Back

Agricultural waste analysis and management

Pre-farm gate waste is a significant challenge for Australia’s agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors. Without appropriate management and long-term solutions, agricultural waste will have a detrimental impact on our environment.

In 2020-21 around 9.8 million tonnes of pre-farm gate waste was produced, including around 100,000 tonnes of plastic waste and 163,000 tonnes of workshop material such as tyres, oil and batteries. While most pre-farm gate waste was organic (around 9.55 million tonnes), this waste is often used beneficially on-farm such as through returning to the soil for improved soil health or reducing soil erosion risk.

RMCG are national leaders in agricultural waste. We understand the extent of the problem through our development of the National Waste and Resource Recovery Roadmap, and barriers that reduce recycling and reuse of waste materials. Our approach is to work closely with the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors to develop solutions and drive government and industry support for implementation.

In 2023, RMCG and our project partner Rawtec delivered a Dairy Food Waste Action Plan, on behalf of Dairy Australia. We analysed key root causes of dairy food waste across the supply chain to create approaches to reduce waste across manufacturing, distribution/retail, and food service/households. These approaches targeted education, partnerships, and tangible packaging changes.

Team

Dr Anne-Maree Boland

Dr Anne-Maree Boland

Associate

PhD., B.Ag.Sci.

Anne-Maree has 25 years’ experience in dealing with natural resource and water management in agricultural industries. This has included research and development and consulting in the areas of sustainable management practices, water use efficiency, recycled water and environmental management systems. Anne-Maree has been a Non-Executive Director for GWRDC and IAL, is a Churchill Fellow and recipient of the University of Melbourne Chancellors Prize. She has extensive experience as a knowledge broker and establishing partnerships with diverse stakeholder groups including government, water and agricultural industries.

Natasha Frazer

Natasha Frazer

Consultant

BSc (Chemical Systems)

Natasha has recently joined RMCG and has a degree and experience in Chemical Systems. She has an interest in the agri-food and environmental sectors and has theoretical and practical knowledge in process engineering, sustainability, agriculture and waste management.

Isabel Axiö

Isabel Axiö

Senior Consultant

B.Env.Mgt. (Sustainable Development)

Isabel has 6 years’ experience in the environmental management sector and her key areas of expertise are in sustainable management of recycled water and organic wastes. Waste is an important and longstanding interest of Isabel’s, especially organic waste avoidance, processing, whole production-line waste minimisation, as well as recycling and product stewardship projects. She wants to link this interest with interdisciplinary environmental projects in climate change mitigation, sustainable natural resource management and agricultural production systems.

Samuel Lawson

Samuel Lawson

Senior Consultant

B.Sci. (Chemistry), M.Env.Mgt (ongoing)

Sam is a strategic leader in resource recovery, compliance and illegal waste, with experience in developing waste strategies, securing infrastructure funding and engaging stakeholders to drive circular economy outcomes.

Emily Tee

Emily Tee

Senior Consultant

B.Ag.Sci., Grad.Dip.App.Sci. (Hort), Dip.Bus.

Emily is a multi-skilled professional with experience in design, delivery and review of programs and projects in the environmental and agricultural sectors. She combines excellent strategic thinking skills with a proven ability to problem-solve and effectively communicate with colleagues and stakeholders. Emily has particular skills in relationship building and collaboration with individuals, teams and industry groups to lead and implement change and deliver on outcomes.

Camilla Humphries

Camilla Humphries

Consultant

B.Ag.Sci., M.Ag.Sci.

Camilla is an agricultural scientist with a broad skill set across horticulture, perennial tree crops, natural resource management and broad acre cropping focused on research, development, and extension. She has ten years of industry and project management experience with strong stakeholder engagement skills. Her career goal is to innovate and ultimately help to improve productivity and sustainability of horticulture and food production systems in Australia as well as in developing countries.

Hilary Hall

Hilary Hall

Associate

Churchill Fellow, M.Eng.Sci. (Water & Wastewater Treatment), B.Eng. (Chem.)

Hilary believes in transforming waste to regenerate our environment and nourish our communities. Through considered management and appropriate treatment, wastewater and organic by-products can be used to enhance resource recovery, improve soil health and develop local circular economies. As a process engineer with expertise in municipal and industrial wastewater treatment, Hilary’s experience includes strategic planning, concept design, regulatory approvals, contaminant investigations and environmental risk. In 2023 Hilary received a Churchill Fellowship, travelling throughout Europe to investigate biosolids regulation and use. With a background in wastewater operations, Hilary has a strong emphasis on developing strategies and management plans that are practical and site-specific.

Matt Shanahan

Matt Shanahan

Managing Principal

B.Tech. (Env.)

Matt has been working in the water/irrigation industry for the past 15 years, having spent the last 12 years with RMCG consulting to a range of private and government clients.  Matt has worked extensively in the field of recycled water and organics management, having prepared master plans, land capability assessments, irrigation management plans and environmental management plans for a range of clients.  He is also experienced in the development of works approval applications and undertaking technical assessments involving the management of soils, nutrients and salinity/sodicity.