as well as direct land application), of which 73% was from domestic sources and the
remainder from commercial sources, with organic processors converting 1.4 million
tonnes of inputs (such as green waste, timber, forestry residuals, biosolids, manure,
grease trap waste, abattoir waste, drilling mud and ash) into products such as soil
conditioners, manufactured soil, potting mixes and mulches (Queensland Government 2018b). Other materials spread to land and for other beneficial use included
approximately 972,000 tonnes (17.5%) of the 5.5 million tonnes of ash, as reported
in 2016–2017, and 75,000 tonnes of waste (including green waste, timber, tyres,
mineral oil and chemicals) was sent to energy recovery (Queensland Government
2018b). Table 8.2 shows selected wastes handled by Queensland’s licenced (legitimate) organic processors including over 209,000 tonnes of green wastes, 72,000 of
biosolids (dry solids equivalent) and 272,000 tonnes of manures. Geographical
distributions of agricultural productivity (intensive animal activities through cotton)
are reflected in the figures as organic wastes are typically processed in the region that
they are generated. South East Queensland (SEQ) managed the largest amounts of
green waste, timber, forestry residuals, biosolids, grease trap waste and other organic
sludges, abattoir waste, waste food, food processing waste and ash. The Darling
Downs–Maranoa processed the most manure and drilling mud, Fitzroy processed the
most cotton gin trash (reflecting the off-site processing of cotton gin residuals –
whilst other gins process on-site), and Wide Bay processed the most agricultural
residuals.
There are limitations to the figures presented in Table 8.2. They do not include
organic resources used beneficially on-farm either directly (such as manures spread
to land) or on-farm processing (such as on-farm compost manufacture and use) or
self-haul green wastes by households and some commercial enterprises to local
government facilities (waste transfer and/or disposal facilities) which is often left
to ‘mulch’ (often an uncontrolled and unmonitored compost-like process) on-site.
Figures are also only collected from licenced organics processors – so those legitimate operators manufacturing over the 200 tonne ‘licence threshold’ of organic
product per annum.
8.5 Waste Product Reuse to Land
There are a range of current regulations and approvals in Queensland for the
manufacture and/or use (land application) of organic and inorganic products and
the subsequent application to land, including farmland in Queensland. These
approvals range from ‘wastes’ which have been deemed to have beneficial land
use application to manufactured organic products, including green waste and mixed
waste composts.
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G. Davis
remainder from commercial sources, with organic processors converting 1.4 million
tonnes of inputs (such as green waste, timber, forestry residuals, biosolids, manure,
grease trap waste, abattoir waste, drilling mud and ash) into products such as soil
conditioners, manufactured soil, potting mixes and mulches (Queensland Government 2018b). Other materials spread to land and for other beneficial use included
approximately 972,000 tonnes (17.5%) of the 5.5 million tonnes of ash, as reported
in 2016–2017, and 75,000 tonnes of waste (including green waste, timber, tyres,
mineral oil and chemicals) was sent to energy recovery (Queensland Government
2018b). Table 8.2 shows selected wastes handled by Queensland’s licenced (legitimate) organic processors including over 209,000 tonnes of green wastes, 72,000 of
biosolids (dry solids equivalent) and 272,000 tonnes of manures. Geographical
distributions of agricultural productivity (intensive animal activities through cotton)
are reflected in the figures as organic wastes are typically processed in the region that
they are generated. South East Queensland (SEQ) managed the largest amounts of
green waste, timber, forestry residuals, biosolids, grease trap waste and other organic
sludges, abattoir waste, waste food, food processing waste and ash. The Darling
Downs–Maranoa processed the most manure and drilling mud, Fitzroy processed the
most cotton gin trash (reflecting the off-site processing of cotton gin residuals –
whilst other gins process on-site), and Wide Bay processed the most agricultural
residuals.
There are limitations to the figures presented in Table 8.2. They do not include
organic resources used beneficially on-farm either directly (such as manures spread
to land) or on-farm processing (such as on-farm compost manufacture and use) or
self-haul green wastes by households and some commercial enterprises to local
government facilities (waste transfer and/or disposal facilities) which is often left
to ‘mulch’ (often an uncontrolled and unmonitored compost-like process) on-site.
Figures are also only collected from licenced organics processors – so those legitimate operators manufacturing over the 200 tonne ‘licence threshold’ of organic
product per annum.
8.5 Waste Product Reuse to Land
There are a range of current regulations and approvals in Queensland for the
manufacture and/or use (land application) of organic and inorganic products and
the subsequent application to land, including farmland in Queensland. These
approvals range from ‘wastes’ which have been deemed to have beneficial land
use application to manufactured organic products, including green waste and mixed
waste composts.
124
G. Davis