Southern Cross University’s ReCirculator program is about turning industrial waste into tangible worth as part of a circular economy project. With pilot programs underway and working well in the Northern Rivers, Professor Dirk Erler is eager for more industries to come on board.
“Waste management has long been a major environmental issue, particularly around discharge and disposal,” said Erler. “More recently, the notion of the Circular Economy has demanded broader thinking on waste. It has focused on the need to re-use and recycle rather than persist with the old method of remove, use, and dispose.
“The difficulty for the industry lies in not having the capacity to test processes and techniques. ReCirculator solves that by testing and evaluating new waste management processes that deliver an economic, social, and environmental gain.”
In the town of Casino, Richmond Dairies is participating in one of the ReCirculator pilot programs. Chief Financial Officer Mr Craig Kelly is convinced of ReCirculator’s potential.
“From an environmental viewpoint, we must be adept at recovering waste,” said Kelly. “There is also a commercial imperative because customers want to deal with firms reducing their carbon footprint.
“That is why liaising with Southern Cross University is so valuable. Dirk and the ReCirculator team are bringing us to the forefront of new research.”
For example, the University team is looking at ways to extract nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater. We want to take them back to the farmland as a slow-release fertiliser.
“We can release water into nearby wetlands rather than paying for disposal through a sewage treatment plant,” said Erler.
Circular economy programs seek improved sustainability
In addition to ReCirculator, Erler is involved in a broader push towards improved sustainability in the Northern Rivers. An example is The Casino Food Co-op, the region’s largest employer. They have several waste streams that require better treatment to improve their sustainability.
“At the moment, we are working with the Co-op to treat their tannery wastewater. This will allow them to discharge clean water.”
Originally from Perth, Erler began his career in Engineering before heading to Townsville’s James Cook University to study Marine Science. He then switched to Chemistry with a focus on Aquatic and Environmental Science. He did his PhD on waste treatment in aquaculture.
After various stints in Australia and overseas, a postdoctoral opportunity in Aquatic Chemistry brought him to Southern Cross University in 2007.
His research career has been diverse and impressive. Among the highlights, in 2019, he and Southern Cross University colleague Professor Bradley Eyre were the first scientists to conduct greenhouse gas measurements at Australia’s ephemeral inland salt lake, Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre, and its associated river systems.
That same year, Erler joined fellow scientists aboard the CSIRO research vessel Investigator, conducting experiments on nitrogen supply to the Great Barrier Reef.
He has also conducted important research into coastal systems including in the Pacific Islands and on the Great Barrier Reef. The research is aimed at ensuring water quality, species diversity and habitat health through projects protecting the natural environment while benefiting local economies.
More recently, Erler’s focus has been on applied research that can solve some of society’s most pressing issues.
“As rising industrial costs coincide with demands for greater environmental attention, it is vital for industries to find ways to reuse waste as a resource,” he said. “We need to find adaptable, scalable solutions that carry benefits for industry, regional economies, and of course, the environment.”
Erler said projects like ReCirculator affirmed Southern Cross University’s connection with its region. It also provides the next generation of environmental scientists and engineers with the opportunity to participate in developing, implementing and evaluating industry-based solutions.
Learn more about the ReCirculator.
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