Can eco-friendly plates and food containers made from sugarcane mulch sneak in some hidden PFAS? And can that PFAS end up in your compost, and eventually your garden soil? Cara Roberts and David Springer did the dirty work (literally) to find out. Gunnar and James couldn't wait for them to come onto the podcast and present the scoop. Tune in to hear what they uncovered!

Oh, and this time there's no "Gunnar's gone rogue" segment. In fact, he's eating a slice of humble pie after a listener fact-checked him on one of his recent rants. Oops! After that little reality check, they tidy up a few loose ends and jump straight into the interview. Don't miss it!

This episode was recorded on 4 November 2024.

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The necessary disclaimer: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this Podcast are the speakers’ own. They do not necessarily represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of 4Pillars Environmental Consulting Pty Ltd or any Client, Supplier or other party related to 4Pillars or the speakers.

(c) Gunnar Haid and James Hammond

Grey Areas and Loopholes – Where to Draw the Line? This episode dives into the murky waters of our industry's "grey areas", or, if we are re being honest, loopholes. From VENM (Virgin Excavated Natural Material) issues to Council demands for auditors in a gotcha move, to James's creative methods for getting trial waste recycling facilities approved, and even the use of silica gel to clean up tank pit samples - these are some of the fine lines or thin ice areas we navigate in the environmental consulting world.

Before Gunnar and James unpack their take on which loopholes are fair game and which ones in their opinion cross the line, they handle some podcast housekeeping, read out a listener comment, and share big news: the NSW EPA has withdrawn their 2022 asbestos position paper!

And, because no episode is complete without a "Gunnar moment," he takes us back to a memorable prenatal class incident. In typical Gunnar style, he set things straight, though, admittedly, even he now wonders whether going full Gunnarish was, well, entirely necessary. Enjoy the episode!

This is the link to the EPA article announcing the asbestos news.

The episode was recorded on 18 October 2024

Listen to Below the Surface and collect CPD points. We have confirmation that you can claim 0.5 points for every hour you spend with us under the Self Education Category

Contact: bts@4pillars.com.au

https://www.linkedin.com/company/below-the-surface-podcast

The necessary disclaimer: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this Podcast are the speakers’ own. They do not necessarily represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of 4Pillars Environmental Consulting Pty Ltd or any Client, Supplier or other party related to 4Pillars or the speakers.

(c) Gunnar Haid and James Hammond

In a fictitious world where electricity reigns supreme, Gunnar has "invented" a revolutionary engine that uses ... wait for it ... petrol! That’s right, in this universe, electric engines are the norm, and Gunnar is pitching this wild idea of a new type of engine to a venture capitalist, skilfully played by James.

We’re taking a detour from our usual lineup of site contamination, waste streams, asbestos scares, and blood lead levels. Instead, Gunnar and James are stepping into the world of dramatic fiction — or at least, are attempting to. They’re acting out a "screenplay," minus the screens, with Gunnar taking full responsibility for the writing (and any questionable humour). It’s all in good fun, so let’s embrace the satire and enjoy the ride! Gunnar and James certainly had a blast recording it!

But before the “acting” begins, the two go on a trip down memory lane with a skydiving tale straight out of Top Gun. Depending on who you ask, it was either hilariously entertaining or a borderline disaster that nearly took out everyone nearby. You decide — either way, it’s unforgettable.

Recorded on 18 October 2024, this episode is one for the books!

Listen to Below the Surface and collect CPD points. We have confirmation that you can claim 0.5 points for every hour you spend with us under the Self Education Category

Contact: bts@4pillars.com.au

https://www.linkedin.com/company/below-the-surface-podcast

The necessary disclaimer: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this Podcast are the speakers’ own. They do not necessarily represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of 4Pillars Environmental Consulting Pty Ltd or any Client, Supplier or other party related to 4Pillars or the speakers.

(c) Gunnar Haid and James Hammond