Plastic waste from oyster farms shredded to combat 126-tonne stockpileBy Lauren BohaneABC RuralTopic:Recycling and Waste Management1h ago1 hours agoFri 9 May 2025 at 9:06pmLoading...In short: Around 30 tonnes of waste plastic from oyster farms has been shredded down to be more easily transported to recycling facilities.The NSW government has funded a three-week project visiting estuaries along the state's coast.What's next?The people behind the project are looking to opportunities interstate but growers say it will need to become self reliant.abc.net.au/news/tonnes-oyster-farm-plastic-waste-shredded-recycling/105262362Link copiedShareShare articleOysters are a staple for many Australians, but the use of plastics across the industry is under increasing scrutiny.Plastic trays, barrels and nets are favoured by growers for their durability and low maintenance.But when they are damaged, challenges transporting the bulky waste means it is often left to pile up on oyster farms.Mechanic Darren Bryant noticed plastic accumulating on oyster farms near his home on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula."I went past a place and it was just jam-packed full of waste baskets and I thought 'well why couldn't we have a mobile shredder to shred this plastic?'" he said.Darren Bryant and Scott Jarvis developed the smaller unit to gain better access to estuaries. (ABC Mid North Coast: Lauren Bohane)Alongside friend Scott Jarvis he developed a unit designed to access hard-to-reach sites on estuaries and began shredding plastic waste at oyster farms in South Australia last year."We've come from Coffin Bay, so there's lots of oyster farmers over there as well, and there's mountains of oyster baskets just lying around," Mr Jarvis said."Obviously they don't really want them to go into landfill, so the best way to get rid of it is to shred it and send it to be processed."The mobile unit is designed to be easily transportable to farms. (Supplied: EP Mobile Plastic Recycling)Funded by the NSW government, the pair recently spent three weeks taking the shredder to oyster farms along the state's coast."People in the past have done it but on a larger scale, and essentially they can't get into smaller areas," Mr Byrant said.A 2024 feasibility study by OceanWatch Australia estimated there were about 126 tonnes of plastic waste stockpiled on oyster farms across NSW. "It's a global problem, plastics, we use them every day. They're very common," said operations manager Simon Rowe. OceanWatch operations manager Simon Rowe helped facilitate the three-week project. (ABC Mid North Coast: Lauren Bohane)"But as awareness is growing around the reuse and the need to recycle and move to alternative products — I guess that's where the sector's heading — it's good to be proactive in this space."'Half a footy field' of plasticWaste plastic is a problem oyster grower James Ford is all too familiar with, having pulled several damaged plastic barrels from his oyster leases on the Nambucca River in the wake of flood and the recent ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.Oyster grower James Ford had damaged plastic barrels and trays piling up at his property. (ABC Mid North Coast: Lauren Bohane)With no way to transport the bulky waste it sat in piles on his property until the recycling team arrived."It helps the farmer. He doesn't have to take it to a large depot or transport it somewhere else to be processed," he said.Plastic is used for trays and barrels in the oyster industry. (ABC Mid North Coast: Lauren Bohane)Nearly 200 barrels were fed through the shredder at Mr Ford's property, adding to an estimated 30 tonnes of waste collected across the three-week project."Half a footy field at two metres high we would've moved," said truck driver Brian Breem."If we had put everything on this truck and taken it to the dump we would've done 30 dump-loads."Circular system the goalThe plastic from this trip was sent to Sydney to be processed and recycled into insulation for communications cables.The long-term goal, however, is to create a circular system where the plastic is recycled into items that will be used in the industry, such as more oyster baskets."It would just be a matter of working with the oyster basket manufacturers [and] the growers and making sure we can get a product good enough that can be reused into oyster baskets," Mr Jarvis said.Mr Rowe said that would require a higher quality product coming out of farms.Plastic is shredded so it can be more easily transported to recycling facilities. (ABC Mid North Coast: Lauren Bohane)"As we're going to each farm we're talking to them about how to treat the product, how they can bring it in a bit earlier, how to keep it pure, how to keep it clean and how to speed the process up," he said."So if we, or some other people, come following us they can get a better product."Hopes to expand as ‘smart’ businessMr Ford said the three-week project's future relied on becoming independent of its current state funding."We've had other plastic recycling around in the area and simply because it's been government funded it hasn't turned into a viable project," Mr Ford said."It'd be a fine line, and I'd like to see it continue, but trying to make it stand on its own feet is for someone with a very smart business mind."For now, the team is looking to expand across South Australia, New South Wales, and into Tasmania.They hope to return to the NSW coast on an annual basis.ABC Rural RoundUp newsletterStories from farms and country towns across Australia, delivered each Friday.Your information is being handled in accordance with the ABC Privacy Collection Statement.Email addressSubscribePosted 1h ago1 hours agoFri 9 May 2025 at 9:06pmShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top Stories'Third party' vote looks set to beat CoalitionTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows A triangular chart showing an example of some electorates shifting from LNP to 'Other candidates' at the 2025 federal election'We've hit the lottery': Businesses cash in on Labor's home battery rebateTopic:Energy IndustryPhoto shows A man with a t-shirt, hat and sunglasses on top of his head smiles at camera.Labor win turns sour as the bloody realpolitik takes centre stageLAnalysis by Laura TinglePhoto shows Two men in orange hi vis vest, with one holding up a dollar coinIndia's retaliation to terror attacks reflects a changed strategy. Is it working?Analysis by Hannah JosePhoto shows Two of India's French-made Rafale fighter jets in lockstep in the sky at Aero India 2021.A girl's police interview brings 'truth' into focus during mushroom murder trialTopic:CourtsPhoto shows A digital drawing of Erin Patterson wearing a pink shirtRelated storiesTurning oyster baskets into placemats: This surgeon has a plan for Port Lincoln's fishing wasteTopic:Plastics, Polymers and Rubber ManufacturingPhoto shows A man in glasses smiles at the camera in a factoryWould you pay more for oysters labelled 'carbon neutral'? Topic:Sustainable and Alternative FarmingPhoto shows Reporter holds a freshly shucked oyster with a crate of unopened oysters in the background.The restoration project giving oyster shells a new lifeTopic:Oceans and ReefsPhoto shows Photo of oyster shells in cages on a rackOyster shell recycling project aims to restore lost reefsTopic:EnvironmentPhoto shows A man wearing a grey shirt and a black cap crouches in front of a big pile of used oyster shells.Related topicsCoffin BayFishing and Aquaculture IndustryMacksvilleNambucca HeadsPort LincolnPort MacquarieRecycling and Waste ManagementTop Stories'Third party' vote looks set to beat CoalitionTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows A triangular chart showing an example of some electorates shifting from LNP to 'Other candidates' at the 2025 federal election'We've hit the lottery': Businesses cash in on Labor's home battery rebateTopic:Energy IndustryLabor win turns sour as the bloody realpolitik takes centre stageLAnalysis by Laura TingleIndia's retaliation to terror attacks reflects a changed strategy. Is it working?Analysis by Hannah JoseA girl's police interview brings 'truth' into focus during mushroom murder trialTopic:CourtsJust InDewayne wanted to sing in palawa kani to his newborn — that's now possibleTopic:Indigenous Music13m ago13 minutes agoFri 9 May 2025 at 10:18pmMeasles outbreaks reported in 11 US states, surpassing 1,000 casesTopic:Infectious Diseases14m ago14 minutes agoFri 9 May 2025 at 10:17pm'A love story': Meet the 85yo rock climbing instructor with no fingers or toesTopic:Human Interest15m ago15 minutes agoFri 9 May 2025 at 10:16pmWA prepares to farewell Arthur Leggett, state's last WWII prisoner of warTopic:Funerals and Memorial Services26m ago26 minutes agoFri 9 May 2025 at 10:05pmMore Just InBack to top