The government’s 2019 National Waste Policy set 2030 targets and actions for waste and recycling, including an 80% average resource recovery rate from all waste streams and a significant increase in the use of recycled content by government and industry.
While Australia is making headway towards these goals, there is still work to be done. The 2022 National Waste Report found that Australia’s resource recovery rate for 2020-21 was 63%, while the recycling rate was 60%. In addition, it found that Australia generated an estimated 76 million tonnes of waste that year, the majority being commercial, industrial and government waste (i.e. from factories, shops, office buildings and power stations).
“Recycling is key to the management of waste, and crucial to the development of a circular economy with sustainability at its core,” says MD of Bonfiglioli Australia and New Zealand. “The best way to get this right is to ensure that our waste management plants have access to efficient safe and reliable machinery. Bonfiglioli, active in the recycling sector for several years, is committed to the development of products and solutions that help waste management and recycling plants work to their full potential”.
Meeting application-specific requirements
Waste management and recycling plants require reliable, customised and complete solutions. “From the initial consultation, our engineering specialists and design teams collaborate closely with customers to understand their needs, calculate and simulate their machine or system capabilities and optimise the associated transmission performance. We ensure that the end product meets their application-driven performance specifications, their installation limitations and their maintenance requirements, and will deliver great results,” explains Martin.
Bonfiglioli’s custom solutions for recycling include inverters, motors, gearboxes and geared motors. “Our components and solutions cover an extensive range of applications, from shredding machines to conveyors and compactors. They’re designed to be easily customed and integrated into machine designs, and to deliver high reliability and a long service life,” he adds.
Heavy duty solutions for recycling systems and stand-alone machines
Recycling systems usually include shredding machines (rendering the waste material smaller, so it’s more easily stored, transported or processed), compactors and conveying systems.
Bonfiglioli’s planetary gearmotors deliver the high torque required in shredders. “Our R3 Series, for example, is ideal for use in primary shredders, as it can handle the shock loads and impacts that are common in shredding applications. These compact and powerful gearmotors also offer flexibility, with various mounting options. If extra torque is required, we can add a hydraulic motor adapter to the R3,” states Martin.
The company’s 300M Series offers the high peak load capacity and mechanical performance needed to handle the 2.0 kNm of torque that’s characteristic of secondary shredding.
For conveying systems, the parallel shaft F-Series and the helical bevel A-Series, offering high dynamic response and energy efficiency, are ideal. “These are cost-effective solutions, with extended service intervals,” notes Martin.
The compact C Series from Bonfiglioli’s range of geared motors can accommodate a broad range of compactor requirements. Featuring a wide output torque range and wide range of gear ratios, the C Series can be coupled with Bonfiglioli’s robust electric motors for additional torque and output speed.
Bonfiglioli also designs and produces custom solutions for compact stand-alone machines, such as reverse vending machines that process individual items. “Our solutions deliver the reliable performance and long operating life required to power these machines,” adds Martin.
“Whether it’s recycling of paper and plastic or rubber tyres, or even general waste handling applications, our solutions have proven effective, particularly because we focus on application-driven customisation. We are well-positioned to help Australia’s waste management and recycling sector achieve the goals set out by the National Waste Policy Action Plan,” he concludes.
