LIQUID GOLD

The Flexidry by Green Creative is a game changer for organics processors.

NEW TECHNOLOGY IS CHANGING THE LANDSCAPE FOR ORGANICS PROCESSORS.

Rellik Owner Operator Marcus Galbraith wants to be ahead of the game when it comes to recycling in Australia.

The product destruction specialist says a ban on exporting waste to China is creating a need for more recycling activity in the country and while he believes we are “still a long way behind” the rest of the world, Marcus is aiming for a 99 per cent recycling rate at Rellik.

“It’s about being able to look at the future and see where recycling is heading in the next five to 10 years.”

He believes technology will play a key role in that future and continue to open new opportunities. It’s why he has followed best practices in recycling and invested in equipment that maximises production.

Marcus worked with machinery and engineering specialist TELFORD SMITH across multiple businesses and reached out for specialist depackaging equipment when Rellik opened in 2016.

He says their knowledge, expertise and machinery for the recycling sector set them apart.

“They have a good understanding and knowledge base of what I do. The expertise behind the process is always there.

“We’re not a big business that can spend millions of dollars on a processing plant. We do the job and we do it very well and TELFORD SMITH understands that.

“They help us with a quality product to get the best for our customers, and ultimately the environment.”

Rellik destructs returned liquid and organic products that have an expired date, have a fault in manufacturing

or damaged in transit. The liquid is extracted from the packaging and used for biofuel, while the packaging is recycled where possible.

Marcus says the RUNI Screw Compactor, distributed in Australia by TELFORD SMITH, handles destruction, emptying and compacting in one compact working process.

“The RUNI is used heavily in Europe where nothing is allowed to go to landfill,” he says. “It’s the workhorse of our warehouse. It does everything except for glass.”

David Picone, General Manager TELFORD SMITH says the RUNI Screw Compactors are a great option for products ranging from PET and HDPE bottles, Tetrapak, paint cans, cosmetics pastes and gels and even tinned foods such as dog food and beetroot.

Almost anything you can find in a supermarket that is a liquid, paste or gel that’s in packaging.

“The beverage industry by far represents the largest portion of material being processed. With RUNI we can ensure more than 99 per cent of the liquid is recovered leaving what in most cases is a valuable commodity. For example, PET-bottles are the preferred packaging for soft drinks, juice and water. With the wide distribution of these drinks there is also a large waste problem, and PET is very valuable,” David says.

“For breweries there is often a large volume of discarded product that needs to be destroyed to eliminate the risk of products being resold. For waste collectors the main problem after consumption is the volume compared to the weight which makes handling and transport difficult and expensive. The RUNI is ideal for both these problems. It has a compaction ratio of eight to one.”

David says the RUNI separates the waste stream into two. The liquid can be directed into sewage or collected and sold for other purposes such as energy production or animal feeding.

“The solid material gets so dry; it can be disposed of as normal combustible waste at a lower cost or be sold for recycling.”

He says the material can be fed manually or with a conveyor belt into a vertical hopper. The liquid is pressed out through a suitable screen and the solid compacted packaging is slowly pushed into the departure tray.

He says the screen is made of stainless-steel to withstand liquid with low pH. The machines are also equipped with sensors for automatic stop and start for maximum energy efficiency.

Marcus says the RUNI is easy to operate but if there are any difficulties TELFORD SMITH is a phone call away.

“A local RUNI specialist engineer assisted us from day one with set-up and operation,” he says. “We have a very good working relationship with David and TELFORD SMITH. There’s been times I’ve had an idea and they’ve come back with a solution on how to make it work.”

While the RUNI is a “workhorse”, David says a new machine is set to shake things up for organics processors.

TELFORD SMITH, in addition to their existing recycling and handling equipment, has recently become the Australian distributors for French company Green Creative, which designs and manufactures the next generation biowaste depackaging equipment known for high purity rates.

“They produce a machine that offers the solution for solid (and liquid) organics with a strong focus on an industry leading, packaging free ‘pulp/soup’,” David says.

“This machine is a game changer and is already getting significant interest from organics processors.”

For more information, visit: www.TelfordSmith.com.au

The RUNI Screw Compactor handles destruction, emptying and compaction in one working process.