New one-stop-shop aims to transform waste management
A South Australian recycling guru has opened a first-of-its-kind centre in Somerton Park, giving locals a one-stop-shop recycling solution for more than just bottles and cans.
CEO of RE-CO Recycling Co-Op Neville Rawlings has transformed his Somerton Park can and bottle recycling centre into a single destination waste management mecca, and plans on expanding the solution throughout Adelaide.
Rawlings – who has been a key player in the South Australian recycling space for nearly 50 years – opened the RE-CO site in May.
He hopes it’ll redefine what’s possible in circular resource solutions. Instead of loud, manual can and bottle counting, sleek new machines developed in partnership with some of the state’s top technology businesses automate that process.
The centre also takes far more than just cans and bottles, with the facility able to accept e-waste, lithium batteries, gas canisters, large cardboard, blister packs and even clothing donations.
He said the old, manual way of recycling meant can and bottle depots where you can get 10 cents back per receptacle were a “bit hostile”.
“They’re throwing glass everywhere, smashing this and smashing that, and counting the cans,” he said.
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“So we said we’ll take the counting problem out of it, take the staffing problem out of it, and now when you come here, it’s different.
“The staff don’t have to count anymore. They don’t have to be in a confrontation with anyone – now they’re educating. They’re telling people about what we’re doing with the batteries and answering the questions about the technology itself. It’s almost something that you look forward to doing.”
At the heart of the new RE-CO site is the automated can and bottle counting technology, which not only counts the number of items you’re recycling but also sorts materials with precision and speed.
The whole machine also compacts, weighs and prepares the material for market using purpose-built sorting stations and intelligent conveyor systems.
The machines were built in collaboration with RE-CO and SA-based pioneers in the space Container Deposit Systems, Macweld Industries, Direct Collect and SAGE Automation.
It brings Container Deposit Systems’ cutting-edge tech to SA for the first time, which allows consumers to deposit eligible cans, plastic bottles and glass containers in any condition and collect their 10-cent refund.
Rawlings compared the machine to an ATM for recycling. Simply drive up to the machine, unload your bottles and cans into a tub where a staff member will validate there are no foreign products that are inadmissible.
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Then, users simply place a bottle or can onto a nifty conveyor belt which shoots the product into a sorting system created by SAGE.
Once you’re done, hit ‘stop’ and you’ll receive a receipt. Simply take that to another machine a few meters away, scan the QR code and you’ll receive your cash back.
“It makes bottles and can recycling a little bit more enjoyable and 100 per cent trustworthy,” he said.
“People are changing, so we’re changing with them. We’re looking ahead at what the younger generation do now.
“Everyone wants to go to one place, we’re time poor and people want to have the confidence that something is going to be recycled properly.”
Rawlings hopes to spread his RE-CO gospel further in Adelaide, with two more centres planned for Evanston and Reynella.
Deputy Premier and Environment Minister Susan Close said South Australia’s waste and resource recovery industry currently employs more than 5,000 people and contributes over $800 million annually to the state’s economy.
“Innovative sorting technology, developed in South Australia, has also become a successful export interstate and internationally, and it’s exciting to see this technology integrated into the new facility,” Close said.
“This investment will create 23 new full-time jobs in our state’s waste and resource recovery industry.
“The automated sorting technology significantly improves efficiency and safety in processing deposit containers and household glass.
“Facility renewals and modernisations like these demonstrate immense value and are increasingly popular among the community.
“Congratulations to the owners on completing this outstanding facility—I look forward to seeing continued innovation and success.”
