31 August 2021
AORA August 2021 News
From the National Executive Director
There’s busy, there hectic, and there’s non-stop. The last few months here at AORA have been all of the above.
 
An enormous amount of work has been done to lay the groundwork for projects which will make significant changes to our industry – and deliver massive benefits to our members – over the next 12 to 18 months.
 
We have been working closely with the Federal Government to shape the upcoming rollout of the Food Waste for Healthy Soils Fund (link: https://www.environment.gov.au/protection/waste/food-waste/food-waste-for-healthy-soils-fund). This will see $67 million in Federal funds, matched by states, going to businesses in our industry to assist in the growth we all know is needed. AORA, as your industry voice, will be involved throughout the process to ensure that our industry’s needs are the main focus at every stage. Expect to see announcements about this soon.
 
The AORA Board has been finalising the project plan for the second year of our three-year AORA Strategic Plan 2020-23. There will be many projects and deliverables of interest to AORA members, but I’d like to preview two of them.
 
Firstly, we are commencing the design of an industry led program which will allow for the capture of carbon credits for organics processors, based on their contribution to the diversion of organics from landfill and the resulting decrease in carbon emissions. We are focussing on a program which will be inexpensive to participate in, will centralise the administration and reduce the paperwork and compliance costs for participants, and will front-end the benefits of participation. In simple terms, we want to ensure that AORA members receive the full benefit of carbon credits for their work. We will soon commence consultations with members to deliver this project.
 
Our second big project will lead to an industry based product certification system. This will be built to create certainty and clarity for our industry’s customers about the “fitness for purpose” of our products, to make it easier and more profitable to innovate and produce higher margin products, and to create greater flexibility in product presentation than allowed by a binary Australian Standard. It is not intended to replace AS4454, but to build on it with a “heart tick for composts and mulches” which is easily understood by our industry’s customers.
 
Please keep an eye out for more news about these projects and others which will be delivered in coming months.

Peter Olah
National Executive Officer
Welcome to our new AORA Members
Associate Members
Clorox
Tonkin and Taylor
KESAB environmental solutions
ITL Biomedical
Ennio International
 
Individual Members
Maddumage Gunawardena
Declan McDonald
Kim Russell

Processsing Members
Carbon Mate Albury
Bunbury -Harvey Regional Council
Tatiara Trench Diggers
New Earth Mulch
Green Solutions Wide Bay
J J Richards (JJ’s Waste)
Western Composting Technology
Welcome to our new Silver Sponsor
Premier Tech Systems and Automation
Kockums Bulk Systems is proud to be part of the Premier Tech presence in Oceania. The 40-person team at KBS leads the way, providing specialist knowledge and experience in the design and supply of bulk materials handling equipment and facilities.

Premier Tech Systems and Automation is a global leader in packaging, known for its state-of-the-art packaging machines and complete packaging lines for small- and large-scale production.
AORA Membership 2021-22
Grace Period is about to expire
Existing AORA Members - Please ensure you pay your membership ASAP. The grace period expires in September and you will no longer be able to access the member portal or receive member news.
Date Change for SA Event
Crafting Quality Compost for Viticulture
Register now

This event will now be held on Monday September 20 2021 9am -1:30pm
Wirra Wirra, McLaren Vale
 
Presented jointly by the Australian Organics Recycling Association, AORA and the National Association for Sustainable Agriculture Australia, NASAA

Key Presenter: Tim Marshall, TM Organics and NASAA Chair

An opportunity to learn from a composting and organic farming guru and from iconic vineyards in the beautiful McLaren Vale region of South Australia. We will examine different approaches to making high-quality compost at the scale required on farm.
Save the Date

AORA AGM and Annual Members Forum
Thursday 4 November
Online and in-person - Brisbane (dependent on COVID restrictions)


AORA VIC Showcase Event
Thursday 25 November
Melbourne Cricket Ground
WA WasteSorted Grants 2021–22


WasteSorted Grants provide funding for:
  • recycling infrastructure development ($1 million total grant funding)
  • initiatives and events that contribute to waste avoidance and resource recovery ($150,000 total grant funding).

WasteSorted Grants support projects which target the State Government's focus materials.

Preference in the 2021–22 funding round will be given to projects which recover higher value and resources from, and promote the diversion and recovery of, the following focus materials:
  • organics: food and garden organics
  • construction and demolition waste
  • glass: packaging and containers
  • metals: steel, non-ferrous metals, packaging and containers
  • paper and cardboard: office paper, newspaper and magazines
  • plastics: packaging and containers
  • textiles: clothing and other fabric-based materials
  • hazardous waste (non-household).

Applications close on September 13.
Examining regulations and standards
that affect market development for
Recycled Organics in Australia


Article contributed by Kevin Wilkinson and Johannes Biala.

The likely increase in production of recycled organics over the next decade as well as an increased emphasis on market development in agriculture, prompted the Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment (DAWE) to commission a new study examining whether the current mix of policy settings for organics hampers the development and expansion of agricultural markets and meets future needs. Compost quality management and the role of AS4454 in this context was also examined.

Given that feedstock has a major influence on compost quality and consumer confidence, greater commitment to quality management is required across the organics supply chain. Supply of clean feedstock to processors is fundamentally important yet physical and chemical contamination remains a serious concern. The increased risk of physical contamination associated with collection of food organics is particularly concerning given that the issue has not received the attention it deserves even for green organics in some parts of the country.
 
The organics recycling industry reports that regulatory burden is likely to be a major impediment to its capacity to meet the demands of the future. The report calls for a comprehensive and integrated approach to organics recycling consistent with circular economy principles and outlines a pathway to achieve this. The report can be downloaded from the DAWE website.
ICAW 2022
Recipe for Regeneration: Compost

The theme for 2022 is Recipe for Regeneration: Compost. The ICAW theme is used for the Poster Contest, which encourages artists throughout the world to create a design sharing the importance of composting and compost use. There is also a video contest for children in 4th – 8th grade (ages 10 - 13).

The 2022 theme highlights the overall regenerative agriculture movement and how compost and organics recycling fit into that process.

The video and poster competitions accept global applications and the competition entry period begins on Sept 1.

Please share this link with any budding artists or videographers!

AORA is a proud sponsor of ICAW.
Of interest
How much carbon are we adding to soil?
Adding recycled organics to the soil is likely to increase total soil carbon. The question is what is the best way to quantify the net increase?

NSW Waste Action Group July Communique
Catch up on the outcomes from the July 20 Meeting

Farming looks to a carbon cash future
Along with its many challenges, climate change is set to deliver forward-thinking farmers a huge opportunity.

Biochar could help mitigate climate change and be useful on pastoral proprties
An international review of research has found strong evidence that biochar can mitigate climate change and boost crop yields.


ISWA 2021 World Congress: “From waste management to a circular economy – the road ahead”
This event is taking place as a virtual event from Athens in October.
If you have a story, link or news to share with AORA members, please email Alex
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Founding Members
AORA - Australian Organics Recycling Association
0434 625 472| admin@aora.org.au