By Vincey Chan

At Envirobank we’re passionate about Innovation in recycling and are always interested in learning about new ways to recycle material in an endless loop, so it never becomes waste.

Welcome to issue two of Recycling News and Innovation. Today we’re celebrating our nation’s progress in recycling towards a circular economy.

Join our Envirobank community of recyclers and subscribe to our newsletters (check your account preference) to stay up to date.

HEADLINE –

New food waste and recycling strategy launched in South Australia.

South Australian Independent Retailers (SAIR) have committed to becoming part of a more circular economy for South Australia, launching the Food Waste and Recycling Strategy for Foodland and IGA Supermarkets 2021-2025. 

Stores operating under the Foodland, IGA and Friendly Grocer Supermarkets brands will commit to over 20 waste initiatives in areas like food recovery, reducing packaging and plastics, educating customers and training staff in best practice waste avoidance. 

The launch of this strategy at Klose’s Foodland in Woodside will allow South Australia’s independently owned supermarkets to activate new practices and systems to reduce the amount of waste generated at their stores and improve resource recovery, especially targeting food waste. 

Source: Foodmag.com.au

HEADLINE –

Recycling polystyrene just got easier at Lismore’s Recycling & Recovery Centre.

The Lismore Recycling & Recovery Centre has a new machine that can recycle polystyrene which will help the facility increase the capacity to deal with this earth-wrecking synthetic-aromatic-hydrocarbon-polymer.

‘We already recycle around 30 tonne of polystyrene every year which saves around 550 cubic metres of landfill, and this will only increase the recycling we can deliver,’ said Lismore City Council’s Commercial Services Business Manager Kevin Trustum.

The new machine can process up to 300 kilograms of polystyrene per hour by crushing and sorting the foam which is then pushed through heating rings that melts and cuts the foam. The product is then cut into golf ball-sized material and cooled and sold – it can be recycled into items such as photo frames and architrave.

The total cost of the project is $191,000 with a contribution of $131,378 from the NSW Environment Protection Authority, Waste Less, Recycle More initiative, funded from the waste levy.

Source: Echo.net.au

HEADLINE –

Recycling to become a boom industry in Queensland.

Queensland is set to scale up its waste recycling infrastructure with an $80 million combined investment that will scale up, transform, and grow the state’s waste and recycling industries.

“This Fund will invest in projects including new high-tech equipment to sort, process and remanufacture mixed plastic, paper and cardboard, glass and tyres,” Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning, Mr Miles said.

“This investment is part of the Queensland Government’s commitment to expanding industry’s footprint and creating new jobs through our $3.34 billion Queensland Jobs Fund.

The $190 million Recycling Modernisation Fund investment, and associated measures to support Australia’s National Waste Policy Action Plan, will create approximately 10,000 new jobs across Australia over the next ten years. Additionally, it will divert 10 million tonnes of waste each year which will no longer go to landfill.

Source: Queensland Government

By Vincey Chan