29 September 2021
AORA September 2021 News
From the National Executive Director
Food Waste for Healthy Soils Fund a watershed for Organics Recycling
 
It has been a different 18 months than any of us expected. For Australian Organics Recycling it has been a period of growth and strength in the midst of a wider economic and social struggle.
 
As everyday life has changed in many ways, Australians have developed a newfound appreciation for organics recycling. The result: record feedstock inputs, processing and product outputs for many parts of the industry.
 
As a result, we have been working tirelessly with the Federal and State Governments towards yesterday’s announcement of the Food Waste for Healthy Soils Fund by Ministers Sussan Ley and Trevor Evans.
 
By leveraging funding from state and territory governments and industry, the Food Waste for Healthy Soils Fund will deliver $171 million in new funding. The fund aims to take 3.4 million tonnes of food and garden waste out of landfill each year and to increase Australia’s organic waste recycling rate to 80% by 2030.
 
It signals that the Federal Government is genuine in setting a national agenda of change and growth for organics recycling. For the first time, we have collaboration across the different levels of government and industry towards agreed high level objectives, with a specific focus on growth.
 
This is a watershed moment for organics recycling in Australia and I strongly urge those in the industry to apply for funding and use it to grow their businesses.
 
There will be two rounds under the fund, with first round applications closing on 17 December and the second closing on 31 March 2022.
 
By, the fund will deliver over $171 million of investment. Proposals must:
1.     build processing capacity or improve product quality in either a new or existing facility.
2.     show they will be economically viable.
3.     have the written support of the responsible state minister.
4.     request Commonwealth funding for up to one-third of project cost.
 
Applications must be made through participating state governments. They will be assessed by a national panel with relevant expertise and the Minister for the Environment will make the finals decisions on funding.
 
For more information, go to:


Peter Olah
National Executive Officer
Welcome to our new AORA Member
Student Member
Duc Tuan Dat Nguyen
Save the Dates

AORA AGM and Annual Members Forum

Please note Date change
Monday 22 November
Online and in-person - Brisbane (dependent on COVID restrictions)

AORA QLD / QFF / DES Workshops

Thursday 28 October, Lockyer Valley
Wednesday 3 November, Scenic Rim
Wednesday 10 November, Beerwah


AORA VIC Showcase Event
Thursday 25 November
Melbourne Cricket Ground


AORA NSW Christmas Luncheon

Friday 3 December
Venue TBC
AORA Staff Changes
It is with sadness that we advise that Uma Preston, long serving SA Secretary and Policy Officer, will be leaving AORA on October 1. Uma has been a great asset to both the South Australian members, and the National team. Her genuine enthusiasm for sharing the many benefits of compost for soils and helping to promote and raise awareness of issues facing the organics recycling sector in SA will be missed. We thank her for her input over the years, the SA sector is better for it and we wish her all the best with her new role!

It is with great pleasure that we welcome Lisa Lepore to the role of NSW State Coordinator. Lisa will be starting with AORA on October 5. Lisa most recently comes from Suez, in Tenders and Communications management roles. She will be a great addition to the AORA team!
Are you our next SA State Coordinator?

In this role, you will be responsible for relationship management with AORA members and sponsors across SA and NT, and will manage state events and meetings. You will deliver administrative and governance support and manage communications for AORA SA and NT. 

In addition, you will develop strong relationships with politicians and public servants to ensure AORA influences decisions impacting its members.

You will coordinate the delivery of state components of AORA’s national strategies.

If this sounds like you, please apply via Seek.

AORA Membership 2021-22
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Existing AORA Members - Please ensure you pay your membership ASAP. The grace period expires itomorrow and you will no longer be able to access the member portal or receive member news.

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In the pale grey section it will have your membership information.
Crafting Quality Compost for Viticulture
AORA SA's most recent workshop on the 20th September 2021 was presented in partnership with the National Association for Sustainable Agriculture Australia, NASAA and was on the topic of making quality compost for the Viticulture sector.

Growers and Processors alike benefited from learning about composting theory and gathering around the compost heap to look more closely at the processes in making quality compost on farm.

With COVID restrictions on numbers, AORA easily filled the limited seating capacity of 40 in the Chook Shed at Wirra Wirra vineyards in the heart of the beautiful McLaren Vale wine region. Our lead speaker was organic agriculture specialist and NASAA Chair, Tim Marshall. We also had a detailed presentation from Wirra Wirra Viticulturalist, Anton Groffen and from composting expert, Peter Wadewitz, Managing Director of Peats Soils and Garden Supplies and AORA Chair.

Tim presented compost theory, including managing feed streams and processes to result in a balanced product that is fit for purpose in viticulture. A collaborative approach taken by Wirra Wirra and Peats was described by both Anton and Peter, that results in a high quality compost made economically and at the scale required in the vineyard. Aspects of composting Wirra Wirra’s grape mark and stems and incorporating cultured compost from Peats Soils and Garden Supplies were detailed. We also heard from Ben Paxton of Paxton Wines on the types of biodynamic inputs that he produces and incorporates into compost piles specifically processed for Paxtons by Peats Soils and Garden Supplies.

The workshop was also a valued networking opportunity for NASAA and AORA membership and for the wine growers who attended from the McLaren Vale and beyond.

Thanks to Brittany Pfieffer from NASAA for the photo included.
Update from the AORA Vic Team
AORA Vic is excitedly planning to follow the State Roadmap out of lockdown leading to the re-establishment of face-to-face events from November onwards. The Showcase Event at the iconic MCG is locked in for 25 November and discussions have started with the venue concerning the arrangements.
 
In the meantime, on September 30, a Members Meeting via Zoom features a full and fast-moving agenda covering many aspects of organics recycling from research through to application (please contact Doug for more information.)
 
AORA Vic has successfully carried out a briefing program for Members concerning the State’s new Environmental Protection Act and its implications for the organics sector. The Association was appointed and funded by EPA Vic to carry out this program under the department’s Industry Participation Program. Having submitted their outcomes report to EPA Vic, the following response was received by AORA Vic this week:
 
Thank you very much for sending this through, it is very informative. We appreciate the time AORA and its members have taken in engaging with the program and the feedback will help any future programs similar to this. It also assists EPA in developing further information to assist duty holders. EPA is very pleased to have partnered with you on this program.
Queensland Government releases
Organics Strategy

The draft Queensland Organics Strategy 2022–2032 has been launched. The strategy focuses on the methods to reduce the amount of organic waste that goes to landfill and looks at ways to avoid, reuse and recycle it.

DES invite you to have your say on organic waste and the targets and actions that are set out in the draft Strategy.Take this short survey or email your feedback to ResourceRecovery@des.qld.gov.au.

Consultation closes at 5:00pm on Monday, 1 November 2021.

AORA QLD will be preparing a submission to DES in the coming weeks.

Grants of up to $2 million each are now open for projects that increase processing capacity for food and garden waste, the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has announced.

Eligible projects must build, upgrade or expand organics processing infrastructure for source separated organics, such as facilities that will process kerbside food and garden organics (FOGO) into compost, or convert food only waste into animal feed or energy through anaerobic digestion.

The grants support the NSW Government’s commitments to halve the amount of organic waste sent to landfill and reach net zero emissions from organic waste in landfill by 2030. 

A total funding pool of $6.25 million is available through the Environmental Trust, as part of the NSW Government’s Waste Less Recycle More initiative.

Individual grants of between $25,000 and $2 million are available.

Applications close 5pm Thursday 21 October 2021.
Of interest
BioCarbon Soil launches new online hub for NSW farmers seeking quality compost
There is a new online hub for NSW farmers looking to improve the health of their soils through the use of quality composted soil amendments. The free online hub provides access to relevant case studies, links, and free guidance on how to find, select and use composts in NSW and aims to help farmers learn more about using compost as part of a regenerative agriculture program.


Soil Quality E-book Series
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australia have recent released a series of e books focussing on soil information and data from across Western Australia, providing real world context to some of the science underpinning management of soils.


A Dose of PFAS Reality
A recent article by Sally Brown highlights that data suggests that restricting concentrations of PFAS in composts and biosolids, or restricting their use, will have no impact on human exposure. To eliminate exposure, common sense tell us to stop making and using them in the first place.


FOGO Rollout Plan for Perth and Peel Regions 2021-22
The plan includes five core project area as part of rollout; markets, engagement and education, local government services, processing and foundation actions.


US Compost groups say the EPA's new PFAS report misses the mark
Groups say that the report unfairly scrutinizes their sector and that more should be done to target manufacturers. The report states that there is currently too many unknowns as to how the chemicals show up in compost and digestate.


Soils for Life Podcast
Soils for Life have launched a monthly podcast and the first episode focuses on "How could the emerging market for soil carbon support farmers to regenerate soils?"


Projects seeking partners
Project 1 - Seeking composting technology providers for tunnel and membrane systems from Australia that may be interested in working on projects in Saudi. See Proposal

Project 2 - Seeking composters for effectively incorporating certified compostable medical hollowware as a feedstock into the waste stream. See proposal.

 
If you have a story, link or news to share with AORA members, please email Alex
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