Noosa Council’s waste team has a new weapon in its recycling arsenal with the arrival of a new polystyrene processing machine.
The machine was installed this week and is already helping slash polystyrene transport costs as well as conserve storage space.
The machine heats up polystyrene waste, compresses it and turns it into small, solid bricks, which take up less space and can be easily transported for repurposing.
Melting the material down is the first step in the polystyrene recycling process, and the fact it can now be done in-house means cheaper transport costs.
“With the machine now up and running we can fire it up as soon as large quantities of polystyrene come in, which also helps reduce the chance of polystyrene litter blowing about the waste facility and entering the environment,” Acting Waste Coordinator, Mark Borgert, said.
The melted down material is recycled for use in the manufacture of a wide range of products, including flooring and cladding.
“The new machine is another way we’re working toward our waste reduction and recycling goals.”
