Depackaging waste to recycle more

SUEZ is leading the way in recovering waste materials and diverting them from landfill with the country’s first depackaging unit.

The innovative depackaging unit, located at SUEZ’s Camellia Resource Recovery and Treatment Facility, allows both food packaging and its contents to be recycled into valuable resources by separating the two components.

Once separated, the packaging is able to be recycled and the nutrient-rich organic material inside can be used in agricultural applications to enrich soil. The machine can handle most packaging types, as long as the material is soft and flexible, and is capable of processing up to 10 tonnes per hour. SUEZ’s Camellia Facility also has a machine that is able to separate glass bottles from their contents.

The depackaging unit is used to separate and recover valuable resources from bulk quantities of consumer products that have expired or are unfit for sale or consumption — such as pasta meals, sauce bottles, powdered baby formula, coffee products, tea bags and pet food.

Previously, packaged food waste presented an environmental and financial challenge for manufacturers and retailers. With no way of efficiently separating its components, it was sent directly to landfill.

In line with SUEZ’s goal to maximise resource recovery, the depackaging unit provides a solution to this challenge. Putting waste to good use is a key priority for SUEZ and the depackaging unit does exactly that. It also minimises the cost of landfill disposal or manually depackaging and separating the components. Nearly all bulk-packaged goods can achieve a 100% recycling rate with both the packaging and the organics being re-used.

The depackaging unit allows SUEZ’s customers — including some of Australia’s largest food manufacturers and retailers — to reduce their waste disposal costs while achieving their sustainability goals through better environmental outcomes.

SUEZ’s investment in the technology was recognised in 2014 when it received top sustainability honours in the Australian Business Awards — a national program recognising organisations that demonstrate leadership and commitment to sustainable business practices.

This award-winning innovation is just one example of how SUEZ is finding smart and reliable ways to solve waste problems, further cementing its position as a leader in resource recovery.

Image: SUEZ’s depackaging unit can even separate ground coffee from aluminium capsules.

Originally published here.