1. Recycling of Timber Used in the Plastics Packaging Industry
Presenter: Robert Dvorak
EcoRecycle Victoria’s
Timberlinks Network Business Breakfast
26th of March, 2003

2. Types of Timber Waste Broken and damaged wooden pallets.
Timber packaging such as top frames and to some extent masonite boards
Solid wooden platforms & plywood boards from imported machinery.
Wooden boxes
Other wooden pieces
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3. Used Timber Packaging
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4. Cost Analysis of Timber Recycling
Analysis of 2002 annual disposal costs discovered to be approximately –
$70,000 (at one site only)
Hidden costs due to loss of resources.
Approximate Cost of disposal of all timber to the landfill was approximated to be
$8,000
However..
Recycling of all the timber was NOT FREE
 Total Removal Fees & Labour Costs added up to $2,000.
Careful planning, advice and key contacts from Ecorecycle Vic has saved ACI $6,000.
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5. How was it achieved ?
Focus at management level on the environmental responsibility a business has to the wider community.
Awareness of EcoRecycle Vic direction, knowledge and experience
(i) Government focus on reducing waste to landfill (e.g. higher landfill fees) (ii) Help from EcoRecycle for ACI to link-up with recycling business & provide advice on how to best recycle other materials.
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6. How was it achieved & who benefited?
A strategy was put in place on the most cost effective and environmentally beneficial way to clean-up scrap at ACI and ensure that long term waste generation is minimised and eliminated.
Staff morale had increased and other ACI personnel became interested in what was being done.
Other ACI sites have now approached the Executive Team to fully develop a strategy for all sites.
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7. What has been achieved overall ?
Site has been cleaned up with minimal amount going to landfill.
Land area free of scrap has increased by over 2,000m2.
2 full skips of steel removed free of charge.
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8. What has been achieved overall ?
Council, safety, fire risks minimised or eliminated.
5 Semi-trailers worth of timber removed for recycling
(75% cost saving by recycling it vs. landfill option).
Management focus on a company wide recycling strategy and waste generation.
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9. Conclusions
Company management need to develop & fully support a recycling strategy best tailored to their business.
Important to find “the right recycling partners”.
Loss of material resources to waste and landfill is a good indicator of manufacturing inefficiency.
Important to value the benefits of recycling by: (i) Financial Analysis (ii) Safety Analysis (iii) Environmental & Social Analysis
All of the above are equally important.
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10. Waste Converters Recycling
Acknowledgements
EcoRecycle Victoria
(Kevin Mooney/David Rako)
Waste Converters Recycling
(Ward Petherbridge)
ACI
(Andrew Ebert, Executive Team,
Factory Personnel)
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