Projects
Some of the recent projects completed by Blue Environment include the following:
Carbon emissions assessment of Australian plastics consumption
The Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) and World Wide Fund for Nature Australia (WWF) commissioned this study to quantify the carbon emissions of Australia's plastics consumption and end-of-life (waste) management, and then quantify the potential carbon emissions of a range of possible system change scenarios. The key purpose of the project was to assist in building the evidence base for evaluating the most effective policy solutions for reducing the climate change impacts of plastics. View the summary report here: https://www.marineconservation.org.au/plasticemissions/
National waste data and reporting cycle
Blue Environment is engaged by the Australian Government to prepare a suite of data-related products for the period 2019 to 2022. These include the National Waste Report 2020, Australia's data submissions to the Basel Convention, Hazardous waste in Australia 2021, the first edition of the Australian Standard for Waste and Resource Recovery Data and Reporting, a national database of waste and resource recovery infrastructure, and various other reports and data sets.
Mildura rural facilities assessment
Mildura Rural City Council commissioned Blue Environment to review their eight rural transfer stations. The project involved site assessments against best practice, community consultation, a traffic survey, data review and analysis. Opportunities for upgrades, operational efficiencies and rationalisation were identified.
FOGO modelling
On behalf of Hobsons Bay City Council, Blue Environment conducted modelling of potential food organic and garden organic (FOGO) collection services. This considered options for providing food only collection services, the expected diversion and recovery of organics, likely comparative total and net costs, and the environmental and social benefits of diverting food from landfill.
Single use plastics review
Maribyrnong City Council engaged Blue Environment to identify opportunities for reduction and phase-out of single use plastics within Council operations. The project included consultation and workshops with Council staff and venue operators to identify the types, quantities and patterns of use, as well as opportunities for avoidance, replacement and recycling. Council is currently implementing the recommendations.
Thamarrurr environmental audit
Working with the Centre for Appropriate Technology, Blue Environment undertook an environmental audit of the operations and facilities of the Thamarrur Development Corporation, a not-for-profit owned by members of the Wangka, Lirrga and Tjanpa peoples in Wadeye, NT. The work focused on skills, training and employment opportunities for resource recovery and value-adding.
Soil carbon review
Blue Environment undertook a review of the potential soil carbon benefits and opportunity for agribusiness Nugrow to obtain carbon credits under the Emissions Reduction Fund for an agricultural intensification project using compost to restore soil on cropping land in Qld.
Cairns Materials Recovery Facility review
On behalf of Cairns Regional Council, Blue Environment assessed the Cairns MRF against best practice and identified options for improvement. Detailed analysis of options for infrastructure upgrades were undertaken and considered in line with the introduction of the Qld container refund scheme. The project considered material flows (including contamination, quality issues and commodity markets) and a cost benefit analysis. Concept designs of the preferred infrastructure upgrades were developed in association with Wastech Engineering.
Zero carbon communities program
Blue Environment provided technical advisory support to Beyond Zero Emissions for development of the framework and implementation of their Zero Carbon Communities program.
Cradle Coast strategic plan
Blue Environment developed the 2017-2022 Strategic Plan for the Cradle Coast Waste Management Group. The project included consultation with member councils, analysis of past performance, establishment of key performance indicators for future benchmarking, and development of 5 year budgets for the next generation of achievements in waste management and resource recovery in the region.
Guide to developing a waste management strategy
Barwon South West Waste and Resource Recovery Group commissioned Blue Environment to prepare a guide for development of municipal resource recovery and waste management strategies for use by the group's member councils. Project outcomes included the Guide, template versions of a background report and the strategy, and additional support resources including spreadsheet analysis tools, graphics and photo library.
Waste to energy regional micropower network
On behalf of the Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance, Blue Environment assessed the feasibility of developing a regional network of small-scale waste to energy facilities. Investigations included stakeholder consultation, analysis of waste and energy data, assessment of technology impacts, site inspections and assessment of siting/logistics, consideration of environmental, planning and regulatory requirements, detailed financial analysis, risk assessment and regional framework issues
Towards sustainable engineering
Blue Environment has developed a guide for engineers on how to achieve greater sustainability in their work. The guide is a tool for practicing engineers and provides a range of suggestions for implementing sustainability in all stages of a project or product development – from planning and design to project delivery and end-of-life considerations. Titled Towards sustainable engineering, the guide was prepared for Engineers Australia's College of Environmental Engineering.
Guides to Best Practice
Blue Environment has developed a number of Guides to Best Practice to benchmark waste and recycling practices around Australia. For Sustainability Victoria, we have developed the Guide to Best Practice at Resource Recovery Centres and the Guide to Best Practice for Organics Recovery. For Tasmanian regional waste groups, we have developed the Tasmanian Transfer Station Best Practice Guidelines. The guides reflect industry practices and legislative requirements, and include direction on sustainable design, planning, technology and equipment, and operation and management of resource recovery infrastructure.
Client comments
Always excellent to work with – diligent and thorough.
..pleased by the quality of the report, model and advice…and responsiveness to our queries.
My colleagues and I have been impressed with the work of Blue Environment on this project.
I was impressed at how the team went above and beyond the scope of works to understand the issues and took the initiative to solve problems.
Excellent performance. Very satisfied with project schedule and costs. Great communication.
Many thanks for the report….it's hitting the mark for me
..extensive knowledge, highly valued..
The project has been a big step forward and I am very pleased with the results….thanks for your efforts.
Thank you – great team to work with.
100% professional 100% of the time. Extremely personable, flexible and very knowledgeable.
Excellent performance. Good communication, well informed on progress.
Excellent work….particularly pleased by your flexibility with changing timelines and scope.
The report was excellent, very thorough and informative. Thanks for your great work on this project.
Highly knowledgeable and responsive. Well presented product. Always a pleasure to work with Blue Environment.
Nice working with you again. The report is concise and easy to read and suits our requirements and that of our stakeholders. We look forward to engaging your services again.
Thank you for your efforts. The College is very happy with the resulting document.
Very satisfied with plain language and accessibility of the final report, as well as responsiveness in communications. Thanks for your work, this has already proven to be a useful piece of research.
Excellent work, particularly pleased by the quality of report content, analysis and project communication.
Thanks for your hard work and flexibility….I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Blue Environment, that's for sure.
We have read the strategy and we couldn't be happier. Well done, it is an excellent strategy.
This is one account I am very pleased to pay…your work has helped the City of Greater Bendigo immensely.
We really appreciate all of your very hard work on this report, and the depth of experience brought to this project. I am certain this will have a real impact in furthering policy work and the national conversation in regards to the environmental costs of plastics and how Australia can play a meaningful role in reducing both emissions and plastic waste.
To meet tight timeframes and answer questions outside the scope of work was much appreciated.
Very satisfied and pleased with Blue Environment's ability to meet tight delivery timelines.