As you are no doubt aware, Australia, along with the global community, has finally committed to limit anthropogenic global warming to less than a 2 degree increase (with a 1.5 degree increase as an aspirational target). Australia has a chequered history in respect of climate change policy and it is a brave person who would […]

Voluntary action by every individual helps to grow recycling rates; an extra milk bottle in the recycling bin; installing a home composting system, all contribute. Australia leads the world in household recycling rates. In the business sector most of the economically viable streams are already being recycled (cardboard, paper, metals and plastic) although there is […]

MRA’s Planning and Approvals team is going from strength to strength. “With the introduction of the PoEO (Waste) Regulation changes in late 2014, we have seen a surge in clients seeking to ensure their regulatory house is in order. We have successfully completed a number of development and licence applications for new and existing waste […]

Plastic, in all its forms, can be a pain in the neck for waste managers. It is light, voluminous and not worth very much. But, small bits of plastic like microbeads found in common cosmetics such as face washes, exfoliants and toothpastes, have been really wreaking havoc on waterways and soil systems across the world. […]

South Australia’s suggested waste management reforms as set out in ‘Reforming waste management – Creating certainty for an industry to grow’ discusses the concept of ‘Pay as you throw’ or ‘Save as you throw’ variable rate pricing for waste services. The basics are to provide variable pricing based on the volume of the bin or […]

The Clean Energy Regulator has today announced the results of the second Emissions Reduction Fund auction held on 4 and 5 November 2015. These contracts secure the delivery of 45.5 million tonnes of abatement at an average price per tonne of abatement of $12.25. The second Emissions Reduction Fund auction saw 129 carbon abatement contracts […]

In our recent article ‘Is it time for a landfill ban on polystyrene?’, we referenced New York City’s decision to ban single-use polystyrene foam containers and packaging. The decision meant the end of polystyrene throw away coffee cups. Unexpectedly, on 22 September, Justice Margaret Chan, of the New York Supreme Court overturned the ban citing […]

Virginia Brunton recently joined the MRA team, bringing with her over 25 years experience in organics research, industry development and engagement with farmers, producers and policy makers. Virginia will lead MRA Organics with a focus on: council organics and compost services, recovered organics market expansion solutions for businesses advice to government and industry grant funding […]

The NSW EPA has released its third round of Organics Infrastructure funding under the $465.7 million NSW Government Waste Less Recycle More program (WLRM), in addition to the ongoing Organics Market Development Grants for product quality. The new grants provide a one off opportunity to a range of eligible applicants within NSW, including local governments, […]

The Albury Wodonga region is the best in both NSW and Victoria for household recycling. That’s according to a recent audit of kerbside household waste, which shows that total diversion rates of the four councils that introduced a combined food and garden organics service this year was 82% on average. The councils that achieved this […]

The second Emissions Reduction Fund auction is just around the corner. Who will be the big winners this time around? A total of $1.89 billion in funds remains in the ERF to be spent over the crediting period to 2020. Competition in the second ERF auction is potentially greater with 330 projects registered under the […]

The Department of the Environment has finally released a draft of the Source Separated Organic Waste Determination for public consultation today. Generate ACCUs for diverting organic waste from landfill The Source Separated Organics Method allows organisations to gain ACCU credits for activities that involve the diversion of organic material from landfill. Abatement is calculated as […]