This edition:

• Lists current industry projects for which Compost Australia and the state compost working groups have current funding for, or are actively pursuing funding for implementation.
• Lists current government projects that are budgeted organics programs for implementation via state government agencies across Australia for the current financial year.
• Documents outcomes of the 2007 Recycled Organics Industry R&D forum held in Perth.
• Documents outcomes of the 2007 Recycled Organics Industry Marketing forum held in Canberra.
• Lists recently added information resources updated to the www.rolibrary.com catalogue.

Congratulations to the entire team in Western Australia for an excellent forum. The convenors for 2008 have a challenge in front of them to match the quality and effort of the West Australians.

Angus Campbell, Recycled Organics Unit

2007 National Compost R&D Forum in Perth

September 2007 saw the 3rd National Compost R&D Forum for the recycled organics industry held in Perth at Murdoch University (5-7 September). The Forum was coordinated and organised by Bob Paulin and Peter O'Malley of theWA Department of Agriculture and Food. The Forum kicked off on Wednesday afternoon with a site tour of the DICOM Waste Management Facility. Thursday the 6th was a full day of presentations of the latest R&D from around Australia and provided an opportunity for researchers and industry representatives from around Australia to:

• Network throughout the industry;
• Showcase research to avoid duplications and create collaborative opportunities;
• Identify and lobby funding bodies for additional research funds;
• Expand and develop recycled organics sector networks within Australia and New Zealand as well as to explore International opportunities;
• Develop a shared vision for R&D across Australia;
• Develop a national research framework.

A workshop to develop an R&D Action Plan was held on Friday the 7th with the aim to:

• Finalise R&D issues, develop components and prioritise;
• Develop R&D Projects and / or implementation plans for key components of the main issues to meet key industry needs;
• Areas of industry need were developed and refined from previous Compost
  Australia R&D forums and a survey of market priorities was organised in
  conjunction with the registration process for the R&D Forum. Project proposals were developed in areas of industry need by five groups:
  • Markets;
  • End-user;
  • Applications;
  • Standards;
  • Production.

The forum built on the outcomes of the previous two R&D Forums (UNSW, Sydney, 2005 & SARDI, Adelaide, 2006) and the market development workshop held in Canberra earlier this year (see below in this section).

A report summarising the forum outcomes and papers is available for download from the Compost Australia website or by clicking this link: R&DForum07. A draft of the national R&D Action Plan will be available for review from 30 November 2007 and will be completed by January 2008.

Key outcomes of the forum are documented below.

Knowledge Barriers for Overall Priority Markets
Priority markets were identified from the responses of participants to the R&D Forum enrolment survey and the top 5 were listed for each state. From this, three overall priority markets were identified nationally. The knowledge barriers for the three overall priority markets were developed by all the participants in a single group. The three overall priority markets identified were:  

• Vegetable production;
• Viticulture / Fruit;
• Rehabilitation.

Project Proposals
Five group workshops were held, each focusing on a specific area of industry need as identified above. Based on considerations of the issues facing the development of the compost industry, each group initially identified the areas of R&D required, prioritise these and develop draft project proposals for the high priority areas. From these workshops, project proposals were developed with the following titles (area of industry need):

1. Field research (markets);
2. Grower support - Industry development officer (markets);
3. Towards zero physical contamination (markets);
4. Develop cost-effective compost-based production systems (end-user);
5. Quantify benefits of compost use (end-user);
6. Substantiation/development of the effects of compost extracts (applications);
7. Compost extracts disease suppression across several crops & pathogens (applications);
8. Refine and adapt nutrient calculator (applications);
9. Precision compost use (applications);
10. RD&E standard protocols (applications);
11. Minimum basic compost parameters for specific application products (standards);
12. Integrated management of Recycled Organics (production).

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2007 Marketing Forum in Canberra

July 2007 saw the Canberra Forum: Making a Mark with Recycled Organics held at the Rydges Resort, Eagle Hawk and was convened by Compost Australia. The forum was attended by 50 delegates from industry and government. The aim of the forum was to agree on the direction and content of a national Recycled Organics market development plan and the means to fund its implementation through a national industry peak body (Compost Australia). The Canberra Forum was held in conjunction with the Compost Australia AGM and the executive was re-elected unopposed. Presentations from the first day, the minutes of the AGM, and the outcomes of the second day’s workshops can be reviewed and downloaded by clicking here.

Also presented during the Canberra Forum was a proposal to raise funds from the Recycled Organics Industry and government for industry development, including the implementation of the market development plan. The proposal, called Advancing the Recycled Organics Industry, calls upon all businesses involved in organics recycling to join Compost Australia and make a financial and time commitment to the growth of the Recycled Organics Industry. Where the majority of businesses make contributions in line with their size, the resulting pool of money will be sufficient to leverage further government funding and implement an effective industry development program. Further detail on the proposal and how it will be followed through can be viewed by clicking here.

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Compost for Soils Website Launched

The website www.compostforsoils.com.au has been launched. Three of South Australia’s largest compost processors have joined together to initiate the ‘Compost for Soils’ project, with support from the National Landcare Programme. Through this project, the compost industry is promoting the best possible use of compost on our agricultural soils, assisting farmers and growers in getting the best value from these materials. The website provides access to a range of information sheets, calculators, contacts and resources that are available on using compost in vineyards, orchards, vegetable production and bioremediation.

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2007 Compost Australia National Industry Survey

The Recycled Organics Unit has once again undertaken the Compost Australia National Industry Survey for the 2006/07 financial year. The survey for WA and SA are completed and the NSW survey will be finalised before the end of this week. The draft results can be expected to be available for download from the Compost Australia website by the end of November.

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Compost Australia

As highlighted above (2. Research & Development section of this eNews), Compost Australia has posted on its website the:

• National Market Development Plan from the Canberra Forum;
• The Final Report of the 3rd Compost R&D Forum: Australasian R&D Forum, held in Perth; and,
• Advancing the Recycled Organics Industry: A program framework and funding proposal 2008-2010.

For more information contact Angus Johnston, National Project Manager - Recycled Organics.

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The following question was asked of the state industry groups':

• What specific projects/programs is state Compost group currently and actively seeking funding for (from all sources including internal WMAA projects)?
  
• Please also list (separately) projects that already have funding and are currently being implemented?

The state industry groups' responses are presented below.

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Compost New South Wales

Garry Kimble has responded on behalf of Compost NSW.

Compost NSW have two specific projects being undertaken by the Recycled Organics Unit, they are:

• Development of a Phylloxera Compliance Agreement to allow shredded green organics to move from Phylloxera risk zones into Phylloxera Free zones for composting;
• Development of a Compost NSW Marketing kit.

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Compost Victoria

Ken Hirst has responded on behalf of Compost Victoria (CV).

• Product Quality Workshop & Industry Update Seminar
  • CV have requested grant funding from WMAA to fund development work, including the hosting of a workshop and a seminar.
  • The workshop will focus on product quality issues and is aimed at supporting industry involvement in the program;
  • The seminar is designed as an industry update targeting key market players and bringing them up to speed with industry developments.
• Healthy & Sustainable Gardens Program
  • CV is overseeing this program by working with local councils and compost suppliers for the domestic application of composts and mulches.

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Compost South Australia

Paul Bowden has responded on behalf of Compost SA.

The current recycled organics projects going on in South Australia are:

• Kerbside Green Organics Contamination Taskforce
  • This group is funded by Zero Waste SA, Local Government Association and Industry Processors with the collaboration of key stakeholders such as collectors and compost end users.
  • Most recently the Minister for Environment has launched the groups awareness, education and regulation program across a trial population of 10,000 households in the Metro Adelaide area. The trial involves a bin sticker campaign which firstly educates households on what is and is not appropriate to go into the green organics bins and then also follow-up warning stickers issued by the compactor truck drivers over a six month period to households not doing the right thing, a three strikes and the service is removed policy is also being trialled.
• Compost for Soils
  • The Compost for soils project is industry funded along with Zero Waste SA, and the National Landcare Program through the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resource Management Board. The project also fosters a strong link with the South Australian Research and Development Institute.
  • The Compost for Soils Group funds a Research Officer to progress the industry's technical information and two Industry Development Officers to benchmark information and extend it out to the agricultural compost users. The group also runs five trial/demonstration sites in SA to tour growers and host field days for industry information extension. More information can be found at www.compostforsoils.com.au

A future project for Compost SA involves accessing funding to:

• Progress the work done in the area of carbon sequestration.

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Compost Western Australia

Geraldine Busby has responded on behalf of Compost WA.

Compost WA is steadily progressing on the implementation of a communications plan and development of a marketing plan.

• Communications Plan
  The initiation of a communications plan was funded by the Waste Management Association and included facilitated workshops with Compost WA members to determine the goals of the plan. The writing of the plan was undertaken by Angus Johnson. Subsequently, members of Compost WA have refined the plan to clarify messages, methods and target audiences. Members are also developing 'how to' media guides for the plan and a database specific to Compost WA needs has been developed. The Waste Management Branch of the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) WA funded the refinement of the plan and development of the tools (including database) to the order of $5,000.
• Market Development
  Compost WA organised a Market Development workshop as part of this years WA Waste and Recycle Conference. The workshop ascertained attitudes and potential strategies for market development from a broad sector of interested stakeholders including compost processors, local and state government, community and environment groups. The workshop was funded by the DEC WA.

Subsequently, a sub group within Compost WA has collated the information and prioritised actions that can be taken in the coming year:

• To develop and implement marketing strategies, Compost WA successfully applied for funding to the tune of $25,000 from the DEC Strategic Waste Initiative Scheme grant funding.

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Compost Queensland

Johannes Biala has responded on behalf of Compost Qld.

Compost Qld are currently engaged in a Survey of Vegetable Growers in Queensland. The results are expected early in 2008. The survey has been funded by WMAA and conducted by Grocom (formerly Qld Food & Vegetable Growers Association).

• The aim of the survey is to gauge an understanding of the level of knowledge that vegetable growers in Queensland have of organic amendment products including: composted materials; soil amendments; mulches; as well as manures. Information is being collected on:
  • How many growers have used in the past, are using presently, and are considering using in the future, organic amendment products;
  • The experiences of growers who have used these products in the past and present; and,
  • The growers expectations of what the benefits and the quality would be for any of the products they are, have, or intend to use.

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The following question was asked of the state government departments':

• What projects/programs are budgeted for implementation for the 2007/08 financial year by your Agency (ie. both on-going projects/ programs & new projects/programs)?

The state government departments' responses are presented below.

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Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC) NSW

Darren Bragg responded on behalf of DECC NSW.

The DECC Organics Program for 2007/08 will continue to build upon existing initiatives in the development of markets for recycled organics.

• The University of Sydney has been engaged to conduct scientific trials on compost benefits in turf establishment and top dressing and will also investigate further opportunities in mine site rehabilitation.
• DECC contributes sponsorship funds for the maintenance of the online catalogue www.rolibrary.com, an online electronic information resource, and for the preparation of this email newsletter - the Recycled Organics National eNews.
• Support is provided for the Compost Supply Chain Road Map Manager’s position, the market study and International Compost Awareness Week.
• DECC seeks to develop a NSW Research and Development Plan to inform national research and our Organics Program planning.
• The issue of C&I food waste will be reviewed and leverage points for further diversion will be identified.
• The long term trials and cost benefit analysis of recycled organics use in intensive agriculture being conducted by NSW DPI will be finalised.
• Demonstration sites established under two year partnership agreements with Southern Rivers CMA and Hunter-Central Rivers CMA will be completed.
• A workshop will be held on 29th November in Goulburn on the Guidelines for Using Compost in Land Rehabilitation and Catchment Management.
• Opportunities for promoting compost use in stormwater filtration and the construction of roof gardens will be sought and the use of recycled organics in landfill biofiltration will be promoted.
• Regional projects in the Hunter and Illawarra will promote compost use in Council parks and gardens.

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Zero Waste South Australia

Philip Matthews has responded on behalf of ZWSA.

• Research and Market Development
  • ZWSA has continued to provide support the for the development of the recycled organics industry through its funding support for the joint project of the three main composters and the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI). Further details of the project can be found at the Compost for Soils website.
• Reduction of Contaminants in kerbside collected green organics
  • Almost 10,000 Adelaide homes in two council areas are participating in a trial to reduce contamination of kerbside collected garden organics bins. As profiled in the ZWSA newsletter.
  • The trial is part of a campaign developed in close consultation with the Organics Contamination Working Group, chaired by Zero Waste SA. Representatives of this group are drawn from local government, KESAB and garden organics collectors, processors and end users of compost.
  • The centrepiece of the campaign comprises educational materials – a permanent educational bin sticker, a bright orange temporary warning sticker and educational flyer.
  • Truck loads of green organics were audited prior to the commencement of the education material release to get baseline data and audits will continue through the education campaign and the warning sticker phase.
  • The trial will continue until February 2008. Cleaner feedstock will reduce many threats to the long term sustainability of the recycled organics industry.
• Grants
  • Applications for Zero Waste SA's Metropolitan Reuse & Recycling Infrastructure Grants for this financial year have just closed. Individual grants of $100,000-$300,000 (with a total budget of $800,000) will be offered for 'Infrastructure that improves sorting (including contamination removal) and processing of recycled organics.
  • Announcements of successful applicants is expected in early 2008.

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Environment Protection Authority South Australia

Sharon Jamieson responded on behalf of EPA SA to eNews#3. Her response was regretably omitted when eNews went to press and our apologies are extended for this oversight. The question was: What is your organisations approach to recycled organics market development / demand creation? Sharon responded:

• As the regulator in SA , the EPA’s role has been/is limited – ZWSA is the lead agency on this as its brief is to minimise what goes to landfill.
  • Do you have a documented market development plan? - no.
  • What are the priority target markets in your state? - The composters are targeting broad acre currently.
  • In your view, what is the role for government to achieve the objectives? - I believe the EPA assists in connecting up waste producers with composters and assessing certain wastes to be accepted at compost depots on ‘trial’ bases to ascertain if new wastes may be fit for purpose of composting.
  • In your view, what is the role for industry to achieve the objectives? - The industry I feel should take the lead role.

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Sustainability Victoria

Bill Grant responded on behalf of Sustainability Victoria.

Sustainability Victoria have several current and on-going projects, these include:

• Best Practice Incentive Funding
  • The program offers up to $8/tonne x 5 years for eligible municipal and C&I organics processed using eligible controlled environment facilities. To date, seven municipalities and their contractors have been granted a total of over $3.4 million for the establishment and upgrade of over 150,000 tonnes per annum of additional controlled environment processing capacity.
• DPI Victoria’s Participatory Compost Trials
  • Vegetable growing trial continues. Additional funding has been provided for the establishment of additional viticulture trials with soil moisture monitoring.
• Market Development Incentive Projects
  • $300,000 has been granted to 8 Projects. Outcomes to date include:
    • 2 new compost spreaders available for viticulture and more general application;
    • Product cleaning equipment installed at major composters, improving quality of end products and conversion of inputs to high quality products;
    • National “Certified Compost” product accreditation project almost ready to launch;
    • Demonstration trials in revegetation programs established;
    • Product trials being developed by two composters with the cut flower and vegetable growing markets
  • It is anticipated that another round of Market Development funding will be made available in early 2008.
• Best Practice Program
  • Preferred standards and model contracts for municipalities tendering for organics collection and processing are available from SV. The intent of these is to ‘level the playing field’ for contractors investing in more advanced environmental and product quality management systems.
• Healthy & Sustainable Garden Program.
  • Promotion of the awareness and use of recycled organic mulches and soil conditioners to garden supply retailers and households through discounted products, free deliveries and media promotions.

New project areas for Sustainability Victoria include:

• Compost Victoria Market & Industry Development Officer
  • SV is in the process of engaging a consultant to act as MIDO for the Victorian Industry. The MIDO will implement key elements of the Market & Industry Plan, and work to develop and resource on-going R&D and marketing projects.

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Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) WA

James Milne responded on behalf of the Waste Management Branch DEC WA.

The WA Waste Management Board has indicated its support for / interest in the development and implementation of policies and projects for recycled organics in three main theme areas. These are:

• Standards for compost from waste;
• Recycled organics future direction; and
• WMAA Compost Committee - support and implementation.

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Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia

Bob Paulin responded on behalf of D&F WA.

The WA Landfill levy and WA Department of Agriculture & Food are:

• Funding workshops in late November with David Hanlon for vegetable growers on the Swan Coastal Plain. The intend to seek grower suggestions and future participation in developing better vegetable production based around the use of compost and changes to management that will increase soil organic carbon levels and improve returns by:

  • improving crop yield and quality;
  • restoring and or maintain productivity – soil performance;
  • reducing fertilisers;
  • increasing irrigation efficiency;
  • reducing pesticides.
• In line with priorities identified at National R&D Forums and based on the outcomes of these workshops, a project to deliver better systems by working with farmers will be developed.

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Department of Tourism, Arts and Environment (DTAE) Tas

Rowena Zwart responded on behalf of DTAE, Tasmania.

• Unfortunately, no projects or programs in this financial year's budget relating to recycled organics.

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Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Queensland

No response by the close of press.

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Zero Waste ACT

No response by the close of press.

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This section of eNews provides a soapbox platform for industry stakeholders to communicate burning issues and to initiate discussion.

We have our disclaimer in place, so with due regard to defamation law, go for your lives.

The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the ROU or sponsors.

Recycled Organics Unit
www.recycledorganics.com • rou@unsw.edu.au