The launch of Council’s Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) heralds a new era in recycling for the Shoalhaven, with items from yellow-lid kerbside bins sorted into high-quality materials that can be sold and re-used to make new products.
With the nearest MRF almost 200 kilometres away in Sydney’s western suburbs, the new facility based in West Nowra will reduce recycling costs and has the potential to generate income through services provided to neighbouring regional councils.
Mayor Patricia White said Council was strengthening the Shoalhaven’s circular economy by ensuring products that have reached the end of their initial use are reused, recycled or remanufactured.
“The MRF is a state-of-the-art facility that will deliver significant environmental benefits and create new employment opportunities for local residents,” Cr White said.
“This facility means our community can have confidence that the effort they put into recycling at home genuinely makes a difference,” she said.
“This is an investment in long-term sustainability. By improving how we manage our recycling today, we are protecting the environment for future generations.”
The MRF has a processing rate of 15 tonnes per hour and an expected annual capacity of up to 24,720 tonnes. With around 12,000 tonnes of recyclable material being generated each year in the Shoalhaven, there is plenty of scope to provide services to neighbouring councils.
With this potential in mind, guests from neighbouring councils attended the launch to see firsthand how the new facility operates and to assess whether Shoalhaven Council could provide a local alternative to sending recyclables elsewhere.
The project began in 2019 at a total cost of $38 million.
