Giving purpose to waste 

Repurpose It is at the forefront of a burgeoning circular economy in Australia, championing sustainability and promoting the reuse of materials to reduce waste. 

A pioneering resource recovery business giving waste a new life is on a mission to create a circular economy in Australia, one truckload load at a time. 

Repurpose It is closing the loop on waste by turning more than two million tonnes of waste a year into high-quality materials for construction and landscaping. 

Co-founded by George Hatzimanolis seven years ago, the award-winning company has captured the attention of government decision-makers for its resource recovery technology and bold diversification strategy, preserving resources for the next generations. 

The Victorian business, which employs almost 200 people, accepts materials such as construction waste, concrete, excavation materials, and asphalt. Most of the products it produces are sold back to the customer as construction materials or to garden centres as landscape products. Repurpose It also accepts food and garden organics and re-purposes them into high-value compost and soil. 

Having spent years in the asphalt surfacing industry, Hatzimanolis saw first-hand the carbon-intensive practices used for asphalt roads. 

“The manufacturing process to build our roads is extremely carbon-intensive and industrial, and it was well overdue for a radical overhaul,” he says. 

As a clear sign of his entrepreneurial ambition, the Melburnian started attending waste conferences in search of a viable alternative for an industry he knew would ultimately hold Australia back from reaching its sustainability targets without intervention. 

“I could see the huge untapped potential in terms of economic opportunity to rethink how we reuse these resources.” 

His research led him worldwide in search of innovative technologies that didn’t exist in Australia then. 

“I started researching alternatives, realising very quickly that waste glass can be re-purposed into a sand alternative,” Hatzimanolis says. 

“We also accept waste from various organic waste streams and re-purpose it into compost and soil that goes into our landscape market. That way, our customers can dispose of materials and purchase high-quality products. We now supply 70 % of the decorative mulch in Victoria,” he says. 

With a strong commitment to environmental responsibility, Repurpose It has successfully positioned itself as a market leader in re-purposing materials.  

The company also helps educate the community on the importance of a circular economy through its Living with Purpose series, hosted by Australian environmentalist and television host Jamie Durie. 

Not surprisingly, institutional investors are circling after private equity fund Palisade Impact became a majority shareholder. “The capital injection has opened access to capital to expand our capabilities. More than 700,000 tonnes of food waste end up in landfills, and we’re committed to getting that out in the next six years.” 

A recent trip to Denmark and Belgium to learn more about innovative technologies not yet utilised in Australia has prompted discussions about adding further technological advancements to the operation. “Food waste can be utilised as a fuel to produce energy. Other parts of the world are taking kitchen scraps, cleaning the pulp, digesting it, capturing the gas, and using it as an alternative natural gas. There’s a whole world of opportunity in terms of how to use our resources better,” says Hatzimanolis. 

Inevitably, with any success, copycats will follow. “Competition is healthy and keeps us on our toes. The challenge for us is to stay ahead of the curve by harnessing the momentum we’ve created to make even higher-value products.” 

In the meantime, Hatzimanolis will continue his mission to eliminate waste and pollution. “It’s no secret our resources are being consumed faster than they can be replenished, which has a huge impact on the world. It’s time we start looking at resource recovery as the way to save our future.” 

For more information, visit repurposeit.com.au