Wagga Wagga City Council has purchased an expanded polystyrene (EPS) compactor which is now operational at the Gregadoo Waste Management Centre (GWMC).
In August it was announced that Council had received $86,121 in funding via the NSW Environment Protection Authority's (EPA) Landfill Consolidation and Environmental Improvements Grants Program.
The program supports regional councils to review operations and deliver projects that increase resource recovery, help to extend landfill life, and improve operational and environmental outcomes.
The EPS compactor arrived in December and is operational now. It's intended to divert polystyrene from landfill and reuse it to make new products such as skirting boards, kitchen cupboards, and picture frames.
Resource Recovery Facilities Manager Andrea Baldwin said the compactor was already operating and working to divert polystyrene from the landfill cells.
"Polystyrene pollution is a major environmental problem, spreading quickly through wind and waterways," Ms Baldwin said.
"The new compactor uses a conveyor belt feed system which can handle up to 200kg per hour, allowing us to process material faster than ever, rendering it into a safe, stable and recyclable form."
NSW EPA Director of Circular Economy Programs Sam Lewis said that the purchase of the EPS compacter will help save landfill space and allow polystyrene to be transported for recycling.
"While polystyrene is a light-weight, recyclable material, it is difficult to handle and bulky, making it hard to transport to recycling facilities," Mr Lewis said.
"These types of practical operational improvements help to transition to a cleaner, safer and more sustainable way of handling recyclable materials."
Residents and businesses can continue to drop off polystyrene free of charge at GWMC.
To ensure the materials can be recycled effectively, Council is asking the community to take a few simple steps when preparing loads.
- Materials should be free of tape and labels as much as reasonably possible, and should be clean and dry
- Loads should be covered during transport; it's a lightweight material that can be easily blown away
- Customers are reminded to advise the weighbridge if they are carrying recyclables and follow instructions when directed to the transfer stations.
For the full list of recyclable items, visit wagga.nsw.gov.au/waste.
