Tamworth Return and Earn leads to Challenge recycling plant expansion

Tamworth residents are among the state's biggest users of the Return and Earn Scheme.

Challenge head honcho Barry Murphy said so many bottles and cans were coming through that the company desperately needed to expand.

READ ALSO

"We reached the stage where we couldn't handle it all," Mr Murphy said.

"For the past 18 months, we've been operating six days a week to process everything, so we made the decision to build another shed."

Mr Murphy said brand new, the plant would have cost between $300,000 to $400,000.

However, all the equipment was kindly donated by fellow waste processor JR Richards.

"They were the previous garbage contractors and we've had a long association with them," Mr Murphy said.

"They had to close a plant down in Muswellbrook, and they generously donated the equipment to us for the new plant.

"The equipment might be secondhand, but it is still very much functioning and will suit us down to the ground.

"The new plant will be able to process in a quarter of the time it's taking us now."

Challenge recently opened its Waste No More Centre at Belmore Street in Taminda, where the treasure has been sorted from the trash and put back on sale for a good price.

Have your say. Click this link to send a letter to the editor