AORA October 2023 Newsletter

From the National Executive Officer

Waste Expo 2023 was held in Melbourne last week and AORA National Coordinator, Alex Hammett and I attended and staffed the AORA trade display with assistance from Simon Humphris (thank you Simon, your assistance and knowledge was greatly appreciated). 

The two-day event was very well attended and we had a busy time at the AORA site fielding questions on all matter of organic recycling, some relatively straight-forward, others much more obscure! 

In addition to our display, I also delivered a presentation on Wednesday afternoon titled ‘Composting - The Contamination Dilemma!’, which was also well attended and generated a significant amount of questions! There is certainly an appetite for knowledge around organics and contamination.

On Thursday I participated in two panel discussions – ‘The Challenges of Organic Recycling, Food Waste and Compostable Packaging’ and ‘When is Waste not Waste?’, both of which were informative and thought provoking discussions.

Our attention now turns to our AGM and Annual Members Forum on Friday 17 November in Sydney at the Bonnie Doon Golf Club. We have organised a great selection of speakers and we hope that many of our members will be able to attend or remain after the AGM. You are also more than welcome to attend the members forum, if you are not a member! It is a great chance to see what AORA is about and consider membership for 2024 and beyond.

Still to come for this year;

• Queensland Farmer Demand and Market Specification for Organic Composts and Materials Workshops – Queensland ( today in Nerang on 31 October , tomorrow in Beerwah and Friday in Bundaberg.
• AORA Vic End of Year event on December 8 (more information to come).

And lock in the conference for 2024;

• AORA National Conference – Sea World Conference Centre (Gold Coast, QLD) 5 -7 June 2024

As always, keep an eye on our social media for the most up to date information.

John McKew

National Executive Officer

Australian Organics Recycling Association

AORA AGM and Annual Members Forum

Friday 17 November

10am -6pm 

Boonie Doon Golf Club

Banks Ave, Pagewood

 Spend the day with us at Bonnie Doon Golf Club; beginning with the AORA AGM from 10am - 10.45am, the Members Forum from 11am - 4.00pm and finishing the day with networking drinks

The Annual Members Forum includes the following presentations;

• Launch of the AORA Strategic Plan
• Dr Kevin Wilkinson - AS4544 Review 
• Nick Behrens - Industry Capability Report 
• Suzanne Toumbourou - update from ACOR 
• Verena Pilcher - ACCU's
• Financing options for equipment.

The Annual Members Forum will start at 11am and is a ticketed event, by booking a ticket we assume you will also attend the AGM in person and join us for morning tea at 10.30 -10.45.  

If you are not an AORA member, you are welcome to attend and we hope that you enjoy the day and consider becoming an AORA member.   

The AORA AGM will also be available to Members via Zoom, please RSVP your attendance ASAP via the button below (even if you are unable to attend). If you intend to book a ticket for the Members Forum, your attendance at this will be considered your RSVP.

Processor Capability Survey Extended

Each year the organics recycling industry is processing 7.7 million tonnes of valuable product for further use across the Australian economy.

In doing so the industry is providing a considerable contribution to Australian economy. AORA modelling has confirmed that whilst this is an excellent contribution, it is only a fraction of what could be achieved if Governments across Australia were able to lift the recycling rate of organic material.

Accordingly, AORA has commissioned this survey to ascertain the organic recycling industry’s existing and potential capacity. This survey will help establish the industry’s ability to step up as an economic, employment and environment provider of benefit.

SURVEY LINK: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AORACapabilitySurvey2023

All survey returns are strictly confidential and results will only be produced in aggregate for the Industry.

Please take a few moments to complete the survey by COB Friday 3 November 2023.

If you have any questions about the survey please contact John McKew on 0434 711 077 or Nick Behrens on 0448 034 355.

SKALA Grows with dedicated division for Organics & Recycling Market

Be a Speaker at the AORA Conference

The AORA Annual Conference is the principal conference in Australia for the recycled organics industry and we are looking for experts in the recycled organics sector to join the 2024 program by delivering platform presentations and participating in panels and discussions.

Speaking at AORA 2024 is a great opportunity for you to share your ideas and expertise and be part of the major discussions surrounding Australia's recycled organics sector.

The program committee is now inviting submissions addressing the following themes:

• Government collaborations
• Update on the future
• Organics actions across Australia and the world
• Researching for success
• New research outcomes
• What don’t we know but need to?
• Securing the industry
• Regulatory challenges and opportunities (including contamination)
• Investment opportunities
• Market development
• Our future
• Industry update – how is the industry tracking against its Strategic Plan / Vision to 2030
• What should the industry focus on in the next 12 months to 2 years?
• Collaborations
• Where does the industry need to focus collaborations to achieve success?

Other topics may be considered at the committee’s discretion.

If you are interested in presenting click the button below for more information and the proposal form.

Submissions close on Wednesday 31 January 2024.

Western Sydney’s Clean & Green Recycling Double Down with EDGE machines supplied by FOCUS ENVIRO

AORA Partner News

With a proven tradition of managing organic waste, New South Wales based Clean & Green Recycling have utilized technologies to drive sustainability and provide a better opportunity for the environment and local communities. Clean & Green Recycling collected organic waste from over 120 Woolworth’s stores across Australia and composting this into an Australian Standard soil conditioner product, bagged back to Woolworth’s and Big W stores; creating their first circular economy.

In a move to improve site efficiencies and process more material, Clean & Green have opted for the successful combination of an EDGE TRT622 Trommel Screen and FTS Radial Deep Stacker Turner supplied by FOCUS enviro.

EDGE Innovate have been consistently evolving their product offering based on new waste processing challenges but more importantly on the feedback they received from their partners and end users.

In a move described by John McGuinness from FOCUS enviro as a clean (green) sweep, the requirement for one machine quickly turned to two when Steve and his team learned of what the machines, in particular the EDGE FTS Deep stack turner could produce. Johns goes on to say “it is very easy to put forward the idea of high capacity machines with low operational costs but in this case; the proof of the pudding was definitely in the eating as the FTS Radial deep stack turner handle the feed from two front end loaders with ease”.

Be part of the AORA team

AORA VIC and NSW Committee Nominations Now Open

Nominations open for the AORA State Committees in both Victoria and New South Wales.

AORA State Committees are consultative committees of the AORA Directors and have no direct part or power in the management of the Company.

All State Committee members are appointed for a two-year term before being eligible for reappointment.

Meetings of the State Committee are typically held monthly, but at least once every two months. All meeting are open to all AORA members.

By nominating, you commit to attending regular committee meetings (approximately 1 -1.5hours), support state events and provide input via email with the State Coordinator, AORA NEO or any other AORA representative.

Of Interest

AORA MEDIA PARTNERS

AORA FOUNDING MEMBERS