Thursday 10 November: Resource Recovery Summit

07:00
Local Government Breakfast
08:15
Registration and welcome coffee
08:50
Opening remarks from the Chair

ENSURING SUSTAINABILITY FLOWS THROUGH ALL ASPECTS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT
09:00
Creating opportunities to recover resources from waste and return it into the circular economy
  • Looking into the lessons learned from the award winning in-house designed glass processing plant
  • Overcoming previously inefficient waste practices to drive resources into the circular economy
  • Developing processes to turn existing waste product into high quality products to support the local community

Peter Windley
Co-ordinator – Waste Operations
Shoalhaven City Council

09:30
PANEL DISCUSSION: How to build community support for sustainability measures through innovative channels
  • Identifying which social media channels are the best for your local community to ensure your messages are seen and heard by the right people
  • Deciding what information is and is not valuable and important to share
  • What are some of the critical obstacles local councils face when trying to establish their social media presence?
  • Does the NSW Government's social media policy for local councils provide an opportunity to develop good relationships between council staff and constituents, or does it not go far enough?

Panellists:

Benjamin Bywater
Social Media Advisor
City of Parramatta

10:20
Morning tea

BIG DATA, AI AND THE FUTURE OF WASTE MANAGEMENT AND RECYCLING PROCESSES
11:00
Using AI and Machine Learning to detect waste contamination
  • Spotlighting the benefits of developing a bespoke platform to share real-time information on job requests, live truck locations, waste collection routes and customer information
  • Saving time and reducing costs through the implementation of technological advancements to increase viability of contamination
  • Improving the customer experience through sharing accurate information and education on waste behaviour

Brad Gray
Manager – Sustainable Future
City of Canterbury Bankstown

11:30
Partner presentation

11:50
Applying the power of AI to improve efficiencies in waste management and recycling
  • Highlighting the importance of AI as an essential tool in developing a sustainable, long-term waste management strategy
  • Examining the interrelationship between your human workforce and AI
  • Discussing how Australian organisations are translating national and international examples of AI applications in the waste industry into their operations

Stela Solar
Director – National Artificial Intelligence Centre
CSIRO

12:10
Lunch in the exhibition hall

STRATEGIES AND INITIATIVES TO ADDRESS THE LANDFILL CRISIS
13:30
Best practice strategies to reduce the use of landfill in disposing of waste products
  • Discussing the critical issues, we need to address at a local level to reduce waste from ending up in landfill  
  • Examining the environmental costs of a landfill and how to develop better end-of-life management practices for putrescible waste 
  • Highlighting the impacts and costs to the local environment from greenhouse gas emissions from organic waste decomposition

Kylie Douglas
Senior Landfill Engineer
City of Greater Bendigo

14:00
Partner presentation
14:30
Afternoon tea
15:10
Examining the reduction targets on the National Waste Policy Action Targets and how LGAs are preparing for the 2030 deadline
  • Re-examining the National Waste Policy Action Targets and ascertaining how well we are doing in preparation for the 2030 deadline
  • Discussing how banning the export of waste plastic, paper, glass, and tyres provides LGAs with an opportunity to increase local businesses and generate new income
  • Highlighting the importance of improving the way data is collected to enhance opportunities to increase investment and growth in waste management

 

15:40
PANEL DISCUSSION: Is the National Recycling and Waste Reduction Act 2020 doing enough to reduce waste and what else can LGAs do to help?
  • Has the framework created by the National Recycling and Waste Reduction Act 2020 had the desired effect?
  • What are the best next steps to manage the environmental and health impacts of waste products?
  • How are LGAs operating under the established timetable on the export ban on waste products such as tyres, unprocessed waste plastic, and paper?
  • As stewards of local community waste management, what can local councils do to increase their recycling and waste arrangements as outlined in the Act?
  • How can local councils work with their communities to reduce waste generation in the home?
16:20
Closing remarks from the Chair
16:30
End of Resource and Recovery Summit