Lumber

• The source of contamination is believed to be timber waste from construction and demolition sites that was turned into mulch.
• So far, 60 locations in Sydney and 12 in Melbourne have been identified as contaminated with asbestos to various degrees.
• The severity, spread and impact of the issue convince us to call it the largest scandal in the history of Australia’s circular economy.
• A circular economy recycles and reuses materials or products with the goal of being more sustainable.

Scandal is damaging for the circular economy

• Unfortunately, this contaminated mulch raises concerns about the reckless implementation of circular economy principles in Australia.
• More broadly, this scandal could undermine efforts to advance the circular economy in Australia.
• It’s a reminder that the circular economy concept is based on a system-thinking approach, where all elements must work in harmony.

Regulations don’t go far enough

• However, it isn’t mandatory for suppliers to test for contaminants in mulch.
• The fact is existing policies and regulations, such as the NSW Environment Protection Authority’s Mulch Order 2016, failed to prevent mulch contamination.

Read more:
Buildings used iron from sunken ships centuries ago. The use of recycled materials should be business as usual by now

Why isn’t certification standard practice?

• In 2022 and 2023, working with researchers from Griffith and Curtin universities and our industry partners, we explored the use of recycled product certification schemes.
• We specifically asked for their views on certification schemes for these materials.

• He added:
  The cost of certification is a fraction of whatever their marketing budget might be in any single month, let alone a year.
• If they can see that their certification becomes part of their marketing budget, then the cost of certification is a single-digit percentage of most marketing budgets.
• If they can see that their certification becomes part of their marketing budget, then the cost of certification is a single-digit percentage of most marketing budgets.

What more can be done?

• Our research identified seven major drivers for adopting certification schemes when procuring recycled materials, as shown below.
• Read more:
  Trash TV: streaming giants are failing to educate the young about waste recycling.
• In addition, we stress the importance of directories of approved recyclers to ensure end users have access to quality, uncontaminated recycled materials.

Salman Shooshtarian receives funding from the Sustainable Built Environment National Research Centre Australia Peter S.P. Wong, Professor - construction, RMIT University. He receives funding from Sustainable Built Environment National Research Centre. He is affiliated with RMIT University, Australia. Tayyab Maqsood receives funding from the Sustainable Built Environment National Research Centre.