Skip to Content

NEWSROOM

Macquarie sorts and saves its way to sustainable status

6 November 2009

Macquarie University will officially launch a new system for managing its waste next week in a bid to create a more sustainable campus.

Director of Sustainability Leanne Denby with one of the new campus bins.

The system is not only more sustainable, but also simpler to use. Students and staff are no longer required to use separate bins for recyclables, organic waste and general rubbish. Rather, they can now simply put all their waste (excluding recyclable paper and cardboard) into any of the bins located across the campus.

The unsorted waste is collected by the University's project partner WSN Environmental Solutions and sorted using a water-based separation system which allows recyclables to be extracted effectively and uses fewer raw materials and resources than other methods.

"This process generates more power and water than it uses, and produces organic compost, green energy and clean recyclables," said Macquarie's Director of Sustainability Leanne Denby.

WSN Environmental Solutions processes the University's waste using the following method:

  • Water-based separation method sorts waste streams to extract recyclables - light items such as plastic PET bottles float to the top while heavy items like steel cans sink
  • Remaining organic waste - slurry - is then broken down by a natural process of anaerobic digestion
  • This process produces methane gas, 100 per cent of which WSN aim to capture and convert into enough green energy to power the facility plus the equivalent of around 1,700 households. It also produces nutrient-rich fertiliser
  • Rainwater is captured at the site and additional water is extracted from waste through anaerobic digestion to produce more water than the facility uses
  • Odour is minimised due to the operation being largely enclosed, and also by the water submersion and circulation.

"Thousands of staff and students visit the campus every day, so naturally we produce a lot of waste," Denby said. "We now have a system for dealing with that waste that will divert it away from landfill, recover re-useable resources from the waste stream, and ease some of the pressure we are placing on our environment."

The launch of the new waste management system on Tuesday will tie in with Planet Ark's National Recycling Week. A Swap Party will also be held during the week, giving students and staff the opportunity to swap clothes, accessories, books, CDs and DVDs and divert more materials away from landfill.

For more information, visit the website


Any enquiries from the media should be directed to:
Samantha Norris
phone:(02) 9850 9658

Featured News

More News ...