More than half a million bottles and cans have been processed in  just six months at the new Mataranka recycling centre.

The new equipment has been purchased to improve processing capacity and efficiency at the Mataranka Recycling Centre, where thousands of bottles and cans are currently being streamed to the centre for segregation and stockpiling until economically viable to transport.

Roper Gulf Regional Council’s acting chief executive officer, Sharon Hillen, says the recycling program has been hugely successful in recent months and is expected to perform even better now.

“We’ve seen overwhelming community support for the Container Deposit Scheme since the Mataranka Recycling Centre opened in October last year, with more than half a million bottles and cans processed during the first six months of operation,” she said.

“The new can crusher and baler will help boost our recycling capacity even further by allowing council to reduce container volumes by 90 per centprior to transport with only two people operating the equipment.

“It’s really exciting to have such an efficient, streamlined recycling system in the region and we’re looking forward to seeing the new crusher in action.”

The equipment was purchased with the help of a $30,000 grant obtained under the NT Government’s 2017/18 Container Deposit Scheme, with the funding covering just over half the cost of the new can crusher.

The project was also co-funded by Local Authority groups in the region.

Ms Hillen says it’s the latest in a series of complimentary co-investment projects aimed at improving environmental outcomes within the Roper Gulf region.

“Council previously purchased purpose-built container collection trailers for Barunga, Beswick, Jilkminggan and Mataranka thanks to a $30,000 grant from the 2016/17 Container Deposit Scheme,” she said.

“This has allowed council to transport recyclable containers from those more remote communities to the regional centre in Mataranka and Katherine.

“We also obtained a $13,000 grant under the 2016/17 Project Environmental Grants program which allowed us to install signage at the Larrimah and Daly Waters Landfills to encourage waste separation, and also promote proper waste handling within the township boundaries.

“Council wishes to thank the NT Government for the ongoing support in bringing these important local projects to life.”

Residents can deposit containers at the Mataranka Recycling Centre from 9am–1pm every Friday.