More than 81 tonnes of aluminium composite panels (ACP) have been diverted from landfill at SHAPE’s latest combustible cladding replacement project in Canberra.
The National Circuit project is one of the first in Australia to use a unique ACP recycling process by Ecoloop. Designed by Fairview in collaboration with waste management experts, Ecoloop is a local recycling solution for recladding waste that aims to divert up to 100 per cent of non-compliant ACP cladding material from landfill.
Located in the heart of Canberra’s parliamentary district, the busy National Circuit business precinct comprises of three buildings for government and private sector tenants. Property owner ISPT engaged SHAPE as the construction partner to replace 12,000 m² of ACP across all three buildings. Taking a proactive approach to manage the cladding risk at its properties, ISPT acted ahead of legislative change to rigorously assess and then replace potentially combustible panels.
At 4 National Circuit, an incredible 44 tonnes of cladding waste was diverted from landfill through Ecoloop, with 100 per cent of material successfully recycled. At 3-5 National Circuit, more than 25 tonnes of waste was recycled, and around 12 tonnes of material at 6 National Circuit.
During the recycling process, Ecoloop separates and recovers resources that are then repurposed into sustainable construction materials here in Australia, such as aluminium building products, park benches and plastic pallets.
Unlike other ACP recycling processes, Ecoloop converts any remaining non-recyclable fractions, such as paints and sealants, into process engineered fuels, which are used as a coal offset in Australian cement kilns.
ACP consist of two aluminium outer layers bonded to a core, which may contain thermoplastic polymer (usually polyethylene), a highly combustible material. The risks associated with combustible cladding came into focus following London’s Grenfell Tower fire disaster that killed 72 people in 2017. Since then, Australian federal and state governments have made widespread amendments to regulations governing the use of ACP in building and construction to ensure safety and compliance.
Thousands of buildings across the country have been identified to have non-compliant combustible cladding, meaning tonnes of high-risk material needs to be replaced. To avoid all this waste ending up in landfill, SHAPE is proud to be able to partner with businesses such as Ecoloop that provide sustainable recycling solutions.
SHAPE is leading the recladding of at-risk buildings in Australia and has successfully completed 39 ACP replacement projects across most states and territories.
Sam Ciccia, Project Director and cladding specialist at SHAPE, said: “Thousands of buildings across the country have been identified to have non-compliant combustible cladding, meaning tonnes of high-risk material needs to be replaced. To avoid all this waste ending up in landfill, SHAPE is proud to be able to partner with businesses such as Ecoloop that provide sustainable recycling solutions.”
We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land, sea, and skies. We’re grateful to those who have cared for, nurtured, and protected Country for future generations, and we pay our respects to Elders past, present, and emerging.
