Released 06/01/2022
Recycling material is being diverted to a recycling centre in Western Sydney following the Boxing Day fire at the Hume Material Recovery Facility.
“Recycled material, temporarily stored at the Mugga Lane Resource Management Centre has begun to be transported to a recycling facility in Western Sydney”, said Minister for Transport and City Services Chris Steel.
“For ACT residents it is business as usual, and households should continue to use their yellow-lidded recycle bin, the Container Deposit Scheme and the Recycling Drop-off Centres.”
Minister Steel said in the immediate period the Hume MRF operator Re.Group would source trucks and drivers to transport materials and identify suitable licenced facilities for material processing.
“Approximately 36 tonnes of material per day is currently being transported to Sydney. We are hoping to increase the tonnage as more trucks become available, noting that there is limited capacity at the recycling facility, and options for other facilities in the Sydney region are being explored by MRF operator Re.Group.
“Clean up work is continuing on the current site and this is expected to be completed in the coming weeks subject to final structural engineers reports.
“The MRF was covered by insurance for asset loss and business disruption. We are working with the insurers and operators to minimise ongoing costs associated with the disruption to businesses activities.”
Minister Steel noted that while investigations are being undertaken, a definitive cause of the fire may not be established.
It appears that most of the Hume MRF was destroyed in the fire, however, the outside baling and storage areas were not affected. Glass containers returned through the ACT Container Deposit Scheme are being stored onsite, while longer-term arrangements are put in place.
“In the medium-term it is likely the MRF site, once made safe, will be operational in some capacity. At a minimum the site could be used as a transfer station to other recycling facilities while work continues on the development of a new MRF for the ACT, previously announced in August 2022,” said Minister Steel.
“The Government had already decided to fund a brand new modern MRF to ensure that the ACT has modern recycling infrastructure. Work has begun to examine options to expedite the building of this new facility.”
New technology at the new plant will deliver the capacity to sort, separate, and process materials for the whole Canberra region, creating higher quality resources with higher value uses including remanufacturing.
- Statement ends -
Chris Steel, MLA | Media Releases