Big things expected from small pieces of glass and local collaboration
Published on 26 February 2016
Some very small pieces of glass are about to have a big effect on the Central Queensland Region, its economy and its recycling rates.
An exciting new venture between local businesses and Rockhampton Regional Council will soon see the Region’s glass destined for use in various local infrastructure projects.
It’s been a project months in the making, and one which Chair of Council’s Business Enterprise Committee Cr Neil Fisher says will have major economic and environmental benefits.
“Through the operation of a glass crusher at the Material Recovery Facility (MRF), and collaboration between Council and local businesses, some of our area’s 4,000 tonnes of collected glass a year will soon be recycled into bedding sand and used in future infrastructure projects,” Cr Fisher said.
“This is truly an exciting project. It’s going to mean an increase in local recycling, a reduction in costs for the transportation of this glass, and help to ensure a strong future for our local MRF.”
So just how does a glass bottle or jar become destined for a future infrastructure project? Cr Fisher said the answer is a fairly lengthy process, which includes a number of players.
“Initially this was collaboration between local recyclables processing group Kriaris and five Councils of Central Queensland,” Cr Fisher said.
“It’s operation regionally will involve Rockhampton Regional Waste and Recycling who will collect and deliver the glass, Kriaris who take care of its crushing and at present two local businesses who work to see the final product become part of local bedding sand.”
The stages from the bin to bedding sand:
Discussing the first step, Director of Kriaris Recyclables Processing, Matt Kriaris said:
“Well first the glass arrives to the Materials Recovery Facility from the recyclables collected by Rockhampton Regional Waste and Recycling from throughout the Region,” Mr Kriaris said.
“At the MRF, it’s sorted and separated from the other recyclables and brought down to a 50mm size through an initial crushing process. Then the 50mm glass is moved to the new glass plant on site and crushed further to a size of about 3mm or less,” he said.
“The glass is then heated at 180 degrees and suction is applied to remove any impurities. The finished product is then taken to a glass bunker on site ready for transport.”
It’s then on to local landscaping supply business Hopkins Brothers in Rockhampton.
“What we do with the glass that’s brought to us is put it through a screening and blending process which sees it incorporated with our existing alluvial bedding sand,” Managing Director of Hopkins Brothers Robert Hopkins said.
“From here it’s then stockpiled in readiness for sale.”
One business currently signed up for its purchase is Fitzroy River Water (FRW).
“This project is a good fit with our current activities.” Acting Manager of FRW Jason Plumb said.
“From FRW’s perspective the crushed glass sand product will be used in locations where it can be placed at depths in trenches to cover new water mains and sewer pipes constructed by FRW,” he said.