Waste Management Review Sept 2025

FEATURES

Insects, innovation and industries

Breakthrough pathways

Grinding power redefined

A tailored solution

process.

From a small agency with a big vision into a driving force.

Steering

Building

Aristos Karavias, Sycle Executive eneral ana er

Simple

Specialist equipment for metals recovery.

Forging crucial pathways for incinerator bottom ash aggregate reuse.

Insects at the core of a new circular economy.

Power,

Unique

makes its mark.

What leadership in the circular economy looks like.

End-of-life tyres go from bulky to manageable.

Reduce risk and ensure success.

e four key themes of Waste Expo 2025.

A community engagement success story.

From the Editor

A container-sized success story

Australia’s container deposit schemes (CDS) are a powerful testament to what can be achieved when smart policy meets public will.

With the launch of Tasmania’s container deposit scheme, Recycle Rewards, on May 1, 2025, Australia became the rst continent to be completely covered by CDS, and the collective impact is becoming undeniable.

e numbers speak for themselves: More than eight million eligible containers returned to Recycle Rewards within two months, more than $1.3 billion in refunds paid out since New South Wales’ Return and Earn started in 2017 and the expansion of Queensland’s Containers for Change scheme to include glass wine and spirit bottles.

South Australia’s scheme, which has been in place since 1977, is recognised as one of the most e ective container deposit schemes globally in terms of community participation and return rates, according to the Environment Protection Authority, SA.

What makes these schemes important is their multi-faceted bene t. ey don’t just tackle waste; they actively foster a circular economy. Moreover, these schemes provide a vital source of income for local communities. e refunds collected are not just for individuals; they become a new “cake stall” for schools, charities, and community groups, providing a stable and meaningful way to fundraise.

In this issue, we take a closer look at the innovative thinking driving these schemes forward, from new technologies and convenient collection points to the crucial role of community engagement and how programs are expanding their reach.

We also look at two innovative companies that are forging a new circular economy – one driven by insects, the other making a name for itself as a manufacturer.

It’s a desire to rede ne waste management as a manufacturing process that is also driving our cover story stars. For Sycle, a part of the Symal Group, waste is not an endpoint, but a beginning.

As Aristos Karavias, Sycle Executive General Manager says, “ e next innovation wave is all about the circular economy and remanufacturing.”

Happy reading!

Lisa Korycki

CEO Christine Clancy

christine.clancy@primecreative.com.au

PUBLISHER

Sarah Baker sarah.baker@primecreative.com.au

MANAGING EDITOR

Lisa Korycki lisa.korycki@primecreative.com.au

JOURNALIST

Jennifer Pittorino jennifer.pittorino@primecreative.com.au

HEAD OF DESIGN

Blake Storey blake.storey@primecreative.com.au

DESIGN

Laura Drinkwater

BRAND MANAGER

Chelsea Daniel chelsea.daniel@primecreative.com.au p: +61 425 699 878

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Justine Nardone justine.nardone@primecreative.com.au

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ARTICLES

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COVER

Cover image: Darryl Edwards

COPYRIGHT

Waste Management Review is owned by Prime Creative Media and published by John Murphy.

All material in Waste Management Review is copyright and no part may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means (graphic, electronic or mechanical including information and retrieval systems) without written permission of the publisher. e Editor welcomes contributions but reserves the right to accept or reject any material. While every e ort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information, Prime Creative Media will not accept responsibility for errors or omissions or for any consequences arising from reliance on information published. e opinions expressed in Waste Management Review are not necessarily the  opinions of, or endorsed by the publisher unless otherwise stated.

Batteries Gone Flat?

EcoBatt’s Got a Bin for That!

At EcoBatt, we are driving real change through our nationwide Battery Collection Service, which is designed to significantly reduce the number of batteries ending up in landfill. With approximately 7,000 collection units located across Australia in partnership with major retailers, we are making battery recycling more convenient and accessible than ever before.

Improper battery disposal can have serious consequences. From fires in waste trucks and landfill sites to toxic chemicals leaking into soil and waterways, the risks to our environment, wildlife and community health are far-reaching.

Recycling batteries correctly is a simple yet powerful way to protect what matters. By working together, we can create a cleaner, safer future and preserve valuable resources for generations to come.

What’s recyclable through EcoBatt’s Smart Bins?

Button cell batteries

Mobile phones

Easily removable batteries

Rechargeable batteries under 5kg

Regular AA & other household batteries

For organisations grappling with substantial battery waste, EcoBatt offers tailored solutions. From battery recycling bins ranging from 2L to 120L to our larger-scale Mixed Battery Safety Bins available in 600L and 800L capacities, we’ve got you covered.

Reach out to us at 1300 32 62 92 to connect with one of our battery recycling specialists who will craft a bespoke solution to suit your needs. Because protecting what matters starts with all of us working towards a cleaner, greener tomorrow, join with EcoBatt today.

A tailored solution

In an industry known for fast trends and even faster disposal rates, a groundbreaking project is steering Australian fashion toward a more sustainable path.

The average Victorian throws away 28 kilograms of textile waste each year, with approximately 95 per cent of those garments being suitable for reuse or recycling, according to Sustainability Victoria.

is local waste crisis mirrors a global pattern, with 30 per cent of clothing worldwide ending up in land ll within just one year of purchase.

ese gures paint a picture of a fashion system that is driven by overproduction, short product lifespans, and limited endof-life solutions.

To help redesign this global issue RMIT, in collaboration with A.BCH World, Julie Boulton Strategy and Sustainability, Country Road Group and funded by Sustainability Victoria (SV), created the Refashioning Circular Design Guide.

e Guide outlines steps for makers to transition from linear to circular design, focusing on maximising the lifespan of products and materials.

e project was born from a vision shared by circular fashion advocate Courtney Holm and was supported by the Victorian Government’s Circular Economy Innovation Fund as part of the Circular Economy Business Innovation Centre (CEBIC), which invests in and supports businesses and organisations in Victoria to ‘go circular’.

Matt Genever, Chief Executive O cer of Sustainability Victoria, says the Refashioning Guide has huge potential to impact and transform the local fashion industry.

“It is a practical roadmap that aims to rewire the way fashion is designed,

produced, and circulated,” says Matt.

“Developed by experts, the Guide equips industry with practical knowledge to develop circular products. is helps to tackle our issue of waste through encouraging better products to enter our system that enable circulation, keeping our valuable materials out of land lls.”

RMIT developed the Guide following a 12-month research and co-design process involving surveys, workshops, and engagement with design teams. It was created not just for designers, but for anyone within fashion’s complex supply chain seeking to embed circular economy principles into their work.

Matt says SV funding helped the project go from idea to nished product.

“It’s important to invest in solutions that prevent waste in the rst place,” he says.

“Resources such as the Refashioning Guide are critical to equip industry

develop products with high circularity potential, while minimising negative environmental impacts.

“ e circular economy is a systems change agenda that requires collaboration and knowledge sharing across various sectors in our economy.”

FROM IDEATION TO IMPACT

Before designing the Refashioning Guide, Courtney was already deeply entrenched in the fashion world.

“I had a really big moment when I realised how wasteful the industry was becoming,” she recalls.

“I got to the point where I said, ‘I am either going to not be in fashion or I’m going to do something completely di erent and do something about this problem’.”

is turning point led her to launch A.BCH, a fashion label built around the

Courtney also began sharing her ndings more broadly, hoping to in uence change across the industry.

“I would do small workshops with other brands and start to introduce the circular design concepts that we’d been developing,” she says.

“It was about eight years into the business when we realised that we had developed something interesting that could be applied to other businesses. Being able to work with RMIT, Julie Boulton and Country Road Group was so validating for the process, because we were able to test it rigorously and build credibility around it.

“If we’re serious about designing for circularity and actually shifting to a circular economy, we cannot keep designing the way we’re designing now – with increasingly low-quality materials that just do not provide any value after the  rst use.”

Yassie Samie, Project Manager and Postdoctoral Fellow at RMIT School of Fashion and Textiles, says the Refashioning Guide enabled the team to turn theoretical sustainability goals into achievable practice.

“When Courtney proposed that it could be adapted for large brands, we began shaping the project to apply the proven circular design methodology at scale,” she says.

According to Yassie, circular design in the context of fashion means thinking holistically about the entire life cycle of a garment, reducing waste, pollution, and unsafe components, and keeping materials in use for as long as possible.

“ e Guide is about pushing circular design beyond just reducing harm and encouraging a mindset that supports the regeneration of nature and natural systems,” she says.

“When designers consider not only the environmental impact of their work, but also the product’s quality, function, and future use or disposal, they’re in a position to drive real change which goes

beyond their own brand and leaves a positive mark across the industry.”

e Refashioning Guide is structured around three key phases – design, document, and deliver.

e design stage starts with an essential question – should this product be made at all? Designers are encouraged to consider life cycle, purpose, and longevity before even sketching a silhouette.

Once there is a clear understanding of the product’s purpose, the focus shifts to materials.

Central to this step is the ‘Circular Material Strategy,’ a rigorous review of every fabric and component used, ensuring they’re safe, durable, traceable, and recyclable. e goal here is to ensure the product is also capable of being reused, recycled, or composted.

Courtney says every step should be taken with product end of life in mind.

In the second phase – the document stage, every design choice is recorded in accessible formats for both internal teams and external partners, such as recyclers and composters.

Courtney says this transparency is essential to building systems that can e ectively circulate garments post-use.

“ is stage is about making sure the right information is available to stakeholders who need it,” she says.

e nal delivery stage connects a product to consumer, o ering care instructions, end-of-life options, and strategies for scaling circularity across brands, supply chains and industries.

It also goes a step further, calling for broader collaboration across the system to help embed and accelerate circularity at scale.

USABILITY

“ e idea is that designers and their teams, along with their life cycle partners, need to be involved in ongoing, systems-level work to keep moving towards a truly circular textile economy,” says Yassie.

“We know that the fashion industry is one of the most polluting industries globally, and there’s no question that a systemic shift is urgently needed.

“Although there are big conversations about textile waste happening globally, and a number of guides already in existence, the Refashioning Guide delivers on usability.”

e Guide includes templates, a glossary and real-world examples, making it accessible to everyone from solo designers to major retail teams.

Yassie says the Refashioning Guide should empower users to choose materials with end-of-life in mind.

“We hope it will ensure product longevity through smart design, enable future recycling, reuse, and regeneration,” she says.

e Refashioning Guide can be accessed for free by download on the Refashioning website.

For more information, visit: www.refashioning.org

Shifting FOCUS

Victorian company Sycle, a part of the Symal Group, is redefining waste management as a manufacturing process, not only reducing landfill waste but maximising resource recovery.

Melbourne’s west is home to a new, powerful idea: at waste is not an endpoint, but a beginning.

In an industry historically de ned by collections and stockpiles, one company is ipping the script, repositioning itself not as a recycler, but as a manufacturer. is shift in perspective is the driving force behind Sycle’s resource recovery facility in Sunshine, designed not just to process waste, but to extract and remanufacture valuable commodities for a demanding market.

Aristos Karavias, Sycle Executive General Manager, says Sycle will

revolutionise how waste is viewed.

“We want to be great at recycling and diverting waste from land lls, but more importantly, the next innovation wave is all about the circular economy and remanufacturing,” Aristos says.

“We’re proving that commodities that stem from waste streams have the same capability as virgin resources.”

Sycle was launched in March 2023 and was fully acquired by Symal Group – an ASX-listed Australian construction group known for its end-to-end construction solutions, particularly in civil infrastructure.

With a team that has grown to more than 110 people, Sycle’s rapid expansion re ects a signi cant investment in infrastructure.

Aristos came on board a year after the company started, having previously worked with major players in the resource recovery industry. His passion is to take materials and give them a second life, transforming them into a product that is in demand.

He says there’s been a shift in the industry, which has moved from simply collecting waste to creating large stockpiles without proper outlets for

the processed material. Sycle’s focus is to solve this by becoming a product manufacturer, known for producing building products, landscape supplies, and alternative fuels.

e company operates two main streams: one for skip bin waste and another for soils, rock, and concrete.

e Sunshine facility is dedicated to skip bin waste, handling construction, demolition, and industrial waste containing materials such as paper, cardboard, plastic, timber, concrete, and plaster.

A key part of Sycle’s strategy is its investment in a new plant at the Sunshine facility. is new plant will process treated timber, plastics, paper, and cardboard to create a product that can replace coal in cement kilns, o ering signi cant carbon dioxide abatement bene ts and diverting waste from land ll.

e company has also established systems to recover gypsum from plasterboard, which can be reused in plaster manufacturing, water treatment, or agriculture. Clean timber is processed into coloured mulch for the landscape market.

Aristos believes the company has addressed more than 85 per cent of the typical volume found in a skip bin.

e resource recovery plant, supplied by FOCUS Enviro, is a key component of this manufacturing vision. While the technology itself is not unique, Aristos says it is one of the best available to sort and separate the various materials found in skip bins.

e process begins by screening out soil and small rocks, followed by a series of wind shifters that blow o light materials such as plastic, paper, and cardboard. Magnets remove ferrous metals, and a picking station with operators separates valuable commodities such as treated and untreated timber and plaster. e remaining rubble, concrete, and rock

are then crushed into aggregate. is process e ectively separates nearly 100 per cent of the skip bin contents into their original material types.

With su cient waste supply, the facility is capable of processing more than 100,000 tonnes per year.

Aristos chose FOCUS Enviro for its high-quality, reliable, and cost-e ective equipment, stating that the plant was assembled on-site “like a Meccano set” within four weeks.

FOCUS Enviro has been involved in some of the largest resource recovery projects in Australia and has

a reputation for providing turnkey, tailored solutions.

“Any technology that they supply is of an extremely high quality, so you’re producing a very high-quality product,” Aristos says.

“And it’s not attached to a hefty price tag. I can’t say there’s any other supplier who can provide this quality for what we paid.”

Looking to the future, Sycle’s long-term vision includes a uniquely positioned site in Melbourne called the “circular precinct”. is precinct will focus on heavy manufacturing, taking

construction waste and creating various world- rst low-carbon embodied building products.

is vision extends to establishing Sycle’s skip bin business, Ascot Bin Hire, as “the most sustainable bin business in Australia” and potentially expanding the model to other states.

Market demand for their products suggests they are on the right track. Aristos says the company has no trouble selling the materials it recovers, a strong sign that the industry is ready for this shift.

Ryan McParland, FOCUS Enviro product specialist, says it’s rare that a waste management company makes investments to future-proof its markets while growing at such a progressive rate.

“Working with Ari (Aristos) and the team at Sycle has been our pleasure. eir fresh-thinking approach into the recycling and secondary use materials markets is leading the change in Victoria and setting new standards in processing excellence,” Ryan says.

“What we have learned from the Sycle team and their expectations will shape and bolster our aftersales support and ensure we deliver more uptime, higher sustained product purity and extend the useful life of the technologies we have employed.

“It’s not enough to build the world’s toughest recycling plant it needs to come with an exceptional aftercare support system delivered by people and partnerships that live and breathe recycling.”

Ryan says Ascot (Bin Hire) and Sycle have proven to be a winning combination and the team at FOCUS is proud to be part of the ongoing journey to circularity and building pro ts.

“ e faith and trust that Sycle and Ascot have shown in their choice to use FOCUS Enviro, and our manufacturing partners M&K recycling systems, is a fantastic reference for us and something that we are very grateful for,” Ryan says.

“We look forward to supporting the Sycle waste management team who share our mindset and passion for the best value advanced recycling systems available.”

Ultimately, Sycle aims to be seen not as a traditional recycling company, but as a company that uses material science and product manufacturing expertise to transform waste streams into valuable commodities.

“We want to be seen as a company that innovates,” Aristos says. “A company that applies research and development, product manufacturing expertise and material science expertise to manufacture products that can go back into the building landscape industries, as well as energy products.

“We cast ourselves the challenge of looking at what we can do with these materials to reduce what’s going to land ll and get ahead of the curve.”

For more information, visit: www.focusenviro.com.au

Blue Phoenix brings world-leading expertise in IBA processing to Australia, transforming waste into high-quality aggregates and recovered metals. By recovering these materials from IBA, we're reducing landfill reliance and enabling sustainable solutions for civil construction.

ith operations across the globe, we lead in developing end mar ets and wor ing with regulators to enable responsible reuse, preserve resources, and drive the circular economy rivin policy an circular solutions

Turning waste into value – from Dubai to Down Under

From initial planning to long-term operation, Kanadevia Inova delivers complete thermal and biological Waste to Energy plants. As an experienced EPC contractor, we handle every step – develop, design, build, operate, maintain. Our track record of more than 1,600 plants worldwide speaks for itself – including one of the world’s largest WtE facilities in Dubai. Check our references.

More recycling, more convenience

How Container Exchange is building Queensland’s network of the future.

Queensland’s container refund scheme, Containers for Change, is at a pivotal moment in its journey to ensure no container goes to waste.

Despite having the highest population density in the state, South East Queensland, including the areas of Brisbane and Gold Coast, has the lowest container recovery rate of any region in Queensland.

Depots, typically located in industrial precincts, make up the backbone of the scheme’s network and are highly popular with customers.

But this format doesn’t meet every customer’s needs, particularly for those who, for various reasons, nd it inconvenient to collect, store

and transport larger volumes of containers to depots.

Container Exchange (COEX), the notfor-pro t organisation appointed by the Queensland Government to administer the scheme, has responded to this challenge with a bold expansion plan.

By o ering exible pathways for businesses, entrepreneurs, and property owners, COEX invites waste industry professionals to join forces to bring container refund points closer to where people live, work and shop.

PARTNERING FOR GROWTH

As the not-for-pro t administrator, COEX’s objective is to maximise the environmental, social and economic

bene ts of the scheme for Queenslanders. is is underpinned by a legislated recovery rate target of 85 per cent to ensure valuable material is diverted to the circular economy rather than ending up as litter or land ll.

COEX currently contracts network operations to more than 80 businesses across the state, creating more than 1580 local jobs.

Chief Executive O cer Natalie Roach says transforming Queensland’s network to maximise its impact provides strong growth opportunities for container recovery and the waste industry.

“ e Containers for Change network leverages our operators’ connection and understanding of their communities

to enhance the customer experience,” Natalie says.

“Providing the most convenient experience possible for customers is at the heart of our vision to build Queensland’s network of the future.

“We are taking a customer-led and data-driven approach in this journey that will create opportunities for operators seeking to grow, and new operators looking to open their rst container refund point.”

DATA-DRIVEN OPPORTUNITIES

To assist existing and new operators identify where they can deliver the greatest convenience and return on investment, COEX has developed an interactive opportunity map showing where new refund points are most needed.

e map, available on COEX’s website, displays local government areas with the highest opportunity based on their container recovery rate and where existing depots and large reverse vending machines (RVMs) are located. e map has been designed to assist prospective and current operators with their own independent investigations and assessments when preparing an application for a refund point.

FAST-TRACKED APPLICATIONS

In addition to greater transparency of operational opportunities, COEX has streamlined the application process to reduce the barriers of entry for operators. e application criteria and service-level fee structure have been published online to provide clarity around commercial terms and operational requirements.

Executive General Manager of Network Delivery omas Juzwin says that by sharing data openly and demystifying the application process, COEX can better respond to mobilising new sites.

“When an operator nds a great site, this no longer triggers a tender process, omas says.

“We want operators to understand the arrangement that best suits their resources and ambitions so we can partner with them to support our network expansion and create more convenient return experiences.”

FLEXIBLE BUSINESS MODELS

Key to boosting recovery rates in South East Queensland is implementing a network of convenient options for customers to return their containers.

is includes embedding refund points in residential and retail areas.

omas says COEX is prioritising the mobilisation of RVMs and shopfronts as they have proven to be popular with customers in high-density urban areas.

“Bag drops played an important role in our initial network mobilisation in South East Queensland, but to generate more volume, we need to pivot to RVMs and shopfronts to maximise accessibility and convenience,” he says. e power of a well-placed RVM was shown in March 2025 when one replaced a bag drop in Logan Central. In just nine days, the RVM collected the same number of containers that the bag drop had collected in the previous eight months.

COEX is looking to partner with commercial property owners and managers to set up refund points in shopping centres and mixed-used developments that will draw customers to these sites.

THE POWER OF CHANGE

Embedding refund points in residential and retail areas is a key focus to help the scheme expand.

In April, Queensland celebrated the signi cant milestone of 10 billion containers returned through its container refund points. is put $1 billion in 10-cent refunds back into the Queensland community, providing households, businesses, schools, community groups and charities with substantial nancial support.

“Queenslanders are amazing recyclers, but a lack of convenience remains the greatest barrier for scheme participation,” Natalie says.

“We welcome waste professionals to partner with COEX to empower every Queenslander to practice their right to recycle and to deliver the best scheme outcomes for our state.”

For more information, visit: www.containerexchange.com.au

Innovative Environmental Experts

Ennovo provides comprehensive solutions for the management of recycled organics based on extensive experience with designing, constructing and operating recycled organics facilities.

Specialist Services

FOGO management and processing

Site assessment and approvals

Market assessment and development

Composting – open windrow and in-vessel

Process and product development

Third party compliance support

Carbon credit development and management

Ennovo’s Carbon Air system automates forced aeration for e cient composting in windrow and in-vessel applications. With telemetryenabled automation, it reduces costs, optimises operations, and ensures high-quality output, making it ideal for FOGO composting. Ennovo provides end-to-end solutions from design to market development.

Counting on change

With billions of drink containers processed every year in Australia, accuracy and efficiency are re uired to be front and centre of recycling operations. avid Singh, Managing irector of e.Group, explains how the company is leading the charge.

Container deposit counting systems have come a long way in the increasingly streamlined and tech-enabled.

In addition to these progressions, arti cial intelligence (AI) has rapidly fascination and giving some people pause.

Recycling and resource recovery company Re.Group has partnered with Canadian technology specialist Machinex to implement AI technology in Return-It, Re.Group’s Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) arm operating return point networks across the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, Western Australian and Queensland. e CountAIner, is a high-speed, AI-based bulk container counting system that moves away from barcodedependent machines. Its development was driven by Re.Group’s vision to develop the ultimate return experience for its customers.

A better experience for customers, means a better outcome for everyone involved in the scheme.

Re.Group has since transformed its operations across its network of CDS depots and material recovery facilities using the CountAIner.

AI ON DISPLAY

Machinex is a leading global provider of recycling technology, and Re.Group has deployed its equipment across many material recovery facilities (MRF), including the newer award-winning facilities such as the Adelaide and Sunshine Coast MRFs.

With the operational experience from using a range of return point equipment, Re.Group developed a ‘wish list’ around the ultimate container return experience for customers. e Canadian team then took up the challenge of making it a reality. Leveraging

Re.Group’s database of eligible CDS containers, developed through the use of Alchemy optical sorting equipment in the ACT CDS and various Re.Group MRFs, the AI algorithms have been trained and re ned to develop a super high-speed sorting system. It can accurately process up to 1200 containers per minute, enabling almost instant redemption for bulk returns.

Compatible with both delayed bag drops and on-the-spot redemptions, the CountAIner is modular and con gurable, making it exible enough to work in a range of return environments, from high-volume city depots, to smaller regional sites.

One of the main bene ts of the system is that faster returns and a more compact footprint open up the ability to halve the oor space requirements in future depots. is makes it easier to nd viable sites for new return points.

e system is not solely designed for speed, but also for transparency and accountability. Each container is logged with detailed data to support real-time auditing and reporting for manufacturers and regulators.

is level of granularity is particularly valuable in a sector where traceability and contamination control are increasingly scrutinised.

e real-time video interface shows containers as they’re counted and recognised, the data is then stored locally, with remote diagnostics, event logs, and usage reports – all aimed at making compliance and troubleshooting as easy as possible.

SHOWING SUCCESS

is year, Re.Group debuted the CountAIner in Victoria, with plans to continue installing in the jurisdictions it operates in.

e CountAIner has already delivered tangible bene ts. Users have reported a smoother, faster return process, resulting in a marked increase in throughput.

volumes without compromising accuracy has made it a success in the CDS network.

only fast but also precise, reducing the risk of cross-material contamination and improving the quality of recovered materials.

CountAIner wasn’t created solely to make things easier for Re.Group, but instead to bene t the whole stakeholder chain.

Local communities can bene t from CountAIner because the process is faster, smoother, and they get their refund without hassle, putting change back in their pockets quickly.

e planet can bene t from cleaner material streams and higher recycling rates, all while future communities are set up for success.

continue operating at the standard the community and governments expect.

Re.Group’s partnership with Machinex and investment in CountAIner shows what a forwardthinking CDS operator can do when innovation is implemented.

By removing bottlenecks in the return process, the system ensures the stakeholder chain can continue to feed increasing volumes of highquality recycled material back into manufacturing, moving from managing materials to building greater value.

For more information, visit: www.re-group.com

Capturing every last container

In the quest to capture every container, a pilot program using bin baskets shows a simple solution to an out-of-home recycling challenge.

For New South Wales’s container deposit scheme, Return and Earn, two out of every three eligible containers are now being recycled – a remarkable success story. But for Exchange for Change, the scheme’s coordinator, working closely with scheme partners NSW Environment Protection Authority and network operator TOMRA Cleanaway, the focus is now on capturing that elusive third container.

A key challenge lies in reaching those containers that are consumed “out-

of-home,” often ending up in general waste bins due to a lack of convenient, dedicated recycling options.

e solution, it appears, may be a simple yet ingenious one: e bin basket.

In a recent pilot program, Sutherland Shire Council and Eurobodalla Shire Council were among the rst in New South Wales to trial the installation of 130 clearly branded wire baskets attached to the side of public waste bins, as part of the Return and Earn initiative.

Danielle Smalley, Chief Executive O cer of Exchange for Change, says the results were astounding – o ering a clear path forward for capturing a portion of this “missing” waste stream.

“We’re trying to create behaviour change where it’s ingrained that drink containers don’t get thrown into a rubbish bin,” Danielle says.

“To do that, we need a highly convenient scheme. e trial was a clear demonstration that the simple act of providing a separate, visible collection point directly where containers are often discarded can drastically change public behaviour.

“People want to do the right thing, and if you make it easy for them, they will get involved.”

e data from the pilot is compelling: Eurobodalla Shire had an 80 per cent reduction in drink containers found in public litter bins, while Sutherland Shire recorded a 50 per cent reduction.

Danielle says the results show that a substantial volume of recyclable material, previously lost to land ll, can be recovered.

Beyond the numbers, the system o ers a clean, convenient, and visible way to manage waste. e baskets are designed not to look like a traditional bin, deliberately catching people’s attention and encouraging them to separate their containers, which can then be collected by anyone who wishes to claim the 10-cent deposit.

e idea is not new; similar systems or ‘bin collars’ are used in Europe, particularly in countries like Norway. Western Australia has also introduced cradle or basket-style collection points in public places.

However, the New South Wales pilot is the rst to conduct a rigorous pre- and post-audit, providing concrete data on the bin baskets’ e ectiveness.

Danielle says this data now provides Exchange for Change with a proven model to expand the program. As pioneers in New South Wales, Sutherland Shire Council and Eurobodalla Shire Council have set a strong example. e next step is a wider rollout across the state, with more local councils encouraged to get involved and capitalise on the bene ts.

use the bin baskets for fundraising, e ectively serving as a ‘new cake stall’ for their causes.”

Doctor Service and Foodbank New South Wales and ACT – a partnership focused on supporting families in need.

“For councils that participate in the bin basket program, the bene ts extend beyond a simple reduction in litter. By diverting containers from their red bins, they can improve waste management e ciency and potentially reduce costs associated with waste disposal,” she says.

“Furthermore, the program fosters a sense of community engagement, as local groups and charities can

Since Return and Earn began in December 2017, 14 billion containers have been recycled through the network. Another 3.8 billion have been processed through kerbside collections, with material recovery facilities claiming the 10-cent refund, a portion of which is often shared with councils.

CDS produces a clean stream of high-quality materials, as containers are sorted e ciently and are less contaminated than those from comingled recycling bins. is provides a superior feedstock for new products, fostering a circular economy.

e use of recycled materials also conserves natural resources and is more energy-e cient than using virgin materials, which reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

Beyond its signi cant environmental achievements, the NSW CDS also has a powerful social impact, with more than $82 million raised for charities and community groups through donations or hosting facilities.

Some of the major donation partners and campaigns that have worked with Return and Earn include the Children’s Medical Research Institute, Royal Flying

Danielle says while the bin baskets are a key part of the strategy, reaching the three-out-of-three goal will require a multi-faceted approach.

E orts are also being directed at other “out-of-home” and di cult consumption areas, such as o ce buildings, hospitals, and multi-unit dwellings, all with the core principle of making recycling as easy and convenient as possible.

Danielle acknowledges recovering the nal third of containers will be the most di cult, but with a strong foundation of public participation – four out of ve adults in New South Wales have already used the scheme – and a new tool like the bin basket, the path forward seems clear.

“It will take time,” she says. “If you look at the high-performing schemes in Europe, they’ve been around for decades, so I think part of it is going to be behaviour change.

“It will take time, but we’re certainly all determined to capture as many containers as we can.”

For more information, visit: www.returnandearn.org.au

Australia’s rewarding system

As the network operator for Container Deposit Schemes across three Australian states, TOMRA Cleanaway has many milestone achievements to celebrate.

Since its inception in 2017, the TOMRA Cleanaway joint venture has emerged as a leading force in Australia’s push for a circular economy.

Operating as the network operator for container deposit schemes (CDS) in New South Wales, Tasmania, and the West Zone of Victoria, TOMRA Cleanaway has delivered on results, both in scale and impact, according to James Dorney, Chief Executive O cer.

He highlights the New South Wales scheme as an example of that impact – more than 14 billion containers returned since the scheme began in 2017.

ese containers, which might otherwise have ended up as litter or in a land ll, are now nding new life through recycling.

“It is hard to go past the sheer volume of containers that have been returned across the state,” James says, labelling it the biggest CDS accomplishment to date.

“We continue to see staggering numbers and high rates of participation and support for the scheme. A clear sign of both public participation and operational excellence.”

Notably, all-time records for container volumes were recorded for 10 months in the past nancial year.

During the peak of last summer alone, more than 10 million containers were returned in a single day, with 480 million returned over 10 weeks.

In its years of operation, TOMRA Cleanaway’s involvement in CDS schemes has expanded signi cantly.

In Victoria, TOMRA Cleanaway is the network operator for the West Zone of the state’s container deposit scheme –CDS Vic. e scheme has surpassed two billion container returns since its launch in November 2023.

More recently, Australia’s smallest state joined the ranks and began its container deposit scheme.

While only operational since May 2025, Tasmania’s Recycle Rewards container refund scheme has experienced a “huge community up-take.”

“We are so pleased to be the network operator in Tasmania and even more pleased to witness the embrace of

Recycle Rewards across the entire state,” says James.

Recycle Rewards has already celebrated 20 million containers being returned.

James says that despite Tasmania being one of the country’s smaller jurisdictions, there are thousands of containers returned every day.

“It is especially pleasing to see large volumes returned in what we would consider the quieter winter months,” he says.

e success of TOMRA Cleanaway, according to James, is a result of consistent innovation and schemes that are well-designed and operated.

“ ere has been a signi cant increase in the rates of return for eligible drink containers in all Australian jurisdictions compared to when people just had the home recycling service,” he says.

“A well-designed, well-operated scheme will deliver many bene ts for the economy; not only in the environmental space, but also socially and economically.”

Feedback indicates that Australians appreciate having a tangible way to contribute to environmental sustainability, especially when they can choose whether to keep the refund or donate it to a preferred charity.

As a result, container deposit schemes are not only diverting waste but also fostering social and economic bene ts.

In New South Wales alone, more than $82 million has been raised for social enterprises, charities, and community groups through handling fees and donations.

James says TOMRA Cleanaway understands that convenience is key. In response, the company has introduced more automated collection points across New South Wales. Investment will continue in digital platforms, apps, and exible payout options, ensuring that the user experience keeps pace with changing expectations.

“We want people to continue to participate in these schemes, so we will continue to increase convenience, access and ease of use,” he says.

“ e journey is never over, we will always strive to look into ways to

improve and enhance the schemes across Australia’s split responsibility states of New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania.”

e scheme’s success is also underpinned by the strength of its two shareholders: TOMRA, a global leader in reverse vending and recycling technology, and Cleanaway, one of Australia’s leading specialists in waste and resource recovery.

eir 50/50 joint venture brings together world-class expertise, innovation, and operational excellence.

At the heart of TOMRA Cleanaway’s mission is a commitment to the circular economy.

Clear polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles collected through

TOMRA Cleanaway’s network are processed through Circular Plastics Australia – a joint venture between Cleanaway, Coca-Cola Europaci c Partners, Asahi Beverages, and Pact Group.

ese bottles are aked, pelletised and turned back into bottles, often reappearing on shelves in as little as six to eight weeks.

“ is full-circle recycling loop is perhaps the clearest example of the circular economy in action,” says James.

“We are witnessing waste become a resource, and materials given a new life instead of being discarded.”

For more information, visit: www.tomracleanaway.com.au

Rubbish to revenue

Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme is helping businesses and communities return millions of bottles, cans and cartons each week. Marianne Doyle, acting CEO of scheme coordinator VicReturn, explains how it is helping businesses cut collection costs and support corporate sustainability goals.

Drink containers might seem like a small component of the waste stream, but across commercial, hospitality and events sectors, they represent a substantial opportunity to turn waste into value.

rough Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme (CDS Vic), eligible bottles, cans and cartons are worth 10 cents each.

As more industries work to reduce packaging waste and pollution and strengthen resource recovery targets, container deposit schemes are proving to be a key part of the solution. ey are designed to tackle litter, boost recycling rates and shift valuable materials back into the supply chain to be recycled back into new containers.

CDS Vic reached its rst major milestone of one billion containers returned exactly one year after launch. Just eight months later, that gure doubled with two billion containers now recycled through the scheme – almost enough drink containers to ll the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Two billion returns equate to $200 million in refunds returned to Victorians, including more than $2.2 million donated to charities, schools, sports clubs, and local community groups.

Integrating CDS separation into waste and recycling streams creates a commercial return pathway, helps reduce land ll volumes and achieve corporate social responsibility goals

while supporting circular economy outcomes. It’s a chance to deliver innovation, show leadership and align with growing demand for smarter, cleaner resource recovery.

By embracing the scheme, Victorians have helped reduce the impact on natural resources signi cantly. Producing new drink containers from recycled materials minimises the energy, carbon emissions and water usually needed to process drink containers from virgin materials. Recycling also conserves natural resources, removing the need to re ne oil to produce new plastic bottles.

Take small business owner Raymond Johnson of Loch Sport Holiday Park in Gippsland. Since integrating CDS Vic-branded bins at his caravan park and mobilising his community to donate their eligible containers onsite, Raymond slashed his general waste bill by 40 per cent while raising more than $13,000 using collected refunds to purchase a de brillator for the caravan park and support local community initiatives including the Loch Sport Primary School and RSL, and Our Haven Wildlife Shelter.

Previously, all the caravan park’s waste went to land ll as the family business lacked the time and resources to sort manually. Now, clearly labelled CDS bins provide a simple separation point for guests, creating clean streams with minimal contamination and signi cant local impacts.

In the events space, one of CDS Vic’s largest commercial partnerships to date was with Tennis Australia during the 2025 Australian Open, where nearly one million containers were recovered over the two-week tournament.

During AO 2025, the event’s waste management team hand-sorted and recovered more than 415,000 eligible aluminium cans, 380,000 eligible PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles and more than 131,000 glass bottles (almost 75 tonnes of glass).

Combined, these materials contributed a massive 919,272 eligible containers to CDS Vic, with refunds supporting the Australian Tennis Foundation. e e orts demonstrate the potential for high-volume venues and events to drive economic and social impact.

Victoria’s enthusiasm for the scheme exceeded early forecasts, says Marianne Doyle, Acting Chief Executive O cer of Victoria’s scheme coordinator, VicReturn.

“When we launched CDS Vic in November 2023, we expected it would take time for people to build the habit. But to hit our rst billion containers within 12 months, then double that in just eight more months, shows the strong growth in returns as Victorians embed container returns into their regular routine,” she says.

e rapid growth in container returns highlights the opportunity for the commercial and industrial sector to scale impact.

“Victorians consume three billion drink containers each year. With one billion containers back into the circular economy in the Victorian scheme’s rst year, capturing the remaining two billion presents an incredible opportunity,” Marianne says.

“We know large volumes of eligible containers are going through the commercial sector, so we will be working to enhance collection in this space for year three.

“Businesses and the waste industry have a crucial role to play in expanding the reach of the Container Despot Scheme in Victoria and other states. We encourage all businesses to establish CDS collection streams as part of their waste management strategies.”

VicReturn is also supporting publicfacing infrastructure by installing CDS Vic bin baskets on public litter bins across local councils, including Port Phillip, Mornington and Yarra Ranges, encouraging on-the-go recycling

and informal refund collection by community members.

With continued support from the commercial sector, waste industry, councils, and the broader public, VicReturn’s goal is to increase both participation and recovery rates across the state.

To learn more, visit the CDS Vic stand at the Waste Expo in October, or visit the CDS Vic website.

For more information, visit www.cdsvic.org.au

From family passion to community impact

This family’s passion for recycling highlights the power of local action in resource recovery.

When Chris Ru donned his vintage Carlton jersey at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on July 19, watching his beloved team clinch a thrilling victory, it wasn’t just a dream come true for a lifelong fan; it was a testament to the power of communitydriven resource recovery.

His family, celebrated at the AFL VIP experience for their extraordinary e orts, embodies how local initiatives can profoundly impact waste management and foster a circular economy, even in regional Australia.

e journey of the Ru family, passionate Carlton supporters from Traralgon, began with a simple idea: leveraging Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme (CDS Vic) to bene t their local primary school.

ey acquired and out t a trailer with a cage, even welding a step to ensure the youngest contributors could easily participate. With the approval of Traralgon Primary School, the customised trailer found its home in the school car park, becoming an accessible hub for students and the wider community to drop o eligible drink containers around the clock.

e initiative quickly gained traction, with a local business owner stepping up to donate their empties, diverting substantial waste that would otherwise have ended up in land ll.

is simple, yet e ective system has proven to be a multi-faceted win for the Traralgon community. Mum Belinda

elin a an ris u , it sons yan an ugo on groun at t e . Image: S Vic

Ru says the bene ts have extended beyond the school grounds.

“We have been told that quite a few areas surrounding the town don’t have a local rubbish collection, let alone a recycling bin,” Belinda says.

“ is allowed for some of our farmers to donate their recyclable containers and help the school, which is a hub for the community. It’s a bit of a win-win all round.”

e Ru family’s collective e ort has so far returned more than 25,000 eligible drink containers through the CDS Vic scheme, raising $2500 for Traralgon Primary School.

e tangible results are already evident: the funds generated have purchased new netball uniforms for the Traralgon South Primary School – CATS – netball team and secured essential protective padding for football and netball/basketball goalposts.

eir dedication has not gone unnoticed by the scheme’s administrators. Marianne Doyle, Acting Chief Executive O cer of VicReturn, the scheme coordinator, congratulated the family for taking the initiative to set up the recycling trailer.

“Small steps can make a big impact to regional towns like Traralgon,” Marianne says. “I encourage the community to save their eligible containers and return them at the school or their local CDS Vic Refund Point, to help keep litter o our streets, parks and waterways.”

e Ru family’s experience is an example of how community engagement, and accessible infrastructure can drive change towards a more sustainable future. And they are not alone.

Merrigum Football Netball Club has been highly engaged with the Victorian CDS since it began in November 2023.

Club President Cam Scorey manages the collections with mum (Jo Scorey who is treasurer), dad (Tim Scorey) and daughter Amelia.

“So far this year we’ve made $350$375 and currently have about seven bags lled ready to go, which should take us close to $500,” Cam says.

“We then have one more home game and nal so should be well over $750 by end of the year, possibly more. De nitely a worthwhile extra revenue stream for the club.”

For more information, visit: www.cdsvic.org.au

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Battery ready

Why Australia’s infrastructure is not the problem.

In Australia’s ongoing conversation about battery recycling, a recurring message is that the country lacks the necessary infrastructure. e rhetoric, says Doug Rowe, is: “we need scale, we need things happening”.

For the team at EcoBatt, who have spent years building real, practical solutions with others in the industry, that sentiment feels outdated, incorrect and frustrating. Doug, Chief Executive O cer of the EcoCycle Group, parent company of EcoBatt, says Australia has a robust battery recycling system with signi cant capacity.

“Australia has around 10,000 collection points, sorting plants and processing plants. ey’re already built,” he says. “What we need is for the government and the public to recognise and be educated on what is available and start using it.

“ e solution is not coming. It is here.”

While many at the recent Association for the Battery Recycling Industry Summit focused on what is still needed, Doug took a di erent approach –highlighting that Australia’s system today has capacity of about 10,000 tonnes per year for batteries and embedded batteries, and by mid 2026 that will grow to about 50,000 tonnes.

e current recycling rate stands at a low of about 15 per cent with capacity to handle about three times that.

Doug’s words re ect quiet frustration but deep pride in close to $100 million in investment and planning by EcoCycle Group.

THE CHALLENGE

From phones, power tools, toothbrushes and vapes to electric vehicles, home

battery units and battery energy storage systems, batteries are everywhere. e risk of re is a serious concern.

EcoBatt has developed re-rated bins, drums and safe collection points to mitigate this, but complacency remains a serious concern.

“People think battery res will not happen to them, but they can start without warning,” Doug says. “We have built systems to manage this risk, but they only work if people are using the right bins.”

A NATIONAL SYSTEM

Australia is a vast country, communities are spread out, and access to consistent infrastructure can vary across regions.

Designing a national battery collection and processing system means thinking di erently. EcoBatt has done that, building a decentralised, yet highly

connected system that works across metropolitan centres, regional towns, and remote areas.

At the heart is a growing footprint of collection points. More than 8000 monitored battery drop-o kiosks and drums are in place across Australia and New Zealand. Another 600 are prepped and ready for rollout, and 1200 more are on order for deployment in early 2026.

Each of these units is tted with heat and ll level sensors, feeding live data into EcoBatt’s central platform, Superfy. From a national command centre, the team monitors every unit in real time, coordinating collections and servicing with their own dangerous goodslicensed transport eet. It’s a system that runs quietly in the background, but it represents years of development, investment and coordination.

Even the eet itself is purposebuilt – vehicles are equipped with re suppression systems, tailgate loaders, and drum lifters – every safety measure designed to protect people, property, and the environment.

THE BOTTLENECK

With a drop-o point about ve kilometres, on average, from most homes, and sorting and processing facilities in place to handle three times the current battery recycling rate, the barrier is not infrastructure. It is awareness, says Doug, and the challenge lies in getting the public to engage with what already exists.

He is calling for a national education campaign, led by government, that brings battery recycling into schools, homes, and everyday conversations.

“ e systems are in place. What we don’t have is enough people using it,” he says. “Education is the missing link.”

But awareness on its own isn’t enough. Policies, too, must catch up.

Doug is calling for a mandated product stewardship scheme in every state that

includes realistic EBU rates to fairly compensate recyclers, with an ambitious but achievable target – to recycle 80 per cent of all batteries sold in Australia.

“ is is how you drive participation,” he says. “You promote the drop-o points for batteries to the community, you reward the recyclers and make it easier for everyone to do the right thing. Scale is here and it’s happening.”

PROCESSING POWER

EcoBatt’s processing capabilities are as equally advanced as its collection network is vast. is month, EcoBatt will o cially open its Lithium Battery and Battery-In-Device Shredding (BIDS) facility (supported by a $2 million grant from Sustainability Victoria’s Circular Economy Infrastructure Fund) – the rst of its kind in the world.

Designed to safely dismantle and process batteries embedded in electronic devices, the BIDS plant includes proprietary technology to safely handle even the most volatile battery chemistries and will process up to 5000 tonnes per year.

Similar facilities are planned for Western Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, and Auckland.

But the crown jewel in EcoBatt’s processing infrastructure will be its planned lithium battery recycling facility in Hemmant, Queensland.

To be built to the highest European environmental standards, the plant will include systems to safely capture and treat the volatile organic compounds and uoride o -gases, recover all the electrolyte, and manage the full range of end-of-life lithium and nickel metal hydride batteries from consumers and manufacturers.

e plant will have capacity for about 30,000 tonnes annually and include a dedicated dry line to handle future lithium battery manufacturing scrap.

“It’s not only going to be the largest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, but it’s also the most advanced,” Doug says. “ is plant will futureproof Australia’s ability to manage the growing number of lithium batteries locally and safely.”

REAL IMPACT

By the middle of 2026, the EcoCycle Group will have invested close to $100 million into building a complete battery collection and recycling system. is investment re ects years of planning, engineering, and belief in the importance of doing things properly.

As a result, Australia will soon have about 50,000 tonnes per year of recycling capacity, compared to about 3500 tonnes processed annually today. Doug says there is more than 10,000 tonnes of capacity already in place, but existing facilities remain underutilised.

He’s urging government to focus its support where he believes it will make the greatest di erence –mandated stewardship reform, the right EBU, public education and a national campaign.

“Consumers want the best recycling solutions and would rather see monies go into great recycling outcomes, than have to pay for the rebuilding of MRFs, waste recycling centres and new compactor trucks burnt by lithium and embedded batteries not being recycled correctly,” he says.

“Every time a battery goes into general waste, we have failed. Not because the infrastructure was not there, but because we did not tell people what to do.

“ e teams, the trucks, the collectors, and processing plants are in place. Now the focus must shift to building trust, raising awareness and driving participation.”

For more information, visit: www.ecobatt.com.au

Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme is a recycling program that provides a 10-cent refund for every eligible drink container returned.

From e-waste to zero-waste

With the right technology and commercial economics, e-waste can be a green tech goldmine. Vortair Chief Executive Officer e ang explains.

Australia faces an e-waste crisis of growing magnitude.

According to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, the average Australian generates more than 20 kilograms per year of electronic waste compared to the global average of seven kilograms. By 2030, the national total is projected to rise by nearly 30 per cent, to 657,000 tonnes.

In Australia, only about one-third of the valuable materials contained in e-waste are recovered, resulting in about $430 million worth of materials being sent to land ll annually. Not only are a signi cant amount of potentially recyclable resources lost when e-waste is improperly disposed of, but it also poses long-term ecological and human health risks.

Batteries are among the most hazardous e-waste, with lithium-ion types prone to thermal runaway, igniting or exploding when damaged or overheated. If not recycled, the toxic, rare materials in these batteries – such as

cobalt, nickel, manganese, and lithium – pose health risks and are a waste of valuable resources. But current recycling methods such as cryogenic freezing, brine baths, or chemical leaching, can be energy-intensive, hazardous, and hard to scale.

Enter Vortair.

Unlike traditional grinders, Vortair uses high-speed air vortex and frequency resonance to create a self-colliding autogenous milling environment. Waste materials collide within a turbulent air vortex, grinding themselves down to ultra- ne powder without metal-tometal contact, without chemicals, and without water.

Crucially, Vortair grinders can operate in a controlled, inert environment, which eliminates the re and explosion risk commonly associated with lithiumion battery recycling, says Je Lang, Vortair Chief Executive O cer.

“ ere’s no need for cryogenic cooling or chemical baths – Vortair can dry-mill entire battery packs or

cells down to sub-75-micron powders, enabling superior liberation of lithium, cobalt, and other valuable elements for downstream separation and recovery,” says Je .

He says that with a modular footprint and throughput of 500 kilograms an hour, the Vortair 500 and Vortair E-Waste systems are suited for both decentralised waste depot deployment and large-scale processing hubs.

Its low maintenance, energy-e cient design makes it an economically viable option for councils and contractors facing land ll bans and pressure to comply with circular economy targets for waste.

“A single Vortair E-Waste system recovers high-value metals at a throughput of up to 2000tonnes per year, enabling recyclers to generate up to AUD 1.6 million a year in o take value from recovery of precious metals,” Je says.

“Return on investment is typically achieved within 12 months of the capital expenditure, with low operating expenses and minimal environmental impact.”

Vortair has also proven its e ectiveness in recycling solar panels and printed circuit boards –two additional e-waste streams of growing concern.

In research and development trials with a prominent university and industry partner, Vortair successfully milled solar panels to sub-50-micron

powders, liberating metals such as silver, for economic recovery.

“Its ability to micronise solid state drives and hard drives to powder also exceeds data destruction standards set by the National Security Agency (NSA) and National Institute of Standards and Technology,” Je says.

“Where traditional e-waste shredders can only achieve two-to- vemillimetre fragments, Vortair grinds electronic waste down to sub-50micron powders, ensuring complete and certi ed destruction of sensitive government, corporate, or Defence electronic devices.”

Beyond safety and e ciency, Vortair delivers a powerful proposition, turning waste into value by leading the revolution in waste regeneration.

Most waste materials can be processed with the Vortair technology

into powders of speci c classi ed sizes ranging from ultra- ne under ve microns to coarse 250 microns. e powders produced are ideal inputs for improving the e ciency of hydrometallurgical re ning, electrochemical separation and other separation technologies.

Je says this transforms e-waste from a compliance cost into a supply chain opportunity for critical minerals and precious metals recovery and reuse.

By enabling material recovery locally, Vortair also helps Australia reduce reliance on imported virgin resources and the o shoring of recycling.

“Vortair represents more than just a machine, it’s a new revolution in waste management,” Je says.

“Vortair e-waste systems are Australian designed, patented and manufactured and built for real-world

conditions to help governments, councils, and industry meet the pressing demands of e-waste regulations, sustainability targets, and climate policy.”

Vortair is seeking collaborative partners – from local councils and recycling depots to industrial integrators and electricity companies – to commercialise e-waste milling solutions.

Je says the opportunity is timely, with government grants available to support rollout of innovative equipment under land ll-ban programs, the National Recycling Modernisation Fund, and the Australian Renewable Energy Agency Battery Breakthrough Initiative.

For more information, visit: www.vortair.com.au

Every tyre recycling facility is unique, depending on the customer’s demands, based on different input materials, such as passenger car tyres, truck tyres, agriculture tyres, and OTR tyres. By choosing Fornnax, you can access decades of expertise in tyre recycling. The result is the highest purity output products, a fully atomized system, and an unmatched level of support before, during, and after the sales.

Fornnax offers all the recycling equipment and machinery you need from one source. It has three stages that produce highquality crumb rubber granules. It includes customized multipurpose shredders and granulators that produce granules ranging from 0.8 mm to 4 mm.

Magnetic appeal

IEriez has a suite of specialist equipment for metals recovery, fully customisable and tailored to customer needs.

separates metals mechanically to prepare them for further processing or export.

So, what happens when the materials are recovered? Jonathan says within Australia ferrous materials tend to be repurposed back into industry through smelting and melt shops.

Non-ferrous materials are almost always exported to varying markets throughout the Asia Paci c region.

In addition to ferrous materials damaging production lines, they can also a ect material purity – a critical concern for recyclers and their end buyers.

n today’s resource-conscious waste management industry, the recovery of metals has become a necessity.

Eriez, recognised as a global leader in separation technologies, is at the forefront of ferrous and non-ferrous metals recovery, helping waste operators reduce operational costs, improve e ciency, and minimise waste sent to land lls.

Equipment protection and revenue generation are its primary drivers.

“Ferrous metals like steel, cast iron and wrought iron contain iron as a primary element and are typically known for strength and having magnetic properties,” explains Jonathan Schulberg, Business Development Manager for Eriez.

“ ese materials pose a signi cant problem for the equipment being used to sort ferrous from non-ferrous materials such as aluminium, copper, lead, zinc and tin.

“When going through sorting machinery, ferrous materials are known to cut conveyor belts and jam equipment.”

Despite being problematic to machinery, ferrous metals can be a lucrative revenue stream. ey are sorted and sold by weight, therefore recovering them is a “very important part of the separation process.”

Jonathan says recovered metals are typically sold to scrap metal dealers, transfer stations or processors.

“ e implementation of ferrous recovery equipment has become highly important to companies and recyclers throughout the industry,” he says.

Transfer stations manually sort and segregate metals, keeping aluminium, copper, and ferrous metals separate. Whereas a processor shreds large quantities of incoming material such as construction debris or white goods, and

“If ferrous materials are left in the stream, they can contaminate other recovered materials, reducing the value they are sold for and even determining if they are able to be sold at all,” says Johnathan.

“Our goal is to assist them with maintaining a consistent level of material purity.”

TOOLS OF THE TRADE

Eriez’s solutions span a suite of advanced magnetic and sensor-based systems designed for e cient metals recovery. Among the most widely used are suspended electro and permanent magnets.

“Electromagnets are especially valuable in waste applications where the feed material is highly variable and inconsistent,” says Johnathan.

“ e equipment can cover very narrow belt widths through to large units that can cover up to three metres wide.”

Eriez’s approach to deciding which magnet is required for the job is

deeply collaborative with the customer purchasing the equipment.

“We custom build every system based on the customer’s unique needs and plant design,” says Johnathan.

“Some sites haven’t even been constructed yet, and we work o theoretical specs. Others are upgrading existing infrastructure. In both cases, our engineering team tailors every detail, physical dimensions, electrical specs and placement, all to match what’s required.

“We pride ourselves on our collaborative process, working closely with them throughout the whole journey through to installation.” is degree of customisation is possible due to Eriez being the original equipment manufacturer (OEM).

“ is gives us the creative license to modify and change products

throughout the development and installation phases, ensuring seamless integration and maximum performance,” Johnathan says.

Changes can be made to things such as the physical dimensions of the unit, as well as its electrical aspect.

Johnathan says equipment positioning is just as important as the material to be processed.

“You could have a very technologically advanced piece of

equipment but if it is applied incorrectly or positioned in the wrong part of the plant, it will not work as e ectively as it should,” he says.

“In the end, it’s not just about having good technology, it’s about applying that technology smartly, adapting it to the environment, and supporting our customers every step of the way.”

For more information, visit: www.eriez.com

Breakthrough pathways

Blue Phoenix Australia and its partners are forging crucial pathways for incinerator bottom ash aggregate (IBAA) reuse in Australian infrastructure.

The silent revolution sweeping through Australia’s waste management sector is not just about diverting materials from land ll; it’s about reshaping the regulatory landscape to enable a truly circular economy.

Incinerator bottom ash aggregate (IBAA) has been a cornerstone of sustainable construction across the United Kingdom and Europe for decades, transforming waste-to-energy residues into valuable alternatives for virgin aggregates.

Blue Phoenix Australia, as the pioneering company to establish a dedicated IBA processing facility in Australia, and its energy-from-waste partner Acciona, are helping to navigate and transform this complex regulatory environment onshore.

Paul Visser, Commercial Development Manager, says the approach has been multifaceted and collaborative – bringing together environmental regulators, government agencies, and diverse industry stakeholders.

While this collaboration has referenced Blue Phoenix’s global experience, it has also actively contributed to the development of local standards, building trust and helping to shape the regulatory landscape.

e aim is to move the industry from a reactive compliance mindset to a proactive leadership position in the

sustainable materials space as more energy-from-waste facilities emerge across the nation.

“Launching a business in a highly regulated, technically complex, and sustainability-focused sector presents both unique challenges and signi cant opportunities,” Paul says.

Chief among the challenges were regulatory uncertainty, market readiness and industry scepticism.

Australia had no established regulatory framework or industry standards for the use of IBAA in civil construction and there was limited awareness of the precedent for safely reusing incinerator bottom ash in infrastructure projects.

“As with any new product, especially one derived from waste, there was understandable hesitation from engineers, contractors, and procurement

bodies about using IBAA in their projects,” Paul says.

A pivotal step in formalising these pathways has been the establishment of the Manufacturers of Incinerator Bottom Ash Aggregate of Australia (MIBAAA) Association including representatives from Avertas Energy, East Rockingham Regional Recovery Project and WA Limestone.

e association aims to ensure that IBAA becomes a consistent product for use across Australia.

Crucial to establishing any regulatory framework is rigorous technical validation. ere are ongoing e orts in Western Australia, including laboratory and analysis testing, to identify the characteristics of IBAA.

Paul praised the work of Western Australia’s Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER)

which has formed the Technical Working Group on the Framework for the Regulation and Use of IBAA.

e working group includes industry contributions from Kwinana Energy Recovery, WA Limestone, Coterra Environment, Microanalysis Australia, Western Geotechnical and ChemCentre.

Collaboration has also extended to the respective environmental departments within the Queensland, New South Wales and Victorian governments who are working towards the recognition of a pathway for use and application of IBAA.

ose pathways in civil construction include the unbound use as a sub-road base, pipe bedding, land embankments, general ll, and land reclamation material and as a bound material within non-structural concrete products such

as sub-terrain backing blocks and concrete pavers.

e practical demonstration of IBAA’s viability is equally critical to gaining regulatory con dence and market acceptance. e construction of Australia’s rst car park using IBAA as a sub-base layer at the Kwinana Energy Recovery site in Western Australia stands as a powerful testament to this.

“It was an ideal location to demonstrate the circular economy in action, given that’s where the collected waste was originally received and processed,” Paul says. “It’s a tangible, real-world application providing proof of concept and showcasing the material’s structural integrity, environmental safety, and performance equivalence to traditional quarry products.”

While Australia is behind in the uptake of IBAA compared to its

AUSTRALIA’S NO.1 WHEELED EXCAVATOR

international counterparts, there is a shift in perception underway.

Blue Phoenix’s IBA plant has played a major role in that shift with various state government representatives, ministers, environmental regulators, and policy writers able to see the plant in operation.

Paul says Blue Phoenix’s motivation underscores the broader imperative of this work.

“ e drive is to not see waste go to land ll because of the long-term detrimental e ects that it has on the environment,” he says.

“Since the processing facility became operational in September 2024, Blue Phoenix has not sent one scrap of waste to land ll in nearly 12 months.”

For more information, visit: www.bluephoenix-group.com

JCB HYDRADIG WASTEMASTER

ENGINEERED FOR WASTE INDUSTRY EXCELLENCE

The JCB Hydradig Wastemaster sets the standard for material handling in the waste and recycling industry, offering maximum productivity and safety. While operators benefit from unmatched visibility around the machine, enhancing situational awareness and operational efficiency.

Designed for demanding environments, its low centre of gravity ensures stable lifting even when working at full reach. Manoeuvrability is a key highlight, with two-wheel steer, four-wheel steer, and crab steering capabilities, allowing for ultimate usability even on the most confined job sites.

The Hydradig Wastemaster is built for the rigors of the waste industry with heavy-duty guarding, a higher cab height for superior viewing into skips and containers, and solid tires to prevent punctures. Its robust design minimises downtime and maximises operational uptime in challenging waste management applications.

Insects, innovation and industries

Australia’s waste problem demands innovation. ARC Ento Tech is forging a new circular economy – with insects at its core.

Imagine a world where red bin waste isn’t buried in land ll but instead becomes a valuable building block for new industries.

is isn’t a futuristic fantasy; it’s the reality ARC Ento Tech is building in Australia, harnessing the power of insects to transform virtually all waste streams – especially plastics – into reusable resources.

At the centre of this next wave is SynCoal, a revolutionary product composed of hydrogen and carbon that can be used as an alternative to coal and metallurgical coke.

e goal is to provide industries with the hydrogen or carbon portions of SynCoal to create new products. e carbon is already in demand by steel mills.

On the hydrogen front, Australian universities have conducted lab tests that prove the viability of generating hydrogen from SynCoal and ARC Ento is in early discussions with potential partners for the development of a beta site.

Adam McArdle, ARC Ento’s Chief Executive O cer, describes it as a gamechanger for waste management.

“It’ll change everything,” he says.

“We can use waste from land lls and reuse them, either as plastic, steel or hydrogen, which gives us the ability to reuse that resource many, many times over.

“ is is a circular economy; where waste is transformed into raw materials for new products which will then go through the cycle again, rather than being incinerated or put into land ll.”

e genesis of ARC Ento sprang from a common frustration: the sheer volume of waste destined for land ll.

e Atayde brothers, one with a deep understanding of insects and the other a mining engineer, dared to imagine a scalable solution.

Four years of dedicated work, even amid the global challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, brought their unique insect-driven technology to life.

Starting with surplus food products from manufacturers, the system transforms this into an organic output, including nutrient-rich fertiliser, and supports the ongoing breeding and genetics of the ies.

“We believe we’re one of the best at growing insects,” Adam says. “Our uniqueness is our industrialisation of the output.”

Adam says ARC Ento is focused on processing multiple waste streams, understanding that one solution may work for one customer, but not another.

“A food manufacturer will need a di erent solution for their general waste versus their organic surplus food. Butchers and green grocers will need a di erent solution to a large food manufacturer.

“Our red bin waste solution is really unique in that we can use virtually every part of the stream, except for the dangerous or hazardous material.”

A core strength of ARC Ento’s approach is its seamless integration onto existing tip sites, sidestepping any “not in my backyard” objections. Instead of simply burying waste, councils and land ll operators can process it on-site to repurpose valuable materials.

e immediate outputs include the insects themselves, which are converted into high-protein animal feed and oils for applications ranging from cosmetics to biofuels.

Any contaminated material is redirected to another stream, ensuring “virtually no waste left at all.”

e journey begins after initial sorting of waste materials. Scrap metal is removed early in the process and the remaining inorganic waste, primarily consisting of wood and plastic, is then shredded.

“At the end of the day, we just want to fix the problem, which is waste.”

Adam McArdle, C Ento Chief Executive Officer

is shredded material is introduced into large “digesters” where the insects further process and sort the material. e biological action of the insects breaks down and separates the organic components from the inorganic ones. is allows the inorganic materials, predominantly plastic, to be reconstituted back into SynCoal.

Adam says SynCoal isn’t just a byproduct; it represents a powerful new industry that directly contributes to a truly circular economy.

He stresses ARC Ento is not a wasteto-energy operation focused on heat generation; instead, it is using the carbon within the hydrocarbon as a high-value raw material.

“Waste-to-energy is better than burying waste but it just moves the issue further down the line,” he says.

“And it’s a one o . It converts matter into energy, and then the energy is used, but it’s not used to make more matter. It has a stop point. Whereas, if we’re able to turn waste into resources and keep those resources in circulation, it’s a better solution.”

e technology is also scalable, e ortlessly processing anywhere from tens of tonnes to 300-500 tonnes of waste per day for larger councils and land lls. is scalability is achieved simply by adding more digesters as throughput demands.

Adam says the company is witnessing enthusiastic uptake, with “a large

number of councils in New South Wales” having visited the Central Coast headquarters.

One of the other big advantages for councils and corporations is the technology requires “no change” to current waste collection.

“Behaviour change management is a huge issue for councils and big corporations,” Adam says. “ ere’s a lot of discussion about trying to change resident and customer habits and having them sort their waste for collection and recycling. ARC Ento’s system means that there is no change to the customer. We get insects to do it; it’s in their biological

nature. Councils get the bene t of the food organics and garden organics (FOGO) collection and the reusability of resources without having to change the community culture.”

ARC Ento has an ambitious end game to be part of the waste processing solution, through partnership with the main councils and players, in New South Wales and potentially Australia.

“ ere’s a whole new world here,” Adam says. “At the end of the day, we just want to x the problem, which is waste.”

For more information, visit: www.arcentotechltd.com.au

Power

eterson hori ontal grinders combine power, efficiency and durability for ustralia’s most demanding wood processing and recycling operations.

When the teeth of a Peterson grinder sink into timber, stumps or green waste, they’re doing more than chewing through biomass –they’re driving productivity across some of Australia’s toughest terrains.

Peterson’s horizontal grinders have become the gold standard for contractors tackling land clearing, recycling, and large-scale biomass operations.

Peterson Paci c Corp, now operating as a division of Astec Industries, has spent more than four decades re ning grinding technology from its base in Eugene, Oregon. In Australia, distributed locally by Komatsu Forest Pty Ltd since 2011, nearly 100 units have been sold, with a strong repeat customer base.

Brett Jones, Komatsu Forest Managing Director, says the high number of repeat customers is a testament to both the product quality and the support provided by the Komatsu Forest team.

At the centre of this success are two models that have captured the loyalty of Australian contractors: e Peterson 2710D and 5710D. ese grinders share the same DNA, but their di erences speak to the diverse needs across the forestry and waste management sectors.

“ e Peterson grinder has become the industry benchmark – delivering unmatched e ciency, reliability, and performance across Australia’s toughest jobs,” Brett says.

e 2710D is compact enough to travel across states without special permits, yet powerful enough, with its 570-kilowatt (kW) Caterpillar Tier II C18 engine, to chew through land clearing debris, stumps and mixed green waste with ease.

Weighing about 21,000 kilograms, it strikes a balance between transportability and throughput, making it a favourite for contractors juggling multiple job sites and feedstocks.

e 5710D is at the other end of the scale – designed for production-heavy operations dealing with feedstock that can range from whole trees to contaminated demolition material.

Weighing about 40,000 kilograms and powered by an 839kW Caterpillar C32 engine, it delivers top-tier performance and the highest power-to-weight ratio of any machine in the Peterson eet.

All grinder models come standard with Peterson’s powerful upturn 3-Stage grinding process, providing better material fracturing and a more consistent product. ey feature upturning rotors that are con gured to produce lighter mulches with fewer nes. ese rotors will perform more of the reduction process through shearing and cleavage fractures in the wood, making them more

productive while using less energy. is is protected by Peterson’s unique patented Impact Release System air bags providing uniform grinding and protection from contaminated feedstock.

ere’s a second line of defence of urethane cushions and shear pins which help protect the mill from catastrophic damage in the event of a severe impact from contaminants in the feed stock.

e updated Peterson 5710E, the newest in the line, is about to be released in Australia. It o ers subtle re nements that continue a clear direction towards sustainability, lower operating costs, and evolving environmental requirements without sacri cing productivity.

Backed by Komatsu Forest’s nationwide network and proven aftersales support, the Peterson grinder range has carved out a clear leadership position in Australia’s resource recovery sector.

For more information, visit: www.komatsuforest.com

RThe JCB Hydradig is a standout wheeled excavator in its class, demonstrating how easy it is to get the job done on any waste site.

Since its Australian release in 2017, the JCB Hydradig has made its mark in the market as a compact wheeled excavator.

Now in its second generation, the JCB Hydradig is a leading machine in its class for versatility, visibility, and stability, particularly in the waste management sector where e ciency and safety are paramount.

Deon Cope, Product Manager for JCB CEA, says the Hydradig is one of JCB’s most unique and revolutionary designs available in the market today.

“All of the heavy components, such as the JCB EcoMAX engine, pump, hydraulic pack, cooling pack, hydraulic tank and fuel tanks, are all stored in the lower chassis,” says Deon. “ is di ers from other wheeled excavators, which hold all of those components in the upper frame.”

is simple but advanced design holds several bene ts applicable to the waste sector.

“Stability is our key selling point for the Hydradig. Having all the large, heavy components in the lower section of the machine gives the operator a lower standard of gravity,” explains Deon.

“ e lower centre of gravity not only improves stability but also fundamentally changes how the machine operates, particularly in tight, high-tra c environments like transfer stations and recycling yards.”

Deon says the lower centre of gravity makes it possible to lift heavier loads at greater reach, something other wheeled excavators in this class struggle with.

e ideal scenario for the Hydradig is in transfer stations where its compact size and precise hydraulic controls

allow it to quickly and accurately sort incoming materials before loading them into bins.

Deon says it is also a strong candidate for pre-sorting tasks in recycling yards, where separating materials such as metals and plastics before shredding can improve downstream processing and reduce equipment wear.

He says the Hydradig’s ability to operate in a restricted space without compromising on performance has proven invaluable.

“It’s reduced tail swing of just 120 millimetres further minimises risk to nearby vehicles and infrastructure,” he says.

“ e Hydradig allows operators to perform tasks that would otherwise be done manually, boosting e ciency while improving worker safety.”

With a maximum operating weight of 11,457 kilograms and maximum engine power of 81 kilowatts, the waste master speci cation comes equipped with additional features tailored for harsh waste environments. ese include solid, puncture-proof tyres, boom and ram guarding, cab protection, and a reversible fan for clearing debris from the cooling pack.

By relocating the machine’s heavy components to the base, the operator’s cab sits nearly half a metre higher than conventional models.

Deon says this elevated position o ers operators 360-degree visibility of their surroundings, including a clear line of sight to all four wheels.

“In waste management applications, this is critical because operators often work in con ned environments with foot tra c, moving vehicles, and other machinery,” he says.

“ is enhanced visibility can prevent accidents, reduce blind spots, and make it easier to move around the job site.”

e Hydradig’s mobility is another key asset. It features multiple steering modes: two-wheel, fourwheel, and crab steer.

“ is gives the machine exceptional agility,” explains Deon.

“Combined with a tight turning circle, the machine excels in navigating crowded sites where space is at a premium.”

e second-generation Hydradig, released in 2020, incorporates important updates based on user feedback.

ese include improvements to the cab for operator comfort, enhancements to hydraulic adjustability, and a switch from curved to at glass windows.

Deon says this makes eld repairs quicker and more cost-e ective.

“As operators began using heavier attachments and additional guarding, the Roll-Over Protective Structure (ROPS) rating was also upgraded to meet evolving safety standards,” he Deon.

In an industry where site space is limited, safety is paramount, and operational e ciency is critical, the JCB Hydradig has proven itself as a reliable and innovative solution.

For more information, visit: www.jcbcea.com.au

Complete success

CTS Tyre Recycling is demonstrating what leadership in the circular economy looks like – one mat, underlay and remanufactured product at a time.

It’s one thing to recycle a tyre; it’s another to turn it into a product that re-enters the market with purpose.

In Western Australia, CTS Tyre Recycling and its remanufacturing arm, roughcycle Rubber, are doing just that – quietly reshaping Australia’s circular economy by taking control of their own materials and stepping boldly into sustainable manufacturing.

e businesses are part of the Cometti Group, a family-owned enterprise with more than four decades of experience in the tyre industry.

Cometti Tyres began in 1984 and rapidly built a reputation as not only a supplier of tyres but also as a service provider to major eet operators. It evolved into Complete Tyre Solutions, which today has 13 branches across Western Australia, South Australia and

the Northern Territory, providing 24/7 repair and breakdown service to more than 800 clients.

Managing director Leigh Cometti saw the opportunity to expand into recycling of end-of-life tyres with a focus on some of the large O - eRoad (OTR) tyres used across the agricultural, mining and mining services sectors.

With support from the Western Australia and Commonwealth governments, his company has invested more than $40-million to create its state-of-the-art recycling facility in the northern Perth suburb of Neerabup. e facility handles the toughest end-of-life materials – OTR tyres, mining conveyor belts, marine fenders – components that most operators in the industry treat as too di cult or large to process.

Now, with its sights set higher on the waste hierarchy, CTS Tyre Recycling is making the transition from recycler to remanufacturer. at shift is more than a business move, it’s a strategic recalibration aimed at creating domestic markets, reducing export reliance, and boosting both environmental and economic resilience.

“We’re moving from recycling to remanufacturing,” says Leigh. “Instead of just separating and selling materials, we’re now producing highvalue goods in-house using the same recovered rubber.

“Acoustic underlay, soft-fall ooring and matting, load restraint materials for transport, and some

other pretty innovative products will all come through our roughcycle Rubber brand.”

e evolution required investment, but not reinvention. e company’s large-scale facility already had the physical footprint to absorb new operations. It simply added new lines to complement its existing processing infrastructure – most of which is supplied by global recycling technology leader Eldan Recycling.

It’s a relationship that has helped shape the business for the past ve years and continues to underpin its performance. “Eldan were clearly the market leaders when we were evaluating equipment. at hasn’t changed – it’s probably only strengthened,” Leigh says.

“What makes them stand out is not just the productivity or reliability of the machines, but the service, the relationships, and their understanding of how we operate in Australia. eir CEO and senior team are out here on the ground more often than some local reps.  at commitment makes a huge di erence.”

CTS Tyre Recycling runs a full Eldan recycling line, capable of downsizing any tyre from a lawnmower wheel up to a 63-inch (rim size) mining tyre. Conveyor belts, long a challenge in the industry, can now be processed with ease. But it’s not just about scale – it’s about capability and positioning.

“ ere’s no tyre or belt we can’t recycle, provided it ts within our system’s design,” Leigh says. “ at’s where we’ve focused – on being adaptable, but within a robust, scalable process.”

On the remanufacturing side, the company can deliver product for a wide customer base, including the construction sector, transport and logistics, local governments, equestrian facilities, and even consumer markets.

ese products often displace virgin imports from Europe or Asia, many of

Rubber, the Australian alternative is not only local – it’s circular.

“We’re substituting imports and reducing the use of virgin rubber, which means fewer emissions, fewer exports, and more local jobs,” Leigh says.

“Ultimately, this move strengthens our business, supports the economy, and is far better for the environment. ere’s a clear correlation between sustainability and viability, and that’s what drives us.”

Perhaps most critically, the new manufacturing venture helps insulate the company – and the broader sector –from volatility in the export market for tyre-derived fuel (TDF).

recyclers have found themselves dependent on TDF as a revenue stream. CTS Tyre Recycling is taking a di erent route.

“Creating our own downstream markets means we’re less reliant on TDF. We’re keeping more material onshore and creating new value from it,” he says. “ at’s really the end goal – making this industry more sustainable, not just environmentally, but economically too.”

For more information, visit: www.ctstyrerecycling.com.au

Transforming tyres,

From bulky to manageable: Fornnax’s shredding technology

The handling and processing of endof-life tyres (ELTs) pose logistical and operational challenges for tyre recycling businesses.

e diverse range of tyre sizes – from passenger car, truck tyres to large Oe-Road (OTR) and mining tyres –necessitates specialised equipment and techniques to manage their bulkiness, shape, and material properties.

e sheer volume of ELTs, combined with their low bulk density, makes transportation and storage costly and ine cient, while also occupying valuable space.

Furthermore, the heterogeneous nature of tyre materials, comprising

rubber, steel, and textiles, requires sophisticated processing technologies to unlock their recyclable potential.

LOGISTICS BURDENS

e most e ective strategy to mitigate these inherent challenges lies in robust pre-processing, says Jignesh Kundaria, Fornnax Director and Chief Executive O cer.

By reducing the size and altering the form of ELTs, shredding technologies transform these bulky, cumbersome items into manageable, small pieces for higher-density material.

He says this process is not just about volume reduction; it’s a strategic

intervention that directly impacts the economic viability of the entire recycling chain, particularly concerning the costly and logistical nightmare.

“Whole tyres, with their inherent shape and air pockets, are incredibly ine cient to transport. ey occupy vast amounts of space in trailers, often leading to wasted capacity and requiring more trips,” Jignesh says.

“When tyres are shredded, their bulk density dramatically increases. is means a signi cantly greater weight of material can be loaded into each transport vehicle, optimising freight costs per tonne. Instead of moving air and awkward shapes,

“It’s about fundamentally transforming the economics of the entire end of life

tyre value chain.”

Jignesh Kundaria, ornnax irector an Chief Executive Officer

transporters are moving concentrated, valuable material.”

is e ciency extends beyond outbound logistics to the collection phase, allowing collectors to gather more material per trip from various sources.

ENGINEERED SOLUTIONS

Fornnax specialises in developing highcapacity, robust shredding solutions speci cally designed to tackle the complexities of ELT processing.

Jignesh says the company’s tyre shredders are engineered to perform across the spectrum of tyre types, delivering consistent output that is suited for both further recycling and as an alternative fuel source.

Powerful Fornnax SR-Series Primary Shredders are the rst line of defence against whole tyres. ey are designed with aggressive cutting teeth and high torque to break down even the largest OTR and mining tyres into smaller, more manageable pieces (typically 50150 millimetres).

Jignesh says this initial reduction is critical for volume compression, immediately making ELTs easier to store and transport from collection points to centralised processing facilities.

“Our SR-Series Primary Shredder helped one of our Australian clients in substantially improving initial handling e ciency with about 30 per cent reduction in transportation costs and a 25 per cent increase in storage capacity,” he says.

Fornnax R-Series Secondary Shredders process the reduced tyre fragments into smaller, more uniform chips (typically 10-50 millimetres).

is stage produces steel-free tyre chips for various combustion applications or further granulation.

e uniform size of the output is crucial for automated material handling systems, allowing for smoother conveyance and reducing the risk of blockages.

For applications requiring even ner output, such as rubber granules for sports surfaces or asphalt modi cation, Fornnax’s TR-Series granulators convert tyre chips into crumb rubber/rubber mulch, further compressing the material and enabling e cient bulk handling for specialised end markets.

QUANTIFIABLE BENEFITS

By increasing the bulk density of ELTs through shredding, the number of truckloads required to transport a given tonnage of material drastically decreases.

Jignesh says this directly translates to lower fuel consumption, lower labour costs per tonne transported, and reduced vehicle wear and tear.

“For businesses operating across vast geographical areas, this optimisation represents signi cant savings.”

Shredded tyres occupy far less space than whole tyres, allowing recycling facilities to store a greater volume of material in the same footprint.

is not only maximises the use of existing space but also reduces the need for expensive additional storage facilities. Additionally, shredded tyres facilitate easier handling and export in containers due to their reduced volume and increased density.

Uniformly shredded material is easier to handle with automated conveyor systems, forklifts, and loaders, minimising equipment strain and accelerating the movement of material through the processing chain, improving overall operational e ciency.

Handling smaller, more consistent material also reduces the risks associated with moving bulky, irregularly shaped whole tyres, leading to a safer working environment.

“By strategically integrating robust shredding solutions like those o ered by Fornnax, tyre recycling businesses can convert the challenge of ELT bulkiness into an opportunity for operational e ciency and signi cant cost reduction,” Jignesh says.

“ is pre-processing step is not just about preparing material for recycling; it’s about fundamentally transforming the economics of the entire end-of-life tyre value chain.”

For more information, visit: www.fornnax.com

Smart FOGO pilots

With Australia’s food organics and garden organics rollout approaching, pilot pro ects with advanced composting technology can reduce risk and ensure success. Sustainable Generation’s Chief Executive Officer Scott Woods explains.

Australia is racing toward a 2030 target to halve organic waste to land ll and ensure food organics and garden organics (FOGO) collection is available to all metropolitan households. ese goals bring a major shift: the introduction of putrescible food waste into organics processing at scale. With strict environmental regulations around emissions and nuisance control, councils and operators must adopt proven technology to manage these feedstocks while ensuring performance and compliance.

Scott Woods, Chief Executive O cer of Sustainable Generation, says covered aerated static pile composting systems o ered by Sustainable Generation, reduce odours by 90 – 99 per cent and volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions by more than 95 per cent, aligning with the strictest international air quality regulations.

e GORE Cover provides clear separation of stormwater from leachate without the capital cost of a roof.

However, before investing in fullscale infrastructure, Scott suggests a pilot project to allow councils and project developers to validate operational assumptions, ne-tune feedstock recipes, and de-risk major capital decisions.

He says pilot projects deliver real-world data to support design, permitting, and funding. A point echoed by Jonathan Kalpako , of Mid Valley Disposal.

“Conducting a pilot project greatly enhanced our understanding of food waste composting and helped us immensely with our subsequent expansion design process,” Jonathan says. “ e SG system was already a proven solution for meeting odour and VOC emission reductions.”

Mid Valley Disposal now operates a 90,000 tonne per year SG BUNKER

System with GORE Covers and supplies the compost to farmers.

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY

In 2013, Prince George’s County, Maryland set out to expand composting from yard trim to include food organics. Its existing windrow process took eight months – too long and odourous.

e County partnered with Sustainable Generation to trial a pilot-scale SG MOBILE System with GORE Covers.

“We needed to demonstrate the capabilities required for a fullscale organics diversion program,” says Marilyn Naumann, Associate Director of the County’s Department of Environment.

e pilot tested several recipes: yard waste only, and mixes with 10, 25 and 50 per cent food waste. e team monitored temperature, compost quality, and odour control. Results were immediate – the SG ADVANCED COMPOSTING Technology nished compost in just eight weeks.

Even at high food waste ratios, compost quality remained high and odour levels were well managed.

“ e pilot benchmarked yard waste and food scrap mixes and still yielded a product that met or exceeded the quality of our Leafgro brand,” Marilyn says.

is gave the County the con dence to move forward. It expanded incrementally, adding units and scaling to 12,000 tonnes per year (TPY) by year four. By 2018, the County constructed a permanent 57,000 TPY facility with 12

SG BUNKER Systems and in-ground leachate controls. It is now the largest composting facility in the Washington DC area, processing food and garden organics for residential, school, and commercial sources.

REPUBLIC SERVICES

At Otay Land ll in Southern California, Republic Services needed a solution to meet California’s SB 1383 and AB 1826 organics mandates to divert organics from the land ll. As an active land ll, with nearby neighbourhoods, odour control and portability were essential.

In 2018, Republic launched a pilot using the SG MOBILE System with GORE Cover and SG SOLAR Power. e system was o -grid, modular, and easily relocated across the land ll as operations shifted.

“ is facility can be located anywhere

on the land ll,” says Chris Seney, Director of Organics Operations. “It’s just a matter of moving the solar system.”

e pilot allowed Republic to test food waste processing up to 50 per cent in the mix and con rm real-world odour and emissions performance.

SG’s technology met or surpassed local air quality standards for odour and VOCs, and the solar setup eliminated the need for grid connection or generators. SG’s IoT-enabled Compost Control System provided real-time, remote management –minimising labour and ensuring consistent performance.

Following the pilot, Republic launched a full-scale, solar-powered composting operation at Otay, now processing more than 90,000 tonnes annually.

Scott says both case studies demonstrate that pilot composting projects are a smart path forward for FOGO rollout.

“For Prince George’s County, a pilot was the rst step to building one of the most advanced composting operations in North America. For Republic Services, it enabled o -grid, high-performance composting atop a land ll, with full con dence in the technology’s capability.

“In Australia, with 2030 FOGO mandates fast approaching, pilot programs using mobile covered composting systems can help local governments and operators build stakeholder con dence and avoid costly missteps. ese are not just test runs, they are strategic investments that reduce risk, build internal expertise, and pave the way for long-term success.

“With the right pilot, you can plan, prove, and proceed with certainty.”

For more information, visit: www.sustainable-generation.com

HIGH QUALITY RECYCLING

EQUIPMENT SOLUTIONS

Navigating Australia’s waste future

Registration is now open for Waste Expo, exploring Australia’s waste and recycling journey with four key themes.

Australia’s waste and resource recovery sector stands at a critical crossroads. With land ll space diminishing and environmental pressures mounting, the industry is seeking scalable, sustainable solutions to meet the needs of a growing nation.

is tension between old practices and innovations forms the core of Waste Expo, a vital industry event where leaders, policymakers, and innovators will converge to forge a path forward.

is year’s expo is structured around four crucial themes: Circular Economy, Government & Policy, Waste-to-Energy, and Technology & Safety. Over three conference stages, attendees will have

the opportunity to engage with more than 60 hours of content. A key focus will be on the “lived experience” of new technologies and policies, moving beyond theoretical discussions to ground-level, practical insights.

e discussions are designed to foster an open dialogue, addressing the scepticism and questions that often accompany signi cant industry shifts.

A major drawcard is the focus on waste-to-energy (WtE), a topic that has generated considerable debate.

A dedicated session, Energy Recovery: Establishing Social Licence Here in Australia, will bring together the people directly involved in commissioning

and operating the country’s rst energy recovery facility in Western Australia, Kwinana Energy Recovery.

e facility, a collaboration between Blue Phoenix, Tellus Holdings, and Ramboll, has already become a benchmark, attracting visits from every major regulatory agency in Australia. is is a clear signal of growing national interest and a desire to understand the realities of energy recovery, according to Michael Bobrowicz, Executive O cer of the Waste and Recycling Industry Association of Western Australia (WRIWA) and panel moderator. He says the session will feature a

diverse panel who will share their direct experiences in adapting global technologies to local conditions. e discussion will cover crucial topics such as safety protocols, regulatory hurdles, and the recovery of valuable metals and aggregates from incinerator bottom ash (IBAA).

Michael emphasises the need for transparency and open discussion, acknowledging the initial scepticism that surrounded the Kwinana project.

“ e success of the Kwinana plant demonstrates a path to integrating energy recovery into Australia’s broader waste ecosystem,” he says.

“ e facility is strategically located near Perth, reducing transport costs and creating a viable alternative for waste collection companies that want to divert waste from land lls.

“Moreover, the advanced technology at the site, particularly the processing of IBA, recovers valuable materials like ferrous and non-ferrous metals, as well as precious metals such as gold, silver, and platinum. is level of resource recovery challenges previous assumptions about what is possible with waste.”

e conversations at Waste Expo are timely and vital. Michael says the industry has moved past the theoretical stage; WtE is now a tangible reality in Australia. Leaders are no longer just theorising but are sharing actual, lived experiences.

e expo will provide a platform for attendees to ask tough questions and get honest answers from the people who are making it happen. e goal is to demystify complex technologies and build a collective understanding of the pathways to a more sustainable, circular economy.

“ ey’re not theorising, they’re not one removed – this is actual experience,” Michael says.

is focus on practical solutions and forward-thinking policy is a key

theme for the expo. Helen Millicer, Chief Executive O cer of One Planet Consulting, speaking on European Union extended producer responsibility (EPR), end markets and measures for success, hopes attendees leave the event with a renewed sense of purpose and the con dence to drive change.

“I will share insights from six months in Europe on what is common practice and how we can bring about a better future here,” she says.

She looks to inspire improved policy and investment dialogue, and signi cant circular shifts in Australia, informed by the practices of international counterparts, particularly in Europe.

Helen advocates for mandatory membership in EPR schemes, extensive program rolling out eco-product procurement by governments, a strong understanding of the range of policy and economic levers that will improve product design and redirect supply chains for strong end markets.

of policy certainty. He says that of the “plethora of issues” facing land lls across Australia, policy certainty is a key concern.

Ken will join a panel exploring how industry leaders, local governments, and innovators are reducing land ll dependency through strategies such as advanced resource recovery, organics diversion, circular product design, and community-driven waste reduction.

e discussion will focus on what it takes to shift systems, overcome barriers and build the infrastructure and behaviours needed.

“ ere are opportunities for all stakeholders to look at the potential investment prospects and to improve diversion rates from land ll for di cult waste streams,” Ken says.

Registration is now open for Waste Expo, to be held at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on 29-30 October.

For more information, visit:

Waste Management, picks up the theme

Setting an example

Ahead of the 2025 Waste Innovation and Recycling Awards, Waste Management Review sits down with 2024 Community Engagement Success of the Year winner Bayside City Council.

It was 2023 when Bayside City Council, in Victoria’s south east, launched its Roving Repair Program, with the intention of hosting six standalone pop-up repair events across the municipality.

e program was created to bring together a community of people passionate about xing and mending things, in order to keep them from being thrown away, while sharing skills and hobbies.

e council, representing more than 100,000 people, never envisioned that one year later it would win an award for the best program to engage and communicate with its community, all while resulting in a positive outcome for the waste industry.

e small team of four responsible for the program also never imagined the program would be seen as a role model for other councils to base their own repair initiatives.

Tim Cummins, Waste and Recycling Coordinator at City of Bayside, has been involved in the program and recent discussions with other councils.

He says that since the 2024 Waste Innovation and Recycling awards, the team has had several councils show interest in the program and in doing something similar across their local government area (LGA).

“We suspect these councils heard about the program from the awards

night,” says Tim. “ ey very well might have already been aware of our program prior to the awards, but we believe winning gave them governance to reach out to us.

“ ese councils have asked us for advice on getting started with a similar program, and we have been happy to assist them where possible.

“It has been so rewarding to see the reach the program has had, more than we had ever hoped.”

In addition to positive feedback from neighbouring councils, Tim says the City of Bayside community has consistently praised the Roving Repair Program.

“ ese events have relied heavily on our local volunteers, and they have always provided crucial and valued feedback to the council,” he says.

“ e feedback has been positive and consistent. As soon as we nish one, they’re asking when the next one will be.

“ ey are in high demand, which is very attering.”

THE PROGRAM

In 2023 and 2024, the council hosted a series of pop-up repair events across the LGA. Each event focused on a particular theme such as textiles and clothes, electronics and appliances, toys and small furniture, bicycles, and more.

So far ve events have been held in 2025 with more planned.

“With the recognition from the award and positive feedback from our community, we have been encouraged to continue the program,” says Tim.

“In recent months we have continued to roll out more events and have many more in the pipeline.”

Re ecting on the win, Tim says the waste and recycling team, along with wider council sta , were ecstatic to be recognised.

“With the recognition from the award and positive feedback from our community, we have been encouraged to continue the program.”

Tim Cummins, Waste and Recycling Coordinator

“It was great to get positive feedback from an outside source, enforcing that what we’re doing is working and having a positive impact on our community,” he says.

“ e volunteers were also equally as thrilled to hear about the win because it is something they have had a hand in.”

Tim says the awards are a great opportunity for everyone – individuals, teams and organisations – to learn about the comings and goings of others in the industry.

“ e awards are a great opportunity to see what’s happening out in the waste, recycling and resource recovery sectors,” he says.

“ ere are so many di erent businesses, groups and people doing fantastic things that we are not aware of until the awards.

Bayside

“ ey are a great opportunity for all to unite and celebrate the wins, while witnessing what other likeminded people are doing in a muchloved industry.”

e 2025 Waste Innovation and Recycling Awards will be held in Melbourne on 29 October.

Categories include: Outstanding WARR Project (Metro), Outstanding WARR Project (Regional/Rural), Operational Excellence, Innovation, Outstanding Facility, Young Professional of the Year (proudly sponsored by REMONDIS), Woman of Waste (proudly sponsored by Re.Group), Community Engagement (proudly sponsored by Visy), Workplace of the Year, and Leader of the Year.

For more information, visit: www.wasteawards.com.au

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20 years of changing what’s possible

This year marks a significant milestone – 20 years of Sustainability Victoria. Chief Executive Officer Matt Genever takes a moment to reflect, celebrate, and most importantly, look forward.

I’m proud to be at the helm as we commemorate our momentous journey, but I wouldn’t be here today without the unwavering leadership and commitment to a better future have set Sustainability

grown from a small agency with a big vision into a driving force behind Victoria’s transition to a circular,

Victoria’s renewable energy and recycling sectors. ese achievements are not just numbers – they represent the collective e ort of thousands of Victorians who believed in changing what’s possible.

LAYING THE FOUNDATIONS

Our timeline tells an inspiring story of evolution. In 2005, we introduced the Towards Zero Waste Strategy setting ambitious targets for waste reduction, resource recovery and land ll diversion. Serving as the state’s primary waste policy framework until about 2014, it was Victoria’s rst thorough waste strategy laying the foundation for long-term waste reduction and resource recovery.

It was supported by more than $30 million in funding delivered through grants and infrastructure investments.

is funding was used to develop recycling and composting infrastructure, promote business and industry waste reduction initiatives, improve local government transfer stations and support community education and behaviour change campaigns.

One such campaign was the highly successful Get it Right on Bin Night, run in partnership with local councils and communities. Launching in 2010, it marked the beginning of a decade-long series of behaviour change campaigns to improve household recycling rates and reduce contamination in kerbside bins.

“We’ve often been the catalyst that moves sustainability from ambition to action.”

Matt Genever, Chief Executive Officer, Sustainability Victoria

Get it Right on Bin Night had a positive impact on recycling behaviours and cemented Sustainability Victoria’s expertise in behaviour change – an area we continue to deliver on through our Small Acts Big Impact campaign.

AHEAD OF THE CURVE

As the years progressed, so did our ambition. Working ahead of the curve, proving what’s possible, shifting thinking, and clearing the path for others to follow, have been the attributes that have driven systemic change.

We’ve backed breakthroughs before they became mainstream – from crushed glass in roads to rubberised asphalt. rough pilots, industry standards, and public-private partnerships, Sustainability Victoria has embedded more than three million tonnes of recycled material into Victoria’s infrastructure.

We’ve often been the catalyst that moves sustainability from ambition to action. Over the years, Sustainability Victoria has unlocked billions in sustainability investment by identifying market-ready solutions and de-risking innovation. We’ve catalysed major private-sector investment in recycling and plastics recovery – enabling industry partners like Visy, Martogg, and Pact to scale faster and deliver impact sooner. Shifting sustainability from something abstract to something personal – and empowering people to make everyday choices that matter – has been achieved through robust research, smart messaging and practical advice.

We’ve improved community understanding of waste and recycling,

challenged Victorians to rethink their behaviours and delivered numerous programs to support sustainable actions. is work has helped households see their role in the bigger picture – building public will to support systemic change.

IMPACT YOU CAN MEASURE

e numbers tell a powerful story. Over the past 20 years, we’ve helped divert enough waste from land ll to ll 3700 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Our programs have reduced emissions equivalent to powering 1.3 million homes for a year. We’ve administered $250 million in government funding and unlocked more than $500 million in additional investment from industry and the Federal Government.

ere are so many outstanding impact stories that it’s hard to single one out, but the work we’ve done to strengthen Victoria’s recycling system is creating an important legacy. Since 2017, we’ve awarded $120 million to 255 projects that recover and reprocess waste materials, leveraging $312 million in additional investment from the Federal Government and the private sector.

ese initiatives have delivered 2.2 million tonnes of waste processing capacity and are forecast to deliver an additional 1.14 million tonnes – helping turn waste into valuable resources.

At a grassroots level we’ve supported community groups to drive change. is has seen tool libraries, Repair Cafes and Neighbourhood Houses providing resources, skills and knowledge, resulting in more sustainable practices, stronger local connections, and lasting change

across neighbourhoods – driven by 133,354 volunteer hours. In schools, the ResourceSmart Schools program, established in 2008, has helped more than 1600 Victorian schools embed sustainability into their operations, curriculum and communities – saving resources, cutting costs, and inspiring the next generation of environmental leaders.

POWERED BY COLLABORATION

When thinking about what’s made this journey possible, one word springs to mind: partnerships. From local councils and community groups to industry leaders and everyday Victorians, our progress has always been powered by collaboration.

In recent years, Sustainability Victoria has become a connector of ideas, people, and opportunity, brokering relationships to advance sustainability and removing barriers so innovation can  ourish.

Whether it’s reducing textile and food waste or supporting circular design, we’ve brought designers, leaders and innovators together to share experiences, address barriers and identify solutions.

THE JOURNEY CONTINUES

Looking ahead, Sustainability Victoria’s focus is rmly on the circular economy. As the renewable energy transition accelerates, we’re working to ensure materials attract the same urgency and investment. By redesigning systems and keeping materials in use for longer, we’re building a more resilient, e cient and prosperous Victoria. is work is not just technical – it’s deeply human. It’s about equity, resilience, and ensuring that every Victorian can participate in and bene t from the circular economy.

To everyone who’s been part of this wild ride – thank you. Your actions, big and small, have helped shape a more sustainable Victoria. And to those just joining us: welcome. e journey continues, and together, we’ll continue to change what’s possible.