An estimated 50 tonnes of polystyrene will be spared from landfill annually with the arrival of a new Expanded Polystyrene Thermal Compaction Unit at council’s Eumundi Road waste facility.
It follows a successful six-month trial of the recycling technology using a smaller machine.
Councillors this week endorsed a motion to award IS Recycling Pty Ltd a $227,000 contract for the supply, installation and 12-month maintenance of the machine.
Mayor Clare Stewart said processing polystyrene in-house would save council more than $380,000 annually in costs associated with landfilling of this material.
“It makes good business sense as the machine will more than pay for itself in less than six months, and we’re conserving space in our new landfill cell while helping reduce the environmental impact of polystyrene waste,” she said.
The machine heats up polystyrene waste and compresses it, turning it into small, solid bricks, which take up less space and can be more easily transported for repurposing into new products.
Council’s waste and environmental health manager Kyrone Dodd said the trial machine processed around 25 tonnes of polystyrene during six months, with the larger machine capable of processing even more if required.
“The machine reduces polystyrene’s size by 90 per cent and turns it into product. Around 50 tonnes of polystyrene processed equates to around 2388 cubic metres of landfill space saved. As a comparison we would be diverting one Olympic size swimming pool every year from landfill and recycling it,” Mr Dodd said.
“Recycling polystyrene keeps it out of landfill, stops the particles entering the natural environment where they cause all sorts of issues and saves us the cost of putting it into landfill.”
The equipment also includes a shredder which can be used independently of the thermal compactor.
“It means we can safely stockpile polystyrene until we have a significant amount to run through the thermal compactor at one time, which makes the process as efficient as possible.”
The six-month trial of the smaller machine was deemed a great success.
Council aims to have the new machine in place and online in August.
