ISSUE 111 | DEC/JAN 2023
28 RRF Review 32 Battery Stewardship 37 WIRA Awards
Time running out for tyre importers not part of TSA
Next 18 months crucial for industry within the industry how they thought the industry had fared over the past 12 months, and what the next 12-18 months will hold as we move into what could be a recession accompanied by high interest rates. The latter, especially, could put the brakes on capital investment into much-needed infrastructure. We’ve gathered the thoughts of CEOs of some well-known collection and processing companies, as well as associations and consultants. Here’s how they see the current state of play in the waste/ resource recovery industry. JOCHEN BEHR CEO REMONDIS Jochen Behr has been in the hot seat at REMONDIS for just over six months, having been the company’s Chief Financial Officer from 2020. He said the past 12 months for the company have been good considering the effects of COVID were still being felt at the beginning of the year. “COVID wasn’t such a big problem in the waste industry compared to other
REMONDIS CEO Jochen Behr.
industries,” said Behr. “Yes, we saw some changes in the C&I space where there was less waste available, but on the municipal side – with people staying at home – we saw a big increase. The past 12 months for us have been good in terms of organic growth, meaning we’ve been able to grow our business quite significantly.” (Continued on page 20)
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IT’S been a hectic year in the waste and resource recovery space. With COVID-19 winding down in terms of affecting how business is conducted, and expos, events and seminars on the up, the latter part of 2022 has been good for reconnecting with peers, innovators and various government agencies. Sure, Zoom and Teams meetings have become the norm, but there has been nothing quite like catching up in person and getting a feel for where the industry is heading. And where is it heading? Depends on who you talk to. Some of the key topics have been harmonisation of landfill levies throughout the states, legislation (or lack thereof in some cases) around product stewardship, compulsory recycling content in council procurement programs, the lack of infrastructure, FOGO, governments at all levels not having knee-jerk reactions to all things waste and kowtowing to the lowest common denominator, as well as the narrative around the various targets when it comes to reducing waste, plastics and emissions. We asked a cross section of people
LINA Goodman is frustrated. The CEO of Tyre Stewardship Australia has spent the best part of the past four years talking to, cajoling and pleading with tyre importers to come on board with Australia’s Tyre Product Stewardship Scheme (TPSS). And while there have been many successes, there is still a long way to go. Like a lot of stewardship schemes, the TPSS, which TSA administers, is voluntary. With the export ban on a range of waste products including whole and baled tyres, having come into effect, getting serious with this waste stream – and those involved in creating it – is coming to a head. “At the moment, of all the tyres coming into Australia for passenger cars, trucks and buses, only 44 per cent of tyre importers voluntarily contribute to the scheme,” said Goodman. “And the problem is only going to get worse because cheap, low-quality tyres are entering the market and their importers are not contributing. Meaning they just add to the stockpile and get a free ride on the contribution of a few doing the heavy lifting.” Goodman believes there is room in the economy for budget tyres if they are manufactured to an appropriate standard, but all importers need to contribute to recovery solutions. The challenge is getting them to do so voluntarily. A recent independent review of the scheme showed commendable work has delivered public benefit at a small cost to consumers, but going forward the significant risks related to tyres entering Australia without the responsibility for them at end of life cannot be mitigated. (Continued on page 26)
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