Recycled products pave the way for a more sustainable future in the water industry

Yarra Valley Water is advancing its commitment to transitioning to a circular economy by embracing more recycled products in its construction and maintenance works.

There are 17 recycled products that are now approved for use across Yarra Valley Water projects, with this number set to grow. The products are not only more sustainable but are often cheaper than their non-recycled counterparts.

Yarra Valley Water Managing Director, Pat McCafferty said that making the shift towards using more recycled products as part of our supply chain is the way of the future for the organisation.

“We’re committed to opting for environmentally friendly alternatives wherever we can, in line with our commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals and building a circular economy.

“We’re looking forward to exploring more innovative options for achieving the same result but in a more sustainable way,” Mr McCafferty said.

Crushed glass manufactured by ‘Alex Fraser’, is one of the recycled products approved for use at Yarra Valley Water.  It is made by reprocessing waste glass material that would otherwise be sent to landfill, to create a product that can replace sand used as backfill around new sewer pipes. Recycled plastic valve covers from brand ‘Clover’, are another example that Yarra Valley Water has been using for many years.

Many of the other products approved for use are locally made by ‘Repurpose It’, a company based in northern Melbourne. All products are approved by a technical advisory group at Yarra Valley Water and are promoted for use by our contractor partners.

Increasing the use of recycled alternatives is just another example of Yarra Valley Water’s investment in sustainable alternatives that are helping Victoria transition to a more circular economy.

The organisation also recently announced it will build its second waste to energy plant, which will transform end-of-life food waste into renewable energy that will help to power its treatment facilities.

Solar panels are also generating energy for Yarra Valley Water’s head office, treatment plants and electric vehicle fleet. Combined with power from a northern Victoria solar farm, these projects are producing enough energy to meet 25 per cent of Yarra Valley Water’s energy needs, steering Yarra Valley Water towards meeting its target of generating 100 per cent of its own energy needs through renewable energy by 2025.