The Resource Recovery Centre (RRC) at Summerhill Waste Management Centre has saved the weight equivalent of 74 semi-trailers of waste from landfill in its first year of operation.
Opened in September 2019, the $6 million centre provides more than 2,000 square metres of undercover sorting area.
The site enables staff to sort recoverable items such as metals, cardboard, soft plastics, clean wood, and electrical goods from loads of mixed waste, where previously this material would have been disposed of directly to landfill.
Prior to construction, the Small Vehicle Recovery Centre was only able to accept up to 12,000 tonnes of waste per year, due to size and equipment restrictions, and only 3% of this was able to be recycled.
Since starting operations, City of Newcastle states it has recovered and diverted 3,100 tonnes of recyclables from landfill, which is a substantial increase to 16% materials recycled.
The initiative has also saved over $450,000 in waste levy fees to the Environment Protection Authority by recovering items for recycling, rather than disposal, and has generated more than $250,000 in income from the sale of those resources.
Manager Waste Services Troy Uren said the venture benefited both the environment and the community.
“Not only are we keeping recyclable material out of landfill, the [council] is contributing to a circular economy by selling waste materials to be repurposed and delivering positive economic, environmental and social outcomes for the Newcastle community,” he said.
“Newcastle residents have embraced the RRC, where they can bring sorted materials for free to be recycled.
“Scrap metal, cardboard, soft plastic and e-waste can all be dropped off at no cost, as well as problem household waste such as paint, gas bottles and batteries.”
He added that the council was continuing its commitment to the environment by constructing an organics recycling facility, due to start processing in 2022.
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