Downer launches new waste processing facility

05/06/2018

More than 21,000 tonnes of waste annually can now be diverted from landfill, separated, cleaned and sorted into valuable products and materials that can be readily reused or sold thanks to Downer’s new Detritus Processing Facility in Rosehill, New South Wales.

Downer today officially opened the new state of the art facility that sets a new benchmark in sustainability and innovation in Australia. Unlike many other recycling plants, it can recycle several different types of materials and Downer has found use for those materials.

Downer’s Executive General Manager Road Services, Dante Cremasco, said the innovative Detritus Processing Facility creates economic, social and environmental value for material that would end up in landfill, or end up as a pollutant in our natural environments.

“The Rosehill Detritus Processing Facility is capable of cost effectively processing, separating and cleaning upwards of 25,000 tonnes annually from everyday waste streams such as street sweepings or stormwater. Approximately 85 per cent of it is then converted into meaningful streams of use such as organic matter, sand, gravel, metals and plastic.”

“The Facility is about pulling product, not pushing waste, as these products can be utilised in compost, asphalt for roads that Downer builds and building materials,” Mr Cremasco said.

NSW Environment and Protection Authority (EPA) Director Resource Recovery Kathy Giunta said the EPA is committed to supporting research and the introduction of new technologies to boost recycling in the state.

“This project is one of several the government has supported through the Recycling Innovation Fund, a part of Waste Less Recycle More initiative and is a good example of innovation in recycling.”

Servicing Sydney’s metropolitan road network and open 24/7, the facility supports the optimisation of street sweeping operations in metropolitan Sydney, enabling some street sweepers to complete more than one load per shift.

“The proximity of the facility to street sweeping operations in metropolitan Sydney will see further benefits through improved efficiency with shorter distances travelled by street sweepers. This will in turn allow for improved productivity, reduced fuel consumption and longer equipment life,” added Mr Cremasco.

Downer’s Rosehill Detritus Processing Facility operates in full compliance with EPA requirements and industry best practices. This project was supported by the Environmental Trust as part of the NSW EPA’s Waste Less, Recycle More initiative, funded from the waste levy.