Hot Topic Archives: Waste and Recycle Conference a success
More than 400 delegates from as far away as Brisbane and Sydney attended the annual Waste and Recycle Conference in September.
This was the second year the conference was carbon neutral.
Four internationally recognised keynote speakers provided delegates with the latest information on sustainable business practices, the economics of waste management, extended producer responsibility and commercial organics and composting.
(From left) Rebecca Brown from the Western Australian Local Government Association with international keynote speakers Jeff Seadon (NZ), Helen Speigelman (Canada), Enzo Favoino (Italy) and Mike Munger (USA).
Six DEC staff presented papers on issues such as construction and demolition wastes, composting, illegal dumping, the new Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act and Regulations and waste education programs.
The conference also included workshops on developing Strategic Waste Management Plans, landfill management, best practice kerbside recycling, a Citizens’ Jury on the National Packaging Covenant and a public forum on the changes to the amount of levy paid on waste disposed to landfills.
Tours were well attended, in particular to the new Western Metropolitan Regional Council DiCOM alternative waste treatment facility in Brockway. This is the latest facility which will turn municipal solid waste into compost.
Tours also visited Henderson and Mindarie landfills, the construction and demolition waste recycling at Hazelmere and the Wangara Materials Recovery Facility, which sorts recyclables collected from the cities of Joondalup, Wanneroo, Swan and Perth.
An outside trade display of big machinery and trucks was one of the new features at this year’s conference.
There was also a breakfast session where participants could meet the Waste Authority, hosted by chairman Barry Carbon and his fellow members. This was the first forum in which the Waste Authority met with key stakeholders from the waste industry. Each member gave a short presentation on the future directions of the Waste Authority.
(Left to right) Mike Munger from the USA, Bernard Ryan from DEC’s Waste Management Branch and Rebecca Brown.
For more information on the conference program and to download speaker presentations go to www.wasteandrecycle.com.au
The 2009 Conference is being held from 15 – 18 September at the Esplanade Hotel, Fremantle. The theme and Keynotes are now being sought. If you know of, or would like to present at the 2009 Conference contact the Conference Secretariat through the website.
