Upgrade complete as Council recycles more than 66 per cent of waste received at centres

Redland City Council’s Birkdale Recycling and Waste Centre has re-opened after a $1.8 million upgrade.

Mayor Karen Williams said the work would significantly improve the stormwater quality leaving the site, while also improving traffic flow and functionality for the thousands of residents who used the centre every year.

“Redlands Coast recycling and waste centres are a place for residents to drop off their unwanted items, which are then taken to various facilities across south-east Queensland for recycling or disposal,” Cr Williams said.

“Birkdale Recycling and Waste Centre processed more than 220,000 transactions last year and the upgrade works have been designed to improve customer experience and safety, while delivering on our environmental management commitments.”

Cr Williams said that in the 2019/20 year Council recycled more than 66 per cent of the 51,156 tonnes of total household waste dropped off by customers at all eight recycling and waste centres.

Birkdale Recycling and Waste Centre recycles a large number of products, including: bricks and concrete, car batteries, cardboard, clothing and textiles, electronic waste, fridges and freezers, gas bottles, green waste and timber, motor oil, polystyrene, scrap metal, tyres and cooking oil.

“There is also a drop-off area for items that can be re-sold at RecycleWorld and re-used within the community,” Cr Williams said.

“Upgrade works included creating dedicated drop-off lanes for RecycleWorld items and waste oil, while the resource recovery area in the lower part of the centre was extended so that customers can temporarily park and drop off cardboard.”

Cr Williams said the gravel area on top of the hill was bitumen sealed with an innovative process that used recycled tyres.

“Council worked with road construction company RPQ Group to use crumbed rubber blended bitumen to resurface the 22,000sq m upper level of the centre,” Cr Williams said.

“The process recycled the equivalent of approximately 550 used passenger tyres.”

Division 8 Councillor Tracey Huges said the resurfacing was also designed to improve the facility’s stormwater quality entering Tarradarrapin Creek, and reduce maintenance costs.

“The bitumen surface means there is no longer a requirement for dust suppression using a water truck,” Cr Huges said.

“The previous gravel surface also required maintenance at least twice each year.”

Cr Huges said work on the upper level included a new layout and line marking.

“This area is used to temporarily store green waste, timber, scrap metal and other resources before they are further processed,” Cr Huges said.

“There are now clearer traffic flow paths and more defined lanes to each of the recycling stockpile drop-offs, which will improve vehicle queuing and safety for customers.”

Birkdale Recycling and Waste Centre, at 555-607 Old Cleveland Road East, is open seven days from 7am, closing at 5pm in winter and 5.30pm from September 1. Vehicles must arrive 15 minutes before closing time.