While most people accept that recycling makes economic and environmental sense, the concept has been under a cloud in recent times due to falling prices for raw materials and increasing costs of collection. However, Banyule City Council in metropolitan Melbourne has refused to be beaten on this issue.
It has set out to create a way in which waste management and recycling can be made both economically viable and environmentally beneficial. The result is the Banyule Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), brainchild of Ramesh Choudari, Director City Works.
The facility, located on the site of Council’s existing depot, is the first of its kind in Victoria. It acts as a collection and transfer point for a wide range of recyclable material. Currently, it is receiving recyclables from eight neighbouring Councils, diverting around 130 tonnes of recyclables from landfill daily.
Located on the same site is a state of the art educational facility. This aims to encourage Victorians to take personal responsibility for waste containment and management. Although located in a residential area, the site is shielded by trees and includes noise barriers to minimise disruption to surrounding amenity. Special traffic installations have been constructed to avoid traffic problems.
Launched in August the MRF and Rethink WasteWise Education Centre is the culmination of a partnership arrangement between Banyule City Council, VISY Recycling and EcoRecycle Victoria.
