Mattress recycle project may extend to Woy Woy tip

Woy Woy tip could be the next site to fully recycle unwanted mattresses.

Central Coast Council, in partnership with Mattress Recycling Australia, is trialling a new process at the Kincumber tip and is investigating extending the project to Woy Woy.

The trial aims to minimise the amount of waste sent to landfill, reduce methane gases being produced from decomposing mattresses and recycle end-of-life waste products by turning them into a resource, according to Council unit manager Mr Andrew Pearce.

He said the Council received more than 20,000 mattresses annually across its three tips.

"Under this new trial we are collecting and bulk transporting, the mattresses to a dedicated resource recovery centre where they are processed into separate commodities for which there are end markets," Mr Pearce said.

"This ensures 100 percent of the mattress materials are reused and recycled with the stripped metals reused as railway wheels, foam re-purposed into carpet underlay, material utilized in decorative wall panels and the remaining products, including floc, wood and plastic, processed as biofuel.

"An added benefit is that we have been working with a contractor who is creating employment opportunities and skills development, including those with a disability and the long-term unemployed," Mr Pearce said.

SOURCE:

Media release, 25 Feb 2020

Andrew Pearce, Central Coast Council