Case Study - Nichols Poultry
The project
- Analyse cost benefits and test feasibility of various scenarios with a view to implementing best case for diversion of wastes from landfill.
Download the Case Study - Nichols Poultry (PDF 2.2 MB).
Background
- The company has a strong culture of resource efficiency. Approximately 80% of waste generated is already recycled, ie protein wastes are recovered as by-product and other organic wastes are composted on-site for use in crop farming.
- Single-use plastic film products help the company maintain food safety standards. The main barrier to recycling this waste is high contamination rates from liquid proteins.
Objectives
- Find alternative, cost-neutral waste disposal methods for mixed plastic film/purge material.
Targets
- Zero plastic waste to landfill from production waste.
- Maintain or reduce waste disposal costs.
Outcomes
What was implemented?
- Numerous alternatives for single use plastics were trialed and costed.
- Alternative plant-based plastics are compostable and did work.
- Some single-use PPE products replaced with re-usable, for example: aprons.
Key issues
- The cost of alternatives (300% increase) for plant-based plastics.
- Short shelf-life and high minimum orders of plant-based plastics.
- Lack of recyclers in Tasmania that can take purge contaminated soft plastic and there are no soft plastic washing facilities.
Performance against targets
- We didn't achieve our target of zero plastic waste to landfill and we are continuing to work on it.
- However, we did divert another 200 tonnes per year of organic waste from landfill to industrial composting and we found some cost savings in the way we transport our waste.
Lessons learnt
- Industry in Tasmania needs greater support and consultation to develop waste reduction initiatives.
- There are plenty of opportunities for industry in Tasmania to divert waste from landfill.
- Industry plays a significantly larger part in waste reduction for the State compared to residential waste.