Green initiative or green wash?

Over the past two years the Queensland Government Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) have undertaken a strategic review of waste in Queensland.

The result of this extensive review was a blueprint for the future, titled Strategic Waste Strategy 2010-2020.

DERM appear to have listened, seemingly with only one ear, to business, industry, and the broader community, with the drafted State Government Landfill Tax (Waste Levy) legislation scheduled for introduction on 1 December 2011.

The Strategic Waste Strategy recommends the application of a levy, stating that it will provide:

• a price signal to encourage waste generators to change behaviour
• a source of funding to assist local government, business, and industry to establish better waste avoidance and resource recovery practices, and to improve waste management overall
• an incentive for industry investment into resource recovery infrastructure
• a disincentive for unnecessary landfill disposal
• a level playing field with waste disposal costs compared to other states

The Levy will apply broadly to commercial and industrial (C&I) waste, and construction and demolition (C&D) waste streams, including regulated waste, and contaminated and acid sulphate soils. The Levy will NOT apply to municipal solid waste (MSW) (i.e. household/ domestic waste, which accounts for more than 30% of waste generated in Queensland). This appears to have been a deal done for political expediency (i.e. support of local governments for the introduction of a levy) rather than sound environmental policy. This exclusion directly undermines the stated policy strategy and intent.

As a result it is a policy that directly taxes all commercial bona fide licensed and accredited timber recycling operations, while excluding recyclers of domestic household waste streams. Subsequently, this Levy now places other less environmentally sound building products at a distinct market advantage, particularly in the case of imported products where the processing is undertaken outside Australia. On some products it will result in shifting processing from local facilities, impacting local jobs, to offshore.

Despite the bureaucratic rhetoric, DERM's track record of failing to enforce unlicensed and illegal recycling operations, is likely to see this 'one size fits all' approach to improving environmental outcomes. For some industries this will result in the absolute opposite of intended strategic policy intent.

In fact the bill not only excludes any references to shutting down illegal operations it provides the State government with the legislative powers to recover the waste levy from them and see them continue to operate. Unfortunately this green washing by the Queensland Government sees more focus on revenue collection and in doing deals for political expediency than achieving long term positive environmental outcomes.

Over the past ten years Kennedy's have advocated an end to the crunch and dump of timber rich buildings and structures. Sending redundant timbers to landfill should be the very last option, not the first. It is important that government at all levels, together with business and the broader community, have in place protocols to manage and handle redundant timbers. Kennedy's have developed protocols in accordance with the National Timber Product Stewardship Group (NTPSG) for the inspection, assessment, handling, and processing of redundant timbers, including the environmentally safe, and compliant managing, of any chemically treated timbers and residual off cuts. A correctly structured waste disposal levy is just one of the ways to achieve positive environmental outcomes. It should NOT be a levy that penalises and punishes licensed and accredited recycling operators who have developed sound environmental practices.

Good governments listen to genuine industry concerns.

Links:

NTPSG - www.timberstewardship.org.au

DERM - www.derm.qld.gov.au

Are they certified safe for re-use?

There are many reasons why someone chooses to use reclaimed and recycled timber.

There is a Green component, knowing that you are contributing to environmental sustainability. Another reason is that, recycled timber tells a story. It often has a certain 'character', and it comes with a history.

Timbers from these types of structures are highly desirable, including for use as feature posts and beams, particularly because the timber comes with a proud history, which through its re-use, lives on.

The availability of recycled timber derived from timber bridges can often cause a certain amount of excitement and desire.

For some, the decision to demolish a piece of history can be difficult to comprehend however, timber by its nature is prone to wear and deterioration, and without the adequate preservation methods, is susceptible to inevitable deterioration.

Unfortunately, a lessor known consideration when sourcing recycled bridge timbers, is how the timber was treated and preserved throughout its life in order to maintain its purpose.

Often, the process for maintaining and treating the timbers used in bridges involves the use of highly toxic chemicals.

One project which merits specific mention are the heavily chemically treated timbers from the Hornibrook bridge in Queensland. In February 2011 the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads issued a WARNING about using re-using timber from this source.

Specifically the Government department warned:

"The timber of the old bridge has been impregnated with termite poisoning treatments over the last several decades. All timber salvaged from the bridge will require decontamination processing in order to be recycled for future use."

In recent years there has also been a number of scientific studies investigating the chemicals to treat timbers in the Hornibrook bridge.

The table below shows some of the chemicals found to be retained in timbers from this bridge.

An environmentally sound product

Jamie Oliver’s very first Ministry of Food, located in Ipswich, Queensland, is all about getting people cooking again by teaching them the basics: how to cook, how to shop, and how to enjoy food in a way that benefits not only individuals, but also their families.

Despite the abundance of reality cooking shows on television, and the apparent availability of food education, obesity in Australia is epidemic. The entire premise of the Ministry of Food project is to combat this growing problem.

Providing a functional environment for food education and preparation was key, as was ensuring the kitchen design and construction mirrored the Ministry of Food’s values.

In designing the kitchen there has been a clear focus on the responsible use of recycled, re-used, and rescued elements that have gone together to create the perfect cooking and educational environment.

As a clear reflection of the continuing work and passion Kennedy’s dedicates to recycled timber, having been recently awarded the 2010 ENERGEX Innovation in Sustainability Award, Kennedy’s was proud to supply the timber benchtops used in the first Ministry of Food kitchen here in Australia.

To look at the beautiful Spotted Gum and Ironbark benchtops, the first thing that comes to mind certainly isn’t recycled power poles. It is a fact though; this is precisely their origin.

Retired power poles from around Ipswich were used to fabricate the benchtops, no mean feat given the expertise and skill required to bring the timber up to Australian standards for food preparation surfaces.
Kennedy’s have invested substantially in the know-how and processes required to provide such incredibly high quality recycled timber products.

The Ministry of Food project is a typical demonstration of the work Kennedy’s does in transforming previously employed timber and repurposing it into a public use, heavy wear, and environmentally sound end product.

Links:

www.ministryoffood.com

www.greenerkitchens.com.au