PROGRAM

FWR 2025 will be a forum for the exchange of ideas and discussion around key industry issues. Presentations and sessions will provide information about how business, with sound government policy, can deliver improvements to the State’s waste diversion and resource recovery growth in line with community expectations and industry aspirations.

The program will capture four prominent themes relevant to all stakeholders with interests in the waste and recycling industry. It will look to the future by demonstrating what is currently being achieved and what is next on the horizon. The program will boast presentations by industry leaders and innovators, panel discussions and four themed streams focused on the significant issues impacting the industry now and beyond.

The trade exhibition will complement the program by providing an opportunity for delegates to meet with suppliers and discuss the latest industry developments and innovations. All meal breaks will be served within the exhibition area to maximise interaction between delegates and exhibitors.

The Welcome Function and Conference Dinner will also provide an excellent opportunity to gain important industry and government contacts.

Wednesday 12th February 2025
0900 Technical Tour Registration
TECHNICAL TOUR

Attendees should assemble in the foyer of the Sea World Resort at 8.00am for an 8.30am sharp departure. The bus will return by approximately 5.30pm.

All participants are required to wear long pants and enclosed, flat shoes.
Lunch and snacks will be provided. We recommend that you bring a hat and sunscreen.

ResourceCo Resource Recovery Facility
The $70 million alternative fuel plant in Hemmant is the first facility of its type in Queensland and builds on ResourceCo’s growing national footprint of resource recovery operations.

At this facility, ResourceCo receives waste that has previously only been able to go landfill, separating recyclables, then producing an alternate fuel that replaces coal as an energy source for high energy using cement manufacturers.

In addition to extracting materials such as metals, heavy recyclables including rock, brick and concrete, the facility has capacity to manufacture about 150,000 tonnes of PEF each year, with an overall landfill diversion rate of 95 per cent whilst reducing emissions.

Phoenix Power Recyclers
Phoenix is Queensland’s first purpose built in-vessel composting facility. The facility features controlled atmosphere receival hall, picking station and aerated floor composting vessels all with the aim of minimizing odour emissions and optimizing composting process.  This makes it ideally suited to accept FOGO and food wastes of all kinds.

Phoenix is continuously working to develop markets in all sectors including the agricultural community, through market education strategy forming partnerships with waste producers from the food production industries to develop products that are in increasing demand for the health of agricultural soils.

Bunya Renewable Hybrid Project
LGI designed, built, and operates the Bunya renewable power station which operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Initially commissioned in 2018 as 1MW, in 2021 LGI downsized the generator to 600kW. In 2024, LGI then upgraded to a renewable hybrid with a battery energy storage system (BESS) comprising a 1MW/2MWh Tesla Megapack. LGI has a long-term contract with Moreton Bay Regional Council at Bunya, Dakabin and Caboolture to recover and beneficially reuse biogas.

1630 Tour returns
1800 Networking Function
Thursday 13th February 2025
0800 Registration, tea and coffee
OPENING PLENARY
0900 Welcome and housekeeping
Alison Price, CEO – Waste, Recycling Industry Association QLD
0910 Official Welcome
Richard Taylor, Chair – Waste, Recycling Industry Association QLD
0920 Opening Address
The Hon. John-Paul Langbroek, State Member for Surfers Paradise & Minister for Education and the Arts
0930 Symposium Format
Alison Price, CEO – Waste, Recycling Industry Association QLD
0940 KEYNOTE PRESENTATION: Finnished with that! Finland’s systematic approach to end all waste by 2050
Birgit Tegethoff, Senior Advisor – Business Finland
1005 Questions and discussion
1030 Morning tea break
LEGISLATIVE LANDSCAPE: NAVIGATING THE REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT
1100 This session will provide an in-depth update on recent legislative changes impacting the waste and recycling industry. Experts will discuss key regulations, compliance requirements, and how to stay ahead of upcoming changes.
Update from the environmental regulator and current operational priorities
Jackie McKeay, Executive Director – Department of Environment, Science and Innovation

General environmental duty
Leanne O’Brien, Special Counsel – Corrs Chambers Westgarth

The Waste and Recycling Code of Practice: Helping parties in the “chain of responsibility” discharge their duty under the Heavy Vehicle National Law
Jennifer Rotili, Manager – Safety Duties and Codes – National Heavy Vehicle Regulator

Panel and open discussion
1230 Lunch
BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR QUEENSLAND
1330 In this session, we will explore strategies to achieve better outcomes for Queensland by adopting innovative and collaborative approaches in state and local government and business practices.
Gold Coast’s Journey to Zero Landfill – Advanced Resource Recovery Centre
Grant Gabriel, Program Director, ARRC Environment, Heritage and Resilience – City of Gold Coast
Compromise to optimise
Chris Alexander, General Manager – Phoenix Power Recyclers
Collaborative contract management
Umur Natus-Yildiz, Executive Manager Resource Recovery Services – Fraser Coast Regional Council
Panel and open discussion
1500 Afternoon tea break
ADDRESSING CONTAMINATION AND DIFFICULT WASTE STREAMS
1530 Key issues to be covered in this session include identifying and mitigating contamination risks, developing effective recycling processes, and implementing sustainable and safe practices in the face of evolving waste streams.
Charged for Disaster: Tackling battery fires in the waste industry
Keiran Travers, Waste, Recycling Industry Association QLD and Brett Lemin, Waste Contractors and Recylers Association of NSW
PFAS and contamination in organics
Dr Matthew Askeland, ADE Consulting
Emerging Contaminants and the Law – Risk and liability under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (Qld)
Sarah Hausler, Partner – McCullough Robertson
Panel and open discussion
1700 Close Day 2
1900 Conference Dinner
Friday 14th February 2025
0830 Registration, tea and coffee
QUEENSLAND’S PATH TO WASTE & RECYCLING INNOVATION
0900 This session will focus on the current challenges and systemic issues that are hindering progress in the waste and recycling sector, as well as discussing what changes are necessary to prepare for a circular future. The sessions will also explore how to better utilise levy funding to drive waste recycling innovation in the state.

KEYNOTE PRESENTATION: Resource Recovery Industries: The journey to develop sustainable supply chains
Michele Bauer, Deputy Director-General – Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning

Update to Waste Strategy in 2025 – Boosting recycling and reducing litter to the environment
Patricia O’Callaghan, Department of Environment, Science and Innovation

Does the Queensland Waste Levy need to be higher?
Nick Behrens, Director – Queensland Economics Advocacy Solutions
Panel and open discussion
1030 Morning tea break
PAVING THE WAY FOR INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS
1100 This session will explore the importance of embracing new approaches and technologies to tackle waste and resource recovery challenges and increase diversion rates.
Revolutionising Resource Recovery – The energy recovery innovation journey
Scott Reynolds, General Manager – Kwinana Energy Recovery

Rino: Entering the waste and recycling industry with innovation
Daniel Blaser, General Manager – Rino Recycling

Innovation can be easy, managing compliance…now that can be difficult
Mike Haywood, GM Fuels and Sustainable Energy – Verdant Earth Technologies
Panel and open discussion
1230 Lunch
RAISING THE BAR: ACHIEVING AN 80% RECYCLING RATE IN QUEENSLAND
1330

This panel discussion will focus on strategies to increase the recycling rate from 20% to 80% in Queensland. WRIQ board members and other industry experts will share their vision for a sustainable future with the outcomes of the discussion to be the formation of a priority list and plan for effective waste management and recycling in Queensland.

Faciitated by: Alix Baltais, Queensland Manager – EnviroCom Australia

Panelists include:
– Natalie Roach, Chief Executive Officer – Container Exchange
– Hugo Parris, Regional Manager QLD – Cleanaway
– Henry Anning, CEO – Energy – ResourceCo
– Mark Dekker, General Manager – BMI Resource Recovery
– Josh Lannen, General Manager – MAMS Group

1440

Review of key points for FWR communique
Nick Harford, Harford Consulting

1455

Wrap up and closing remarks
Alison Price, CEO – Waste, Recycling Industry Association QLD

1500 Conference Close

* Every effort has been made to present all the information contained in this website as accurately as possible. The organisers reserve the right to change, without notice, any or all of these details.

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