Mary Kovac (pictured), Resource Management Officer with NSW DPI at Dubbo, has commenced an audit of organic bi-product materials in the North West region of NSW. Andrew Scott, her counterpart from Tamworth is also assisting in the work.

The audit which is expected to be completed by August 2009, includes all major sources of organic materials such as crop residues, forestry and sawmill residues, intensive livestock wastes, woody weeds, and municipal wastes.

The project advisory group includes Prof. Bob Martin (PIIC), Brendan George (DPI), Ian Kruger (DPI), Dr Malem McLeod (DPI), Rex Glencross-Grant (UNE), Kate Newlan (Program coordinator, Northern Inland Regional Waste Group) and John Davis (Manager, Northern Inland Regional Waste Group).

Organic materials can be used to produce bioenergy and biofuel as substitutes for traditional fossil fuels and therefore reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Co-products of some of energy production processes (eg biochar, which contains high proportion of stable carbon) can potentially be used as offsets for greenhouse gas emissions as well as a soil amendment to improve agricultural production.

Before studying the feasibility of any future bioenergy production plants in the North West, a better understanding of feedstocks is necessary. This audit will provide preliminary information on the volumes, availability, costs and the reliability of supply of each organic feedstock. It will also yield a better understanding of potential sites for bioenergy plants based on transport logistics, access to water and access to the power grid.

Many organic materials are commonly known as ‘wastes’, but most have economic values and existing uses that need to be taken into account. For example, crop residues left in the field reduce soil temperature and increase soil moisture

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