Welcome to the first AORA newsletter for 2020.
It has been a devastating two months across much of Australia and we hope that you, your families, colleagues and businesses have not been directly impacted by the horrific bushfires that have swept across our country.
Over the summer period we have been working on a Federal Budget Submission, shaping our national strategy and policy and gearing up for the AORA Conference in April.
We would like to welcome the following new members to AORA
- ACT NoWaste
- AussieNRG
- Corkhill Bros
- ICI Industries Pty Ltd
- Spartel Pty Ltd
- North Waste Pty Ltd
- Sonia Ghiggioli
- Johann Hefner
- Vanessa van Niekerk
- Mark Peck
- Organic Nutrients Pty Ltd
- Just Composting.
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Conference Program and Early Bird Registrations available now
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At the AORA 2020 Annual Conference you will have access to prominent experts in the field of organics recycling as they share their expertise and knowledge, demonstrate their apparatus and techniques, and showcase their innovative ideas.
The preliminary program is available now so be sure to register early to secure your spot and take advantage of early bird discounts.
Keynote speakers;
Jeff Lowenfels (USA)
Jeff has become a leader in the organics movement as a result of his best selling books. His books and talks have converted hundreds of thousands of gardeners, farmers and growers to organics. It is no wonder why:
Teaming with Microbes: The Organic Gardener’s Guide to The Soil Food Web
was reviewed as “the most important new gardening book in 25 years and maybe even ever.” It is now out in a Revised Edition, and has been translated into 12 languages
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Aurel Lübke (Austria)
Aurel started his first composting in 1989. In 2002, he established “Compost Systems GmbH” consulting engineers, specialising in waste management, the company has designed over 100 biological treatment facilities for clients around the world in various fields including municipal, industrial and agricultural organic waste streams.
Equipment Demonstration and Trade Display packages available now
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AORA PARTNER NEWS
Phil Corkhill, of Corkhill Bros, explains the process and equipment requirements essential to managing Canberra’s green waste collection service.
Corkhill Bros have been running a public green organic drop off facility in the nation’s capital for more than 35 years. While the drop off facility always received a steady flow of material, its intake jumped in April 2017 with the introduction of separate green organics kerbside collection in the ACT. As Canberra does not have individual councils, this means Corkhill Bros manage the entire territory.
To ensure efficiency, they work closely with machinery supplier ELB Equipment.
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Integrating Organic Soil Amendments into Farm Fertiliser Budgets
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While there is agreement within the farming and agronomic communities on the benefits of applying manures and composts for the fertility and health of agricultural soils, there is little understanding on how to effectively integrate the plant nutrient value of these products into existing farm nutrient budgets.
A new, $3.5 million national research program funded through the federal Department of Agriculture’s Smart Farming Partnerships Program. Meat and Livestock Australia and a consortium of state government agencies (EPA NSW, Green Industries SA), the composting industry, commercial laboratories, and of course farming enterprises are also project partners.
The project, led by the Queensland University of Technology and working with agronomists and researchers from La Trobe University, Deakin University (in NSW) and the University of Queensland, will develop a cross-industry, user-friendly decision support tool, i.e. an integrated nutrient calculator, that provides farmers with the true nutrient and fertiliser replacement value of organic soil amendments.
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AORA Student Member, Emily Bryson, a PhD student at CQUniversity Australia needs your input!
Please assist her by completing a short, anonymous survey on your views and habits around collection and disposal of dog faeces. This study is part of a PhD project investigating the potential for domestic dog faeces to be composted at home for use in backyard food production.
What do you do with your dog's poo? Are you a dog owner living in Australia? Want to be part of a groundbreaking scientific study?
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Soil Improvement with Recycled Organics in Broad Acre Farming
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Wednesday 19 February
9.30am -2.30pm
Mannum Motel, SA
This event will provide growers with a solid introduction to key attributes of soil health and opportunities for improvement with an emphasis on organic inputs.
Attendees will gain:
- Introduction to principals of biological input farming, regenerative agriculture and approaches for improving organic matter, building soil carbon and general soil health that benefits the entire ecosystem not just the above ground crop.
- An understanding of the benefits of increasing soil carbon including lifting yields, quality, improving soil consistency and water holding capacity.
- Techniques for assessing soil health and application techniques for biological inputs, including recycled organics such as compost, mulch and biochar.
- Examples of targeted compost application in the broad acre setting.
- Results from PIRSA trials where improvements in yield have been investigated in response to various options for correcting soil constraints, including through the application of organic matter.
- an understanding of the Water Efficiency Program including through soil amelioration strategies, including an example of integrated improvements by one farmer including application of mulch as well as pump and irrigation upgrades.
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Save the Date
AORA Queensland Breakfast
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Wednesday 26 February
7.30am for 8am start - finish 10am
Brisbane
"Market opportunities for recycled organics within the Queensland Agriculture Sector"
Dr Georgina Davis, CEO of Queensland Farmers Federation
"Economic contribution of the Organics Industry in Queensland"
Nick Behrens – Principal of Australian Economic Advocacy Solutions
Ticketing and Location information will be provided soon
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Upcoming Members Meetings
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NEW SOUTH WALES
Wednesday 12 February
8am - 12pm
SUEZ
Elizabeth Drive Kemps Creek
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SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Tuesday 18 February
2pm - 4pm
West Torrens Council
165 Sir Donald Bradman Drv Hilton
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Australian Buyer Delegation to WasteExpo 2020, New Orleans, May 4-7, 2020
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As part of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Trade Event Partnership Program (TEPP), an Australian buyer delegation is currently being organised to attend WasteExpo, scheduled for May 4-7, 2020 in New Orleans, LA.
WasteExpo is the largest tradeshow in North America serving the United States’ $85 billion solid waste, recycling and organics industry, bringing together private sector, public sector and waste management professionals from around the world. In 2019, there were more than 600 exhibitors drawing 14,500 participants from more than 100 countries.
WasteExpo combines industry education with an exhibition that showcases industry products and services for buyers from around the world. Attendance is open to all individuals related to the solid waste, recycling and organics industries. For more information on the show please visit the
website.
Benefits of registering to attend the show as an official TEPP Australian Delegate:
- Complimentary exhibit hall admission (valued at $125 USD)
- Discounted Education Program Fees (Discounted rate of 50% off normal rates)
- Complimentary ticket to the International Reception.
- Complimentary ticket to the Welcome Reception at Generation’s Hall in New Orleans on Monday, May 4 ($85)
- List of exhibitors who export or indicate an interest in exporting to Australia and/or the region.
- Pre-arranged and facilitated briefings and meetings with U.S. exhibitors, customized according to buying interests.
- Complimentary use of the International Business Center, for B2B meetings with U.S. exhibitors, private meeting rooms, refreshments, and free wifi-Internet access.
For more information contact
John Kanawati
Commercial Specialist | U.S. Commercial Service
U.S. Department of Commerce|International Trade Administration | U.S. Consulate General – Sydney
02 9373 9207
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The World's First Human Composting Facility Will Open in 2021
When a human being's time is up, in Western countries we generally have two main options for our mortal remains - burial or cremation. Now, a world-first facility has been set up to offer a unique alternative ritual to traditional choices: compost.
National program launched to give valuable waste materials second life
The program, TRANSFORM, is an initiative under the fight Food Waste Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) that will develop processes and technology that can cost-effectively transform the waste materials.
Fully compostable dog waste bins trialled at Port Elliot Dog Park
Innovative, new dog waste bins are being trialled at a South Australian Dog Park, aimed at creating compost and reducing waste to landfill.Led by the Friends of the Port Elliot Dog Park with help from partners the Alexandrina Council, Fleurieu Regional Waste Authority and the University of South Australia, the trial will run for 12 weeks.
Local governments in California must ensure residents and businesses have organics collection service, under rules approved by state regulators recently. The regulations finalized and approved by the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) on Jan. 21 will usher in mandatory organics collection across the state
Australian Open's mountain of discarded coffee grounds set to bloom
Over the course of the Australian Open tournament,
over 200,000 cups of Lavazza coffee are expected to be drunk by players and spectators, but those coffee grounds will not end up in landfill this year.
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How adding microbial diversity to urban environments improves health
The more diverse the microbe community in the soils around us, and the more you are exposed to it,the healthier you become.
Connections: Compost + Rainwater Filtration
Sally Brown explains how organic matter helps soil infiltrate water
Understanding your soil carbon project
A soil carbon project involves managing your land to encourage increases in soil carbon. Increases occur by building carbon stores in the soil. Sampling your soil measures changes in soil carbon and provides you information about soil nutrition and health. Increases in measured soil carbon earns you carbon credits.
Roadkill to Make Highways Greener
Dead deer, run-over raccoons, and squashed skunks are an unfortunate reality on America’s highways but some waste managers have found a way to give these crushed critters a new lease on life.
From Risk to Remediation 2020: 2nd CRC CARE Summer School on Contaminated Site Assessment, Management and Communication
Australia's most comprehensive training to manage and remediate contaminated sites globally
23 -27 March 2020, Newcastle
Managing PFAS Chemicals In Composting And Anaerobic Digestion
Part 1 of a new series explores ramifications of PFAS in recycled organics and process storm water — and technology options to treat the contamination
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If you have a story, link or news to share with AORA members, please
email Alex
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Thank you to our Partners
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AORA - Australian Organics Recycling Association
0434 625 472
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