MacKay Opens First Regional Optical Sorting Plant
Queensland’s MacKay Council has opened a new Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), including a regional first glass crushing and optical sorting plant. MacKay Regional Council is located roughly 1,000 kms north of Brisbane and services a population of 120,000. The glass crushing plant was possible thanks to a joint $600,000 grant from the Australian Packaging Covenant (APC) and the Queensland Department of
Environment and Heritage Protection. Mayor Deirdre Comerford said the new state-of-the-art MRF allowed council to recover more recyclable material. “Since the new plant commenced operating in June we have seen a 60% reduction in recyclable material going to landfill, which is a significant achievement.” More than 2000 tonnes of glass is being diverted from landfill each year and is being turned into a product similar in texture to sand to be used as bedding material in footpaths, drains and culverts. Council’s new MRF is capable of processing 20,000 tonnes of recyclables per year, which is 11,000 more than the previous plant.
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