1.1
Key Processes
The following key
processes involved in Federal and State resource recovery programs are a reduction
of materials intensity, recycling, recovery and education.
Materials Intensity
A reduction in the consumption
and use of materials can result in a significant reduction in environmental
impacts through the supply chain and the recycling of materials. Reducing
material intensity may mean substituting a component or production input with
a more environmentally benign material or manufacturing for reuse of materials
and parts. Product packaging is an important area for considering materials
use, product substitution and recycling.
Recycling
Recycling occurs
when materials from waste streams are broken down into raw materials and reprocessed
either into the same material (closed loop) or a new product (open loop),
generally including waste separation and material reprocessing. The avoided
environmental costs of production through recycling is 20 times greater than
the environmental cost of collection and disposal of the materials.
The recycling and reuse of materials
has positive economic, social and environmental effects. Among these are:
- A more effective use of resources
- Employment opportunities in
the service and repair industries
- Support for community and charity
based initiatives
- Better protection of products
as reusable packaging is more robust
- Community changes in attitude
towards disposable products
Recovery
Secondary Resource Recovery (SRR) is the range of activities characterised
by the treatment and recovery (use) of materials or energy from waste through
thermal, chemical, or biological means.
Generally, there are two main groups of SRR processes to be considered:
Biological process, which consist of:
- Open composting;
- Enclosed composting;
- Anaerobic digestion; and
- Vermiculture.
Thermal processes, which consist
of:
- Incineration; and
- Gasification.
SRR allows for the recovery of
significant volumes of wastes, much higher than traditional Primary Resource
Recovery processes such as green waste mulching. This allows communities to
move towards resource recovery that fulfils social, environmental and economic
goals which constitutes sustainable, Integrated Resource Recovery.
Education
Education is an
essential element of all resource recovery programs. Educational information
is commonly produced for different sectors, in each state. In Western Australia
the state government has the Wastewise program that provides education material
on resource recovery and waste management.
1.2
Waste Management at Murdoch University
Murdoch University
has a Recoverable Resource Policy that seeks to reduce its per capita solid
waste stream and comply with government policy to eliminate waste to land
fill by 2020.
The
objectives of Murdoch University’s policy are to:
- To
comply with State Government waste policy objectives.
- To
encourage materials conservation and resource recovery at Murdoch University
campuses and within the wider community.
- To
utilise the skills and expertise from on campus in developing innovative,
sustainable solutions to waste management, re-use and resource recovery.
The
Recoverable Resource Policy will be implemented through this waste management
plan, daily operations and contractor arrangements.
Current Operations
Murdoch University currently has a contract with the City of Melville
for the pick-up and disposal of waste products from the Murdoch campus. Most
of this waste is transferred for sorting to the South-west Metropolitan Regional
Council waste facility in Canning Vale, however some paper and cardboard waste
is diverted directly for recycling. The value of this contract in 2002 is
$78,000. The collection of paper, cardboard and co-mingled waste is collected
free of charge.
In recent years the University has steadily improved its waste management
practices. The campus has seen the introduction of paper recycling, cardboard
recycling, co-mingled recyclable containers, general waste and the collection
and disposal of liquid wastes.
A brief study of the refectory, Walters Café and the Asian Food Van was
undertaken in 2000. This study did not include office waste, general waste
from around the campus nor the domestic waste stream from student village.
The study sorted waste material into three components: recyclable, compostable
and putrescibles, non-recyclable and residue.
The study found that the average composition of the facilities waste
consisted of:
Murdoch University’s waste management practices are a reasonable standard
and achieved recognition in the Perth Action Awards in 1998/99. These waste
management practices have focused on separating waste into particular streams
and removal from campus. The following discussion outlines these streams,
the operational requirements and the destination of each stream.
Paper and Cardboard
Blue paper recycling bins are provided by the City of Melville. There
are 65 blue bins (62 x 100L, 3 x 240L) around the campus located inside office
buildings in locations such as photocopy rooms and resource centers. The
bins are moved to designated pick-up points twice a week by Airlite cleaners
and collected on Mondays and Thursdays.
City of Melville contractors are responsible for the pick-up and delivery
of waste paper and cardboard to the Amcor Spearwood paper mill for direct
recycling.
Cardboard is recycled via the blue bins or via six cardboard recycled
wire cages located around the campus and often collected at the same time
as the paper bins.
Co-Mingled
The co-mingled waste stream incorporates recyclable plastic, aluminum
and cardboard drink cartons.
There are 62 co-mingled bins at Murdoch. 25 are located at the student
village, 25 on campus and 12 in the Lakeview complex. Co-mingled waste from
student village is often cross-polluted and ends up in the general waste stream.
Co-mingled bins are moved to designated pick-up points once a week by
Airlite cleaners and collected weekly, by the City of Melville. This is delivered
to the South-west Metropolitan Regional Council waste facility in Canning
Vale for sorting.
General Waste
General waste includes non-recyclable plastics, food waste, paper and
other miscellaneous items. Much of the general waste stream is actually recyclable,
however separation and logistical management of this stream across a dispersed
area influences the volumes of waste in this stream.
General waste is collected by Airlite cleaners daily from around the
campus, including the car parks, in 150 small bins and transferred to bulk
rubbish bins.
There are 14, 3m2 bulk bins and 7, 1.5m2 located
around the campus. In total these are emptied 55 times a week, however this
depends on volumes. Bulk bin contents are transferred to the South-west Metropolitan
Regional Council waste facility in Canning Vale, with the most of this waste
stream going to landfill.
Liquid Waste
Liquid waste collection and disposal is undertaken through the City of
Melville. Liquid waste is collected on a 4 weekly or as needs basis. There
are five sources of liquid waste being; Grease Traps, Animal Waste, Neutralising
Pits, Sand/Plaster and Necropsy.
Grease traps are associated with kitchen waste in food preparation areas
and are regularly collected on a 4 weekly basis. Animal waste pits are associated
with the vet farm & clinic, necropsy pits and also associated with the
vet clinic and the disposal of animal remains. These are emptied on an as
needs basis.
Neutralising pits are filled sourced to science laboratories and capture
spills, chemical disposal and biological lab waste. These are emptied on an
as needs basis.
Compostible Waste
This waste has been disposed of in the general waste stream and is mostly
derived from the three food outlets on campus. It contains a large percentage
of food waste and plastic food containers. This waste is also responsible
for the pollution of the co-mingled stream.
In 2000 a Vermi-composting trial was undertaken at the Environmental
Technology Centre. This involved the transfer a portion of food waste to
the center for processing by worms. While the processing of food waste was
successful, the trial was discontinued due to logistical issues in the transfer
and delivery of waste to the site.
2.0 Resource Recovery Plan
2.1 Introduction
This Resource Recovery Plan operates in conjunction with information generated
from a waste audit of Murdoch University’s waste stream.
The development of a more sustainable waste management system for Murdoch
University, South Street has involved planning and consultation with on campus
stakeholders via workshops and discussions.
The following Management Plan tracks the Murdoch University’s Resource Recovery
Policy and draws upon suggestions received in the workshops and other best
practice examples. The objectives and actions of the plan demonstrate Murdoch
University’s application of Sustainable Development practices and support
its Greenhouse Challenge Program. The Resource Recovery Plan has been developed
through the Office of Facilities Management, the Centre of Organic Waste Management
and the School of Psychology at Murdoch University.
Hazardous waste substances have not been included in this plan.
2.2
Resource Recovery – The Vision
Murdoch University seeks to promote
Sustainable Development on campus through innovative practices that reduce
the importation of materials, reuse waste on-site and promotes efficient re-cycling.
The University wishes to work in a co-operative manner with surrounding landholders
to create synergies in resource recovery and waste management.
- To
reduce per capita waste volumes costs at Murdoch University campuses
- To
encourage materials conservation and resource recovery at Murdoch University
campuses.
- To
create discrete easily processed waste streams from Murdoch University campuses.
- To
provide research opportunities and a practical demonstration of sustainable
solutions for waste management, re-use and resource recovery.
Environment Australia - “The
aim of waste prevention policies and activities is to move up the waste management
hierarchy shown below, toward a goal of avoiding all waste. Organisations
that have adopted a goal of zero waste, that is, not to waste anything, have
found that it only works if becomes a shared challenge for all members of
staff.”
