A $600,000 boost from EPA Victoria’s HazWaste Fund has helped a Dandenong company develop a “megablender” that will stop thousands of tonnes of greenhouse gases from being produced, as well as recycling hazardous waste into fuel.
The Victorian Government funding was in addition to $4 million in federal funding provided through the Australia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate.
Launched by Geocycle at its Dandenong premises, the megablender will save thousands of tonnes of hazardous waste from going to landfill — estimates from the company are that this will be in the region of 6-7000 tonnes each year by 2012.
The machine works by re-processing waste into a fuel that can be used in cement kilns. Steel drums and wastes are fed through the machine’s shredder, which separates the materials for recycling and reprocessing. Geocycle staff have nicknamed it “BOB”, standing for Big Oversize Blender.
EPA Victoria chairman Mick Bourke attended the launch, and said Geocycle’s innovative product was a big win for the environment and a worthy recipient of funding.
“These kinds of leading edge projects make a big difference to the impact of industry on the environment,” he said.
“The government is committed to reducing waste to landfill across the state, and stopping all high hazard waste disposal at landfills by 2020.
“Every project like this makes those goals easier to achieve,” he said. Funding was provided to Geocycle as part of the Victorian Government’s HazWaste Fund program, an initiative that supports industry in reducing the amount of hazardous waste going to landfill.
More information on the HazWaste Fund can be found at www.epa.vic.gov.au/hazwastefund
According to Geocycle, the benefits of the megablender include:
· An estimated 16,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide saved by 2012 — the equivalent of approximately 3900 cars each year.
· Approximately 6-7000 tonnes of high hazard waste stopped from going to landfill each year by 2012
· Net energy savings of around 198,000 GJ per annum by 2012 — the energy use of more than 4000 average houses
· Over 1000 tonnes of steel recovered for recycling or re-use each year.
The machine processes contaminated steel drums from industrial sources that would historically go to landfill.
It is supporting the manufacturing industry to reduce waste and allow reprocessing of potentially hazardous materials.