ASK has worked with the Kimberley Councils since 2008 and was asked to update the previous RWMP produced by ASK in 2013.  The RWMP provides the Councils with a clear, costed five year action plan to meet their objectives and targets.

The review was updated to include up-to-date waste management services provided, waste generation projections, issues and objectives.

ASK presented the baseline data review for the region at a Kimberley Zone meeting and facilitated an agreed framework for development of the actions to support the new plan.  Following this workshop with the four Councils, a new RWMP was developed including a five-year action plan, project costings, timetable for implementation and risk assessment.

The 2018-2023 Regional Waste Management Plan focuses on capitalising on the benefits of collaboration within the region and includes an action plan, project costings, timetable for implementation and risk assessment. The action plan is aimed at increasing recycling and the operational life of the Council’s landfills.

The plan considers and reflects the unique factors faced by the Kimberley Region, such as small population communities, distance from metropolitan centres and the management of rural landfills.

ASK began working with Nhulunbuy Corporation Limited (NCL) in 2018. The series of projects began with an onsite visit to the facility and town of Nhulunbuy in Northern Territory’s Northeast Arnhem Land (Gove Peninsular). ASK met with the various stakeholders and toured the Gove Peninsular Waste Facility to gain an understanding of the area’s unique environmental, socio-political, economic and cultural context.

NCL initially engaged ASK to review their existing contracts for waste collection and operation of the landfill to identify areas where improvements could be made to operational efficiency, service delivery, and environmental performance.

Based on the findings, ASK produced an Operational Improvement Plan that identified areas in need of improvement in order to ensure compliance with the EPL and NT EPA Guidelines. The report discussed facility planning, waste acceptance, waste handling, cell management, plant maintenance, environmental management, staff training, data collection and facility oversight. It also included a risk assessment.

On the back of ASK’s recommendations, ASK has since been engaged to develop a Master Plan, Landfill Closure and Post Closure Plan (LCPCP) and Landfill Environmental Management Plan (LEMP) for the Gove Peninsular Waste Facility. Upcoming projects also include facilitating staff training onsite, developing resource recovery options and improving data collection and analysis.

This project is on-going. For more information, please contact ASK.

MidWaste encompasses waste and recycling activities in the Mid North Coast of NSW and comprises of six councils: Coffs Harbour City Council, Bellingen Shire Council, Nambucca Shire Council, Kempsey Shire Council, Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, and MidCoast Council.

ASK were engaged to review and analyse the current situation of Construction & Demolition (C&D) waste diversion within the MidWaste region. ASK surveyed C&D waste being taken to landfill at the eight largest facilities in the region for two days each; one weekday to survey commercial customers and one weekend day to survey domestic customers.

A desktop review was also conducted which outlined relevant national, state and local legislation and guidelines, as well as best practices from Australia and around the world.

A market analysis of the current local, state and national markets for C&D materials was explored through research and on-the-ground inquiries. These local connections resulted in a greater understanding of the complexities of the markets and the discovery of new opportunities for diversion.

The final report compiled the information and broke down diversion strategies that were currently working within individual council areas that could be expanded to the broader MidWaste region, together with innovative concepts and markets which could boost diversion rates within MidWaste.

In cooperation with long-time collaborative partner Greentec Consulting (a specialist in landfill engineering), ASK led the design and approvals process for the first lined cells at the Bunbury-Harvey Regional Council’s (BHRC) Stanley Road Waste Management Facility.

The project involved joining the proposed lined cells with the existing unlined cells in a design which maximised airspace and minimised construction costs in consideration of the site characteristics.

The engineering design component included assessing all relevant criteria and constraints and preparing an overall landfill design that meets the assessed requirements, as well as concept engineering drawings and a report for approvals submission.

The team assessed landfill development, groundwater protection, stormwater management, leachate management and landfill gas management for the proposed development including modelling, review of case studies and other engineering justification where relevant.

Landfill and Construction Environmental Management Plans (EMP) were produced outlining the environmental receptors, constraints and measures proposed to ensure the continued disposal of waste has minimal impact on the surrounding environment.  The EMPs included a Risk Assessment of the proposal in line with regulatory requirements. A Landfill Closure Management Plan was also developed.

In December 2019, DWER approved the application to build the first lined cells at BHRC’s Stanley Road Waste Management Facility.

This project is on-going. For more information, please contact ASK.

The East Arnhem Regional Council (EARC) provides core Local Government Services to nine remote communities of Arnhem Land: Milingimbi, Ramingining, Galiwin’ku, Gapuwiyak, Yirrkala, Gunyangara, Umbakumba, Angurugu and Milyakburra.

ASK visited eight of the remote communities in the EARC region to assess the waste facilities and photographically document them, liaise with staff and managers, and develop an understanding of the social, cultural, economic and environmental factors that impact the use and management of the waste facilities.

From the information procured through the site visits, ASK produced an environmental risk assessment for each facility.  Environmental management strategies were developed to mitigate risks identified in the risk assessment process and were compiled in community specific Environmental Management Plans (EMPs).  The EMPs also contain Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs) that will assist the EARC in planning improvement works and actions at the waste facilities.

ASK will also review of the EARC Waste Management Strategy and make recommendations on how it can be improved and used to facilitate the implementation performance improvement actions detailed in the EMPs.

This project is on-going. For more information, please contact ASK.

The North Eastern Wheatbelt Regional Organisations of Councils (NEWROC) is a voluntary regional organisation which covers a landmass of 20,000 sq. km and 2,500 people. It includes the Shires of Koorda, Mount Marshall, Mukinbudin, Nungarin, Trayning and Wyalkatchem.

ASK was engaged to assist the NEWROC to assess and recommend options for improving the management of their landfills. The landfill sites were all unmanned, most were unfenced and accessible 24 hours a day; some were closed, or looking to be closed, while others were deteriorating due to lack of upkeep. Sites with poor management were a potential environmental risk.

ASK performed a desktop assessment of the sites which determined the baseline for the region. ASK then devised four options for the NEWROC to consider including a summary of the economic, social, environmental and compliance factors involved. All options incorporated the implementation of a remote access system, including gates and fencing, for each site, whether it was used as a landfill or transfer station.

ASK produced the first complete report of Emergency Waste Management (EWM) for the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) in Western Australia. The report highlights the important role of EWM in the prompt and efficient recovery of impacted communities.

ASK investigated EWM issues in WA, liaised with a wide range of government departments and industry stakeholders, identified key barriers, reviewed legislation and stakeholder obligations, and researched state, national and international solutions.

The extensive report included a series of recommendations to improve the management of emergency waste in WA and assist the development of supporting tools and guidance documents for practitioners, and a suggested best practice approach to assist the preparation and management of emergency waste to enable effective and prompt recovery.

ASK presented the report to the State Emergency Recovery Committee and, following high praise and agreement to adopt many of the recommendations, a government working group was formed to follow through with the suggestions.

ASK has been assisting SWEK with their waste services and infrastructure since 2011.

Advice varies from specific projects, such as the identification, assessment and approvals for a new landfill site or the design and approvals for a new transfer station; through to general advice relating to daily management of the facilities or any unusual issues that arise.

ASK and SWEK have developed a trusted close relationship that ensures the Shire receives prompt, cost effective advice appropriate for the resource and factors faced in the East Kimberley.  Specific projects include:

• introducing operational structures to ensure regulatory compliance;

• training new landfill staff and managers;

• feasibility studies and business case development for new waste and recycling services;

• developing the layout for a new transfer station to replace a nearly full rural landfill;

• establishing and monitoring groundwater bores to assess a potential new landfill site;

• de-commissioning old liquid waste lagoon and treating the contaminated sludge;

• producing a Landfill Operational Improvement Plan and Landfill Closure Management Plan;

• facilitating workshop with new manager to summarise legacy issues, future strategy and waste services; and

• collating data and completing annual reporting.

While working as the Waste and Recycling Project Officer at the Shire of Capel, Sam quantified organic waste generation in the south west of WA, identified feasible alternative waste treatment options and developed a Strategic Plan for organic waste management in the region.

The project also included a thorough data collection and analysis process involving multiple stakeholders to determine waste quantities, an economic assessment of two-bin compared to three-bin collection systems and potential cost-effective treatment options.

As a result, the first FOGO services in WA were established in the Shire of Capel and the City of Bunbury.

Sam assisted the Bunbury Harvey Regional Council with the planning and development of a composting facility to process the FOGO waste collected from the three-bin system. This involved a review of processing options, and the preparation of a Business Case, Project Management Plan, Quality Management Plan and two grant applications.

ASK were engaged to produce the regulatory approval application for the FOGO composting facility.

Since 2013, ASK has developed, compiled and produced the annual WA recycling activity survey and report for the WA Waste Authority and DWER.

The project involves keeping a large, up-to-date database of recycling and reprocessing organisations in the region, developing user-friendly sector-specific surveys, and analysing, verifying and compiling the data to be included in the annual report published on the Waste Authority website.

Annually ASK sends surveys over 60 recycling organisations in Western Australia to collect data about the materials and quantities diverted from landfill. Additionally information is complied from ABS export data, the State’s landfills and local governments.

The data is used to produce the annual Recycling Activity Report, providing a summary of the state’s waste generation, diversion and disposal tonnages for multiple material streams and tracks progress towards achieving the targets of the State’s Waste Strategy.,

As part of the project, ASK has visited over 30 different organisations, held industry sector-based workshops, and provided a telephone helpline to assist with the completion of the surveys.

ASK completed groundwater sampling at the City of Greater Geraldton’s Meru Class III landfill facility and produced the Annual Environmental Report for submission to DWER.

ASK mobilised our field team to Geraldton and liaised with the City’s staff and site contractors.  After completing the site OH&S induction, our team collected the groundwater samples from difficult-to-access bores. ASK stored and transported the samples directly to the NATA accredited laboratory.

The laboratory results were immediately reviewed to check for any anomalies. Once the results were ‘approved’ as valid, the results were collated and used to produce the Annual Environment Report (AER).

ASK has worked with JBG Quinn & Sons for over 10 years to ensure the regulatory compliance with their extensive waste recycling operations in the southwest of England.

Waste generated by numerous food processors is recycled to agricultural land to provide nutrients for crop growth and improve soil structure.

Under the UK Environment Agency permitting system, many wastes are matched with crop requirements at multiple farms.

The process requires a high level of understanding of the strict regulations in place, particularly the AHDB Nutrient Management Guide (RB209), as well as soil management, crop rotation, GIS mapping, and modern farming techniques.

ASK has submitted thousands of successful landspreading permits and continues to work with JBG Quinn & Sons to expand relationships with waste producers and farmers as the regulators continue to accept the use of a wide variety of wastes as fertiliser to provide agricultural benefit to the soil and for crop growth.