New trial to tackle a pesky pollutant

A NEW trial at some of the region’s local transfer stations means Hepburn Shire residents will be able to drop off their pesky polystyrene waste for recycling for free, with neighbouring councils taking note.

Set to run until the end of the financial year, Hepburn Shire is introducing the polystyrene recycling trial at its transfer stations in Creswick, Trentham and Daylesford.

During the trial it will be free for shire residents to drop off up to half a cubic metre of clean polystyrene for recycling per visit.

“Collected polystyrene will be taken by The Mattress Recycling Company to their facility in Geelong and turned into recycled polystyrene or new products such as picture frames, composite decking and outdoor furniture,” a council spokesperson said.

“The trial is scheduled to begin in mid-February and run until the end of the financial year, subject to demand and funding.

“This will assist council in considering how a permanent recycling option might be achievable.”

Neighbouring City of Ballarat has confirmed it is investigating potential future options for polystyrene recycling, with no approved programs, trials or timelines currently in place.

“The City of Ballarat recognises that polystyrene is a harmful plastic as it creates pollution, does not easily break down, and contaminates the environment,” City of Ballarat infrastructure and environment director Bridget Wetherall said.

“Polystyrene is not accepted for recycling in Ballarat and can currently only be disposed of through the City of Ballarat’s general waste stream, which goes to landfill.”

In Moorabool Shire, options for recycling the ubiquitous pollutant are also being explored.

“Council officers are currently working on a transfer station service plan that will explore options to recycle polystyrene as well as looking at a number of new waste streams,” Moorabool Shire mayor Cr Steve Venditti-Taylor said.

“This plan will come to council for consideration at a later date. We currently don’t have a specific polystyrene recycling service but polystyrene is accepted as landfill.”

Likewise, the Golden Plains Shire Council has confirmed it too is likely to explore options for recycling the pollutant.

“Council anticipates undertaking a future strategic assessment to determine the long-term feasibility and appropriateness of introducing polystyrene recycling within its waste management framework, a Golden Plains Shire spokesperson said.

“At present, when residents dispose of polystyrene, either via their kerbside bins or by dropping it at our transfer stations, it is placed in general waste and sent to landfill.”

Australian estimates indicate that if polystyrene waste were recycled instead of sent to landfill, about 1.9 million tonnes of CO₂-equivalent emissions could be avoided.