Bundaberg's only dedicated concrete recycling facility, Kleicon Recycling, celebrated its first year of operation on 12 August.
Bundaberg resident and founder of Kleicon Recycling Dean Kleidon said in its first year the business had gone from strength to strength.
“When we opened, I wasn’t sure what to expect but within the first 15 minutes of opening we had a customer,” he said.
“Before Christmas, we had a lot of material come from Bargara pub and Shalom College was doing a lot of work and we had that much concrete you could barely fit a truck in the yard, it was that full.”
The popularity of the recycling facility, which offers a place to recycle commercial and domestic grade concrete, brick, rock and asphalt led to an expansion.
Dean said that within the first six months it was evident they would have to expand to keep up with demand and have not only expanded their site but also added two extra operators.
“Just due to demand, we were running out of room on our first block and we just needed the extra space, so we took in next door, and bought a second truck and a few more operators,” he said.
“It’s still only a small operation but it’s been growing.”
Only facility of its kind
The facility provides many benefits to those with concrete and other materials to dispose of.
Most importantly, Dean said everything that comes through the gates is recycled for reuse and a trial with Council saw them crush and return glass to sand.
“This is the only place in Bundaberg where you can get this sort of stuff,” Dean said.
“We take concrete brick and asphalt we go through it with the excavator and pulveriser and mulch it all up and resize it and then run it through the crusher.
“We make a few different products here like road base, crusher dust, drainage stones and decorative stones used from bricks, but we also did a trial with Bundaberg Regional Council on glass and crushed it and turned it back into sand.
“It’s a bit more of an affordable option than going to the landfill; I think we’re a tenth of the cost of going to one of the waste facilities.”
Those benefits are also being noticed by Council. General Manager Community and Environment Gavin Steele said there was a noticeable drop in concrete deliveries at Council's waste facilities.
“The amount of concrete being delivered has dropped significantly over the past 12 months since the introduction of the state waste levy,” Mr Steele said.
“The amount of concrete delivered to Council's waste facilities has dropped from 6500 tonnes last year to 2500 tonnes this year or a 62 per cent reduction which is a tremendous result.
“Council is also playing a big role with our own recycling by separating out concrete from its roads projects to be recycled and used within the Council's road program.”
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