HAWKESBURY council staff and councillors watched the Hawkesbury Waste Depot’s new Tarpomatic machines in operation last week, which are expected to increase the longevity of waste areas at the site and save council money.
The automatic tarping machine was purchased and delivered in October last year at a cost of $250,000 to council, and is expected to increase landfill sites at the tip by more than a year.
The Tarpomatic is rolled out over the landfill area using a machine every night, saving valuable airspace and saving staff time.
The previous system involved staff covering the waste with compressed soil, which required more work and added to the landfill.
Councillor Bob Porter fought for seven years to purchase the machine, and was most pleased
to see it in action last week. “It’s great to see the machine in use here,” Cr Porter said.
“It really is a massive saving for council.”
Councillor Christine Paine was also impressed to see how well the machine was operating at the tip, saying it was “delightful” to see how well the machine was working.
“It’s rare that a council of our size actually owns its own tip,” Cr Paine said.
“And it is great to know that with the use of the Tarpomatic that we’re increasing the life of the site here.”
Tarpomatic tarps are manufactured from an extra high-strength polyethylene fabric featuring a flame retardant and UV-protective coating.
The tarps also incorporate a special anti-bacterial coating to minimise contamination and assist with cleaning and maintenance.
