Funded initiatives
Mobile Glass Crusher
The Glass Packaging Forum funds programmes that develop alternative volume uses for local waste glass. The projects that are up and running are listed on this page. The Forum has also purchased a Mobile Glass Crusher for nation-wide use.
Click on a location on the map to read about successful glass recycling projects in that area.
Notwithstanding that those initial applications for Grants were limited, the Forum has now made a considerable sum of money available to investigate a number of initiatives from a broad range of applicants. While the emphasis has been on utilizing the material as a substitute for aggregate, a number of other interesting projects are being evaluated which should result in a higher value use of the material.
With a number of approaches seeking funding to process limited volumes of waste glass, the Forum has taken the initiative of developing a programme for a mobile crusher, thereby optimising the return on the plant investment and minimising costs to individual Local Authorities. While there is a national opportunity for its service, the crusher will in the first instance be primarily deployed in the South Island.
Waiheke Island - Waiheke Resource Trust has received funding for a versatile crusher which will enable locally sourced glass aggregate to be used on the island and also reduce the need for expensive transport costs to the mainland (Auckland).
Palmerston North City Council in co operation with Higgins Contractors have produced cycle tracks and hard stand areas utilising glass in the base course. Currently trialling a section of road and will be researching innovative glass collection methods to improve material quality. More recently the Council has, in association with TBL Solutions, commenced an evaluation of a range of Kerbside collection programmes as alternatives to commingling which will result in recovery of better quality glass.
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Palmerston North City Council in partnership with Fullcircle and Higgins Aggregate have initiated a "5% Crushed Glass Aggregate Project". The project aim is to prove the concept of crushed glass aggregate in the New Zealand context and pave the way for other New Zealand organisations to use excess recycled glass in this manner. Click here to download full project details [pdf 1.0MB]. |
The Forum has worked with Transit New Zealand, Fulton Hogan and Higgins Contractors to establish a modified specification for road base course allowing for 5% glass.
Nelson City Council in co operation with Fulton Hogan have trialled crushing techniques to enable the inclusion of glass in roading projects.
Wastebusters Trust received funding to pursue opportunities to supply Potters Industries in Australia with high quality flint cullet for use in reflective paints.
Hurunui Recycling has received funding to develop special crushing techniques which will assist in producing cullet to the standard required by Potters and suitable for the development of building products such as foamed glass insulation.
While not financially supported by the Forum, MetaNZ (formally Terranova) are producing ground glass for replacement in sand blasting, a filtration medium. Trials are also under way with the New Zealand Turf Institute to use glass for 'coring' and other trials are underway utilizing glass as a mulch in vineyards.
Shining Path has recently received funding to refine their crusher operation thereby producing a greater range of glass aggregate.
Again trials using cullet as a filter medium and as a base course for Department of Conservation walking tracks.
Overview What Can the Crusher Do? Further Facts Mobile Crusher Launched Media - Radio/TV Interviews
New Zealanders are now doing so well at recycling glass that we are collecting more than is needed to make new glass containers. This is a particular problem for towns and communities in the South Island or those at a distance from Auckland because it costs more than the value of the glass to transport the recycled glass (known as cullet) back to the Auckland furnace to make new glass.
There are plenty of uses around New Zealand for this glass such as in the sporting turf and golf bunkers; base course for roading; water filtration; agricultural mulch; erosion protection and sandblasting, but first the glass needs to be crushed.
Many places simply don't have the equipment locally to crush their glass so they are stockpiling it until they find something to do with it. New Zealanders and tourists don't want to see stockpiles of glass as they drive through our countryside particularly if it can be re-used now.
So the Glass Forum has purchased a mobile glass crusher which will be operated in conjunction with Silaca Crushers Ltd. The Glass Crusher was launched on the steps of Parliament in October 2007 and will go on tour around the country to crush glass at a reasonable cost, which can then be put to good use locally.
Any queries regarding the on-site crusher should be addressed to John Webber - john@glassforum.org.nz or an Application for Crushing can be made with the attached form.
The Glass Packaging Forum held a nationwide school competition (Feb-July 08) to 'name the crusher' "CLASS RAP".
The competition targeted school children aged 9-15 years who were expected to come up with a "rap" naming the crusher, saying why recycling is important and what is happening with glass in the area they live in. The competition was fronted by New Zealand rap icon - CHE FU.
Che wrote the hook lyrics giving students a "rap by numbers" template to work from.
The final rap, now called - DO THE KRUSHER - is a combination of the two winning rap group's lyrics (THE STORM - Fitzroy School - New Plymouth and WIRELESS -Fairfield School - Dunedin).
DO THE KRUSHER and the lyrics can be downloaded from the Class rap competition results page.
The KRUSHER now boasts a name from each winning school namely, THE GRIZZLY BEAR and SHATTER.
To view video clips of competition highlights from go to wo, go to the home page.
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The glass crusher is a versatile machine producing versatile products. It's about the size of a skip and fits on the back of its own trailer so can be moved around the country. The glass crusher will munch its way through glass stockpiles and process the glass into to a range of different crush sizes. Different size glass can be used for different things. |
Facts about the Glass Crusher [800KB]
National Party MP acknowledges Glass Crusher
John Webber interview on Radio New Zealand
John Webber interview on TV3
