Dear AORA Members
We would like to confirm that Peter Olah has advised his tenure as AORA National Executive Officer will be coming to an end in June 2022. Peter has been a welcome addition to the AORA team since starting in November 2019, just prior to the challenges of the past two years.
With Peter at the helm, AORA has strengthened and become the National voice for the organics recycling industry and our compost for soil programs. Peter immediately set about updating the AORA Strategic Plan, providing the platform for pivotal policy contributions including the Economic Contribution Report and subsequent Industry Capacity Report for the Australian Organics Recycling Industry. A further outcome from the strategic plan will be the 10 Year Roadmap for the industry, to be launched soon.
Peter will be departing in June after overseeing the completion of the second Economic Contribution Report along with the delivery of a proposed National Product Certification Scheme to State and Federal Government.
The Board of Directors and extended AORA team would like to thank Peter for his hard work and vision, providing the organics recycling industry with a stronger platform for continued growth and ensuring AORA remains the National voice for improving organic resource recovery and soil health in Australia.
Regards
Peter Wadewitz & AORA Board of Directors
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This workshop is part of a series sponsored by the Queensland Government through the Department of Environment and Science that are taking place across regional Queensland. The workshops help end users understand the benefits and effective use of compost and mulches produced from recycled organic inputs.
This workshop is being held in Yandina Nutworks, Yandina, Qld
Friday 29 April 2022 starting at 8am.
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LAST CHANCE
Waste 2022 – AORA Breakfast Forum – FOGO by 2030
Registrations and accommodation bookings for the Waste 2022 Conference are now open. As part of your registration, you can opt to attend the AORA breakfast forum on Tuesday 3 May.
“FOGO by 2030” will discuss the challenges and pitfalls of procuring FOGO solutions with legal and regulatory experts as well as “up and running” FOGO Councils.
The panel will be facilitated by Mike Ritchie and includes:
· Talebul Islam - Coordinator Strategic Waste Management, Randwick City Council
· Wesley Knight – Manager Waste Operations, Tweed Shire Council; Chair RENEW NSW
· Ross Fox - Principal (Accredited Specialist Planning and Environment), Fishburn Watson O’Brien Lawyers
· Boyd Russell - Director, Sphere Infrastructure
· Sian McGhie - Senior Project Officer, Circular Economy Programs, NSW Environment Protection Authority.
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AORA MEMBER WEBINAR
PFAS in the Organics Industry
Wednesday 25 May
ADE’s specialist Emerging Contaminants, Treatment Remediation and Research (ECTRR) business unit is proud to share its expertise as related to PFAS with AORA. ADE’s PFAS specialists hold a wealth of knowledge surrounding PFAS analysis, fate, transport, and management in solid and liquid matrices. This information is considered critical in developing an appropriate approach to the management of PFAS in the Organics industry.
The session will take the form of a short 30-minute presentation followed by 30 minutes of Q&A aimed at teasing out the key issues for the industry and drawing out some of the critical pain points currently experienced encountered based on AORA members practical experience and ADE’s understanding of positive and negative outcome in related industries domestically and abroad.
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AORA Conference
27 -29 June 2022
Stamford Grand, SA
The AORA Annual Conference is well established as the principal conference in Australia for the recycled organics industry.
The Conference theme in 2022 is Building the Future of our Industry – Turning our organic waste into a national resource.
Through a strong and robust collaboration between Australia’s organics recycling industry, State and Federal governments and businesses, we are strategically positioned to play a vital role in adding significant economic and environmental value to the Australian economy.
The Conference will explore how positive collaborative efforts can lead to consistent national and state policies and directions for organics recycling and a circular economy, in turn creating opportunities for innovation and growth that results in a strong organics recycling industry.
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AORA VIC Wineries Field Day Event
Save the Date
May 26 2022
More information coming soon
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Join the AORA Organics Zone at AWRE
The Australasian Waste & Recycling Expo (AWRE) is Australia’s longest running marketplace for buyers and suppliers in our nation’s waste and recycling sector.
As an exhibitor at AWRE, not only will you be able to generate high value leads and form long-lasting, profitable business relationships, but you’ll also gain access to a targeted platform to extend your marketing reach, as well as launch or promote your products and services to the people who matter.
The AORA Organics Zone is an initiative in partnership with the Australian Organics Recycling Association where AORA members can gain access to an inclusive stand package that is an easy and cost-effective way to join AWRE and to be part of the premier annual business event for the waste, recycling and resource recovery sector.
To find out more about AWRE click here. To enquire about booking your stand at the AORA organics zone, you can contact the team at awre@divcom.net.au and one of our client managers will be in touch.
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Komptech Drum Screens - The Robust Solution Based Machine, built with customers in mind
AORA Partner News
The range of Komptech Drum Screen’s offer a robust, solutions-built machine based on many years of experience in the industry. Fitted with an extensive list of options the machines have been designed to meet a broad range of individual needs.
In modern material management, screening continues to be a major step within the process. Komptech Drum Screens perform this key process step highly effectively, reflecting on innovative technology and maximum customer benefit. The product range covers three size ranges that are designed to meet market needs. The medium capacity Primus and Maxx series have been in use for years, and are tough, proven machines. A step up in capacity is the Nemus, combining proven solutions and innovative details with maximum operator convenience and performance.
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Atherton Compost in Agriculture Workshops identifies opportunities in the region |
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It was great to see such a large turnout for the Compost in Agriculture workshop held at Walkamin Monday 28 March.
A total of 48 people attended including representatives from horticulture, agriculture, grazing, extension, industry organisations, NRM, agronomists, local government, state government, community, sustainability and business.
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Canberra Networking Breakfast explores the ACT’s current FOGO pilot |
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Our first NSW networking event of 2022 was held on a rainy Thursday morning in the beautiful Margaret Whitlam Pavilion at the National Arboretum in Canberra.
Despite covid and flooded roads keeping some of our guests away on the day, AORA members and guests were treated to beautiful views over breakfast and a lively discussion of the successes of the current ACT FOGO pilot.
A big thankyou to our expert panel – Margaret Kitchin (ACT NoWaste), Phil Corkhill (Corkhill Bros), Katherine Dodd (MRA Consulting) and Owen Bolitho (Horticultural Manager, National Arboretum and Stromlo Forest Park), and also to our facilitator, Christopher Malan (Cleanaway).
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AORA VIC Members Event Wrap Up |
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AORA VIC Members met at the Bleakhouse Hotel – a serious misnomer as the venue was highly complimented for its facilities. The fact that it was a beautiful sunny day meant that the Terrace Bar was the ideal spot to network and enjoy a light lunch. Around 30 members were present and, notably, we welcomed several new member organisations as well as new contacts from existing members.
Presentations from:
- Sage Hahn, Vic Chair, updated those present on recent AORA Vic activities as well as some plans for the near future
- Andrew Dougall, Sustainability Victoria, gave members a tantalising preview of that Department’s imminent report on The Cost of Contamination in industry feedstocks. AORA Vic is pleased to have been involved in the provision of data for the research phase of this program and looks forward to sharing the outcomes soon.
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Discussion with Government of Victoria on Organics Sector Capacity Limits
During early April, AORA Victoria was among organisations invited to an on-line discussion by the Victorian Government’s Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP). Representatives of Sustainability Vic and EPA were also in attendance.
The premise of the meeting was that the Organics Sector in Victoria is suffering from an acute shortage of processing capacity but, while there were references made to regulatory complications and license delays, the industry representatives were in agreement that it is a shortage of transportation and the difficulty of recruiting staff that are the causes of the industry’s current inability to keep up with the flow of materials into and out from processing sites.
Low unemployment, high fuel costs and extreme competition for transportation capacity were discussed. There were no magic solutions proposed during the meeting but there was an undertaking by the State Government Agencies to hold urgent internal discussions and to revert to the group via a follow up meeting after Easter with suggestions and proposals.
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Waste Management Review June Edition is the Organics Feature
The June edition of Waste Management Review, will cover everything from organics collection and education to treatment and new technology.
The offer includes:
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1 x Full-page advertisement for June 2022 edition – Waste Management Review (ad to be supplied)
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1 x Editorial piece – Waste Management Review
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Editorial to be written for you by a Waste Management Review journalist
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Editorial to appear on Waste Management Review website and be distributed through Waste Management Review social media channels.
Expressions of interest will close on 26 April 2022. To secure your place, or for more information, please contact Chelsea-Daniel Young, Business Development Manager on 0425 699 878 or chelsea.daniel@primecreative.com.au
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Representation at Fire Australia Conference, Melbourne, May 4.
The Australian Council of Recycling (ACOR) has invited Michael Wood, Company Secretary of AORA, to participate in a panel discussion at the Fire Australia Conference next month. The theme is “Balancing Safety with Sustainability” with a focus on PFAS from a recycling perspective – examining the potential for tension between environmental concerns and safety.
NSW EPA is supporting an independent review of its resource recovery framework.
The resource recovery framework supports beneficial resource recovery and diverts material from landfill. It supports re-examining tools like waste orders and exemptions and consideration of innovation opportunities.An Issues Paper is available to review with submissions closing on 6 May.
AORA Member Gaia EnviroTech brings "Gourmet Farmer" Matt Evans to talk on his latest book "SOIL" to Ballarat
Gaia EnviroTech, together with Committee for Ballarat, invite you to join them for a networking event on Tuesday 10th of May 2022 at 5:15 PM featuring author and 'Gourmet Farmer' Matthew Evans. Learn more
Organics collection mandates NSW – overcoming ‘barriers’
The NSW EPA recently provided the Waste Advisory Group NSW with an update on the implementation of the Waste and Sustainable Materials Strategy 2041 and the Waste Delivery Plan. MRA Consulting Group's Mike Rithchie covers the topic
Anaerobic digestion: Turning America’s food waste into RNG
AD is next-level composting. Inside closed tanks, we turn organic byproducts — such as meat and food scraps, used cooking oil or spoiled produce — into carbon-negative renewable energy. This eco-friendly process has been prevalent across Europe for over 20 years, so why isn’t AD more common in the United States?
NSW EPA Roadshows Continue
The EPA Roadshows for councils, licensees and other regulated stakeholders are open now for registrations. These forums provide regulated stakeholders with the opportunity to meet with our Executive team and senior leaders to hear about our key priorities and initiatives, ask questions and participate in roundtable discussions.
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If you have a story, link or news to share with AORA members, please email Alex
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AORA - Australian Organics Recycling Association
0434 625 472| admin@aora.org.au
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