Orchard Hills. $12.3 million facility refused

The NSW Government has refused planning approval for a $12.3 million landfill and waste recovery facility at a former quarry site at Orchard Hills Minister for Planning, Tony Kelly, said the proposal by Dellara Pty Ltd to construct and operate the facility had been carefully assessed but had been deemed unacceptable. The facility was designed to accept up to 450,000 tonnes of waste each year. “I’ve concluded that the public benefit of an additional resource recovery facility does not outweigh the impacts that the proposal would have on the surrounding [residential] community,” he said

Silverwater. Expansion of recycling plant

Smartskip NSW has received approval for an expansion of its recycling facility at Silverwater which would divert up to 56,000 tonnes of construction waste a year away from landfill. “The current handling capacity will increase from 21,000 to 70,000 tonnes of waste a year with up to 80 per cent of this incoming waste will be recovered for recycling,” said the Minister for Planning, Tony Kelly.

Camellia. Storage of green waste

Parramatta City Council has approved a modification to a development consent for an existing recycling yard used for building materials to allow the reception and storage of green waste, at 16 Grand Avenue, Camellia.

Faiefield. Recycled mix used in trial

Fairfield City Council is patching up a city street in a trial the use of mulched construction waste blended at the Sustainable Resource Centre, in Wetherill Park. Mayor, Nick Lalich, said the recycled mix could be used across the Fairfield LGA if the trial was successful. “By recycling these waste products in to roads we are making a significant dent in the amount of dumped materials,” he said. The centre has previously mixed recycled materials for the construction of the Nalawala Sustainability Hub, at Fairfield Showground.

Parramatta. Approval over 76 objections

The public exhibition of a proposal by Parramatta Scrap Metal, in North Parramatta, elicited 76 submissions objecting to the use an industrial building as a metal recycling facility. Council meeting on May 11 will consider a recommendation for approval.

Region. Recycling industry consolidation

John Lawson, president, of the Australian Council of Recyclers, an employee of Global Renewables, which recycles rubbish materials at Eastern Creek, said the industry was preparing for the economic downturn to continue this year, which could result in consolidation within the industry. Mike Ritchie, NSW president, of the Waste Management Association of Australia, said in The Australia Financial Review, that the sharp fall in prices was hurting the bottom line of all recycling companies, especially small operators. Mr Ritchie works for Sita Environmental Solutions which has facilities at Wetherill Park and Kemps Creek.

Parramatta. Scrap firm plans relocation

Parramatta Scrap Metal plans to relocate from rented premises, at 12 North Rocks Road, North Parramatta, to a 695-square-metre site, at 21 Darking Street, North Parramatta, currently occupied by Aus-Audio Warehouse. The proposal seeks a change of use to a metal recycling plant with a capacity of handling up to 15 tonnes of non-ferrous metal products. The facility will employ six people.