Dear Members,

This month saw the first face to face meeting of the new WMAA Board of Directors and the first Strategic Planning Day for the newly formed Strategic Advisory Council. The next edition of Inside Waste will feature a detailed article on the outcomes of the Planning Day and the revised Strategic Directions.

The new website is now live and contributions are welcome for your branch, working group or division. Not all facets of the website are fully functioning yet, for example the members log in, but these are gradually being programmed so please be patient if you see things that are missing. The search engine is working though so finding things should be much easier now.

There have been some staff changes since the last enews, Carlee Maccoll is moving on after 4 years to pursue a different direction in her career and Patrick Garson has just commenced working for the Association in the role of Publications Officer. Patrick will gradually be making contact with some of you to introduce himself. He will be responsible for the E-News, RDN Newsletter and Inside Waste contributions as well as managing the new website. He can be contacted on patrick@wmaa.asn.au.   

Val Southam

Please click on the links below to view responses from WMAA Branches and Divisions to the Productivity Commission Report

• WMAA National Media Release
• Compost Australia
• NSW Branch
• Landfill Division

To view other responses to the Productivity Commission report please visit: www.pc.gov.au/inquiry/waste/subs/sublist.html

My name is George Smith, I completed the final semester of a degree course in Applied Science (Environmental Resource Management) at Southern Cross University in Lismore, New South Wales on 2 June 2006. I have to sit an exam in November but I am currently available for employment. My main area of interest is in recycling and resource recovery such as energy from waste and landfill gas. My Integrated Project (final major project) topic was to research the availability of pay by weight and pay by lift waste management systems. During the last Christmas and New Year break I participated in an eight week Internship with Lismore City Council as part of my course. In this time I helped prepare a Local Action Plan for reducing greenhouse emissions as part of that council's commitment to the Cities for Climate Protection program. I also conducted investigations into alternate fuels for the council vehicle fleet and of energy efficient street and sports lighting. On some days I accompanied the Environmental Health Officers on inspections such as development applications and food hygiene.

I am willing to take graduate level employment in any area of waste management, in any geographic location, in order to gain skills and experience to further my career. I am seeking employment in local government, consultancy or one of the major collection/processing companies. For further information about myself and my availability please contact me as per my contact details below.

Mobile: 0407 027 296
Email: gsmith14@scu.edu.au

The John Guice Award (sponsored by Sulo MGB Australia) is presented in perpetual recognition of the outstanding contribution of the late John Guice in developing WMAA and for his commitment to the environment and sound waste management practices. It honours a person who has had a significant impact on both the advancement of the Association and the industry at large.

John was the National Sales and Marketing Manager of Sulo MGB at the time of his death in August 1995. He became National Secretary of the association in 1994 and was instrumental in arranging the inaugural meeting of the Victorian branch, as well as in Queensland.

This prestigious award has had four winners:

• Bert van den Broek (1998);
• Dr Brian Robinson (2000);
• Frank Schmidt (2002); and
• Cheryl Batagol (2004).

Nominations are now open for the 2006 John Guice Award. Click here for further information and to download the Terms of Reference.

Send nominations and achievements to veronica@wmaa.asn.au by August 18.

WMAA International Study Tour
See Waste from a Different Perspective

LAST DAYS TO BOOK!

The Waste Management Association of Australia is organising it’s third annual Study Tour. Join us on this two week tour of a range of waste facilities throughout Europe and South East Asia. Gain an insight into different perspectives and waste strategies. Understand the regulatory framework underpinning those strategies. Be exposed to the latest technological innovations and be inspired to utilise the knowledge you have gained to make a difference in your organisation.

The itinerary includes visits to Hong Kong, the Netherlands, France and Spain and will include technologies such as:

• Mechanical Biological Treatment
• Energy from Waste / Incineration
• Composting & Anaerobic Digestion
• Alternative Kerbside Collection (vacuum collection technology)
• Landfilling
• Recycling

In addition, meetings with key government and industry experts will provide participants with an understanding of local conditions and regulations.

Bookings
Bookings must be confirmed by 4th August. To secure your place on the tour, download the application form, complete and return it to fax 02 9701 0199 (with a 50% deposit to secure your booking).

FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT
WasteQ 2007 Conference & Expo
4 - 6 June 2007
Gold Coast, QLD

Mark it in Your Calendar Now!

The QLD Landcare Conference (22 - 24 August, www.landcare.org.au/ Conference.htm) will provide the platform to explore whether and in which way farmers should be rewarded for providing environmental services, such as using recycled organic products and recycled water. A panel representing primary producers, primary industry associations, the organic farming industry, agricultural economists, local authorities, and retailers, will discuss and attempt to answer the question whether we can establish market-based mechanisms, which adequately reward farmers that act as environmental custodians, and that provide environmental and ecosystem services for the wider community.

The Landcare Conference Forum will focus on the provision of environmental services agricultural industries provide to urban centres, namely the use of urban compost products and recycled water, and explore ways in which farmers can be rewarded for providing these services, which usually result also in improved ecosystem services. Urban centres are significant nutrient, water and carbon sinks, where handling and disposal of solid and liquid residues often causes environmental problems and imposes significant costs. At the same time, resources contained in urban residues could be converted into valuable recycled products and returned into the food and fibre production cycle as agricultural inputs. The processing of urban residues and their conversion into products (compost, recycled water) that are acceptable to farmers from a quality and productivity point of view, as well as transportation of these products to farms impose costs.

The Forum "Rewarding Farmers for Providing Environmental Services" is scheduled for 10:30 - 12:30 on August 24th as part of the QLD Landcare Conference.

The Forum is jointly organized by Johannes Biala (The Organic Force), David Hanlon (Resource Consulting Services) and Brisbane City Council.

For further questions please contact Johannes Biala (biala@optusnet.com.au) or ensure your participation by registering at: http://www.landcare.org.au/hard_copy_mailout_rego_form.doc.

US Composting Council
15th Annual Conference & Tradeshow
21 - 24 January 2007
Wyndham Orlando Resort, Florida, USA

The National forum for those involved in the
development and expansion of the composting industry

The US Composting Council is offering WMAA Members registration to their Annual Conference at the discounted USCC member rate.

For more information and registration forms
please visit: www.compostingcouncil.org

Note: Early-bird registration closes December 8 2006.

Call for EOI in a Compost Tour in conjunction with
the US Composting Conference

Compost Australia is interested in hosting a Compost Tour focusing on compost production for agricultural use, to coincide with the US Composting Conference held January 21-24 in Orlando, Florida. Bob Paulin of the WA Dept. of Agriculture and Food, who has led a similar tour to the US, has expressed an interest in organizing the itinerary.

The estimated cost of the tour and conference per participant is between $8,000 and $10,000 excluding meals.

If you are interested please email angus@wmaa.asn.au by July 4, 2006.

SARDINIA 2007
Eleventh International Waste Management and Landfill Symposium

1-5 October 2007
Forte Village Resort
S. Margherita di Pula, Cagliari, Italy

CALL FOR PAPERS

Abstracts on topics related to the ones listed below should reach the Organization no later than 30th October 2006.

A - Waste policy and legislation
B - Waste management strategies
C - Public concern and education
D - Waste management assessment and decision tools
E - Waste characterization
F – Waste collection
G - Waste minimization and material recovery
H - Biological treatment
I – Thermal treatment
L - Mechanical biological treatment prior to landfilling
M - Sanitary landfilling
N - Integrated wastewater and solid waste management
O – Waste management in developing and low income countries

Abstracts should be addressed to:
Prof. Raffaello Cossu - IMAGE Department, University of Padua
e-mail : papers@sardiniasymposium.it
Please send your abstract as a Word document attachment. The file must be named after the leading Author.

Continuously updated information is available on the web page:
www.sardiniasymposium.it