Statement in response to SKM closure

Published on 26 July 2019

Council was last night notified that SKM has stopped accepting recycling from over 30 Councils, including Mildura, immediately.

The timing of this decision was unexpected given the adjournment granted by the Victorian Supreme Court earlier this week, which allowed SKM to continue processing recyclable material for another 10 days.

SKM advised Council that the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) notice, which recently closed its Glass Recycling Services subsidiary, had flow-on impacts on all SKM sites.

The company indicated to Council that following the EPA notice it no longer has enough storage capacity to receive and store recyclable materials, including glass, to remain compliant with EPA requirements.

SKM has told Council that the closure of its sites is a temporary, short-term measure as it works to achieve EPA compliance, and is hopeful of resuming operations in the near future.

If the closure remains in place, Council will be forced to begin landfilling recyclables from Monday, due to both the sudden nature of the announcement, and the lack of available processors to take our recyclables.

Council will continue to explore alternative arrangements, however this will be a highly competitive process given there may be many other Councils in a similar situation.

There is only so much capacity in the recycling sector and the closure of any one of the large re-processors will always cause significant disruption to the industry.

Despite this development, residents’ kerbside recycling collection service will not be interrupted, and recycling bins will continue be collected on a fortnightly basis. Residents are urged to continue separating their general waste and recycling at home.

Manager Parks and Waste Services Matt George