Biowaste & Land spreading

Timeline

Initial Permit - DEC2009

An industrial composting facility along the Plenty River was granted a permit by the DVC in December 2009 to Microbial Activity (MA).

The permit application was specifically for non-putrescible waste.

The Environmental Management Plan (EMP) states “There will be no animal excrements or animal remains in the MA compost. These ingredients could otherwise lead to production of human pathogenic bacteria”.(p14)

This is the only EMP for the compost pad.

The permit was for a maximum limit of 50,000 tonnes per year of Boyer sludge, grape marc, pine bark, and green waste.

Links:

The following information is likely incomplete. Information has been either received under Right To Information from the EPA, TasWater & DVC; through TheList.tas.gov.au; and online searches.

“There will be no animal excrements or animal remains in the ... compost. These ingredients could otherwise lead to production of human pathogenic bacteria.”

— EMP 2009

Amendment: Sewage Sludge Approved to be Delivered - 2012

Requests for amendments for waste received at the compost facility are in the landowner name, and not Microbial Activity. A request for Biosolids (Sewage sludge) to be taken to the site was approved by Derwent Valley Council. The EMP still reflects the site is not suitable for putrescible waste.

Link: DVC consent to site to take sewage sludge

Amendment: Additional Sewage Sludge (Grade 3), Septic Tank Waste & Fin Fish Farming Waste Approved to be Delivered - 2013

The EPA approved the landowner (not Microbial Activity) to receive additional waste sources:

Sewage sludge from TasWater treatment plants (K130: Sewage Sludge)
Fin Fish Farming waste (K100: Animal effluent and residues. Macerated fish waste. Fin fish farming sludge)
Septic Tank Nightshade Sewage Sludge

The EPA acknowledge the site has not yet been able to generate sufficiently high composting temperatures to ensure compliance with Australian Standard AS4454.

Link: EPA approval

Permit change - 2014

The EPA permit was updated from Microbial Activity to the landowner. In this amendment EPN8894/1 all previous amendments were incorporated into the permit. Those who made representation were not contacted. The EMP still reflects the site is not suitable for putrescible waste.

Link: EPA 88894