A feasibility study is underway in South Australia to determine if collection points in the state’s wine regions could be a simple, sustainable and cost-effective way to help vineyard owners manage the disposal of CCA-treated trellis posts.
Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA) is a timber preservative containing copper, chromium and arsenic that protects it from fungal and insect attack.
These posts can be a health risk including if they are burned and the smoke is inhaled.
Across Australian vineyards there are an estimated 70 million timber trellis posts treated with CCA.
More than half of these are in South Australia, and each year between 700,000 to 1.8 million CCA posts need to be disposed of across the state due to breakage, vineyard redevelopment or removal.
The only legal way to dispose of CCA-treated posts is at licensed landfill sites.
As a result, vineyard owners and operators are advised to safely stockpile their posts on site until a long-term solution is found.
Wine Australia has commissioned a feasibility study to assess potential locations in South Australian wine regions where CCA-treated posts could be collected or delivered from nearby vineyard owners.
Green Industries SA (GISA) and the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) have co-invested $49,405 into the feasibility study which will be carried out by Rawtec, a consultancy specialising in the circular economy, waste and resource management sector.
The findings will help inform government and industry on whether regional collection points could be a practical long-term solution.
Wine Australia CEO Dr Martin Cole said the Australian grape and wine sector is committed to finding ways to recycle and recover CCA-treated posts in a way that minimises potential impacts to the environment and the community.
“The sector is working hard to explore alternative, low-emission uses for end-of-life posts and we are optimistic that a long-term solution will be found,” he says.
“In the meantime, we want to test the viability of transporting and collecting these materials at dedicated regional sites.
“If found viable, these sites would not only assist in providing a certainty of supply for any future CCA timber recovery solution, but simplify the responsible disposal of posts for growers.”
Rawtec’s final report is expected by mid-2025.
Complementing the feasibility study is the recent announcement of $800,000 in funding from the South Australian and Commonwealth Governments for a stewardship scheme to address the reuse, recovery, management and safe disposal of treated timber.
The Treated Timber Product Stewardship Working Group, consisting of members of the wine and forest industries, environment specialists and universities, will develop a national stewardship framework that aims to find and promote accessible and environmentally-preferred solutions for all treated timber that diverts it away from landfill and minimises greenhouse gas emissions.
The project, which will be managed by the South Australian Wine Industry Association, will have an initial focus on addressing the management of CCA treated timber stockpiled on vineyards.
It also aims to improve community and industry understanding of the risks of incorrect disposal and educate them about their environmental stewardship responsibilities.
Funding for the program is part of the South Australian and Commonwealth Governments SA Wine Recovery Program and the SA Wood Fibre and Timber Industry Master Plan.
The SA Wine Recovery Program has been developed following recommendations made by the National Viticulture and Wine Sector Working Group, established by Agriculture Ministers to support the wine industry to recover and return to productivity and sustainability from the adverse events and market disruptions experienced in recent years.
Whilst the feasibility study and stewardship scheme are positive developments in the management of end-of-life CCA trellis posts, vineyard owners and managers are reminded of their environmental and legal responsibilities in managing them.
Further information on end-of-life solutions for vineyard posts, including how to stockpile them safely, can be found on the Wine Australia website.
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