The ACT’s Material Recovery Facility (MRF) is to receive a major upgrade with a new partnership entered between the Territory and the Federal Government to separate and process better recycling streams such as paper, glass and plastic.
Announced by the local Minister for Recycling and Waste Reduction, Chris Steel and Federal Minister for the Environment, Sussan Ley, the $21 million upgrade is part of the Australian Government’s Recycling Modernisation Fund which aims to turn waste into a product of value.
Mr Steel said that when Canberrans put material in their yellow bin they should trust that it was sorted and processed locally to provide as much value as possible for re-use and remanufacturing.
“These upgrades to our Materials Recovery Facility will deliver better separation of recycling streams such as paper, glass and plastic, reducing contamination rates and providing better quality recycled material,” Mr Steel said.
“This is the local waste processing infrastructure that our region needs to be ready for the waste export ban, and so that we can effectively eliminate mixed plastics as a waste stream in the ACT,” he said.
Mr Steel said upgrades to the facility would include optical scanning equipment; better screening technology; glass washing facilities; as well as plastic washing and ‘flaking’ facilities.
He said the work was expected to begin later this year with the upgrades conducted in stages and mostly completed by 2022.
Ms Ley said the upgrade would create a higher quality recycled product that added value and reduced the amount of waste destined for in landfill.
She said the upgraded facility would have the capacity to improve the quality and marketability of 23,000 tonnes of paper and mixed cardboard; 1,800 tonnes of mixed plastics; and 14,000 tonnes of glass from the ACT and five regional NSW Councils annually.
