Recycling glass in South Australia
With the export ban on waste glass now in effect, ResourceCo is leading the charge in giving a second life to glass in South Australia.
Following a recent successful trial, ResourceCo is pitching a long-term agreement with the Northern Adelaide Waste Management Authority (NAWMA) to repurpose glass collected from the state’s household waste.
NAWMA provides best practice waste management and resource recovery services for its three constituent councils, as well as receiving and processing material for other clients including businesses, industry and regional councils.
The agreement with ResourceCo, should it be executed, will facilitate the recycling of 15,000 tonnes per annum of glass not suitable for returning to recycled glass bottles, which is then blended at a rate of greater than five per cent with a road base material, creating up to 300,000 tonnes of road construction product.
Adam Faulkner, NAWMA Chief Executive Officer, is excited at the opportunity to partner with ResourceCo in the trial and leading the way for South Australia to repurpose its own waste glass.
“This partnership is even more significant with the export ban starting last month. We are ready to take this beyond a trial and make it a sustainable collaboration, providing broader environmental and social dividends,” Faulkner says.
“The safe and responsible uptake of recycled glass as a replacement for virgin aggregate is the most powerful illustration to householders that recycling right in their yellow top recycling bins, creates jobs, preserves the environment and builds roads right in their backyards.”
Both NAWMA and ResourceCo were early movers in committing to onshore sorting and processing.
Groundwork for the original trial began at ResourceCo’s Wingfield facility in late 2019.