From the National Executive Officer

The end of the financial year is upon us — although perhaps we can hold off on talking about Christmas for at least another couple of months.

Tomorrow you will receive your AORA membership renewal, and we hope you will rejoin the Association without hesitation for another year. The need for a strong, credible, respected and focused voice for the Australian organics recycling industry has never been clearer. I believe the update from our Policy and Advocacy Officer, Jacqui Payne, in this newsletter highlights that very point.

Advocacy is at the core of what we do every day at AORA, yet it is often overlooked because it is not always easily visible. This newsletter, our social media activity, our website, our articles in Inside Waste and Waste Management Review, our state events, our Annual Conference and our state members meetings are all highly visible.

Advocacy can be much harder to see—but it is there, and it is happening.

Our advocacy has always focused on the economic and environmental benefits of the Australian organics recycling industry and on the value of diverting organic waste away from landfill. That will continue. It remains a core and important message about why we do what we do. Increasingly, however, we are broadening our advocacy to include the value of compost for soil health.

Our soils, particularly those used for agricultural purposes, have become degraded over time, threatening the productivity—and, as a consequence, the profitability—of our agricultural industries. Compost can improve soil health as a natural soil amendment. It increases organic matter, microbial activity, micronutrients, nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus, water-holding capacity and carbon sequestration. It also helps reduce soilborne disease, erosion and compaction.

The story of compost, soil health and agriculture is only just beginning within AORA advocacy, but it may become the most important story of all.

John McKew 

National Executive Officer

AORA Membership Renewals

Annual AORA Membership renewals will be sent out tomorrow, 1 July.   This will go to the administrator for your membership.

If you are not a member, check out the member benefits and join tomorrow!  

Policy Updates and Information

QLD Waste Strategy Released

The QLD Waste Strategy “Less Landfill, More Recycling 2035” was released late June, with a big focus on:
– Driving annual improvements in Queensland’s recycling rate (65% by 2035) and reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill.
– Making recycling easy and accessible for Queenslanders in everyday life,
– Investing in modern infrastructure to turn waste into new products,
– Unlocking the economic opportunity from a circular economy in QLD,
– Establishing strong end markets

Great to see organics recognised as a priority waste and featured throughout the strategy. We have identified a number of clear opportunities for AORA to pursue and advocate for our members and support the governments implementation of the strategy.

We also appreciated Claire Andersen, DETSI Executive Director, Office of Waste Reduction and Recycling presenting on the strategy at our QLD breakfast event on the 26th June.

Read the Strategy here.

WA FOGO Reference Group actions and 2030 Beyond Waste Strategy

The WA FOGO Reference Group led by, Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) had their meeting discussing:

• The Beyond Waste 2030 Strategy and roadmap: Phase 3 consultation is complete, FOGO Mandate investigations underway and will involve targeted consultation across the FOGO system. The 5-year roadmap will remain flexible to respond to evolving circumstances. The strategy and roadmap were approved by the Waste Authority and will go to Cabinet soon.
• Kerbside bin audit project update (across 500 households): this will build on the 2008 Bin Audit Manual and pilot with 5 LGs to assess waste composition in 3-bin FOGO systems, includes CDS, and lithium batteries. This data will inform behaviour change, policy and program design. It will also be:
  • Trialing measuring volume of soft plastics in FOGO, recording bin fullness, material categories for bagged general waste (not in red bin), bagged recyclables and certified compostables.
  • Draft audit guidelines will be circulated to FOGO reference group members for feedback.
• FOGO Guidance and acceptance shortlist updates: following consultation through this working group and review by the Minister the proposed changes to ‘what goes in the kerbside FOGO bin’ has subsequently updated the WasteSorted and Recycle Right resources. AORA provided some final feedback on these assets to ensure consistency and endorse the updates to clarify food and garden organics and certified compostable caddy liners only in household FOGO bins in WA.
• South West FOGO Transport Rebate Program: is now open for 7 South West LGs impacted by the BHRC Closure. With long term solutions under investigations. And $6m Federal funding has been allocated to build a transfer station.
• Contamination and compliance: WALGA developing a policy template for contamination management and reinforced the use of Better Practice FOGO Contracting Guide. Any potential future mandates need system and support measures to prevent contamination and a call for consistent contamination thresholds across industry.
• The next meeting scheduled for August.

NSW Environmental Guidelines: Composting and Related Organics Processing Facilities (update)

AORA, EPA and ARUP are scheduling an AORA Members webinar as part of targeted stakeholder engagement to review and comment on the NSW Environmental Guidelines: Composting and Related Organics Processing Facilities.

This will be scheduled and an invite sent to members shortly.

Standards Review

AORA continues to be engaged through delegated representatives in the Standards review processes for both:

• AS4454-2012 – Composts, soil conditioners and mulches, and
• AS4736-2006 – Biodegradable plastics suitable for composting and other microbial treatment.

AS4454 Update from Standards Australia:

Expected to be ready for a 9-week public comment period in October 2026. For an estimated release in March 2027.

Biosolids & PFAS Limits

Following our recent engagement with the NSW AORA Interested Members Biosolids Group, meetings and emails:

• A meeting has been scheduled with the relevant NSW EPA Executive Directors for mid-July to discuss industries feedback and concerns with the indicated direction of the (1) Biosolids and (2) Composted Biosolids RROE/s. This is a joint meeting with Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA).
• We are also scheduled to engage with WMRR to discuss feedback and engagement on the RROE.  

QLD EOW Codes released

The recycled beverages End of Waste code has commenced effective 29/5/2026.

Sphere Infrastructure Event

Jacqui attended a roundtable discussion hosted by Sphere Infrastructure and Frontier Economics focused on how Australia can unlock more integrated projects from across the waste, water, energy and transport sectors and the supporting reforms to enable the change that’s needed at scale and to make these projects viable.  

An excellent discussion that highlighted the importance of stronger collaboration across sectors, organisations and all levels of government to tackle shared challenges and unlock opportunities.

Thank you to the Sphere Infrastructure team for the opportunity to be involved. There has been a number of conversations continue post the event. 

NMI Tour at Cleanaway

Earlier in June, Jacqui joined the team from the National Measurement Institute (NMI) at Cleanaway Eastern Creek for a site tour.  

Thank you to Michael Bonanno from Cleanaway for providing the MI team an opportunity to see, smell and better understand the end-to-end compost process and see the inside workings of an organics processing facility.

NMI is currently developing their 1st Proficiency Testing study for PFAS in compost. Thanks to the NMI’s continued proactive engagement with AORA and to Cleanaway for facilitating such a great tour to showcase our sector’s commitment to safe and quality compost products.

Our upcoming AORA team advocacy engagements include:

• Engagement with ACOR – on battery management guideline
• Engagement with APCO – National Compostable Packaging Strategy Review.
• Engagement with CRC Solving Plastic Waste
• Swanbank Industry Reference Group Meeting #2.

Lastly, Jacqui will be on maternity leave from July.  Whilst she is enjoying this family time, please continue to send your enquiries to policy@aora.org.au

AORA State Member Meetings Minutes

NSW, VIC and QLD meetings were held in late May and early August.   Minutes for all of these meetings can be found in the member portal.  

Get the Right Digestate Mixer for Your Organic Pre-Treatment

Organics processors are incorporating increasingly diverse feedstocks to improve compost quality, to shield against seasonal fluctuations, and to boost revenue. However, handling these new high-moisture feedstocks can cause operational bottlenecks. Whether you use IVC tunnels or traditional open windrows, producing a homogenous input material is critical to success.

Optimise Your Biological Waste Treatment

Are you processing high-moisture organics, challenging organic residues, or sewage sludge alongside fibrous and structural materials?

The Eggersmann DM Digestate Mixer ensures a perfectly homogeneous, structured mixture for composting and dry anaerobic digestion. Substrates mixed with traditional equipment often suffer from compaction or kneading effects. The Eggersmann DM utilises dynamic material flow with specialised mixing rollers to loosen and homogenise the substrate, creating the optimal, oxygen-rich feed material for aerobic processing.

Key Features of the Eggersmann DM

• Optimal Porosity: Easily blends structural materials to increase air pore volume, ensuring adequate oxygen supply right from the start.
• Versatile Feeding: Available in two configurations—automated belt conveyor feeding or direct wheel loader batch feeding. The DM can also accept a slurry feed from wet AD systems.
• High Performance: Delivers high throughput capacity with exceptional durability and resistance to impurities.
• Smart Maintenance: Equipped with a driven swivel device for the mixing unit to maximise operational uptime.

Seamless incorporation into Existing Plants

Upgrading your facility is simple. The Eggersmann DM can be easily retrofitted into existing operational composting plants to maximise biomass potential, to streamline your process – and ultimately produce high-yield, high-value marketable compost.

Discover the Eggersmann Recycling Technology range with SKALA Environmental

Contact Craig Cosgrove today to discuss your facility’s needs.

M 0423 280 611 | ✉️ craig@skala-env.com.au

Of Interest

Expressions of Interest (EOI) to join the Organic Horticulture RD&I Working Group are open

The Australian Organic Horticulture Research, Development & Innovation Strategy 2026-2035 is now live.

The Organic Horticulture RD&I Working Group will provide ongoing governance and strategic oversight of the Strategy. Members will guide investment prioritisation across the three priority areas, oversee the annual review and public release of updated priorities and recommendations, and advise on the development of fundable RD&I propositions. They’ll also facilitate cross-sector collaboration and knowledge exchange, and monitor progress toward the Strategy’s 2035 goals.

Whether you are a certified organic grower who has navigated the challenges of low-input production first-hand, a researcher with deep expertise in horticulture science, or a policy professional who understands the funding landscape – submit your EOI to join the Working Group before submissions close 30 July 2026.

Submit here

Solutions for on-farm organics: Digging into compost

John McKew recently participated in solutions for on-farm organics webinar where participants first hand from Mark Schreurs about the reduction in synthetic fertiliser inputs by up to 75 per cent over time on their vegetable farm, highlighting the potential long-term cost and productivity benefits of building soil organic matter and improving nutrient cycling within the farming system. 

Watch it here

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