Recycling pioneers in Dandenong. An overview of the recycling activities at 185 Westernport Hwy, Dandenong South August 2011

Transcription

1 Recycling pioneers in Dandenong An overview of the recycling activities at 185 Westernport Hwy, Dandenong South August 2011

2 Background The Dandenong South site is a family business that has had the same owners for over 30 years. Geoff Petherbridge bought the Lyndhurst sand pit and solid inert waste tip in joined the business. With a background in environmental science, Ward had a vision to turn the facility into a recycling business. Landfill operations ceased in January 2008.

3 A recycling alliance The 35 acre site now houses three distinct recycling businesses: Waste Converters Pty Ltd, Commercial Tippers Pty Ltd, and MossRock Pty Ltd. Through the companies' combined activities they currently recycle 50,000 tonnes of waste per annum and support over 40 workers at the site. The recycling businesses on the South Dandenong site are focused on resource management. The waste stream entering the site is seen as a valuable resource and wherever possible product is re- used, re- modified or recycled. In 2010/11, 50,000 tonnes of waste were diverted from landfill.

4 Making topsoil from recycled materials. The site diverts 50,000 tonnes of waste from landfill annually.

5 What is recycled at the site The materials recycled at the site are largely made up of commercial and industrial waste (C&I), construction and demolition waste (C&D), and timber and green waste. Each business has a recycling specialty: Commercial Tippers recycles building and demolition waste producing blended topsoil, crushed concrete and brick rubble. Waste Converters/Smart Recycling recycles timber waste, consisting mainly of timber packaging and pallets. The business has a timber processing shed where salvaged timbers and pallets are repaired and recycled. The business also operates a collection service for timber waste. Products repaired and remanufactured include pallets, boxes, crates, pegs, stakes and recycled timber for furniture manufacture and building projects. Moss Rock manufactures landscaping mulch from residual timber waste generated by Waste Converters/Smart recycling.

6 Cleaner than your average tip The South Dandenong recycling site no longer operates as a tip and limits its collection & drop- off service to recyclable materials. The site receives solid inert builders waste, timber packaging waste and vegetation from trees and shrubs. The site does not deal with toxic materials and does not process any curb- side residential green waste, food waste or liquids (the stuff that stinks). The site produces pasteurised mulch, blended topsoil, crushed concrete, brick rubble, and products from recycled timber. The site has never had complaints about odour from windrow composting due to the woody nature of the vegetation processed and also due to a strict quota (300 tonnes per month) on materials received and regular turning and monitoring of wind rows.

7 Making a positive contribution to carbon reduction in Victoria The site diverts 50,000 tonnes of waste from landfill annually. Much of the materials recycled are carbon rich and could potentially create green house gases such as methane if sent to landfill. From July 2010 June 2011, 15,000 tonnes of C02 in the form of timber, green waste, cardboard and paper was recycled at the site. In contrast, the site's carbon usage in fuel and electricity was approximately 500 tonnes. Recycling activities provided a net carbon benefit of 14,500 tonnes on this organic material alone. There is also a net carbon saving produced by recycling materials such as concrete, bricks and soil. Substantially more carbon is consumed producing new products made from raw materials as opposed to reusing recycled products.

8 Converting timber waste into mulch. MossRock provides landscaping materials for major public works projects including;; Dandenong Sth Bypass Dingley Bypass Victorian Desalination Plant, Wonthaggi Peninsula Link Freeway Eastlink

9 Helping Victorian organisations realise their sustainability goals The Dandenong South site provides, businesses, government organisations and residents with environmentally- friendly and affordable products and waste disposal options. As tipping fees increase, companies are looking to reduce their landfill costs. Dropping material at our depot can cost less than half of what it would cost to take the same material to a landfill site. Most recycling depots operate as drop off facilities only, wholesaling recycled products to a third party. The Dandenong South Site allows customers to drop off waste materials and backload the recycled products, reducing freight costs and carbon output. Smart Recycling offer a pick- up and bin service for timber waste on site at local factories. Many of these customers have recycled pallets or crates delivered at the same time. By using products from the Dandenong South Site organisations can increase their recycled material quota. This is particularly important for businesses tendering for contracts with government agencies and developers and businesses who have sustainability policies and targets.

10 The site provides employment for local residents from diverse cultural backgrounds

11 Green jobs for local residents The Index of Relative Social disadvantage published by the Commonwealth Government ranked the City of Greater Dandenong as the most disadvantaged municipality in Victoria, with unemployment rates nearly double the national average. Dandenong is the most culturally diverse locality in Victoria, and the National Adult Life Skills and Literacy Survey (ABS, 2006) indicates that over a quarter of Greater Dandenong residents aged have very limited literacy, impacting on their ability to find gainful employment. The South Dandenong site provides suitable jobs for local residents. The depot employs 43 staff Most staff reside in the high unemployment LGAs of Casey, Dandenong and Frankston 25% of staff live in the Greater Dandenong area. 35% of employees are from NESB, including India, Sri Lanka, Iraq, Philippines, Vietnam and Serbia. A significant proportion of staff have low levels of English literacy. The site has workers of all ages including 6 people over the age of 63. Many staff were previously long- term unemployed

12 Contributing to Dandenong Council's strategic objectives social Dandenong Council strategic objective Improve access to education, training and skill development opportunities for new settlers, young people, the unemployed and resident workers wanting to advance their careers. Develop ways to increase the proportion of residents who are employed within the city and local economy, and enhance the number of skilled workers living in the city. Sites contribution Employs 43 workers on the Dandenong South site: 25% are Dandenong residents 50% are from NESB 5% were previously long- term unemployed Provides skills development opportunities for workers, including: arranging English language classes for staff; assisting workers to gain their forklift, truck and driving licences.

13 Contributing to Dandenong Council's strategic objectives environmental Dandenong Council strategic objective Promote actions which encourage environmentally friendly ways of living, working, producing and doing business. Support residents and business to adapt to climate change for the benefit of the local community. Encourage enterprises and industries which take advantage of the new economy of renewable energy, greenhouse reduction and environmentally friendly products. Sites contribution Reduces the amount of waste generated in the Dandenong area being taken to landfill. Recycled 50,000 tonnes of waste in 2010/11, which resulted in a net carbon benefit 14,500 tonnes of Co2. Provides recycling services and recycled products to organisations and individuals in the Greater Dandenong area, servicing hundreds of local businesses - Helping to stabilise municipal emissions derived from residential, commercial and industrial activities. Supplies recycled mulch, aggregate, topsoil and wood products to development projects in the Dandenong area including the Dingley Bypass, Peninsula Link and East Link. Provides a local facility for waste disposal and recycled product sales, minimising transport energy use for Dandenong businesses and residents. Is a local example of an established and expanding business taking advantage of the new economy of greenhouse reduction and environmentally friendly products. Provides an example of how a landfill business, through innovation and careful planning, can move towards a niche production model utilising local waste.

14 Last year 300,000 pallets were recycled at the site.

15 Strategy The South Dandenong recycling service assists the Victorian government in Towards Zero Waste Strategy through: recycling a number of the priority materials including, timber products, concrete, brick asphalt, fill material and paper and cardboard; being located in greater Melbourne, one of the geographical areas targeted in the strategy; recycling 50,000 tonnes of waste materials annually, thus contributing to materials recovered and recycled by Over the past decade Waste Converters have been awarded 4 Eco- Recycle / Sustainability Victoria grants worth a total value of $300,000

16 Pallets GM from Holden GM pallets Holden ready for recycling

17 Organisations using the recycling services Waste Converters Recycling, Commercial Tippers and Mossrock Pty Ltd, service over 2000 organisations across Melbourne. Approx 33% of these business operate in the City of Greater Dandenong.

18 A resource for Architects, designers and artists. Materials from the site have been incorporated into; Artworks by David Bromley The recent fit-out of acclaimed restaurant Vue de Monde. Furniture pieces by Mark Tuckey Award winning designs by Wolveridge Architects The Greenhouse by Joost Wolveridge Architects source materials for their award winning designs. Desk made from a Caterpillar truck engine pallet.

19 A resource for Architects, designers and artists. Materials from the site have been incorporated into; Artworks by David Bromley The recent fit-out of acclaimed restaurant Vue de Monde. Furniture pieces by Mark Tuckey Award winning designs by Wolveridge Architects The Greenhouse by Joost

20 David Bromley painting on Viridian Glass plywood.

21 Site materials used in Vue de Monde fit-out

22 Create with a crate From 2003 through to 2006, Waste Converters and the Victorian Woodworking association organised the create with a crate competition. The crates were sourced from the Iveco Truck manufacturing plant in Dandenong. The competition promoted re- using waste timber, in particular packaging waste. Each year Iveco imports hundreds of engines into Australia from America and pallets are made of exotic timber species such as Oak and Elm. Both of these species are widely used in furniture making and woodworking. Often timber packaging ends up in landfill or is pulverised into low- grade mulch as a means of disposal. In Victoria alone, over 500,000 tonnes of timber waste is disposed of each year.

23 Create with a crate finalists

24 Site materials used in Greenhouse by Joost projects in Melbourne,Sydney and Perth.

25 -David Bromley painting on recycled plywood. -Caterpillar engine pallets used for chairs, tables, floor surfaces & bar top.

26 Viridian Glass protective endcaps used to store cutlery.

27 Recycled Ford Motor Company banners used as upholstery for outdoor furniture Plywood previously used to transport automotive glass laminate used as platters.

28 Contact information Waste Converters /Smart Recycling 185 Westernport Highway Dandenong South Contact Ward Petherbridge P: M: E: W: For information about MossRock visit: