SULO INNOVATION IN SUSTAINABILITY AWARD

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28 July 2010: Barwon Regional Waste Management Group (BRWMG) was congratulated by the organisers of the Enviro Convention for winning the inaugural SULO Innovation in Sustainability Award, announced at the Enviro 2010 Gala Dinner in Melbourne on 22 July.

The intent of the Sulo Innovation in Sustainability Award is to recognize individuals, groups or companies who have recently completed a successful, innovative and sustainable project.

Head of the judging panel, Jan Fitzgerald said, “The judging panel was impressed by all entries, and particularly our five finalists. However Barwon came out on top because of the many environmental and social outcomes on a number of levels the project achieved, and the fact that it was obviously innovative, financially viable and easily transferable as well.”

BRWMG developed an innovative and holistic approach to dealing with the problems of Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) waste that involved working with Geelong Disabled Peoples Industries to establish a collection and processing facility for local traders to ensure they diverted their waste EPS from landfill, and a local manufacturer – Newtown Cement Products – to establish an end-market for the processed EPS waste.

The judging panel commends all entries, in particular the other finalists: Intec Ltd, Siemens Ltd, Veolia Environmental Services & Hazell Bros Group, and Visy Industries.

SULO Innovation in Sustainability Award from Free Range on Vimeo.

Summary of projects selected as Finalists (in alphabetical order):

Barwon Regional Waste Management Group
BRWMG developed an innovative and holistic approach to dealing with the problems of Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) waste that involved working with Geelong Disabled Peoples (GDP) Industries to establish a collection and processing facility, local traders to ensure they diverted their waste EPS from landfill, and a local manufacturer – Newtown Cement Products – to establish an end market for the processed EPS waste.

Intec Ltd
Intec developed and successfully trialled a process for recycling waste sludges, residues and filter cakes, particularly those with high levels of lead, zinc, copper and tin contamination. Working with an engaged and committed client and the EPA, this process diverted hundreds of tonnes of waste (which previously had been stockpiled with nowhere to go) back into the useful product stream, ultimately benefiting the community and the natural environment.

Siemens Ltd
This innovative project saw a unique partnership form between Siemens, Knox City Council, South East Water, Utility Services, Federal and State governments and the local sports clubs, to facilitate water harvesting at the Siemens site, which was then pumped using a smart monitoring system to the local sports ground approximately 1.3kms away in order to provide year round water (up to 19 ML) for an oval that attracts up to 10,000 spectators at local cricket and football games.

Veolia Environmental Services (Australia) Pty Ltd and Hazell Bros Group Pty Ltd
Veolia and Hazell Bros partnered together to find a process of dealing with mixed broken glass that previously had no practical use. Working with a number of stakeholders including the EPA they developed a process to mill the broken glass back to glass sand and aggregates, and partnered in delivering the first completed recycled glass demonstration project of its kind in Australia at Rosny Park Tennis Club car park.

Visy Industries
Visy first completed its best practice kraft paper mill in Tumut in 2000, and commissioned its second stage in October 2009. The second stage set even higher benchmarks for sustainability than the first, and achieved more than double the output of product with such achievements as no additional land being used, a closed loop water system being implemented, and world’s best practice greenhouse per tonne of output at the site. This was achieved with continual and open engagement with the local community.