‘Amazing maze of machinery’: inside our recycling wonder

A fascinating new video series is set to take us on a journey of a different kind to learn why putting the right thing in the bin matters and how it can be given a new life thanks to nation-leading technology.

The educational videos, aimed at improving our precious environment as well as people’s safety, are up on Sunshine Coast Council’s YouTube channel or can be seen by searching “Recycling” on Council’s website.

Follow along as guides Chloe, Grace and Garth go on a behind-the-scenes tour of the recycling process at Sunshine Coast Council’s hi-tech Nambour Material Recovery Facility.

The groundbreaking Material Recovery Facility – or MRF – is where all the recyclables from our region’s yellow lid bin go to be sorted and separated into their different material types.

In the first video, Chloe and Grace follow the journey the recyclable materials - like steel cans, aluminium cans, glass bottles and jars, plastic containers, paper and cardboard - take from your home to the recycling plant.

In the second video, Garth and Chloe share what it takes to run the MRF and why it’s important to keep dangerous items out of the recycling bin so it’s safe for our workers.

Sunshine Coast Environment and Liveability Portfolio Councillor Maria Suarez said the videos aimed to increase awareness of why it was important to recycle the right way at home.

“The Material Recovery Facility is an amazing maze of machinery – with each piece playing a different role,” Cr Suarez said.

“The campaign offers a close-up view of the state-of-the-art technology involved in sorting the recyclable materials and removing contamination, like soft plastic.

“This is important as this material then gets sent to the next facility as a resource to be processed into new products – saving the Earth’s natural resources by reusing what we already have.

“These videos are just one of the many ways Council is working with our community to nurture and enhance our environment and quality of life.  

“They are available for viewing on Sunshine Coast Council’s YouTube channel and I encourage everyone to watch, share, and take steps to recycle correctly at home.”

Council’s Waste Education Officer Chloe Abernethy said recycling correctly helped our MRF staff do their job and made sure our region’s recyclables were given their best chance of being repurposed.

“We want to share the message that everyone can make a difference just by putting the right thing in the bin at home.”