LAKE Macquarie City Council has won a local government award for its innovative trial using recycled glass “sand” in civil works projects.
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Council took out the 2018 Sustainable Procurement Achievement category at the recent annual Local Government Procurement Awards.
The awards recognise individuals or groups in local government making a difference in their community and embracing excellence and best practice.
In June, Lake Macquarie became the first organisation in the Hunter region to substitute sand with recycled crushed glass in drainage construction and other civil works.
“Since then, councils and water authorities across the region have shown interest in the concept,” a spokesperson for the council said.
The glass granules have similar construction properties to normal sand, but provide a potential local end use for thousands of tonnes of glass collected from kerbside recycling each year.
“The glass sand trial has gone from strength to strength and we look forward to expanding its use within the region in 2019,” council’s sustainability manager Alice Howe said.
“It’s a great example of local authorities working together to create solutions that are good for the environment, the local economy and our community.
“This initiative has the potential to close the loop on thousands of tonnes of glass annually, providing a major win in our war on waste.”
Council took out the award for the environmental, social and financial benefits the trial has generated.
Under the scheme glass bottles, jars and other items collected from household recycling bins continue to be sorted and processed, as usual, at a materials recovery facility at Gateshead.
But, rather than seeking glass recycling solutions interstate, council has been reusing the “glass sand” produced at a custom-built plant at Wyong.
The end product can then be stockpiled for use in civil works projects.
