The Green Pipe has been quietly going about the business of manufacturing pipe for agricultural, civil and forestry industries from recycled plastics. SOPHIE BALDWIN has the story.
Since the inception of the business in 1999, The Green Pipe has converted more than one hundred billion two-litre milk bottles into pipes, contributing to a greener future and a cleaner environment.
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Initially TGP focused on agricultural usage but the millennium drought and consequent downturn in rural spend steered the company toward road and civil projects and today, the company happily services both industries.
Household plastics from right across the country, but primarily milk and juice bottles, are sourced for the manufacturing process of the pipes.
The plastic is delivered in pre-sorted bales to the Moama site, on the Murray River in southern NSW.
The recycled plastic bottles used to make the irrigation pipes at The Green Pipe in Moama.
And in what is a somewhat simplified version of the manufacturing process, the plastic is sorted and washed again and then granulated into flakes and dried in silos on-site.
The granulated plastic is then weighed and blown into moulds where it is cooked and then out the other end comes the recycled pipes in varying diameters but always six metres in length.
The business recycles around 3500 tonnes of milk bottles annually and each 600mm pipe requires around 6000 milk bottles — a smaller 250mm pipe around 1200.
Site manager Brendon O’Flaherty has been working for TGP for the past four years.
His previous life as a dairy farmer has meant he has a strong knowledge of irrigation which has benefited that side of the business.
He said he gets a real kick out of the fact TGP stops so many plastic products from entering landfill.
“We use 100 per cent recycled raw materials sourced primarily from kerbside collection and our unique low energy manufacturing process means our pipe has a carbon footprint of approximately 50 per cent less than competitive virgin products,” Brendon said.
“Our commitment to sustainability is very real and it feels good to be involved with a product that is actually reducing waste, rather than creating it.”
Plastic bottles are broken down into flakes before they go through the manufacturing process.
TGP pipes are transported around the country and used predominately for civil work, although irrigation usage is on the rise.
“When it comes to civil work, our recycled pipe helps get the green tick for construction replacing concrete and fibre cement alternatives and has also been tested in accordance with AS1462 and AS2566 for crush strength and life underground,” Brendon said.
TGP was also used in construction of the new Echuca-Moama Bridge.
“Our pipes are lighter than comparable products, making them more efficient for transport — a 600mm pipe weighs 250kg while a 250mm weighs 50kg, which facilitate easy handling and minimise OHS issues,” Brendon said.
He said there had been a huge uptake of pipes in northern NSW, particularly for irrigation use in the cotton industry, while locally more and more dairy farmers are installing TGP.
“Our pipes are durable especially when it come to life underground.
“The high density polyethylene material does not break down underground which gives TGP exceptional longevity and while we cannot predict the lifespan, we believe our products will still be in the ground 100 years from now, providing the pipe is installed correctly.”
The pipes have been rigorously tested by Swinburne University who found the products have an SN10 rating across the board and are equivalent to PE80B (renowned for underground durability).
And as the world moves toward a greener future, Brendon said TGP will continue to do its part — supplying a 100 per cent Australian-owned pipe alternative.
The finished product at The Green Pipe.
Before and after — recycled plastic milk bottles (right) will eventually be turned into green pipes (left).
