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Alternate Waste Treatment Technologies

 

Overview 

Local councils can more easily make the move to environmentally sustainable methods of residual waste disposal with the Alternative Waste Treatment Technologies Assessment Handbook (AWT Handbook) and associated special software-based assessment tool (AWT Assessment Tool).

The AWT Handbook and the AWT Assessment Tool, which builds on the work of the NSW Government's 1999 Alternative Waste Technologies Inquiry, have been developed to help with assessing proposals for the growing range, type and impacts of available alternative waste recovery and processing technologies.

It is essential, however, that council decisions to move to AWT be well informed and soundly based. Technology evaluation and decision-making need to be considered within an overall integrated resource recovery strategy and be based on the life-cycle impacts of the materials and processes involved, rather than on cost alone.

Ready to take the next step towards AWT?

AWT Next Step Checklist

1. Does your council have a waste management and resource recovery plan?	Unless you have a clear plan with data on current waste generation, recovery, recycling and disposal figures as well as the composition of the various waste streams, it would be difficult for you to assess if you need AWT.
2. Does the plan: Clearly identify the quantity and composition of the waste stream? Identify the materials that are best to collect separately? Support the adoption of best practise collection services and sustained community education to increase yields? Clearly articulate the outcomes you are seeking to achieve?	This is important so that you are clear about the kind of technology that you are after. Kerbside recycling and, in most cases, garden organics collected separately at source will maximise recovery.
3. Have you considered all the potential options for dealing with the waste streams to be processed - not just AWT?	Options range from lower cost centralised composting of collected garden organics, to large scale technologies for processing mixed wastes.
4. Is council willing to commit to the long-term contractual commitments that come with investments in AWT?	AWT operators must make large capital investments, which need to be repaid over the life of the contract.
5. Have you discussed your plan with other councils? Are you in a position to bid for an AWT jointly with other councils in a regional approach?	AWT operators need a minimum supply of specified materials to operate efficiently. This can be more than is generated in one Council area. Economics of scale and improved processing capacity can result from councils working together.
6. Have you done an analysis of the risks of proceeding with AWT for your council area?	This will enable Council to make decisions on behalf of your community and adopt the right strategy to minimise risk and costs.
7. Is there community support in your council area for a move to AWT? Will that support extend to any higher initial cost of waste collection services for ratepayers?	Initially, the cost of AWT is higher than landfill disposal. Over the next few years this gap will close.

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Training

OEH has developed a one day training session for the AWT Assessment Tool that can be provided to relevant council staff depending on council needs and the level of interest.

OEH is also able to advise groups of councils wishing to explore potential regional arrangements involving waste recovery and processing options.

More information

To request a copy of the AWT Assessment Tool, comprising both handbook and software package, contact the Sustainability Programs Division, or email: awt@environment.nsw.gov.au

Note:
This page includes materials published by the former Resource NSW. Enquiries regarding Resource NSW, its programs or publications should be directed to the Sustainability Programs Division.