Green wheel stops improve safety at landfill

Published on 24 June 2019

Safety improvements at the transfer station at Corangamite Regional Landfill also tick the box for environmental sustainability.

The recently installed wheel stops provide security for users at the edge of the collection skips.

The stops are made from recycled plastic which helps minimise Corangamite Shire’s impact on the environment.

“Council is committed to a Green Procurement approach which balances environmental sustainability with other considerations, such as value for money,” Environmental Projects Coordinator Anthony Dufty said.

“The Polywaste process used to make these wheel stops uses less total energy than conventional recycling technologies to prepare in-feed material, melt the plastics and then extrude the product.

“It can also use a wide variety of different plastics, including agricultural products, plastic film and contaminated plastics, latex food handling gloves, and coffee cups that would otherwise end up in landfill.”

Mr Dufty said Corangamite Shire was one of the first Councils in Australia to install these ‘upcycled’ products.

“Much of the material that went into the stops was otherwise destined for landfill.

“The Council Plan and our recently adopted Waste Strategy have a commitment to the Reduce, Reuse and Recycle approach.

“Not only are these stops being reused, they can be recycled again at the end of their life span.”

The wheel stops cost as much as alternatives made from raw products but are expected to last longer.

For more information, call Council’s Environment and Emergency team on 5593 7100.