Best Expo Site Scrap Metal Recycling Association of New Zealand

4 Most Sustainable Expo Site 2 4 Ecomailbox & The Nappy Lady

WeWe live live in inone one of ofthe the most most beautiful beautiful countries countries in inthe the world. world. But But as as a moderna modern productiveproductive society society we we also also produce produce waste waste that that will will have have a longa long term term negativenegative impact impact on on our our outdoor outdoor lifestyles lifestyles – unless– unless we we manage manage it properly.it properly.

WhichWhich is iswhy why Waste Waste Management, Management, as as New New Zealand’s Zealand’s leading leading waste waste resourceresource recovery recovery specialist, specialist, has has the the capital capital intensive intensive infrastructure infrastructure to to provideprovide efficient efficient and and sustainable sustainable waste waste management management and and recovery recoveryservices. services.

WasteWaste Management Management – positively– positively resourceful resourceful

08000800 10 10 10 10 10 10 wastemanagement.co.nz wastemanagement.co.nz Splore is the first New Dave implemented and delivered Zealand festival to win an the sustainable pathway with an exceptional understanding of what international A Greener needed to be done and forged Festival Award. partnerships with organisations Splore received a Highly such as Auckland Community Zero Commended award announced Waste Alliance, Wash Against in Wales on 18 October for the Waste, RELIEVE, Friendly Pak, outstanding sustainability results Sunsonics and Clean Event. These from Splore festival in February partnerships were vital in the 2014. The results included 73% collaborative approach and were diversion from landfill, 25% key contributors to the festival's reduction in vehicles and 14,000 success" says Wright. reusable cups circulated during the Splore has set a precedent event, preventing 55,000 single and a new benchmark for events serve cups going to landfill. with Auckland Council, the event The Highly Commended Award Splore wins and waste industry and other is given to festivals who prove they sustainable organisations aspiring are well managed, environmentally international to move into the sustainable event aware and have taken significant space. Splore has proved an event steps to reduce waste, reduce award can have a positive impact beyond greenhouse gas emissions and the event itself. engage with the audience. Wright and Watson recently set Amanda Wright, Splore’s founder sustainability manager for Splore. up an advisory business GreenShoot and former festival director says Splore 2014 was the first time Pacific to help other festivals and having an insightful audience is part the festival had contracted a events to be environmentally sound, of Splore’s success. “The audience Sustainability Manager and Wright socially equitable and economically helped Splore achieve this award. says it meant the difference of strong productions. They are They responded positively to the having someone to implement the continuing to work with Splore to sustainability initiatives we introduced strategy and put the plan into action. support the festival working towards in 2014 and they were willing to "Without an expert in your team a higher benchmark. become part of the solution.” to run this aspect of the festival it For more information go to www.greenshootpacific.com Wright set the festival’s is impossible to achieve what you on dave@ sustainable strategy and action set out to do with so many other contact Dave Watson at greenshootpacific.com plan, engaging Dave Watson as areas of a festival to organise. MOVERS & SHAKERS welcome to our new members corporate AsureQuality

Clorox SMALL BUSINESS All Environmental Concepts jeff matthews sam bridgman BASF Jeff has recently joined SLR Sam has taken a role at New Consulting as a Principal BTW Company Ltd Zealand Post as Corporate Consultant for the waste and Big Hanna Composter Ltd Sustainability Specialist - resource efficiency sector. Environment. He will be working BioPak Jeff will be responsible for across NZ Post operations as developing the SLR waste GeoScience Consulting Ltd well as with its stakeholders. His business in New Zealand. SLR replacement at Jacobs will be Kaipara District Council Consulting is a leading global announced soon. Sam can be provider of environmental Mandalay Technologies contacted at sam.bridgman@ consultancy services to nzpost.co.nz or on 021 608 974. Opus Consultants, Auckland the waste and recycling sector, providing advice to Paranui Organics a range of clients including Trident Plastics waste producers, the waste individual management industry, its regulators and investors. The Anthony Small waste management philosophy Brendan Hogan developed by SLR Consulting Erin Richards follows an established waste hierarchy of waste prevention, Gemma Dawson minimisation, reuse, recycling, cath gledhill John Evans energy recovery and final Cath joins the solid waste disposal. For more info go Natalie Webster team in the new role of Waste to www.slrconsulting.com/ Nick Harford Minimisation Officer at Dunedin sectors/waste-management. Jeff City Council. Her role, as part can be reached at jrmatthews@ Peter Moodie of the Waste Minimisation slrconsulting.com Richard M. Williams Team, will be to help implement Rowan Barling and promote effective and efficient waste management and Russ Martin minimisation within Dunedin by Wes Knight (Aust) assessing the current and future needs. She can be contacted at student [email protected] Gina Tari Buletare

8 Love NZ use the right bin Look for the Love NZ Over summer many of us are out at the beach, enjoying recycling bins festivals or just relaxing with our families and friends. in your area. There are lots of Love NZ recycling bins all over New Zealand where you can recycle your cans, bottles and paper when you are away from home. They are on high streets, in shopping malls, at airports and ferry terminals. BP’s Wild Bean Cafés and AJ Hackett have them and so do the Skyline Luges. You will also find them at sports events like the Heineken Open and the Cricket World Cup and festivals all over the country. If it can’t be recycled then put it in the rubbish bin. None of us want to see litter on our beaches, streets or tourist spots.

Did you know… Reuse. Use a reusable • New Zealanders generate an estimated 30% more shopping bag waste over the summer holidays and in seaside when you go out areas it’s an additional 400% and most of it can be shopping. recycled if people put it into the recycling bin rather than the rubbish bin. • New Zealanders consume over 700,000 tonnes of packaging every year but we only recycle just over Be a recycling half of it. champion at • Using packaging made from recycled materials events. uses less energy and emits fewer greenhouse gas Use Love NZ emissions. recycling bins. • The amount of glass recycled actually doubles in January but sales of glass and cans go up 3 times our normal levels over the holiday period.

Challenges Love NZ • Look for the Love NZ recycling bins in your area, take a photo and send it to donna@packagingforum. recycle with org.nz to be in to win a Love NZ prize. care use the • Or see if you can find one of the glass bottle banks and take a photo of one of your family or friends right bin this separating their glass bottles or jars into different colours – green, brown and clear. summer • Use a reusable shopping bag, keep cup or reusable drinks bottle and reduce your waste even further.

promoting december 2014 \ WWW.WASTEMINZ.ORG.NZ \ 9 best paper RETHINKING RURAL RECYCLING inUREGIONS By Angela Atkins, Waste Minimisation Planner, Hastings District Council

10 10 For innovative waste solutions talk to Envision your resource recovery consultants

Research & Analysis

ural recycling is a service Furthermore, introducing rural Discussion Documents that has been put in the too recycling to specific communities Rhard basket for many years throughout the district will provide now, resulting in the expectation greater control to Council over Waste Audits that rural residents will utilise the the method of collection and facilities located in closer proximity servicing, as well as allowing for to urban communities. In many direct engagement with these Site Designs instances rural communities have communities, ultimately leading to instead used farm tips or burning a reduction in contamination and as a way to rid themselves of the associated sorting costs. Project Management burden of waste. To gauge the need and Hastings District Council willingness of the communities (HDC) recognised in their Waste to participate, Council agreed Business Plans Management and Minimisation to trial this service initially for 12 Plan (WMMP) that a gap existed months at two locations. This was in their service delivery, creating extended to two years, to gather Scoping Studies barriers which prevented the more detailed data and monitor rural community from effectively trends after the introduction of recycling domestic material. China’s “Green Fence” policy. The Strategy Reviews This acknowledgement received trials using wheelie bins (MGBs) positive feedback from the whole commenced in June 2012. The community, especially the popular two sites chosen were Tutira, a Community Engagement beach community of Waimarama, farming community 60 minutes which sees a major influx of holiday north of Hastings and Maraekakaho, makers (and their waste) over the a community 20 minutes south of summer period. Hastings that includes a mixture At the heart of this initiative is of lifestyle, farming, orchards HDC’s desire to provide convenient and viticulture properties. These recycling facilities to our rural two sites were chosen due to the communities that are; cost effective differences presented by each and to collect, transport and sort, and the availability of local community lead to broader environmental champions, who could help manage outcomes, such as moving away the facilities. PO Box 31478, Milford Auckland, New Zealand from the use of farm tips. 09 303 4746 www.envision-nz.com december 2014 \ WWW.WASTEMINZ.ORG.NZ \ 11 Over the past 12 months custom built hook containers, we call ‘Green Bins’; have been designed and tested by HDC for the collection and transportation of recyclables. These bins have movable internal walls which allow for individual site adjustments and removable signage. They are extremely versatile, and can be used at both large transfer stations and smaller rural sites. In December 2013, two 20 foot Officers estimated the servicing The development of the shipping containers were converted needed for the sites identified and green bins has had a number of into green bins in response to a then consulted with the community advantages for HDC, including; dramatic increase in servicing costs. asking if they were willing to pay • Removing the health and safety These were funded by accrued up to $7 per property, per annum risk associated with manual waste levy funds. for the service. The consultation lifting and sorting These green bins are able to store came back with 58 percent support. • Reducing servicing costs by bulk a much larger volume of material than Residents were also asked to containerisation the previous collection methodologies nominate their community if they and have resulted in fewer truck • Establishing a uniform approach had a strong desire for the service. movements and significantly reduced across all recycling facilities The responses to the location of the servicing costs. The innovative facilities matched that of the initial • Using Council’s own design includes several internal research undertaken by the Council. infrastructure and giving Council compartments enabling the collection Following this, the original bin control over the establishment of up to six different material types in deployed in Waimarama received and servicing of sites the one bin. some minor adjustments before There have also been many positive The first of these green bins being deployed to Havelock North. benefits of using local champions was placed at Waimarama Beach Changes included the addition of in each community, they include; in early December 2013 for a three shutters over the deposit slots to their local knowledge, their ability to month trial, to deal with the waste allow for plastics and paper to be promote and encourage use of the associated with the annual influx of transported without being sucked facility, their monitoring of use and summer revellers. out. These shutters also doubled as advising Council when servicing is A second green bin was placed the signage holders. This bin was required. at our 24 hour recycling drop off used to trial the collection of plastic/ HDC strongly believe they have facility in Havelock North, where cans and paper/cardboard for a developed a cost effective solution it replaced 28 x 240L MGBs that month each. This was to gain crucial to providing recycling facilities were being used for the collection data on how the material would flow to the entire district. We call it of glass. The use of MGBs meant during the emptying process and resourceful thinking! that this facility had previously volume vs. weight comparisons. required servicing twice daily during Pleasingly, during the trials the festive season, necessitating there were no reported incidents of significant labour resource. This illegal dumping at our rural sites; in simple change resulted in a saving Maraekakaho, Tutira or Waimarama. of over $17,000 in the first six While a permanent CCTV camera months. is in place at the Havelock North Based on data from these trials, facility and infringement notices are consultation was undertaken as part issued if dumping occurs. of the 2014/15 Annual Plan for the It is also hoped that the enclosed development of permanent rural Angela has been the Waste Minimisation Planner green bins will reduce the volume of at Hastings District Council for the past six recycling facilities in up to eight wind-blown litter at the sites where years. During this time Angela has developed communities across the district. open topped bins have been used the WMMP and enthusiastically set about implementing a number of the key projects. in the past.

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Chris Hartshorne > 03 338 2400 | www.plasback.co.nz runner up best paper By Ewen Skinner, Director of Morrison Low and Kimberley Hope, Manager Compliance Water and Wastes, New Plymouth District Council

increasing resource recovery in Taranaki 14 14 WEIGHING TECHNOLOGY Weighbridge Specialists

s the Taranaki region’s in 2019 and an alternative disposal landfill nears the end of facility is required. Top quAlITy SERvICE its life the focus has been Any option for another A CoMpETITIvE pRICINg on providing an alternative facility landfill requires that the waste is that will minimise dependency transported to that facility. Along on landfilling. This has been with costs for transportation, • Steel & Concrete Weighbridges achieved through an evolving availability of tonnes will dictate • NZ Trade Approved set of collaborative relationships the viability of the disposal options. between the Taranaki councils, the This poses a conundrum for us as • In Ground & Above Ground commercial sector and community tonnes (circa 50,000) are needed • From 6m to 24m Length and organisations. to generate revenue and make a 3m to 3.4m Width The councils’ collaborative landfill economically viable. On the working relationship was initiated other hand the councils are required • Single or Double Deck Designs over a decade ago. The councils had to ensure waste minimisation and • Full Range of Indicators a number of key focus areas, formed reduce transportation and disposal a regional strategy and progressively costs. We could access out of region • Full Range of Software worked to realise their key vision of disposal options but this may mean a Resource Recovery Facility (RRF). loss of control of the waste stream The RRF will substantially increase and also our ability to ensure that Nationwide Coverage resource recovery in the region. In waste minimisation occurs. order to provide the facility in the The outcomes we sought to New Equipment most economic way it was critical to address these key issues were: involve others. This is the journey to • Minimise the amount of waste Service/Maintenance make this happen. that needs to be transported to Calibration landfill. Key issues • Obtain cost efficiencies/ Trade Certification The councils have difficulty maximise diversion from landfill Installation fulfilling waste management and by bulking up collection and Relocation minimisation plan targets and a transfer station services under limited ability to influence waste one contract, with similar levels streams outside the councils’ of service between districts and Trading Standards Accredited control. As the waste services a methodology to maximise Company No. 71 contract was due to come up for waste diversion. renewal it required customisation to • Develop a resource recovery increase waste diversion and align facility. with the proposed resource recovery Three key areas of focus were facility. For some time we have used identified to address our issues New Plymouth’s landfill which has and achieve the outcomes we were been able to fully recover costs, seeking: increased waste diversion however the landfill is due to close and security of waste disposal tenure. www.scaletec.co.nz

december 2014 \ WWW.WASTEMINZ.ORG.NZ \ 15 0800 765 041 Focus 1 Disposal Learnings • The tender process provided options All of this was possible due to an opportunity to seek prices an open book process and the and methodology for a number We went to the market to compare transparency that this offered. This of options for the services. the costs of a new regional landfill process understood that: Some of these services will versus the cost of transporting and • The outcome must be fair to all not be introduced at services disposing the waste out of district. parties. start date but a baseline price Learnings • The contractor needs to make a and specification remain in As a result we learnt: profit. the contract in case of later introduction of the service. • For out of district waste disposal • The contract must be transparent options where there are and future proof, benchmarks are • Do not underestimate the length significant distances to travel and therefore set in the document as of time it takes to go through a reliance on a commercial landfill well as a process with which to a procurement process to align which has little competition, there monitor the original assumptions. all the aspects (collection, are inherent risks with respect to processing and disposal). The procurement process was potential for escalation of costs. designed to identify options for • It may be more efficient to make the RRF with collaboration from Summary full use of the existing landfill’s the commercial sector in terms We have achieved a win/win remaining capacity by introducing of location, services, mix of solution for the region by working resource recovery initiatives to council versus commercial versus together as councils, the commercial extend the life of the landfill. community activities, and funding of sector and the community to meet • Co-development with commercial the build. future waste challenges. parties of a new regional landfill This process has realised that: Focus 3 Collection may offer significant benefits to us. • Collaborative working and Transfer relationships achieve more than Station Services Focus 2 Resource working separately. Recovery Facility Concurrent with the RRF • Working collaboratively with We agreed a regionally consistent procurement process we called commercial parties does not recycling collection methodology, tenders for kerbside collection mean losing control of waste and New Plymouth sought services and operation of small minimisation initiatives and waste proposals for a RRF. Negotiations transfer stations. This was disposal options. considered prudent as the recovery started for a 21 year contract for the • We have achieved long term services would influence the design development of the RRF. security of our waste minimisation and operation of the new RRF. Key to the development of the services through development RRF contract was discussions and Learnings of a RRF and kerbside collection negotiations in order to: As a result we learnt that: and transfer station services that • Agree a contract form • Prior to concluding the RRF dovetail into its operation. • Understand the contractor’s requirements, the recycling • A solid waste system is now set construction costs collection contract methodology up to facilitate implementation • Assess options for risk sharing had to be decided. This meant of our WMMPs and the regional between the parties. that the tender process was waste strategy, with an ability entered into well in advance. • Look at staging the facility’s to grow and adjust to changing development as well as • Bulking up services into a community needs. incorporating the existing facility combined tender process in the into the site while all activities region did offer savings. Morrison Low has extensive experience providing were transitioned to the new site • Up front purchase of MGBs organisational, operational and financial advice over a period of four years. offers savings in costs e.g. for to local government throughout Australasia. We insurance, finance, stock storage. have completed a range of waste management • Future proof and maintain and resource recovery projects in New Zealand flexibility of the new site for These costs are usually passed on and Australia including waste strategies, activities that may be introduced by the Contractor. operational and organisational reviews and the procurement of services for individual and shared at a later date. services councils. www.morrisonlow.com

16 A FREE nationwide service ‘FREE’ PCB to collect and safely dispose of Polychlorinated Biphenyls DISPOSAL! (PCBs) is offered by Waste Call 0800 PCB WASTE Management Technical Services (WMTS)

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• PCBs must be removed from lighting systems or fittings and rendered safe, prior to WMTS accepting possession. • This promotion is limited to the collection and disposal of 12 tonnes (maximum packaged weight) of PCB waste. There are significant quantities of PCBs • This PCB elimination and disposal promotion expires March still remaining in New Zealand, despite 2015. • All applicants under this promotion must register with WMTS. legislation being in place since 2004 To register call Carolyn Armstrong on 0800 PCB WASTE. prohibiting their use or storage. • Acceptance approvals will be issued by WMTS prior to pick-up. This promotion is focused mainly on • Any applicant currently on EPA’s PCB register must disclose this status. the disposal of small PCB containing • Free collection and disposal will be applied on a first come capacitors, typically found in older style first served basis. fluorescent lighting ballasts. • WMTS will assist applicants with information on identifying PCBs and on any requirements concerning PCB storage, handling, registration, transport and disposal. WMTS is offering this service for • WMTS retains sole discretion as to whether or not to accept FREE, enabling you to off-set the cost PCB waste and is not obligated to accept waste it considers outside the promotion’s objectives. of having your lights checked and WMTS is able to provide more information to help identify upgraded. Further savings can be made suspect capacitors and ballasts in PCBs. Further information on Safe Management of PCBs Code of Practice publication is on the with modern energy efficient lighting. MOH website: www.moh.govt.nz

Transformers and other items of This promotion is made possible by a grant from the Government’s Waste Minimisation Fund, managed by the electrical equipment containing PCBs Ministry for the Environment. are also eligible. Waste Management Technical Services also acknowledges Tredi NZ Ltd as its PCB offshore disposal agent and promotion partner.

december 2014 \ WWW.WASTEMINZ.ORG.NZ \ 17 A new landscape for workplace health & safety

By Grant Nicholson, Partner, and Olivia Moller, Solicitor, at Kensington Swan

In March 2014 the Health and A new duty A new legal test Safety Reform Bill was introduced holder: the PCBU into Parliament, as a key part of the In essence, ‘all practicable steps’ is Government’s Working Safer reform Under the HSW Act the new out, ‘reasonably practicable’ is in. package to deal with New Zealand’s primary duty holder (PCBU) will be The HSW Act will require poor workplace safety record as a ‘person conducting a business or PCBUs to take action on health highlighted, in particular, by the Pike undertaking’. A PCBU is a person and safety ‘so far as is reasonably River mine tragedy in 2010. conducting a business alone or with practicable.’ This test sounds similar The Bill will create a new Health others, and whether for profit or to the current law, but in practice and Safety at Work Act (‘HSW Act’), gain or not. The person may be a the way cost is assessed as a factor which will replace the current Health company or an individual. People will be very different. The HSW and Safety in Employment Act. This involved in a company as workers Act will relegate cost from an even new law is scheduled to come into or officers (including company footing with other considerations force on 1 April 2015, but delays directors) will not be PCBUs, but will when deciding what is ‘reasonably mean the start date is more likely to have separate personal duties. practicable’. Instead, there will be a be in the third quarter of 2015. PCBUs will be required to clear presumption in favour of safety The HSW Act will be a significant ensure, so far as is reasonably ahead of cost unless the cost is change for all businesses, doing practicable, the health and safety ‘grossly disproportionate’ to the risk. away with the current employer of both workers they engage and This has the potential to hit small focused regime in favour of a new those whose activities in carrying businesses hard. Consideration will system based on workplaces and out work are influenced or directed need to be given to how limited workers. There will be a new primary by them, including employees, funds can be applied to delivering duty holder, changes to the ‘all contractors, subcontractors and health and safety in the workplace, practicable steps’ test, due diligence others. PCBUs will also owe a duty and some tasks may not be able to obligations on officers, and a new to other people who may be at be undertaken when risks cannot be range of penalties and enforcement risk from work carried out by the mitigated. business or undertaking. powers for WorkSafe New Zealand. With power comes These changes will bring There will be additional specific challenges for waste and recovery duties on waste sector PCBUs responsibility businesses, both large and small. who are designers, manufacturers, Under the HSW Act, new and In many cases the basic framework importers or suppliers of plant, onerous obligations will be imposed of business operations will need to substances or structures, and on on ‘officers’. This means all company be re-assessed in order to ensure anyone who installs, constructs or directors and anyone else who make compliance with the new legislation. commissions plant or structures. decisions that affect the whole, or a substantial part, of the business of the PCBU.

18 A new landscape for workplace health & safety

Officers are going to have to There will be a three tier system Get your business do ‘due diligence’ to ensure that of offences for health and safety ready now the PCBU complies with its duties breaches: and obligations. Officers will need • Category 1 will be offences of While the exact start date for the to have good knowledge of health ‘reckless conduct’ and carry a HSW Act is yet to be announced, and safety (both in the PCBUs’ maximum penalty of $3 million all waste businesses should be business and more generally across for a company and $600,000 reassessing how they deal with the waste sector) and of what is for an individual or five years health and safety now, particularly being done to comply with the imprisonment, or both. at senior management and director level, to ensure compliance plans PCBUs’ legal obligations. It will • Category 2 will be offences are in place and operating by the no longer be enough for directors involving a failure to comply time the law changes. and senior management to simply with a health and safety duty receive meeting minutes or reports that exposes someone to risk from a health and safety manager of serious harm. The maximum or staff health and safety committee fine for a company will be $1.5 without doing more. These new million and for an individual will obligations will have a particular be $300,000 or up to five years impact on larger businesses, where imprisonment. directors and senior managers are • Category 3 will be offences often removed from those physically concerning a failure to comply completing the work as they will with a health and safety duty. Grant has practised law for 20 years and need a better understanding of key joined Kensington Swan in 2004. He has The maximum penalty for a risks, controls and issues. experience in a broad range of health and company will be $500,000 and safety and hazardous substances matters An officer can be prosecuted $100,000 for an individual. and helps clients with safety management whether or not the PCBU is processes, including reviewing health and prosecuted. Prosecution of In addition, WorkSafe New Zealand’s safety systems, compliance with legislation, PCBUs and officers are likely, and inspectors will have expanded and advising on serious incident investigations powers and a raft of new tools to and representation during interactions with will present significant financial regulators and the courts. Grant is a regular and deal with health and safety issues. challenges for smaller companies. expert commentator and presenter on health These will include giving WorkSafe and safety issues, and is recognised as one of Upping the stakes: New Zealand more ways to get New Zealand’s leading lawyers in this area. He is active in the community of health and safety information about possible offences new penalties practitioners and is a member of the Auckland and greater intervention powers to branches of the New Zealand Institute of Safety The range of penalties available prevent people being hurt. Management and the New Zealand Safety to the courts will be substantially Council, as well as the Institution of Safety and Health (United Kingdom) and the Safety expanded under the HSW Act. Institute of Australia.

december 2014 \ WWW.WASTEMINZ.ORG.NZ \ 19 seatsmart improving end of life outcomes for children's car seats

By Michelle Duncan, Project Manager, 3R Group

20 Waste is an • Have kids in a car? Then you My findings were presented to 3R’s opportunity must use an approved car seat. leadership team who agreed there It’s a required item for 700,000 was product stewardship potential, Sometimes waste issues seem like families in New Zealand who so a project was started with four the proverbial elephant, too big to have a child seven years old and agreed deliverables: Collaboration, eat in one mouthful. So we wait, under. Collection and Recycling, Options hoping for legislation, landfill bans • All seats have an expiry date for Stewardship, and a Business Plan or consumer action to force wide- between six and 10 years for an ongoing scheme. spread change. In a few isolated from manufacture (due to cases this might happen; mostly it wear and tear and component Collaboration doesn’t. degradation) is key Alternatively the waste elephant • A child can go through three With Plunket and the NZ Transport can be viewed as a whole heap of configurations between new- Agency in support and a funding bite-sized pieces, with each waste born and seven years old (baby grant from Auckland Council’s Waste type representing an opportunity capsule, convertible/toddler Minimisation and Innovation Fund, to improve outcomes. This is seat, booster) work commenced with formation of the approach that 3R took when a cross sector project team. This was investigating a product stewardship • A growing market and waste essential, given that the plan was for solution for children’s car seats, now issue. In 2004, 42,000 seats were a voluntary scheme. The team now called SeatSmart. imported which have all now includes Auckland Council, Baby The idea arose from my personal expired. For 2014, the estimate Factory, Baby on the Move, Hastings experience; I was tidying my garage is over 100,000 seats; nearly 500 District Council, NZTA, Plunket, Tas and wondered what to do with my tonnes of waste material Baby Holdings and The Warehouse. expired car seat. I called Plunket • Seats aren’t easily compactable who advised me to cut the straps to and are high volume by weight, Evidence based render it unusable (it had expired) not good for landfill and take it to the dump. decisions I took that as a challenge, One of the project team’s first reasoning there had to be a better actions was to add a new project solution for an item that was mostly deliverable: Investigate the use plastic and therefore presumably of brominated flame retardants recyclable. Follow up research (BFRs), after the Ministry for the helped define the opportunity: Environment flagged this as a potential complication.

december 2014 \ WWW.WASTEMINZ.ORG.NZ \ 21 BFRs have been added to many consumer products (including car seats) for years. Some older BFRs are now classified as Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). Recycling components containing these BFRs is banned due to health and environmental risks, so the project engaged Dr Ben Keet to perform testing using an x-ray fluorescence scanner. 3R collected a sample of 40 different child seats which were scanned for the presence of bromine which would indicate BFRs. Components were measured separately (e.g. fabric, foam and each plastic type); overall 220 scans were taken. Pleasingly, no plastic samples tested positive for BFRs, however four foam samples and three fabric samples tested positive at various levels. The testing method did not differentiate between specific types of BFR’s, so all foam and fabric would need to go to landfill, while plastic and metal could be recycled without risk. Recycling Trial

There’s no substitute for hands-on experience, so we conducted three separate recycling trials in Auckland. Abilities Group and two Community Corrections programmes provided the dismantling resource, while Astron Plastics took the plastic for recycling.

Results were:

• 438 seats were processed, diverting 1813kg from landfill • Nine different material streams were collected • The average seat took around six minutes to dismantle using hand tools • Dismantled materials were 92 percent recyclable by weight

22 The recovered polypropylene plastic • Engagement with community was recycled without any issues and and social enterprise to collect the dismantling partners considered and dismantle seats the process suitable for ongoing • Recycle plastic and steel; work, therefore the recycling trial develop new end-uses for other was considered successful. materials Michelle has been with 3R Group Ltd for seven • Launch in Auckland region in Roll-out years and during that time has gained broad year one, roll-out nationwide in experience in developing and managing Scheme specifics are still being year two stewardship programmes. finalised by the project team Michelle played a key role in the 3R-managed SeatSmart is scheduled to launch however all parties agree on the Tyrewise project, which developed a preferred during mid-2015, a great result stewardship model for end of life tyres in New fundamentals and likely form that considering that the first project Zealand. SeatSmart will take. workshop took place in February • A voluntary, retailer led 2014. This progress is very much stewardship scheme for all due to the openness participants brands of seats have brought to the process, • Aims to generate awareness of combined with a genuine desire for expiry dates and safe use, and better environmental outcomes for provide free recycling of end of this product. life seats to consumers Those interested in staying informed can contact me ([email protected]) • Likely to be funded by or go to SeatSmart’s Facebook participating retailers collecting page at www.facebook.com/ an advanced disposal fee on SeatSmartNZ. sales of new seats Reefs at Risk Initiative.

ENVIRONMENTALISTS KNOW GLASS LOVES THE SEA. “Glass comes from nature,” says Céline Cousteau. “It’s made from sand, limestone and soda ash. It’s safe for human life and ocean life. And it’s endlessly recyclable, so it’s sustainable for our blue planet. Choose glass for yourself, for dolphins, for sea turtles, for our future.”

glassislife.com #glassislife © Owens-Illinois, Inc. On behalf of Céline Cousteau, O-I is making a donation to the World Resources Institute’s asbestos in soil what is the way forward? By the WasteMINZ team

It is clear that there are The meeting comprised a small as to whether and how any of many problems and cross section of those in New these can or should be applied to Zealand tackling this issue, taken New Zealand. frustrations assessing from consultancies, laboratories, The US Environmental and managing asbestos- industry and government. It was Protection Agency (USEPA) and the contaminated soils. not our intention for the invited UK jurisdictions have decided not parties to make decisions, but to adopt off-the-shelf guidelines What is the best rather to establish what the issues to manage asbestos in soil. The assessment approach? are (or could be) and where USEPA has adopted Activity How do we ensure WasteMINZ may be able to assist. Based Sampling. The UK are not By Shane Moore, Principal Environmental Scientist,TonkinThe discussion & Taylor ranged from what convinced that guideline values are adequate protection guidelines might be appropriate the way to go and so have adopted for workers? How for assessing asbestos in soil a risk assessment approach. should wastes be through to disposal of asbestos Is the NEPM the most contaminated wastes. appropriate guideline to apply? characterised? These If not, then what guideline is NEW are just a few of the Guideline appropriate? Should we even be issues to consider. numbers for applying numbers to asbestos in asbestos in soil soil? Or should we be viewing the WasteMINZ has a New Zealand has no established different techniques available as a risk based guideline values for ASBESTOS role to play assisting toolbox? How can council officers asbestos in soil. Australia and the the advancement of be expected to regulate asbestos Netherlands have guideline values, contaminated sites properly (and contaminated land all of which are interlinked. The consistently across the country) Australian NEPM are the most issues and to this end, when there is such a lack of clarity TESTING recently published, which are we recently organised of approach? based on the Western Australian a meeting to discuss guidelines, which in turn are based Construction ASBESTOS CONTAMINATION TESTING where we may be able on the Dutch guidelines. There workers is an ongoing debate within the to help. The existing health and safety At Hill Laboratories, we have developed a suite of asbestos contamination testing contaminated land community regulations give no clear guidance that is fast, effective and accurate. We offer testing of three different sample types – Asbestos Fibre Counting on Air Filters, Asbestos Identification in Bulk Materials

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24 hill-laboratories.com on how to address asbestos in soil. Disposal of conditions and guidance that makes New health and safety regulations asbestos wastes statements that are not risk based. should be out next year. In the Asbestos wastes require disposal Can New Zealand afford that? If we interim WorkSafe New Zealand under controlled conditions in are concerned with human health, have issued a Position Statement landfills designed to accept them. then clearly much more than one recommending that the assessment, There is little (if any) disagreement fragment could be present in soils remediation and management with that. However, the difficulty before landfills would need to take of asbestos-contaminated soils is comes when deciding how much special precautions treating the undertaken in accordance with the asbestos you need for waste to wastes. Western Australian guidelines. become asbestos waste. This is not The Western Australian a situation unique to New Zealand. Conclusions From the meeting, it was clear guidelines appear well suited to Many jurisdictions have struggled that there are no simple answers protecting workers who will be with this. to how we deal with asbestos in exposed to asbestos in soil, but A Guide to the Management of soil and there are more issues are they appropriate for adoption Cleanfills (2002) appears clear on than those mentioned above. The into the new regulations? Health this: Cleanfill should contain “no” WasteMINZ Contaminated Land and safety regulations are typically asbestos. But how do you define Sector Group is keen to assist and hazard based, whereas the Western “no” asbestos? The detection limit now that the dust has settled from Australian guidelines (and the for the common laboratory method is the conference, we intend using the New Zealand contaminated land 0.01%, but concentrations below this information gathered to formulate guidelines) are risk based. What detection limit can still be reported. a way forward that engages with all qualifications do contaminated Does “no” asbestos mean less than those WasteMINZ members who are land specialists need to be able to 0.01%, or that the laboratory found involved with this difficult subject. investigate asbestos-contaminated none at all? Does one fragment Watch this space. sites: will it be enough to be a of asbestos boarding mean that Suitably Qualified and Experienced an entire stockpile should go to Practitioner, or will they need to have landfill? On a risk-based approach, a Certificate of Competence as well? this is clearly not the case, but waste is classified in accordance with

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hill-laboratories.com Safety, security and Greening innovation were the primary objectives Mt Eden when Serco New Zealand took over Corrections management of Mt Eden Corrections Facility Facility (MECF) in 2011. By Jane Palmer, Communications Manager, Serco New Zealand

While most of the innovations introduced by Serco relate directly to reducing reoffending, the MECF team was determined to establish a garden in the busy inner city remand prison which holds up to 960 prisoners. The problem wasn’t space, but a lack of greenery in the urban landscape. The solution included the installation of 200 hungry bins and 12 self-watering gardens in a vacant courtyard. The Zero Waste to Landfill initiative at MECF was introduced at the beginning of 2014. More than a million worms in the hungry bins and a specially built recycling

26 26 bay process the 150,000 kilograms “Over time, we’d like to promote both for staff and prisoners. We are of organic and inorganic waste greening and recycling with our about to launch a pilot programme produced by prisoners and staff on- visitors, and that’s just for awareness. in partnership with the Open site each year. Before establishing This means that dad in prison, and Polytechnic, using electronic tablets the worm farm and recycling bay, his partner and children become for processes which currently require all of this waste had been sent to better informed about the greening paper. For example, we have Auckland’s landfill. MECF’s recycling agenda and take these ideas and designed a face to name muster programme is the biggest of its type initiatives home with them. We will IT program which will replace the to manage waste at an individual look at running a ‘Take It Home’ 29,000 sheets of paper that we corporate level and is fast becoming campaign, to encourage recycling currently print each year for this one a role model to other institutions in and awareness of green initiatives process. I don’t think the prison will the Auckland CBD. amongst our prisoner population.” ever become totally paper-free, but MECF Director Gareth Sands Staff and prisoners have been this option will spare some trees. says the annualised savings of the most affected by the need to “We recently had an assessment initiative are $92,000. Earlier this recycle. Some of the prisoners to install solar panels and while year, Serco received a Green Ribbon initially showed little interest in the investment is significant, the Award for waste management from the programme and threw out potential is enormous. I’m hopeful the Ministry for the Environment. many items that are now recycled. that one day everything will be Gareth Sands says that while the Over time, they have responded recycled, rather than most things, recognition is appreciated by his positively to the changes. for a complete zero to landfill facility. team, it’s a by-product of doing the “At first, they had the attitude I’d also like the vehicles we operate right thing. that 'it doesn’t belong to me, I want here to be as green as possible. At “Our starting point is to establish a new one, so I’ll throw it away'. some point in the future, I believe environmental sustainability, given Now they recognise that recycling is that our on-site vehicles will be the size of the prison operation everybody’s business. It has required electric powered." that we run. We have a social some education, to help people Gareth Sands says that the and environmental responsibility. understand the reasons, benefits successes achieved through the Nobody is actually asking us to and actually how to physically worm farm and initial recycling do these things — there are no contribute towards recycling. We’ve efforts on the inner city site have targets against how green our site promoted it through staff and boosted enthusiasm for future is, but we’re trying to lead the way. prisoner newsletters, MECF TV, possibilities. Sometimes that costs us money, and staff meetings and prisoner unit rep “There are good things sometimes that saves us money, but meetings. We’ve been able to talk happening, as people become more money is not the driver here.” about why we’ve done this." aware of achievable sustainability The by-product from the worm “The quantity of food waste options. We are attracting quite a castings in the hungry bins is was higher than we expected. lot of attention because of what used to fertilise the garden where For example, we found a lot of we’re doing.” prisoners grow organic herbs and rice was being binned and that vegetables. These are then used by has influenced our menu options. other prisoners working in the MECF Prisoners now have some control kitchen. over the food they can order and MECF is committed to its they are less likely to throw it out.” community social responsibility While not all the rubbish is programme which includes recycled, there is a thorough process environmental sustainability. The Zero to recycle as much as possible. Waste to Landfill project provides Gareth Sands says that although Jane Palmer is Communications Manager MECF prisoners with an alternative the sustainability programme is still for Serco New Zealand. Serco is a global company, which operates as a leading outdoors rehabilitative option in an quite new, there are many more supplier of public services. Its business urban remand prison setting. The projects the team at MECF is keen focus is on justice, immigration, defence, prisoners who work on the project to explore. transport, citizen services and healthcare. gain knowledge, NZQA qualifications “We’re looking at moving Serco’s two New Zealand contracts are with the Department of Corrections, to manage and work experience which they can away from being a paper-based Mt Eden Corrections Facility and Auckland use after they leave MECF. business, to being more IT based, South Corrections Facility, a new prison due to open in May 2015.

december 2014 \ WWW.WASTEMINZ.ORG.NZ \ 27 The e-waste experience in Australia By Miles Lochhead, Business Manager at Renewable Recyclers, Wollongong

fter much deliberation and main due to scheme quotas being is collected and recycled via stakeholder consultation, met ahead of schedule. The end manufacturers’ own internal Athe National Television result being an immediate reduction processes. (This is referred to as and Computer Recycling Scheme in cash flow and the winding down IPR). Currently this constitutes a (NTCRS) began in Australia on 1 July and in some cases closure of considerable percentage of the 2012. The NTCRS was developed established businesses. annual target yet provides no as a Product Stewardship program Aware that the issues facing the benefit to the general public, as to progressively transfer the costs industry required urgent attention, it does not draw from community and impact of e-waste from the the Community Recycling Network collections. community to the manufacturers of Australia (CRN) established 3. Discussion and commitment and importers of this equipment. a working group that included to fast track the regulation of The scheme was seen by many representatives from disability and recyclers under the Scheme as an opportunity to formalise social enterprise recyclers as well — preferably AS/NZS 5377 and regulate the growing e-waste as the Australian National E-waste — through independent recycling industry. Two years down Alliance (NEWA) — an alliance certification. the track, the scheme and the of social enterprise recyclers 4. Open discussion (and proposed industry are suffering from a range processing e-waste. resolution) regarding the evident of ‘oversights’ that have seriously Representation was made to inappropriate practices relating challenged the sustainability the Australian Federal Government to the handling, processing, of many recycling businesses. requesting the following: storage and transport of e-waste These challenges are particularly (especially CRT glass). 1. Immediate action to assist evident in the social enterprise and 5. A commitment to bring forward previously viable social disability sectors where the focus is the scheduled review of the enterprise e-waste recyclers employment. NTCRS to include the above who have had their cash flow In the second quarter of the last issues along with consideration seriously affected by supply and financial year, a number of recyclers of increasing recycling targets as pricing issues; had supply of ‘Scheme e-waste’ a matter of urgency. 2. Review of the amount and either cut off, considerably reduced, percentage of product that or diverted. This occurred in the

28 These issues summarise the current NEGATIVE At CRN we have an interest in ‘social deficiencies in the Australian Scheme procurement’ and will continue to with the CRT glass concern reflecting 1. Despite consultation between work toward a balanced processing a global dilemma relating to a major levels of government through framework with a mix of social by-product (albeit short term) of the the Australian Council of enterprise and corporates providing e-waste recycling industry. Governments, the take up and services to the community. We The announced review of the ‘ownership’ of state/territory also feel that the manufacturers NTCRS has been brought on as and local governments with (liable parties under the scheme) a result of many of the above the NTCRS has been limited are not fully aware of all the points issues being raised at the highest with many local governments raised above. We will continue government levels. Meetings with completely washing their hands to promote full awareness of the stakeholders have begun and the of responsibility for ‘their share’ issues with a view to achieving next few months will hopefully result of e-waste. mutually satisfactory solutions for all in appropriate consultation and a 2. Recycling quotas (commencing stakeholders in e-waste. review that addresses these issues at 30 percent in Year 1) did In essence, the ‘bones’ of the and many more. not accurately consider the scheme are good. With review From my experience as a volume and weight of the CRT and refinement, standardisation, recycler and an advocate of social television legacy and do not stabilisation and sustainability of and disability enterprise, I would reflect the community and e-waste recycling will occur for summarise the best and worst industry willingness to recycle the betterment of the scheme and aspects of our scheme as follows: electronic wastes. Targets are too product stewardship in general. conservative and have proved POSITIVE relatively easy to meet. 3. Lack of a federal or state 1. Australia’s first attempt at approved direction on CRT government regulated product recycling in this country. stewardship has a good Establishment of CRT glass foundation. recycling capacity and processes, 2. The waste management sector with relevant approvals, would has been provided (to a large resolve the dilemma in handling extent) with a clear standardised this serious but short term issue. framework for the management and processing of electronic wastes. 3. This framework developed Miles Lochhead is the Business Manager at Renewable Recyclers in Wollongong, NSW to support the NTCRS can Australia. Miles is also Convenor of the be refined and enhanced as Community Recycling Network of Australia (CRN a model for future product Australia). Miles has spent 20+ years in the ‘waste’ industry. stewardship schemes.

Visy Recycling Education Centre

Learning about the environment and how we can all play our part in protecting and improving it is now an established part of the school curricula. Please contact Meredith Graham At Visy Recycling we provide educational tours not only for school groups but Education & Marketing Manager also for community groups and businesses to learn more about what happens for more information.

to their recycling once it leaves the kerbside. Ph (09) 975 2003 Tours are run Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at our Onehunga Material Recovery Facility (MRF) bookings are essential.

december 2014 \ WWW.WASTEMINZ.ORG.NZ \ 29 [email protected] | www.visy.co.nz Nic Quilty sector groups Sector Projects Manager [email protected]

behaviour change The steering committee met on organic materials 27 November when they discussed The 2014 WasteMINZ conference saw the contaminated land stream at the A position paper on compostable a strong focus on food waste emerge. recent WasteMINZ conference (which plastics has been circulated to The interim results of the National included the workshop; From go manufacturers of compost. As Food Waste Prevention Project were to whoa: Assessing and consenting more and more events around the presented, which confirmed suspicions a contaminated site under the country strive to become zero waste that households are throwing away NES), the certification scheme and the issue of what cups, plates and large amounts of avoidable waste. the contaminated land stream at eating utensils to provide at these The research will be fully completed WasteMINZ’ 2015 Roundup. events is a question for many event by February 2015, and a launch of the organisers. This initiative aims to results is planned for the week of 9 health & safety identify a standard that will ensure March 2015. that compostable packaging sent to A snap poll of those who attended The new health and safety legislation composting facilities will break down the TA forum confirmed that the is top of mind with both WasteMINZ in an appropriate timeframe. use of a red lidded bin to designate and the Health and Safety Sector Results of the clopyralid survey rubbish and a yellow lidded bin to Group Steering Committee and indicate that this is still an issue for designate commingled recycling WasteMINZ will be running a series industry with several composters was widely approved. The technical of briefings for its members on the separating out grass clippings. The working group is still discussing the implications of this new legislation steering committee met in November most appropriate colours for glass, next year. The first briefing will be held to review the research and agree the cardboard and organics. in Auckland in February 2015. next steps. The steering committee met on Contaminated Land 25 November and the new legislation TA Forum Management was included on the agenda. Other discussion items were adding a The steering committee met with the Guidance Notes are currently being fact sheet to the Health and Safety Ministry for the Environment staff in finalised for the Contaminated Land Guidelines for the Solid Waste and September to discuss the implications Assessment certification under the Resource Recovery Sector on the of the Ministry’s review into levy Certified Environmental Practitioner collection of organic food waste outcomes. An FAQ document on scheme. The Guidance Notes will materials, surveying members to the levy was created and is available assist prospective applicants when identify their health and safety issues from the WasteMINZ website. The they are assessing their eligibility for and the disposal of asbestos. committee met again in November CEnvP (CLA Specialist) certification and to discuss recommendation 7 in completing the necessary application Landfill & the review; “Develop a framework and agreed metrics to evaluate the requirements. The process for the Residual Waste assessment interview, where applicants medium and long-term outcomes of will be asked questions about their The draft Technical Guidelines for levy funding, including considering the experience, proficiencies and ethical Disposal to Land are currently being wider environmental, social, economic conduct, is also currently being peer reviewed and will be published and cultural benefits of waste developed. It is intended that the first by early February 2015. minimisation funding.” round of applications for certification will be open by March 2015.

30 Conference CONVERSATIONS

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0800 240 120 december 2014 \ WWW.WASTEMINZ.ORG.NZ \ 31 www.envirowaste.co.nz

126858 ENV Waste Awareness Advert PRESS.indd 1 2/07/12 9:39 AM Do you have council news to share? These are your pages – email Jenny at [email protected]

Plenty Regional Council, launched the $50,000 fund in June to help promote auckland waste initiatives from Bay of Plenty- Local residents in and near Waiuku have based businesses, industry, councils or the chance to experience the future community groups. The six successful of resource recovery, now that a new projects include construction waste community recycling centre is open for collection and re-sale, a food rescue business at the site currently known project, organic waste diversion from as the Waiuku Transfer Station. The cafes, waste education workshops, a Waiuku Community Recycling Centre is marae-based zero waste project and a the first facility of a planned Resource community worm farm. Recovery Network that will provide 12 recycling hubs in communities across Chair of the Regional Council’s Auckland, to significantly reduce waste Regional Direction and Delivery to landfill. Five paid positions will be Central Committee, Paula Thompson said created, plus volunteer positions. Otago 13 organisations and individuals had The Trust is a joint venture between "I buy therefore I am” is the applied for more than $160,000 in local community group the Waiuku and provocative title of an art exhibition funding, and WRAG had spread the District Community Workshop Trust and in Central Otago which is highlighting available funding across as many nationally recognised recyclers, Xtreme the issue of waste. Local artist projects as it could.“We wanted the Zero Waste, which runs a similar model Andrew Price, who recently painted money to be spread across the greatest for community recycling in Raglan and the 'Recycling Central' mural (above) number of projects, so we boosted the the group has a contract with Auckland on the Central Otago Waste Busters fund by a small amount, and with some Council to operate the centre for five Building, has created 28 photographs savings here and there we can now years. and one sculpture displaying the issue fund six projects,” she said. of waste. The work in this exhibition Two of the more innovative projects Residents and local businesses will be is intended to extend people’s view being funded are the setting up of a able to drop off their unwanted goods and understanding of what happens construction waste and demolition and materials which the Trust will to items after they have been made, waste collection service and an organic either process for reuse or recycling, or distributed, sold, used and then waste collection system for used remake into new items. Timber will be discarded. coffee grounds. Community Resources a special focus of the centre, as this is where Trust members have some highly The exhibition is currently touring Whakatane has purchased a trailer to specialised skills. Rubbish can still be schools in the region and the photos take around building sites and waste dropped off, but the emphasis will are being made available online for will be sorted into re-useable items be on reducing the amount that goes anyone who may want to use them to and sold at their yard. Tauranga City to landfill. Auckland Council’s Solid promote the issue of waste in their Council is setting up an organic waste Waste Manager Ian Stupple says: “The area. collection system for used coffee grounds from cafes to be composted. Trust brings a wealth of experience Museum and Art Gallery Alexandra media This will divert an estimated three to create a popular community release tonnes of coffee ground waste from destination around reusing, recycling each cafe each year, saving businesses and refurbishing items, while offering Bay of Plenty disposal costs, space in landfills business and job opportunities for local people.” The Waiuku site will be Six Bay of Plenty waste reduction and creating a high-quality coffee open to visitors four days a week from projects are being helped by a newly- compost, which can be on-sold as soil Thursday to Sunday. launched fund to make the most of conditioner. Auckland Council media release the region’s waste resources. The Bay of Plenty Regional Council media release Waste Resource Advisory Group (WRAG), administered by the Bay of

32 LOOKING FOR A GLASS GRANT?

The Forum is committed to ensuring that as much waste container glass as possible is diverted from landfill and put to an effective use. It recognises that this can only be achieved if there is input into the critical areas of infrastructure, education of the community and co-operation with local commercial recyclers and local authorities. south wellington In some locations it may be necessary waikato On 29 November, Wellington City to utilise recovered glass locally or upgrade infrastructure to improve glass Tonnes of waste pour into district Council conducted a harbour clean up quality and/or the tonnages recycled. councils’ landfills each year and the with a difference at Frank Kitts Lagoon, Councils and community groups are South Waikato Achievement Trust with 15 keen divers and kayakers invited to apply for funding to assist hopes its e-waste initiative will change volunteering to do a litter pick up from glass recycling projects. Refer to the the harbour floor. A 50 minute dive to that. The Trust sees e-waste processing Forum’s website for the application a maximum depth of 10 metres saw as an opportunity to create jobs, with form and the criteria for grants. an alarming haul of rubbish brought an ambitious five year plan to see 20 Funding projects to date include: jobs created in Tokoroa. It has the to the surface, with the ubiquitous • Infrastructure to collect quality glass shopping trolleys, tin cans and glass support of seven local councils and for remanufacture into new containers bottles amongst the rubbish found on plans to accept e-waste from as far • Support infrastructure to collect the seabed. Smaller items were placed north as Hamilton and as far south as glass at community events in dive catch bags, with larger items Taupo. • Trials of glass as a substitute for tied with a rope and then hoisted to the Since the Tokoroa processing centre sand in golf courses/sports fields surface by the kayakers. opened six months ago, 3.5 tonnes of • Engineering report on glass in e-waste have been processed every This is the third year the event has building slab construction month and South Waikato District been held and this year’s focus was on • The separation at source bin for single Council has reported that the amount engaging the wider community with the collections with glass separate of waste collected at the district’s dump clean up, to create greater awareness • Modification of MD4 specifications from January to August this year is 17 of the problems caused by littering. to allow glass in road construction According to Meagan Miller, Wellington percent lower than the same period Funding project guide: Making City Council’s Waste Minimisation last year. The Trust also processed a Difference in the Community 427 televisions from Matamata–Piako Educator, “In previous years people is available on request District Council, which had been left have walked past and been curious as over after the TV TakeBack programme. to what was going on. So this year we wanted to create more opportunities to The Trust, which has been operating engage with the public.” since 1973, was originally formed to provide employment and development Face painting and stalls from local opportunities for adults with conservation groups were added to disabilities. Over the 40 years that the create a carnival atmosphere and raise Trust has operated it has grown and awareness of marine conservation. diversified, so that it now operates in Meagan Miller, Waste Minimisation Educator, a much broader field, operating social Wellington City Council enterprises which provide opportunities for the disadvantaged in Tokoroa and the South Waikato. The centre is committed to diverting as much as possible from landfill and has achieved a 96 percent recycling rate to date. Gary Olney, South Waikato Achievement Trust GET IN TOUCH WITH John Webber [email protected] www.glassforum.org.nz

december 2014 \ WWW.WASTEMINZ.ORG.NZ \ 33 25-26 february 27-30 july Energy from Waste 6th Australian Landfill & Transfer London, UK Stations Conference & Expo www.efwlondon.eu Call for Abstracts Canberra, Australia 15-17 April www.wmaa.com.au/CONF/cdlf2015/p_abstracts.html sorting expo Shanghai, China 7-9 september www.sorting-expo.com ISWA World Congress Antwerp, Belgium 23-24 April www.iswa.org/events/calendar/ wasteminz roundup 2015 ‘Sustainable Economies’ – Building a better industry 5-9 october Crowne Plaza Hotel, Auckland, NZ Sardinia 2015 www.wasteminz.org.nz/news-events/events/roundup/ 15th International Waste Management and Landfill Symposium S Margherita di Pula, Cagliari, Italy 5-7 may www.sardiniasymposium.it/call-for-abstracts.aspx Waste 2015 First Announcement & Call for Abstracts 19-22 October Opal Cove Resort, Coffs Harbour, NSW, Australia WasteMINZ Annual Conference & www.waste2015.impactenviro.com.au/call-for-abstracts Expo 2015 Rotorua, NZ 11-13 may www.wasteminz.org.nz Sorting Plants Study Tour London, UK email : [email protected]

SULO (N.Z.) Ltd Rod Enoka Gate 4, 13 Kerwyn Avenue Managing Director East Tamaki, Auckland 2013 Karen Murray PO Box 58 962 Mob 021 763 626 Phone 09 446 0709 Botany, Auckland 2163 Fax Email General Manager NEW ZEALAND 09 446 0706 [email protected] Tel: +64 9 968 2182 PO Box 32149 | Devonport | Auckland 0744 | New Zealand Fax: +64 9 968 2188 Mobile: +64 21 878 337 62c Hillside Road | Glenfield | Auckland | New Zealand www.miltek.co.nz Balers for Sale, Lease or Rent [email protected]

EnviroWaste Services Limited Level 1, 345 Neilson Street, Onehunga Graham Jones Private Bag 92810, Penrose National Resource Recovery Auckland 1642, New Zealand and TLA Market Manager Tel 09 636 0350 DDI 09 622 8453 Fax 09 622 8464 Mob 0274 389 020 Email [email protected]

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34 WasteMINZ MEMBERS GOLD SILVER

Advance Personnel Services 3R Group Ltd www.adstaff.co.nz www.3R.co.nz CarTakeBack www.scrapcarrecycling.co.nz City Care Ltd www.citycare.co.nz Auckland Council www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz Foodstuffs NZ www.foodstuffsnz.co.nz fullcircle recycling www.fullcircle.org.nz Earthcare Environmental Ltd GHD Ltd www.earthcarenz.co.nz www.ghd.com Golder Associates (NZ) Ltd www.golder.com EnviroWaste Services Ltd Hiway Environmental Ltd www.envirowaste.co.nz www.hiways.co.nz Maccaferri NZ Ltd www.maccaferri.co.nz Manco Environmental Ltd Lion www.manco.co.nz www.lionco.com Metalman NZ Ltd www.metalman.co.nz MWH Global O-I New Zealand www.mwhglobal.co.nz www.o-i.com Omarunui Landfill www.hastingsdc.govt.nz Onyx Group Ltd www.onyxgroup.co.nz Smart Environmental Ltd www.smartenvironmental.co.nz Plasback www.plasback.co.nz Rubbish Direct Ltd www.rubbishdirect.co.nz SULO (N.Z.) Ltd Salter's Cartage Ltd www.sulo.co.nz www.salters.co.nz Scion Research www.scionresearch.com Tonkin & Taylor Ltd Sims Recycling Solutions www.tonkin.co.nz www.apac.simsrecycling.com The Packaging Forum www.packagingforum.org.nz URS New Zealand Ltd Waste Management NZ Ltd www.urscorp.co.nz www.wastemanagement.co.nz Viking Containment www.containment.co.nz Visy Recycling NZ Ltd www.visy.co.nz WasteNet Southland www.wastenet.org.nz

december 2014 \ WWW.WASTEMINZ.ORG.NZ \ 35 Triple Layer Milk Bottle

Reincarnation SULO gives the Anchor Light Proof Milk bottle a second life!

SULO are processing recycled The recycling bins and crates are in Anchor Light Proof milk bottles use throughout schools across the into recycling crates and bins. 36 country as part of the Paper4trees recycled Anchor Light Proof bottles programme and have recently makes up one recycling crate and been installed at Auckland Girls 88 bottles are used in the 80 litre Grammar. The crates and bins recycling bin. highlight the opportunity to use The crates and recycling bins form recycled content in the production part of a closed loop recycling of everyday items. solution which Fonterra has The 45L crates and 80L recycling developed and encourages bins can be purchased directly via packaging to be recycled locally SULO. instead of being sent offshore.

call +64 9 968 2186 email [email protected] | www.sulo.co.nz