The Barwon Regional Waste Management Group in Victoria’s southwest has taken advantage of a unique recycling process to reduce with its expanded polystyrene waste (EPS).

Enzo Bruscella, executive officer of Barwon Regional Waste Management Group said that EPS was a uniquely challenging waste stream. “EPS is very lightweight, bulky and this makes it difficult to recycle. It causes big problems for landfill operators.”

In order to deal with the problem the group teamed up with two local businesses. Geelong Disabled People Industries provided pickup, a collection point and shredding of the EPS.  Once it was processed they passed it along to Newtown Concrete Products – who used it as an aggregate to when making concrete pavers.

John Armstrong, the proprietor of Newtown Concrete Products said that the EPS blended concrete pavers were a superior product to standard pavers. “We used to lose 15% on breakages, now we’re down to 1%,” he said. “When we sell it to the stores they love it because one bloke can lift it instead of two blokes.”