♻️ Liverpool Council's Mattress Recycling Turns Trash to Tiles

Liverpool City Council is leading the charge in sustainable waste management, transforming what was once a costly disposal problem into a valuable resource. Through an innovative partnership with UNSW Sydney's Sustainable Materials Research and Technology (SMaRT) Centre, the council is now converting discarded mattresses into durable 'green ceramic' tiles, pioneering a circular economy model right here in Liverpool.

This initiative comes as Australia grapples with a significant mattress waste crisis. Annually, approximately 1.8 million mattresses are sent to landfill across the country, consuming vast amounts of space and breaking down slowly, often over more than a century. Their bulkiness also contributes to illegal dumping issues. Faced with substantial costs – previously up to $137 per mattress for disposal or nearly $800,000 annually for private recycling contractors – Liverpool City Council sought a more sustainable solution.

The council invested in an industrial shredder, affectionately known as 'The Croc', which processes over 21,000 mattresses each year. The shredded material, or 'fluff', is then combined with other waste products, such as broken glass, using a technique developed by Scientia Professor Veena Sahajwalla and her team at the SMaRT Centre. The result is high-quality, low-carbon green ceramic tiles that meet or exceed Australian regulations for various applications, from flooring to kitchen splashbacks.

Professor Sahajwalla, who recently addressed the National Press Club on reimagining waste, is renowned for her pioneering MICROfactory™ technologies, including Green Ceramics MICROfactories launched in 2019. Her vision for localised waste processing not only addresses environmental concerns but also fosters local manufacturing and job creation. Liverpool City Council is actively pursuing this vision, with plans to establish a circular economy centre that aims for a 99% recovery rate of all mattress waste, even inviting neighbouring councils to utilise their innovative service.