Engineering - Waste and recycling experts

Introduction

The engineering of waste and recycling facilities has recently become a major issue in Australia as China has effectively blocked the importing of recycled waste by lifting their contamination standards. Furthermore, environmental scientists have raised the alarm about the prevalence of plastics throughout the oceans, harming marine life and permeating throughout the food chain without ever breaking down.

Waste includes any materials or products that have been discarded, rejected or abandoned.

Waste typically arises from three sources:

• Domestic and municipal – includes all household waste and waste collected by local councils in public places
  
• Commercial and industrial waste from all business and industrial activities as well as government institutions
  
• Construction and demolition – includes all waste from the building and construction industry including building rubble
  

Waste can be classified by composition such as glass, paper, organic, metal and plastic, and each presents engineering challenges in their collection and recycling.

Recent topical issues with waste and recycling that call for engineering solutions include:

• The pollution of inland rivers and wetlands
  
• The flushing of wipes and other non-biodegradable sanitary products down the toilet and into the sewerage network where they do not break down
  
• How to best dispose of asbestos
  
• How to reclaim metals from discarded electronics
  
• Methane emissions from the burial of discarded food waste
  

As Australia is forced to process its own recycled waste products, engineers will be increasingly called upon to offer input into the design, construction and operation of recycling facilities. New technologies such as 3D printing and modern construction materials made from recycled plastics will be increasingly relied upon.

At the bottom of this profile are brief details of a number of the experts that Expert Experts represents. Call our office to discuss your requirements and to obtain a recommendation that suits your needs and budget.

Expertise in Action

Experts in the engineering of waste and recycling can offer opinions in cases where councils and processing facilities have come under scrutiny and class actions from environmentalists, media, governments, local residents and businesses, and other stakeholders.

Experts can provide opinion in cases about the efficiency, scope, cost and effectiveness of recycling and offer advice on the different processes available to council and where accidents have occurred or plant and machinery have broken down.

Sample Reports

For some fields of expertise we have some sample sections of de-identified reports. Please contact our office if you are interested in a sample.

Cost

The overall cost of expert opinion depends on the services required. Some of the key factors that affect the cost of advice include:

• The need for a view or inspection of a location
• The quantity of documentary material to be reviewed
• Whether there are reports of other experts to be reviewed and commented on in detail
• Whether there is a need for conferences with the expert either in person or by telephone/Skype

Relevant Articles Australia needs to start recycling and reusing its own waste, says industry struggling under China's ban

The waste industry has reached crisis point several months into the Chinese waste ban, and stakeholders want immediate action.

The Senate, Environment and Communications References Committee’s report into the waste and recycling industry in Australia, June 2018

This report outlines the waste management and recycling sector in Australia, and considers waste generation and the fate of waste, deficiencies in waste data, and the regulation of waste.

Relevant Cases WOOD v ADELAIDE RESOURCE RECOVERY PTY LTD [2017] SASCFC 13

This case involved discussion of the meaning of the terms “Construction and Demolition Waste (Mixed)” and “Commercial and Industrial Waste (General)” and how they were stored in a recycling depot.

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