Watching their waste: Nerang RSL pulps rubbish costs thanks to Pulpmaster machines

NERANG RSL is smashing its rubbish costs into pulp, thanks to its use of a clever machine. Oh, and it’s saving on money on plastic bags too.

The Nerang RSL Club’s Andrew McInnes, feeds the Pulpmaster machine in the club’s kitchen.

NERANG RSL Club is turning its rubbish bills into pulp.

The popular club says it will save thousands of dollars each year by using Pulpmaster machines to turn its food waste into pulp, which is then transported to a recycling facility in Yatala and turned into organic fertiliser.

General manager Andrew McInnes said that as well as cutting down on the use of plastic rubbish bags, the Pulpmaster machines enabled the club to move towards more sustainable practices.

It estimates it will divert around five tonnes of food waste from landfills each month.

The Nerang RSL Club’s Andrew McInnes, feeds the Pulpmaster machine in the club’s kitchen.

“Already the Pulpmaster machines have assisted in drastically reducing the amount of food waste being sent to landfill and has also improved health and safety in our kitchens,” he said.

“The Nerang RSL Club is dedicated to finding and implementing more sustainable practices and reducing our environmental footprint as a business. The Pulpmaster is our first major initiative and it has been very rewarding to see such tremendous results already.

“The machine also reduces the need and associated costs of plastic bin liners and dramatically cuts down the time required for staff to take food waste to the skip bins outside — enabling more time to focus on our customers and kitchen duties. “

One staff member grateful for the new machines is 73-year-old Gary Meiser, who used to cart the bins down the stairs each day to the skips at the rear of the club.

Pulpmaster Australia general manager Ray Pilcher said 42 machines have so far been installed in Queensland, including 19 clubs.

“Across Queensland, we have seen an impressive 70-plus tonnes of food waste recycled through the use of our machines in the past month alone,” he said.

“We are really proud to be working with organisations who are so invested in doing their bit for the environment and when you see businesses supporting and encouraging each other to implement green initiatives — it becomes a movement for the planet.”

JJ Richards — which owns the Pulpmaster brand — collects the organic pulp in a tanker truck and transports it to a specialised recycling facility in Yatala where the pulp is used to make organic fertiliser.