Material recovery facility operator

Under the Protocol, the EPA’s key responsibilities are to:

• develop, review and publish the Protocol
• develop, review and update the approved form for MRF operators to make a quarterly processing refund claim
• develop and publish the Sampling Strategy
• determine and publish the eligible container factors for output material types
• assess and approve or refuse MRF operators that do not hold a relevant environment protection licence under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 
• assess and approve or refuse eligible container factor applications
• monitor and enforce compliance with the Act, Regulation and Protocol.

Under the Protocol, the Scheme Coordinator’s key responsibilities are to:

• interpret and apply the Protocol to determine the refund payable to MRF operators
• establish and maintain a system for MRF operators to submit information and apply for processing refunds
• assess and approve or refuse MRF operator requests to use measuring equipment other than a weighbridge
• assess and approve or refuse MRF operator requests to use an alternative method of separating Non-Claimable Material
• assess and approve or refuse processing refund claims made by MRF operators against the requirements of the Act, Regulation and the Protocol
• make adjustments to claims based on the requirements in the Act, Regulation and Protocol and any non-compliance
• pay refund amounts for approved claims
• reconcile payments of processing refunds
• receive and review monthly, quarterly and annual reports from MRF operators
• appoint independent auditors to conduct sampling to allow the EPA to calculate the eligible container factor
• develop and implement an audit plan for auditing MRF operators and oversee assurance activities to ensure MRF operators comply with the Protocol
• assess and approve Inter-MRF Transfers
• follow the dispute resolution process prescribed in the Protocol.

Under the Protocol, the key responsibilities of the MRF operator are to:

• ensure each MRF operated by the MRF operator is eligible for claiming processing refunds. Apply and receive approval from the EPA for each MRF that does not have a relevant environment protection licence under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 
• confirm eligibility to claim with Exchange for Change and notify of any changes
• measure input materials and output materials using calibrated and verified equipment.
• seek and receive approval from Exchange for Change if using equipment other than a weighbridge
• measure stock on hand using a methodology agreed by the Scheme Coordinator
• report inputs, outputs and stock on hand to Exchange for Change within the timeframes required
• separate and quarantine Non-claimable Material. Seek and receive approval from Exchange for Change if using an alternative method of separating Non-Claimable Material
• inform Exchange for Change of the claim method (weight or direct count) that will be used at each of the operator’s MRFs
• apply and receive approval for an Inter-MRF transfer if planning to transport materials to a different MRF operator facility (where relevant circumstances exist)
• make a quarterly claim in accordance with the Act, Regulation and Protocol
• follow the dispute resolution process prescribed in the Protocol.

Sampling costs to determine container factors are shared by MRF operators based on the formula published on the EPA website as amended from time to time. A MRF operator that introduces a new container factor may be subject to additional costs to meet sampling requirements.

The sampling cost deduction is calculated for the entire claim period (quarter).

The sampling cost per container is calculated by dividing the total monetary cost incurred by the Scheme Coordinator to undertake the sampling for the claim period (quarter) by the total estimated number of eligible containers recycled by MRF operators making a claim, or delivered to a recycling facility in Australia or consigned for transport to a recycling facility in a foreign country during that claim period (quarter).

Where:

SR = Sampling Rate, which is the unit cost of sampling per container

C = the total monetary cost incurred by the Scheme Coordinator to undertake the sampling for the claim period (quarter)

is the total estimated number of eligible containers of material type i recycled by MRF operators making a claim, or delivered to a recycling facility in Australia or consigned for transport to a recycling facility in a foreign country during months 1, 2 and 3 of the claim period (quarter).

is the sum of all material types claimed by MRF operators during the claim period (quarter)

i is the material type for which the claim is being made

j is the month being assessed during the claim period

n = the number of material types claimed in the claim period (quarter)

The sampling cost per material type is then calculated by multiplying the sampling rate by the estimated number of eligible containers of each material type recycled by the MRF operator making the claim or delivered to a recycling facility in Australia or consigned for transport to a recycling facility during the claim period (quarter).

Where: D_i is the sampling cost deduction for the MRF operator for material type i for the quarter.

Count eligible per kilogram by material stream

Count eligible per kilogram by material stream

(Count eligible per kilogram by material stream)

(Count eligible per kilogram by material stream)

(Count eligible per kilogram by material stream)

(Count eligible per kilogram by material stream)