Tailored solutions provider Orez is delivering a bespoke waste management solution for Epping facility Repurpose It to help minimise waste going to landfill.
Orez designs, builds and commissions cutting-edge waste management facilities for both kerbside and commercial waste streams.
Its latest project – an organic finishing line for Victorian resource recovery company Repurpose It – is the second time the companies have collaborated to breathe new life into recycled materials.
Repurpose It is a leading resource recovery company in Melbourne’s northern suburbs, recovering Food Organics, Garden Organics (FOGO) and turning it into nutrient-rich compost.
The new finishing line will be used to provide a solution that doesn’t just focus on the reduction of waste but turns it into by-products that have both utility and value.
Ollie Brunt, Sales and Partnerships Manager, Orez, says the company specialises in providing holistic solutions for clients trying to overcome challenges in managing their waste streams.
Dynamic duo
Orez and Repurpose It first began working together two years ago when Orez delivered its first project – a FOGO pre-treatment process line.
Sean Galdermans, General Manager, Orez, says that project has given Repurpose It the confidence and trust to work with Orez a second time.
“They worked with us initially to provide a solution to decontaminate their incoming feedstocks prior to the composting process,” he says.
“Through steep growth they are now at the point where they need additional processing capacity, and they’ve come back to us to provide a solution to screen the composted product in a high-capacity finishing line.”
Sean says returning customers are one of the biggest compliments Orez can get as a solution provider.
“That is why we position ourselves in the market as a company committed to always deliver while not compromising on quality,” he says. “We have an extensive in-house design and delivery team here that’s local and understands the needs of our market.
“This ensures we not only deliver projects in accordance with Australian standards but go above and beyond to provide our partners with a solution that’s fit for purpose and delivers a quality finish.”
The purpose of Repurpose It
Sean says Repurpose It will use the finishing line to refine its organic waste into different products for market.
“The finishing line will take compost, do a final polish by removing light plastics and metals, and size it into four different fractions that can be repurposed into soil blending and other premium products for further use,” he says.
“Repurpose It is on a steep growth trajectory, so this project is also being built to allow for future growth. It will be one of the highest capacity lines in Australia in this industry sector. It is crucial that this line processes material at a very high rate and what is coming out is in line with quality expectations of our customer.”
Sean says the finishing line incorporates two drums connected to form one large drum, adding up to more than 20-metres in length. “Drum screens are capable of sizing material, we feed material into that drum and whatever is small enough to pass through the holes in each section is then screened out, conveyed and stockpiled,” he says.
“We remove ferrous metals out of the waste streams with magnets which is quite standard in the industry.
“The design also has allowed for dedicated wind sifters on the mid and oversize fractions that separate light plastics and light materials from heavies. Combined with the very long drum screen these are the highlights of this project.”
Jaimen D’Souza, Head of Continuous Improvement and Capital Projects for Repurpose It says the Epping facility is one of the largest organics processing facilities in Victoria, with the capacity to process more than 200,000 tonnes of organic waste each year.
“Creating premium quality, sustainable products is vital to the transition of Australia to a circular economy,” he says. “This finishing line complements our existing organics operations; however, the new finishing line will allow the innovation of new products, and an increase in the amount we can process.”
Jaimen says the finishing line will support the National Waste Action Plan to reduce organic waste to landfill by 50 per cent by 2030.
“Through our best-in-class composting solutions we can divert FOGO from landfill and produce high-quality finished products,” he says.
“While there is existing demand for FOGO-derived compost in broad acre applications, Repurpose It is dedicated to transforming its FOGO into a premium value product, responding to increased market demand, and expanding into emerging markets for high quality, finished materials”
The finishing line is with Orez’s design team and is expected to arrive in Australia for installation in 2025.
This project is supported by the Victorian Circular Economy Recycling Modernisation Fund. The Fund is delivered by Sustainability Victoria under the Australian Government’s Recycling Modernisation Fund and the Victorian Government’s circular economy plan, Recycling Victoria: a new economy.
For more information, visit:
www.orez.com.au
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