Page 12 The Moorabool News – 14 June, 2022
News
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Recycle your unwanted paint By Carol Saffer Paintback® is an Australian paint industry initiative founded in 2016 by Dulux, Haymes, PPG, Resene and Wattyl, designed to divert unwanted paint and packaging from landfills and vital waterways. Since its establishment, Australians have returned over 36 million kilograms of unwanted paint and packaging to the national paint recovery scheme. The recycle scheme accepts unwanted paint (water and oil-based) and packaging at over 165 permanent Australian collection sites. Justin Horne, City of Melton’s Manager Environment and Waste, said at the Melton Recycling Facility, Paintback is well utilised mainly by the local community and some from the Moorabool area. “Based on transactions details during the current financial year we had 315 transactions,” Mr Horne said. “While the previous financial year we had 460 transactions.” This amounts to approximately 57 tonnes per annum returned and recycled. The Paintback program ensures unwanted paint, and the container is disposed of safely or repurposed for other industrial uses. When the packaging and liquid are separated, the containers are recycled, subject to contamination. The solvent paint can then be converted into an alternative fuel source replacing coal. Separating water from acrylic paint results in a by-product used in various industrial applications.
The reclaimed water is used by other industries, which reduces the reliance on mains water. The scheme funds Australian research into how it can improve the recovery of paint and paint tins to reduce demand for virgin resources. Paintback CEO Karen Gomez said they aim to have 90 per cent of unwanted paint diverted into Australia’s developing circular economy. “The best thing is to make sure you buy the right amount of paint for your project,” Ms Gomez said. “But if you can’t, repurpose your paint by dropping it off free of charge at a Paintback site.” Research shows that while one in three Australians have paint stored away, more than half didn’t know there were organisations to help them dispose of unwanted paint. A significant concern is Australians buy more than 100 million litres of paint each year. Around five per cent of it ends up as waste, making paint and its packaging one of the most substantial sources of liquid waste in landfills. The Paintback programme, an independent not-for-profit organisation, is funded through a per litre levy applied to eligible products of between 1 litre and 20 litres inclusive. For more information and your nearest drop off location, go to www.paintback.com.au
New symbol is flushable By Carol Saffer A fatberg forms when wet wipes flushed down the toilet combine with congealed fats, oils and grease poured down the kitchen sink resulting in a solid mass in household plumbing and sewers. To alleviate this massive problem Standards Australia recently released DR AS/NZS 5328 Flushable Products, a world-first flushable standard label. Simply put, consumers can now check what they want to put into their toilet has the flushable symbol. If it doesn’t don’t flush it. The new standard outlines the criteria for materials suitable for flushing down the toilet in Australia and New Zealand, and provides requirements to manufacturers for correct and informative labelling. Greater Western Water (GWW) managing director, Maree Lang, said the organisation welcomed the standard and it was an important milestone to protect the environment from sewer spills. “The standard provides guidance to manufacturers and customers to ensure they can keep the sewer system healthy,” Ms Lang said. “The flushable standard is a win for the industry and for the environment.” The new standard, a long time coming, is designed to protect the sewer system from blockages caused by products that can’t break down properly in the network. To assist manufacturers with determining whether their products are flushable, the standard provides a clear set of criteria including six ’flushability’ tests to carry out on products to ensure they are safe for the sewer system. Paul O’Donohue, managing director, Central Highlands Water said the release of the Flushable Products Standard is a significant milestone for the water industry, manufacturers, peak bodies and Central Highlands Water customers. “The correct disposal of non-flushable will positively impact our community, and the environment, through helping avoid major blockages,” he said.
“It is important for our customers to only ever flush the three Ps (pee, poo and toilet paper) to help us maintain an effective sewerage system.” Adam Lovell, executive director, Water Services Association of Australia, said that message from the water industry to only flush the 3Ps poo, pee and (toilet) paper down the toilet doesn’t change. “But now we can add, check for the flushable symbol,” he said. “If there is no flushable symbol on the packet then don’t flush it, put it in the bin.” The roll out of the flushable symbol on packaging is expected to begin within the next few months.