Materials Recovery Facility (MRF)

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Shoalhaven City Council is committed to maximizing the recovery of resources in an ever-changing industry. Our efforts have focused on ensuring recycling continues within the Shoalhaven while minimising the risk of recyclables being sent to landfill.

In the foreseeable future, Council’s capacity to viably and efficiently collect, store and process recycling over the long-term will be impacted greatly by residential and tourism-related population growth.

This proposed Council owned and operated Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) will provide flexibility in adapting to external pressures that affect the economics and management of recycling.

Background

On 10 December 2019, Council adopted the business case to establish a best practice MRF at its existing West Nowra Waste Management Precinct to process commingled recycling.

Project Objectives

The key objectives of the MRF are:

  1. to produce high quality, sorted and separated recyclable products
  2. to control recycling within our region, reducing the dependency on external and third party services to provide greater flexibility to adapt to market changes
  3. improve Council’s landfill diversion rate
  4. assist the transition towards a circular economy
  5. increased employment opportunities for local residents.

Project Overview

MRFs are comprised of a series of mechanical, electronic and manual sorting processes which sort the commingled recycling stream into individual material types. This is achieved by both extracting materials suitable for recycling and removing those that cannot be recycled.

Recyclable materials will be sourced from Council’s kerbside collections, waste depots and other Council owned entities such as Holiday Haven Tourist Parks. Opportunities for collection beyond our region will also be investigated.

As the market demands better quality products, Council will establish a MRF, utilising best practice technology, in order to ensure success and longevity in the recycling industry. This investment in innovative technologies will see Council as a leader in waste management and recycling.

Shoalhaven City Council is committed to maximizing the recovery of resources in an ever-changing industry. Our efforts have focused on ensuring recycling continues within the Shoalhaven while minimising the risk of recyclables being sent to landfill.

In the foreseeable future, Council’s capacity to viably and efficiently collect, store and process recycling over the long-term will be impacted greatly by residential and tourism-related population growth.

This proposed Council owned and operated Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) will provide flexibility in adapting to external pressures that affect the economics and management of recycling.

Background

On 10 December 2019, Council adopted the business case to establish a best practice MRF at its existing West Nowra Waste Management Precinct to process commingled recycling.

Project Objectives

The key objectives of the MRF are:

  1. to produce high quality, sorted and separated recyclable products
  2. to control recycling within our region, reducing the dependency on external and third party services to provide greater flexibility to adapt to market changes
  3. improve Council’s landfill diversion rate
  4. assist the transition towards a circular economy
  5. increased employment opportunities for local residents.

Project Overview

MRFs are comprised of a series of mechanical, electronic and manual sorting processes which sort the commingled recycling stream into individual material types. This is achieved by both extracting materials suitable for recycling and removing those that cannot be recycled.

Recyclable materials will be sourced from Council’s kerbside collections, waste depots and other Council owned entities such as Holiday Haven Tourist Parks. Opportunities for collection beyond our region will also be investigated.

As the market demands better quality products, Council will establish a MRF, utilising best practice technology, in order to ensure success and longevity in the recycling industry. This investment in innovative technologies will see Council as a leader in waste management and recycling.

  • Update - Works to resume on recycling facility

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    The construction of the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) at West Nowra will resume following a decision of Council to proceed with the contracting of specialist trades.

    In March, the contractor responsible for constructing the building entered into voluntary administration, with the project yet to be completed.

    At last night’s Council meeting, councillors voted to continue the project through a targeted quotation process.

    “This is a significant regional project that will improve our rate of recycling while reducing recycling costs and create employment opportunities,” said Director City Services, Carey McIntyre.

    “The development of this facility will enable us to better manage our own recyclable material in-house as well as generate income by receiving materials from across the Illawarra. Ultimately, this project will pay for itself,” Mr McIntyre said.

    The facility spans an area of almost one hectare and will have a processing rate of 15 tonnes per hour and an expected annual capacity of 24,720 tonnes of recycling material collected from the yellow lid bins.

    The total project cost for the facility and the surrounding infrastructure at the site is estimated to be up to $38 million. Since the project began in 2019, the forecast cost has increased due to escalating construction costs, the inclusion of enabling site works in the project scope, and costs associated with meeting revised building regulations including bushfire regulations.

    “There are a number of potential funding options that are able to be investigated, that would provide us with a good return on investment and expedite the completion of this commercial asset,” Mr McIntyre said.

    Once complete, funding models will be provided to the elected Council for its consideration later this year.

  • Project Update

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    Development Consent for the MRF was a long and protracted process with final approval being granted late in December 2022.

    Council have appointed a Certifier for the Construction Certificate (CC) with the CC expected to be issued in May 2023.

    The building contractor is ready to mobilise on site and commence construction once the CC has been issued.

    The sorting equipment and machinery are currently being fabricated by a specialist sorting equipment company located on the Central Coast. The equipment will be ready to be installed once the building is constructed.

Page last updated: 26 Aug 2024, 10:47 AM