Ecoloop: Australia's first ACP recycling solution

24 June 2021
Ecoloop was Australia’s first ACP recycling solution.

Ecoloop was Australia’s first ACP recycling solution, and has been fully operational and processing cladding waste from rectification projects across Australia since January 2021.

The process sees "non-compliant cladding" waste from rectification projects recycled and repurposed, diverting up to 100% of non-compliant ACP cladding from landfill. Ecoloop remains the only recycling program in Australia that can process both PE and FR waste.

With more emphasis being placed on sustainability and the circular economy, especially in construction, Fairview took a proactive approach to enhancing sustainability in the industry through the introduction of Ecoloop. 

Since the Lacrosse tower fire in November 2014, which highlighted the concerns of combustible cladding, Australian governments have been working to ensure building and occupant safety. This was accelerated by the Grenfell tragedy in June 2017. The focus has been on aluminium composite panels (ACP). However, the cladding crisis is now becoming an environmental one. With an estimated four million square meters of ACP in the process of being removed from Australian buildings, the question is: where do removed panels go?  

The options are landfill, export, and Australian processing, such as Ecoloop. Export is not an easy option, and needs to be a last resort. Some Australian scrap traders will accept ACP and ship it to developing nations, claiming to recycle it. The aluminium may be recycled, but in hazardous and impactful ways. This is neither ethical nor sustainable, and the government is rightly tightening their export policies. 

We need Australian processing – unlike other recycling practices, Ecoloop provides an Australian solution following Australian Standards and using Australian workers.

Aluminium composite panel, as it comes off the wall of a building, consists of four key components: 

  1. Aluminium panel skins.
  2. Polyethylene panel core.
  3. Ferrous metals, including screws and steel flashings.
  4. The mixed residuals, including sealant, backing rod, paint, tapes, and all other components that make up a facade.

Diversion from landfill is achieved by, firstly, Fairview trucks picking up the panels after delivering new product, creating a backload service to minimize carbon footprint. The panels are then brought back to Lithgow, where they are accurately weighed and recorded. Shortly afterwards, to minimize storage onsite, the panels enter the process. This starts with a primary shred, of all components. Once down into manageable sized pieces, the material enters the Ecoloop Separator. This separates the aluminium from the panel core, any ferrous metals and the mixed residuals. Once separated, the materials are bagged and distributed for repurposing. In addition, reporting and independent auditing will provide our clients with statistics on how Ecoloop has helped them lessen their environmental impact now and into the future.

Ecoloop: Australia's first ACP recycling solution

Ecoloop was Australia’s first ACP recycling solution, and has been fully operational and processing cladding waste from rectification projects across Australia since January 2021.

The process sees "non-compliant cladding" waste from rectification projects recycled and repurposed, diverting up to 100% of non-compliant ACP cladding from landfill. Ecoloop remains the only recycling program in Australia that can process both PE and FR waste.

With more emphasis being placed on sustainability and the circular economy, especially in construction, Fairview took a proactive approach to enhancing sustainability in the industry through the introduction of Ecoloop. 

Since the Lacrosse tower fire in November 2014, which highlighted the concerns of combustible cladding, Australian governments have been working to ensure building and occupant safety. This was accelerated by the Grenfell tragedy in June 2017. The focus has been on aluminium composite panels (ACP). However, the cladding crisis is now becoming an environmental one. With an estimated four million square meters of ACP in the process of being removed from Australian buildings, the question is: where do removed panels go?  

The options are landfill, export, and Australian processing, such as Ecoloop. Export is not an easy option, and needs to be a last resort. Some Australian scrap traders will accept ACP and ship it to developing nations, claiming to recycle it. The aluminium may be recycled, but in hazardous and impactful ways. This is neither ethical nor sustainable, and the government is rightly tightening their export policies. 

We need Australian processing – unlike other recycling practices, Ecoloop provides an Australian solution following Australian Standards and using Australian workers.

Aluminium composite panel, as it comes off the wall of a building, consists of four key components: 

  1. Aluminium panel skins.
  2. Polyethylene panel core.
  3. Ferrous metals, including screws and steel flashings.
  4. The mixed residuals, including sealant, backing rod, paint, tapes, and all other components that make up a facade.

Diversion from landfill is achieved by, firstly, Fairview trucks picking up the panels after delivering new product, creating a backload service to minimize carbon footprint. The panels are then brought back to Lithgow, where they are accurately weighed and recorded. Shortly afterwards, to minimize storage onsite, the panels enter the process. This starts with a primary shred, of all components. Once down into manageable sized pieces, the material enters the Ecoloop Separator. This separates the aluminium from the panel core, any ferrous metals and the mixed residuals. Once separated, the materials are bagged and distributed for repurposing. In addition, reporting and independent auditing will provide our clients with statistics on how Ecoloop has helped them lessen their environmental impact now and into the future.

Fairview

Regional Office/Distributor

Fairview Architectural

18-20 Donald St

Lithgow, NSW, 2790

02 6352 2...