Council resolved to proceed with the commissioning and operation of its recycling facility following the recommendation of an independent consultant.
MRA Consulting Group was contracted to provide a report on the risks and financial outcomes for future operations of Council's Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) which is currently under construction in West Nowra.
Mayor Patricia White said Council had performed its due diligence and the report provided the risk analysis and financial modelling needed to move the project forward.
"The independent report recommended that we finish construction, undertake commissioning and start staffing the project which is a positive outcome for the Shoalhaven's circular economy," Cr White said.
"A key recommendation is to capture recycling waste from other councils as a priority which would result in extra revenue for Council, in addition to recycling local waste material in-house," she said.
"With construction almost complete, we can now take the next steps to getting the MRF staffed and fully operational by early next year."
Recommendations from the report included:
- Finish construction and installation of processing plant
- Undertake commissioning to ensure safety and compliance requirements
- Start recruitment and staff training
- Capture new tonnes from other councils as a priority
- Define strict KPIs and robust reporting
- Conduct a review in one year and report back to Council.
MRA Consulting Group recommended that given the substantial capital investment already committed, commissioning the facility remains the practical pathway for Council to realise a return on investment.
The total project cost for the facility and the surrounding infrastructure at the site is estimated to be $37.15 million.
With a processing rate of 15 tonnes per hour and expected annual capacity of up to 25,000 tonnes, the facility will revolutionise how Council processes comingled products and divert waste from landfill.
The Material Recovery Facility (MRF) will receive mixed recyclable materials from yellow-lid bins and once sorted and separated, paper, newspaper, cardboard, steel, aluminium and plastics are baled and then used to make new products. Glass recovered through the MRF will be processed in the Glass Recycling Plant and used in asphalt and pipe bedding for civil construction, as well as the Green Ceramic MICROfactorie also located at the West Nowra facility.
