Turmec will supply equipment to New Zealand MRF

Turmec, an Irish equipment provider, has announced plans to work with its Australian ally The Environmental Group Ltd. to supply sorting equipment for a material recovery facility (MRF) in Dunedin, New Zealand.

The two equipment firms have been awarded a $7.1 million contract by the Dunedin City Council (DCC) to supply specialist, high-end sorting machinery to process materials from curbside collection yellow-lidded mixed recycling bins.

“We are proud to partner with Dunedin City Council on this transformative project," Turmec CEO Geoff Bailey says. "This investment in state-of-the-art sorting technology will not only optimize recycling efficiency but also support DCC’s long-term vision of reducing landfill reliance and building local circular economy capability.”

According to Turmec, its equipment will form "the backbone” of the new MRF located at the Green Island Resource Recovery Park in Dunedin. That city is located on the east coast of New Zealand’s South Island.

The MRF designed by Turmec will feature optical sorting designed to separate paper, cardboard, metals and plastic containers from the mixed recycling stream. Regarding plastics, the system will seek out polyethylene terephthalate, high-density polyethylene and polypropylene.

Turmec also will work with The Environmental Group to deliver all associated infrastructure for power supply and operator safety, setting a new benchmark for modern, automated waste recovery across the region.

“Procurement of this sorting machinery is another key step on the road to providing local sustainability solutions," says Jim O’Malley of the Dunedin City Council. "It is essential to achieve optimal process and operational efficiency for plant machinery, as well as overall whole-of-life value for money.

“We collect about 5,000 metric tons per annum of mixed recycling material from curbside now. The Turmec plant can easily accept 8,000 metric tons per annum. This will allow us to scale up and provide the service to neighboring regions if the possibility arises in future.”

The government official also expresses optimism on the material quality front.

“Another advantage of processing yellow-lidded bin contents locally with high-end equipment lies in maximizing the amount of good quality material we can directly supply to resale markets," he says.

The DCC’s nine-year plan includes $78 million for the Green Island Resource Recovery Park redevelopment as a whole. In addition to the new MRF, plans call for a new composting facility, upgraded bunkers for recyclable glass sorting and storage, an upgraded transfer station, a curbside collection truck parking lot, and a repositioned yard waste drop-off area.

"Delivering innovative real-world solutions to environmental challenges is at the heart of what we do," says Jason Dixon, CEO of Mount Waverley, Australia-based The Environmental Group. "We’re excited to contribute to a solution that delivers environmental, economic, and social benefits, and we look forward to continuing our work across Australasia to support communities in building a more sustainable future."