The Melton recycling facility will undergo an upgrade after the council appointed a contractor last week.
The stage two upgrade will save $300,000 a year in state legislated landfill levies and divert tonnes of materials from landfill.
A new drive-through recovery building will be part of the upgrade, with a resale shop at the front of the facility, designed to encourage people to drop off reusable items that are in good condition.
With works expected to deliver a return on investment in four years, mayor Kathy Majdik said it will make an important difference in resource recovery.
“Recovering more reusable items at the recycling facility will mean we have more low cost, quality second-hand items for our community at the new resale shop,” Cr Majdik said.
The project will also see a new sorting shed and loading tunnel for bulk haul transporting, as well as additional resource recovery and storage facilities, and improvements to internal and external roads.
“The impact of this project will be significantly less material going to landfill, which is critical in a fast-growing city like ours,” Cr Majdlik said.
In addition to the upgrades to facilities, funds from the resale shop will go back into funding programs for people with disabilities.
The project is in partnership with the Victorian government and council and is expected to begin in February, 2022, with completion by May, 2023.
Sarah Oliver
