Harry Copeland – BCC City Waste Services – Strategy Manager for Towards Zero Waste Strategy
Organic Resource Technologies et al
Looking at business opportunities waste minimisation techniques.
Organic waste
green waste
food waste
timber/saw mill waste
Cotton waste
….
Green waste 32.53%
Recyclable 31.52%
Food & Other organic 23.66%
Non-recyclable 12.36%
Pretty constant throughout Australia.
Organics supply chain
[ul]Fine compost
mulches
soils
potting mixes
erosion & sedimentary control
landscaping material
waste to energy[/ul]
Value of organics
[ul]NPK
Slow release nutrient
Slurry used as nutrients
Water retention increase
Alternative to pesticides and fertilisers
Humus development
Beneficial reuse of a resource
Remediation
Economic value – fertiliser/ remediation[/ul]
Organic Processing Technologies
[ul]Windrow composting
Tunnel composting
Mechanical & Biological Treatment MBT
Thermal – Gasification; Plasma Arc; Pyrolysis
Anaerobic digestion[/ul]
No individual technolgy is the total answer to improving waste problems.
We have a history littered with failures of technologies for managing organic waste.
Waste isn’t homogenic and you need to look at it in detail and separately for separate types.
Best ones he’s seen are in Germany. Anaerobic digestion the best the one he’d recommend.
Waste is increasing faster than population growth. (34% compared to 16%)
Important that we understand waste processes.
Cyclic
[ul]Use
End of original life
Raw materials
Materila processing
Manufacture
Distribution & Storage
Use[/ul]
The cycling process starts with procurement product stewardship eco-efficiency. Re-use.
Technosphere; Biosphere
Book he recommends: Cradle to Cradle .
[ul]Prevent waste generation
Delay onset of waste
Effective purchasing is the starting point
Lifecycle analysis (cost CO2)
Purchasing strategies (he’ll leave it with us) – ABC or Just-in-time; packaging takeback
Paper waste reduction initiatives (load the right way in your photocopier to reduce jams & waste)
Business recycling programs
Cleaner production systems (eco-efficiency from start to finish)
Resource exchange (wste heat water)
Group purchases for economies of scale and packaging[/ul]
Main points:
[ul]Organic material is too valuabale resource to be wasted.
No one technology will solve all waste issues – snake oil salesmen out there.
Prevention is definitely the key
You buy your waste and also pay for disposal – the levy will increase this cost
Avoidance/ Minimisation
[/ul]