National Packaging Covenant/Department of Environment and conservation and the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River
1. What’s going on?
Shire of Augusta, Margaret River, the National Packaging Covenant and The Department of Environment and Conservation, are funding a project called “Glass Reprocessing for Local Markets” which aims to divert over 800 tonnes of glass waste from landfill each year. This is the first project of its kind in regional Australia and will change the landscape of the way glass is recycled in the Margaret River region – a place which disposes of large amounts of glass bottles
The AGG SYTEM 2 glass crusher which was ordered through IT’s GREEN the Australian agents, some months ago has now been manufactured and tested. The system will now be packaged and shipped to Freemantle and is scheduled to arrive on our shores by the end of June. It is hoped that the equipment will be in full production by July 2009.
2. Who is who?
The new project manager for this initiative is Greg Simpson, who brings with him many years of experience in the area of waste management and environmental services.
The Shire’s Strategic Waste Management Plan strives towards creating more efficient and effective ways to recycle. With the installation of a glass crusher in our region we aim to effectively reduce the amount of glass in landfill. The new machine aims to divert 870 tonnes of glass waste from landfill within 12 months of production.
The glass crusher will also provide an opportunity for other Council’s to recycle their glass in the South West instead of sending it interstate which is currently uneconomical.
The National Packaging Covenant is a unique initiative between government and industry, to stop packaging waste ending up in landfill. Working together with Australian brand owners and the packaging supply chain the Covenant scrutinises better ways to recycle, reuse, recover and re-design packaging so it is sustainable.
3. Where we are now
SORT-STACK – STOCKPILE
The Shire has now accumulated a stockpile of glass ready for crushing; current estimates are 300-400 tonnes and steadily growing. As the news spreads, of our plans to use glass diverted from landfill for local markets more and more of the regions waste producers are separating their glass and bringing it to us.
4. New technology – where we are going
FEED-CRUSH-REUSE
5. How does it work?
The system separates contaminants such as labels, metal and plastic caps whilst crushing the glass in to fine aggregate. A popper unit breaks the initial glass containers and a shear unit accommodates the separation of labels from the glass. The product is then separated from the lids and labels using a trommel screen and finally a seizer unit and a second trommel creates an aggregate mix of 1/8” and 3/8”.
6. Challenges
The world wide economic crises has created some significant financial difficulties, due to the plummeting of the exchange rate between the Australian and US dollar, unfortunately no comparable product is currently manufactured in Australia.
Research on existing plants in the USA, identified the need to add additional infrastructure to the system, from what was originally ordered, this has now been completed and the system built
Our major challenge of delivery schedules has now been overcome and now we await its arrival eagerly
7. What’s next?
Installation and commissioning scheduled for July 2009.
Download the Margaret River E-news 2 PDF
For interviews and more information please go to www.amrsc.wa.gov.au, or contact Greg Simpson, Manager of Environmental services, Shire of Augusta-Margaret River, on 08 9780 5232
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