$5 million for metal recyclers to tackle shredder floc

Eligible metal recyclers have until September 30 to apply for their share in $5 million to boost shredder floc recycling as part of Waste Less, Recycle More grants from the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and the Environmental Trust.

Applications are now open for the three major metal recyclers in NSW to apply for grants of up to $1.6 million to cover half the cost of equipment or facility upgrades that will help keep leftover materials, also known as ‘shredder floc’, out of landfill.

The Innovation in Shredder Floc Management grants program is being delivered through a partnership between the EPA and the Environmental Trust. It is one of four initiatives under the $15 million Waste Less, Recycle More Recycling Innovation Fund.

NSW EPA Director of Waste and Resource Recovery Steve Beaman said each year 93 per cent of metals in NSW are recycled, resulting in more than 1.5 million tonnes of waste being diverted from landfill.

“Metals make a huge contribution to the healthy recycling industry we have in NSW,” Mr Beaman said.

“The recovered metals are a valuable resource that can be reused in many ways. But the leftover materials, known as shredder floc, account for 118,500 tonnes of waste going to landfill each year because they are not so easily recycled.

“This new program will help NSW metal recyclers explore new ways to recover and reuse shredder floc to keep it out of landfill and turn it from a waste into a resource.”

Environmental Trust Senior Manager Grants, Peter Dixon said the funding was specifically targeted to the three major metal recyclers in NSW to upgrade facilities or equipment or introduce new technologies.

“The Trust is looking for projects which have matched contributions from the industry and which introduce new ways of recycling and reusing this by-product of the recycling process,” Mr Dixon said.

“The Shredder Floc Management program is very much about innovation and we’re encouraging applicants to partner with industry associations or research organisations to develop and deliver new approaches to the problem.”

Applications are open until Tuesday 30 September 2014. Eligible applicants have been contacted directly and encouraged to apply.

More information http://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/waste/grants.htm