NAWMA’s collections and processing manager Eddie Christopoulos (left), chief executive AdamFaulkner, and processing and disposal supervisor Jason Moorhouse with their 2019 Excellence inLandfi ll Innovation Award. PHOTO: Supplied
THE Northern Adelaide Waste Management Authority (NAWMA) has advanced its reputation as a world leader in waste reduction and recycling after receiving a prestigious national award for its innovative development of the Uleybury Balefill and Renewable Energy Park.
As a regional subsidiary of the Gawler, Playford and Salisbury councils, NAWMA processes waste and recyclable products from about 25 per cent of residents in metropolitan Adelaide along with a
number of rural and regional councils.
The National Waste Management and Resource Recovery Association recently presented NAWMA with the 2019 Excellence in Landfill Innovation Award for its “visionary” management of its
Uleybury site.
Judges from the peak body acknowledged the site as a world-class landfill with pioneering developments, including Australia’s first solar thermal and methane gas renewable energy facility capable of exporting enough power to the grid to service 1900 homes each year.
“As part of its commitment to be a global leader in waste management and resource recovery, NAWMA has in place bold targets, including 70 per cent waste diversion from landfill by 2023,”
chief executive officer Adam Faulkner said.
“The award of excellence is acknowledgment of our achievements in maintaining an exceptionally well-designed and managed landfill with superior environmental controls, along with on-site electricity generation facilities, allowing us to be a net exporter of energy.”
NAWMA has also achieved a major equipment upgrade at its Edinburgh Material Recovery Facility to sort recovered paper from kerbside recycling bins that is transported to a New South Wales paper mill for pulping into new newsprint.
“In response to China’s introduction of a policy strictly limiting the importation of recyclables from Australia, NAWMA worked quickly and efficiently to find new markets for these products,” Mr Faulkner said.
“Our success in sorting and diverting material to the paper mill for pulping to create new newsprint is a demonstration of our focus on achieving 100 per cent onshore processing of paper from the recycling bins in our council areas.
