❓ A WA parliamentary question probes the City of Stirling's waste management practices, specifically the composting of green bin waste at a contractor's Calingiri property, and the environmental and economic implications. The Minister's response defends the practice as a legitimate form of resource recovery under license.
AnsweredQoN 1812Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(b) is the City of Stirling seeking rebates for waste diverted from the RRRS; (c) will the Minister outline the beneficial outcomes to both recycling and the environment, if any, of the waste management processes used by the City of Stirling and its waste management contractor; (d) is it accurate, that approximately 60% of the City of Stirling’s Mobile Green Bin (MGB) contents are left to decompose at the contractor’s privately owned Calingiri property to be aerobically decomposed in open fields; (e) is there an independently demonstrated market for this decomposed material; (f) if not, does this not result in an unlicensed landfill to be left for future generations to deal with; and (g) does this waste material at Calingiri have potential to pollute both the water table and the atmosphere through the escape of leachates and greenhouse gases respectively?
(c) will the Minister outline the beneficial outcomes to both recycling and the environment, if any, of the waste management processes used by the City of Stirling and its waste management contractor; (d) is it accurate, that approximately 60% of the City of Stirling’s Mobile Green Bin (MGB) contents are left to decompose at the contractor’s privately owned Calingiri property to be aerobically decomposed in open fields; (e) is there an independently demonstrated market for this decomposed material; (f) if not, does this not result in an unlicensed landfill to be left for future generations to deal with; and (g) does this waste material at Calingiri have potential to pollute both the water table and the atmosphere through the escape of leachates and greenhouse gases respectively?
(d) is it accurate, that approximately 60% of the City of Stirling’s Mobile Green Bin (MGB) contents are left to decompose at the contractor’s privately owned Calingiri property to be aerobically decomposed in open fields; (e) is there an independently demonstrated market for this decomposed material; (f) if not, does this not result in an unlicensed landfill to be left for future generations to deal with; and (g) does this waste material at Calingiri have potential to pollute both the water table and the atmosphere through the escape of leachates and greenhouse gases respectively?
(e) is there an independently demonstrated market for this decomposed material; (f) if not, does this not result in an unlicensed landfill to be left for future generations to deal with; and (g) does this waste material at Calingiri have potential to pollute both the water table and the atmosphere through the escape of leachates and greenhouse gases respectively?
(f) if not, does this not result in an unlicensed landfill to be left for future generations to deal with; and (g) does this waste material at Calingiri have potential to pollute both the water table and the atmosphere through the escape of leachates and greenhouse gases respectively?
(g) does this waste material at Calingiri have potential to pollute both the water table and the atmosphere through the escape of leachates and greenhouse gases respectively?
(b) The City of Stirling has applied for rebate payments in every round of the RRRS. The City has only received payments for material that it has demonstrated to be reused. (c) The City of Stirling claims to achieve waste diversion rates of 60% of household waste. This rate of waste diversion places the Council among the highest performing of all local government. This level of waste diversion has environmental benefits achieved through keeping material out of landfill. This prevents the generation of green house gases and leachates that are produced under anaerobic landfill conditions. The recovered resource, in the form of compost, has environmental benefits in improving the structure of agricultural soils. (d) No this is not accurate. All of the waste collected from the City of Stirling’s household mobile garbage bins is taken to the Atlas facility at Mirrabooka where the organic component is separated from other recyclables and residues. The organics are then carted to the company’s farm at Calingiri and composted in an open windrow composting system established in an area licensed by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) on one part of the farm. I am advised that the organic waste is then composted under conditions of licence that require Atlas to test it in accordance with the Australian Standard and Biosolids Guidelines before the compost leaves the site. (e) The company has declined opportunities to participate in compost market development activities. It is Atlas’ intention to use all of the compost produced at the facility on its own farm. A compost expert from Department of Agriculture has advised that the material is satisfactory for this purpose. I am also advised that the soils are so low in organic matter that this one farm can apply all of the compost produced from the City of Stirling’s organic waste on an ongoing basis. (f) Applying this compost to agricultural land would not be considered another form of landfilling. Only a relatively small amount of the compost had been applied to the land up to the end of Period 8 (January – June 2002) of the RRRS. This is the latest period for which RRRS rebates have been processed. Application of compost to the soil has to coincide with the correct period in the cropping regime. (g) The Atlas composting site at Calingiri is licensed by the DEP. The DEP has advised me that the construction of a leachate collection dam and water diversion bunds around the composting pad are designed to reduce the potential for pollution from run-off. Atlas is also required to comply with licence conditions that are designed to reduce the potential for surface and groundwater impacts. Carbon dioxide is produced by the aerobic composting process, and this escapes to the atmosphere. However, the alternative of landfilling the organic waste would result in production of methane gas, which is far more damaging to the environment than the carbon dioxide produced by composting, and leachates that can contaminate groundwater under the landfill.
(c) The City of Stirling claims to achieve waste diversion rates of 60% of household waste. This rate of waste diversion places the Council among the highest performing of all local government. This level of waste diversion has environmental benefits achieved through keeping material out of landfill. This prevents the generation of green house gases and leachates that are produced under anaerobic landfill conditions. The recovered resource, in the form of compost, has environmental benefits in improving the structure of agricultural soils. (d) No this is not accurate. All of the waste collected from the City of Stirling’s household mobile garbage bins is taken to the Atlas facility at Mirrabooka where the organic component is separated from other recyclables and residues. The organics are then carted to the company’s farm at Calingiri and composted in an open windrow composting system established in an area licensed by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) on one part of the farm. I am advised that the organic waste is then composted under conditions of licence that require Atlas to test it in accordance with the Australian Standard and Biosolids Guidelines before the compost leaves the site. (e) The company has declined opportunities to participate in compost market development activities. It is Atlas’ intention to use all of the compost produced at the facility on its own farm. A compost expert from Department of Agriculture has advised that the material is satisfactory for this purpose. I am also advised that the soils are so low in organic matter that this one farm can apply all of the compost produced from the City of Stirling’s organic waste on an ongoing basis. (f) Applying this compost to agricultural land would not be considered another form of landfilling. Only a relatively small amount of the compost had been applied to the land up to the end of Period 8 (January – June 2002) of the RRRS. This is the latest period for which RRRS rebates have been processed. Application of compost to the soil has to coincide with the correct period in the cropping regime. (g) The Atlas composting site at Calingiri is licensed by the DEP. The DEP has advised me that the construction of a leachate collection dam and water diversion bunds around the composting pad are designed to reduce the potential for pollution from run-off. Atlas is also required to comply with licence conditions that are designed to reduce the potential for surface and groundwater impacts. Carbon dioxide is produced by the aerobic composting process, and this escapes to the atmosphere. However, the alternative of landfilling the organic waste would result in production of methane gas, which is far more damaging to the environment than the carbon dioxide produced by composting, and leachates that can contaminate groundwater under the landfill.
(d) No this is not accurate. All of the waste collected from the City of Stirling’s household mobile garbage bins is taken to the Atlas facility at Mirrabooka where the organic component is separated from other recyclables and residues. The organics are then carted to the company’s farm at Calingiri and composted in an open windrow composting system established in an area licensed by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) on one part of the farm. I am advised that the organic waste is then composted under conditions of licence that require Atlas to test it in accordance with the Australian Standard and Biosolids Guidelines before the compost leaves the site. (e) The company has declined opportunities to participate in compost market development activities. It is Atlas’ intention to use all of the compost produced at the facility on its own farm. A compost expert from Department of Agriculture has advised that the material is satisfactory for this purpose. I am also advised that the soils are so low in organic matter that this one farm can apply all of the compost produced from the City of Stirling’s organic waste on an ongoing basis. (f) Applying this compost to agricultural land would not be considered another form of landfilling. Only a relatively small amount of the compost had been applied to the land up to the end of Period 8 (January – June 2002) of the RRRS. This is the latest period for which RRRS rebates have been processed. Application of compost to the soil has to coincide with the correct period in the cropping regime. (g) The Atlas composting site at Calingiri is licensed by the DEP. The DEP has advised me that the construction of a leachate collection dam and water diversion bunds around the composting pad are designed to reduce the potential for pollution from run-off. Atlas is also required to comply with licence conditions that are designed to reduce the potential for surface and groundwater impacts. Carbon dioxide is produced by the aerobic composting process, and this escapes to the atmosphere. However, the alternative of landfilling the organic waste would result in production of methane gas, which is far more damaging to the environment than the carbon dioxide produced by composting, and leachates that can contaminate groundwater under the landfill.
(e) The company has declined opportunities to participate in compost market development activities. It is Atlas’ intention to use all of the compost produced at the facility on its own farm. A compost expert from Department of Agriculture has advised that the material is satisfactory for this purpose. I am also advised that the soils are so low in organic matter that this one farm can apply all of the compost produced from the City of Stirling’s organic waste on an ongoing basis. (f) Applying this compost to agricultural land would not be considered another form of landfilling. Only a relatively small amount of the compost had been applied to the land up to the end of Period 8 (January – June 2002) of the RRRS. This is the latest period for which RRRS rebates have been processed. Application of compost to the soil has to coincide with the correct period in the cropping regime. (g) The Atlas composting site at Calingiri is licensed by the DEP. The DEP has advised me that the construction of a leachate collection dam and water diversion bunds around the composting pad are designed to reduce the potential for pollution from run-off. Atlas is also required to comply with licence conditions that are designed to reduce the potential for surface and groundwater impacts. Carbon dioxide is produced by the aerobic composting process, and this escapes to the atmosphere. However, the alternative of landfilling the organic waste would result in production of methane gas, which is far more damaging to the environment than the carbon dioxide produced by composting, and leachates that can contaminate groundwater under the landfill.
(f) Applying this compost to agricultural land would not be considered another form of landfilling. Only a relatively small amount of the compost had been applied to the land up to the end of Period 8 (January – June 2002) of the RRRS. This is the latest period for which RRRS rebates have been processed. Application of compost to the soil has to coincide with the correct period in the cropping regime. (g) The Atlas composting site at Calingiri is licensed by the DEP. The DEP has advised me that the construction of a leachate collection dam and water diversion bunds around the composting pad are designed to reduce the potential for pollution from run-off. Atlas is also required to comply with licence conditions that are designed to reduce the potential for surface and groundwater impacts. Carbon dioxide is produced by the aerobic composting process, and this escapes to the atmosphere. However, the alternative of landfilling the organic waste would result in production of methane gas, which is far more damaging to the environment than the carbon dioxide produced by composting, and leachates that can contaminate groundwater under the landfill.
Only a relatively small amount of the compost had been applied to the land up to the end of Period 8 (January – June 2002) of the RRRS. This is the latest period for which RRRS rebates have been processed. Application of compost to the soil has to coincide with the correct period in the cropping regime. (g) The Atlas composting site at Calingiri is licensed by the DEP. The DEP has advised me that the construction of a leachate collection dam and water diversion bunds around the composting pad are designed to reduce the potential for pollution from run-off. Atlas is also required to comply with licence conditions that are designed to reduce the potential for surface and groundwater impacts. Carbon dioxide is produced by the aerobic composting process, and this escapes to the atmosphere. However, the alternative of landfilling the organic waste would result in production of methane gas, which is far more damaging to the environment than the carbon dioxide produced by composting, and leachates that can contaminate groundwater under the landfill.
(g) The Atlas composting site at Calingiri is licensed by the DEP. The DEP has advised me that the construction of a leachate collection dam and water diversion bunds around the composting pad are designed to reduce the potential for pollution from run-off. Atlas is also required to comply with licence conditions that are designed to reduce the potential for surface and groundwater impacts. Carbon dioxide is produced by the aerobic composting process, and this escapes to the atmosphere. However, the alternative of landfilling the organic waste would result in production of methane gas, which is far more damaging to the environment than the carbon dioxide produced by composting, and leachates that can contaminate groundwater under the landfill.
(c) will the Minister outline the beneficial outcomes to both recycling and the environment, if any, of the waste management processes used by the City of Stirling and its waste management contractor; (d) is it accurate, that approximately 60% of the City of Stirling’s Mobile Green Bin (MGB) contents are left to decompose at the contractor’s privately owned Calingiri property to be aerobically decomposed in open fields; (e) is there an independently demonstrated market for this decomposed material; (f) if not, does this not result in an unlicensed landfill to be left for future generations to deal with; and (g) does this waste material at Calingiri have potential to pollute both the water table and the atmosphere through the escape of leachates and greenhouse gases respectively?
(d) is it accurate, that approximately 60% of the City of Stirling’s Mobile Green Bin (MGB) contents are left to decompose at the contractor’s privately owned Calingiri property to be aerobically decomposed in open fields; (e) is there an independently demonstrated market for this decomposed material; (f) if not, does this not result in an unlicensed landfill to be left for future generations to deal with; and (g) does this waste material at Calingiri have potential to pollute both the water table and the atmosphere through the escape of leachates and greenhouse gases respectively?
(e) is there an independently demonstrated market for this decomposed material; (f) if not, does this not result in an unlicensed landfill to be left for future generations to deal with; and (g) does this waste material at Calingiri have potential to pollute both the water table and the atmosphere through the escape of leachates and greenhouse gases respectively?
(f) if not, does this not result in an unlicensed landfill to be left for future generations to deal with; and (g) does this waste material at Calingiri have potential to pollute both the water table and the atmosphere through the escape of leachates and greenhouse gases respectively?
(g) does this waste material at Calingiri have potential to pollute both the water table and the atmosphere through the escape of leachates and greenhouse gases respectively?
(b) The City of Stirling has applied for rebate payments in every round of the RRRS. The City has only received payments for material that it has demonstrated to be reused. (c) The City of Stirling claims to achieve waste diversion rates of 60% of household waste. This rate of waste diversion places the Council among the highest performing of all local government. This level of waste diversion has environmental benefits achieved through keeping material out of landfill. This prevents the generation of green house gases and leachates that are produced under anaerobic landfill conditions. The recovered resource, in the form of compost, has environmental benefits in improving the structure of agricultural soils. (d) No this is not accurate. All of the waste collected from the City of Stirling’s household mobile garbage bins is taken to the Atlas facility at Mirrabooka where the organic component is separated from other recyclables and residues. The organics are then carted to the company’s farm at Calingiri and composted in an open windrow composting system established in an area licensed by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) on one part of the farm. I am advised that the organic waste is then composted under conditions of licence that require Atlas to test it in accordance with the Australian Standard and Biosolids Guidelines before the compost leaves the site. (e) The company has declined opportunities to participate in compost market development activities. It is Atlas’ intention to use all of the compost produced at the facility on its own farm. A compost expert from Department of Agriculture has advised that the material is satisfactory for this purpose. I am also advised that the soils are so low in organic matter that this one farm can apply all of the compost produced from the City of Stirling’s organic waste on an ongoing basis. (f) Applying this compost to agricultural land would not be considered another form of landfilling. Only a relatively small amount of the compost had been applied to the land up to the end of Period 8 (January – June 2002) of the RRRS. This is the latest period for which RRRS rebates have been processed. Application of compost to the soil has to coincide with the correct period in the cropping regime. (g) The Atlas composting site at Calingiri is licensed by the DEP. The DEP has advised me that the construction of a leachate collection dam and water diversion bunds around the composting pad are designed to reduce the potential for pollution from run-off. Atlas is also required to comply with licence conditions that are designed to reduce the potential for surface and groundwater impacts. Carbon dioxide is produced by the aerobic composting process, and this escapes to the atmosphere. However, the alternative of landfilling the organic waste would result in production of methane gas, which is far more damaging to the environment than the carbon dioxide produced by composting, and leachates that can contaminate groundwater under the landfill.
(c) The City of Stirling claims to achieve waste diversion rates of 60% of household waste. This rate of waste diversion places the Council among the highest performing of all local government. This level of waste diversion has environmental benefits achieved through keeping material out of landfill. This prevents the generation of green house gases and leachates that are produced under anaerobic landfill conditions. The recovered resource, in the form of compost, has environmental benefits in improving the structure of agricultural soils. (d) No this is not accurate. All of the waste collected from the City of Stirling’s household mobile garbage bins is taken to the Atlas facility at Mirrabooka where the organic component is separated from other recyclables and residues. The organics are then carted to the company’s farm at Calingiri and composted in an open windrow composting system established in an area licensed by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) on one part of the farm. I am advised that the organic waste is then composted under conditions of licence that require Atlas to test it in accordance with the Australian Standard and Biosolids Guidelines before the compost leaves the site. (e) The company has declined opportunities to participate in compost market development activities. It is Atlas’ intention to use all of the compost produced at the facility on its own farm. A compost expert from Department of Agriculture has advised that the material is satisfactory for this purpose. I am also advised that the soils are so low in organic matter that this one farm can apply all of the compost produced from the City of Stirling’s organic waste on an ongoing basis. (f) Applying this compost to agricultural land would not be considered another form of landfilling. Only a relatively small amount of the compost had been applied to the land up to the end of Period 8 (January – June 2002) of the RRRS. This is the latest period for which RRRS rebates have been processed. Application of compost to the soil has to coincide with the correct period in the cropping regime. (g) The Atlas composting site at Calingiri is licensed by the DEP. The DEP has advised me that the construction of a leachate collection dam and water diversion bunds around the composting pad are designed to reduce the potential for pollution from run-off. Atlas is also required to comply with licence conditions that are designed to reduce the potential for surface and groundwater impacts. Carbon dioxide is produced by the aerobic composting process, and this escapes to the atmosphere. However, the alternative of landfilling the organic waste would result in production of methane gas, which is far more damaging to the environment than the carbon dioxide produced by composting, and leachates that can contaminate groundwater under the landfill.
(d) No this is not accurate. All of the waste collected from the City of Stirling’s household mobile garbage bins is taken to the Atlas facility at Mirrabooka where the organic component is separated from other recyclables and residues. The organics are then carted to the company’s farm at Calingiri and composted in an open windrow composting system established in an area licensed by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) on one part of the farm. I am advised that the organic waste is then composted under conditions of licence that require Atlas to test it in accordance with the Australian Standard and Biosolids Guidelines before the compost leaves the site. (e) The company has declined opportunities to participate in compost market development activities. It is Atlas’ intention to use all of the compost produced at the facility on its own farm. A compost expert from Department of Agriculture has advised that the material is satisfactory for this purpose. I am also advised that the soils are so low in organic matter that this one farm can apply all of the compost produced from the City of Stirling’s organic waste on an ongoing basis. (f) Applying this compost to agricultural land would not be considered another form of landfilling. Only a relatively small amount of the compost had been applied to the land up to the end of Period 8 (January – June 2002) of the RRRS. This is the latest period for which RRRS rebates have been processed. Application of compost to the soil has to coincide with the correct period in the cropping regime. (g) The Atlas composting site at Calingiri is licensed by the DEP. The DEP has advised me that the construction of a leachate collection dam and water diversion bunds around the composting pad are designed to reduce the potential for pollution from run-off. Atlas is also required to comply with licence conditions that are designed to reduce the potential for surface and groundwater impacts. Carbon dioxide is produced by the aerobic composting process, and this escapes to the atmosphere. However, the alternative of landfilling the organic waste would result in production of methane gas, which is far more damaging to the environment than the carbon dioxide produced by composting, and leachates that can contaminate groundwater under the landfill.
(e) The company has declined opportunities to participate in compost market development activities. It is Atlas’ intention to use all of the compost produced at the facility on its own farm. A compost expert from Department of Agriculture has advised that the material is satisfactory for this purpose. I am also advised that the soils are so low in organic matter that this one farm can apply all of the compost produced from the City of Stirling’s organic waste on an ongoing basis. (f) Applying this compost to agricultural land would not be considered another form of landfilling. Only a relatively small amount of the compost had been applied to the land up to the end of Period 8 (January – June 2002) of the RRRS. This is the latest period for which RRRS rebates have been processed. Application of compost to the soil has to coincide with the correct period in the cropping regime. (g) The Atlas composting site at Calingiri is licensed by the DEP. The DEP has advised me that the construction of a leachate collection dam and water diversion bunds around the composting pad are designed to reduce the potential for pollution from run-off. Atlas is also required to comply with licence conditions that are designed to reduce the potential for surface and groundwater impacts. Carbon dioxide is produced by the aerobic composting process, and this escapes to the atmosphere. However, the alternative of landfilling the organic waste would result in production of methane gas, which is far more damaging to the environment than the carbon dioxide produced by composting, and leachates that can contaminate groundwater under the landfill.
(f) Applying this compost to agricultural land would not be considered another form of landfilling. Only a relatively small amount of the compost had been applied to the land up to the end of Period 8 (January – June 2002) of the RRRS. This is the latest period for which RRRS rebates have been processed. Application of compost to the soil has to coincide with the correct period in the cropping regime. (g) The Atlas composting site at Calingiri is licensed by the DEP. The DEP has advised me that the construction of a leachate collection dam and water diversion bunds around the composting pad are designed to reduce the potential for pollution from run-off. Atlas is also required to comply with licence conditions that are designed to reduce the potential for surface and groundwater impacts. Carbon dioxide is produced by the aerobic composting process, and this escapes to the atmosphere. However, the alternative of landfilling the organic waste would result in production of methane gas, which is far more damaging to the environment than the carbon dioxide produced by composting, and leachates that can contaminate groundwater under the landfill.
Only a relatively small amount of the compost had been applied to the land up to the end of Period 8 (January – June 2002) of the RRRS. This is the latest period for which RRRS rebates have been processed. Application of compost to the soil has to coincide with the correct period in the cropping regime. (g) The Atlas composting site at Calingiri is licensed by the DEP. The DEP has advised me that the construction of a leachate collection dam and water diversion bunds around the composting pad are designed to reduce the potential for pollution from run-off. Atlas is also required to comply with licence conditions that are designed to reduce the potential for surface and groundwater impacts. Carbon dioxide is produced by the aerobic composting process, and this escapes to the atmosphere. However, the alternative of landfilling the organic waste would result in production of methane gas, which is far more damaging to the environment than the carbon dioxide produced by composting, and leachates that can contaminate groundwater under the landfill.
(g) The Atlas composting site at Calingiri is licensed by the DEP. The DEP has advised me that the construction of a leachate collection dam and water diversion bunds around the composting pad are designed to reduce the potential for pollution from run-off. Atlas is also required to comply with licence conditions that are designed to reduce the potential for surface and groundwater impacts. Carbon dioxide is produced by the aerobic composting process, and this escapes to the atmosphere. However, the alternative of landfilling the organic waste would result in production of methane gas, which is far more damaging to the environment than the carbon dioxide produced by composting, and leachates that can contaminate groundwater under the landfill.
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
24 September 2003
Responded by
Minister for the Environment
Response time
34 days
(a) The Resource Recovery Rebate Scheme (RRRS) provisions apply to any resource derived from the domestic waste stream that is subsequently diverted from landfill. The application of rebates paid under the RRRS is guided by a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that was established in accordance with the principles and operating guidelines of the Waste Management and Recycling Fund. These rebates are generally calculated according to an assessment of the weight of resources recovered, with an adjustment for the effectiveness of the process used in recovering resources. Under the MOU, the Municipal Waste Advisory Council (MWAC) undertakes processing of rebates. To ensure that the rebate is not paid until materials have been recycled, MWAC does not recommend payment until dry recyclables have been sold and recycled organics (i.e. composts and mulches) can be shown to have been re-used. When recovered resources are not re-used in a particular period, payment of the rebate is held over until a subsequent period.
(b) The City of Stirling has applied for rebate payments in every round of the RRRS. The City has only received payments for material that it has demonstrated to be reused.
(c) The City of Stirling claims to achieve waste diversion rates of 60% of household waste. This rate of waste diversion places the Council among the highest performing of all local government. This level of waste diversion has environmental benefits achieved through keeping material out of landfill. This prevents the generation of green house gases and leachates that are produced under anaerobic landfill conditions. The recovered resource, in the form of compost, has environmental benefits in improving the structure of agricultural soils.
(d) No this is not accurate. All of the waste collected from the City of Stirling’s household mobile garbage bins is taken to the Atlas facility at Mirrabooka where the organic component is separated from other recyclables and residues. The organics are then carted to the company’s farm at Calingiri and composted in an open windrow composting system established in an area licensed by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) on one part of the farm. I am advised that the organic waste is then composted under conditions of licence that require Atlas to test it in accordance with the Australian Standard and Biosolids Guidelines before the compost leaves the site.
(e) The company has declined opportunities to participate in compost market development activities. It is Atlas’ intention to use all of the compost produced at the facility on its own farm. A compost expert from Department of Agriculture has advised that the material is satisfactory for this purpose. I am also advised that the soils are so low in organic matter that this one farm can apply all of the compost produced from the City of Stirling’s organic waste on an ongoing basis.
(f) Applying this compost to agricultural land would not be considered another form of landfilling.
Only a relatively small amount of the compost had been applied to the land up to the end of Period 8 (January – June 2002) of the RRRS. This is the latest period for which RRRS rebates have been processed. Application of compost to the soil has to coincide with the correct period in the cropping regime.
(g) The Atlas composting site at Calingiri is licensed by the DEP. The DEP has advised me that the construction of a leachate collection dam and water diversion bunds around the composting pad are designed to reduce the potential for pollution from run-off. Atlas is also required to comply with licence conditions that are designed to reduce the potential for surface and groundwater impacts. Carbon dioxide is produced by the aerobic composting process, and this escapes to the atmosphere. However, the alternative of landfilling the organic waste would result in production of methane gas, which is far more damaging to the environment than the carbon dioxide produced by composting, and leachates that can contaminate groundwater under the landfill.
(b) The City of Stirling has applied for rebate payments in every round of the RRRS. The City has only received payments for material that it has demonstrated to be reused.
(c) The City of Stirling claims to achieve waste diversion rates of 60% of household waste. This rate of waste diversion places the Council among the highest performing of all local government. This level of waste diversion has environmental benefits achieved through keeping material out of landfill. This prevents the generation of green house gases and leachates that are produced under anaerobic landfill conditions. The recovered resource, in the form of compost, has environmental benefits in improving the structure of agricultural soils.
(d) No this is not accurate. All of the waste collected from the City of Stirling’s household mobile garbage bins is taken to the Atlas facility at Mirrabooka where the organic component is separated from other recyclables and residues. The organics are then carted to the company’s farm at Calingiri and composted in an open windrow composting system established in an area licensed by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) on one part of the farm. I am advised that the organic waste is then composted under conditions of licence that require Atlas to test it in accordance with the Australian Standard and Biosolids Guidelines before the compost leaves the site.
(e) The company has declined opportunities to participate in compost market development activities. It is Atlas’ intention to use all of the compost produced at the facility on its own farm. A compost expert from Department of Agriculture has advised that the material is satisfactory for this purpose. I am also advised that the soils are so low in organic matter that this one farm can apply all of the compost produced from the City of Stirling’s organic waste on an ongoing basis.
(f) Applying this compost to agricultural land would not be considered another form of landfilling.
Only a relatively small amount of the compost had been applied to the land up to the end of Period 8 (January – June 2002) of the RRRS. This is the latest period for which RRRS rebates have been processed. Application of compost to the soil has to coincide with the correct period in the cropping regime.
(g) The Atlas composting site at Calingiri is licensed by the DEP. The DEP has advised me that the construction of a leachate collection dam and water diversion bunds around the composting pad are designed to reduce the potential for pollution from run-off. Atlas is also required to comply with licence conditions that are designed to reduce the potential for surface and groundwater impacts. Carbon dioxide is produced by the aerobic composting process, and this escapes to the atmosphere. However, the alternative of landfilling the organic waste would result in production of methane gas, which is far more damaging to the environment than the carbon dioxide produced by composting, and leachates that can contaminate groundwater under the landfill.
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