Closing the loop on building wastes

Closing the loop on building wastes

Friday 11 Mar 2016

It was good news to read recently that a local carpet tile manufacturer has taken the opportunity in building a new factory to provide space for recycling their product at end of life. The company is reportedly investing AU$1.4 million in research and development to reprocess old carpet domestically - an encouraging signal that, with the latest technologies, the recycling market can be sustained under local cost structures.

The Australian building and construction industry is increasingly recognized for its commitment to the use of sustainable materials and practices. The sector’s ability, however, to cost effectively recover, separate and recycle – particularly, locally – its waste materials needs to be a key part of that journey. Supply chain collaboration, innovation and education provide cues for the future of building product waste markets.

The Australian government reports that the construction and demolition (C&D) sector generates the greatest amount of waste in the economy (2010-11) and it has the highest recovery rate, at 66 per cent, of the three main waste stream sectors (C&D, municipal, and commercial and industrial). The potential for reducing waste generation and further improving recovery and recycling of C&D waste is good, but the market faces some major barriers.

Issues raised at a recent gathering of building products value chain representatives included the relatively low cost of landfill levies, which act as a deterrent to waste recovery and the disinterest of major waste sorting facilities and recyclers to separate commingled lightweight materials such as plastics for local reprocessing. Those in the recycling value chain reported a lack of engagement with Tier 2 building projects when it comes to recycling and the current patchwork of local policies and programs has not yet been effective in grabbing their attention.

Australia also currently faces comparatively high costs for reprocessing and product development due to greater difficulty in achieving economies of scale in the recycling industry. In Europe, population and therefore waste density provides a level of scale which can support better returns on technology investment for plants and processes. It has been reported that the rise of PVC recycling alone in Europe has created around 1,000 direct jobs across the region as well as led to investment in development of new technologies for reprocessing traditional and composite materials. More >>

Source: Sourceable

Return to Newsletter

Share |