Turning waste into worth: O’Brien Glass partners with ResourceCo to drive sustainability

At O’Brien Glass, sustainability is embedded in how we operate every day. We are always looking for smarter ways to manage waste, reduce emissions and contribute to a circular economy. That’s why we’ve partnered with ResourceCo, one of Australia’s most advanced resource recovery businesses, to help us recycle more of our dry waste and reduce our environmental footprint.

Tackling waste at every step

From the moment glass arrives at our Distribution Centre in Padstow, Sydney, we work to ensure materials are managed responsibly.

• At the Distribution Centre: Timber, metal, cardboard and Styrofoam from unpacked glass crates are separated and recycled.
• At Service Centres and Branches: Broken glass, dried urethane, rubber spacers, soft plastic packaging and more from glass replacements are collected and separated.

“We’re already doing a fantastic job of recycling our glass, but working with ResourceCo has allowed us to address our dry waste streams in a meaningful way,” says Mark, Business Improvement Partner at O’Brien Glass. “It’s great to see real, measurable results from this partnership.”

To make recycling simple and effective, we have rolled out clearly labelled, dedicated bins at our sites to ensure every piece of recyclable material is separated correctly before heading to a ResourceCo facility.

 

A smarter second life for waste

Through our partnership, dry waste from O’Brien sites is sent to a ResourceCo Resource Recovery Facility. Here, the waste goes through advanced processing systems that remove as many recoverable materials as possible. The remaining material is transformed into Process Engineered Fuel (PEF) – a cleaner alternative to fossil fuels that’s used by high-energy industries like cement production.

In just the first half of this year, we’ve recycled over 180 tonnes of dry waste that previously would have gone straight to landfill.

“O’Brien demonstrates the positive impact businesses can have when they prioritise sustainability,” says Henry Anning, CEO of ResourceCo. “By diverting significant volumes of dry waste from landfill, O’Brien is reducing emissions and helping produce a valuable alternative fuel for Australian industry.”

 

Real impact, measurable results

By working with ResourceCo, we are supporting a process that:

• Achieves 95% diversion from landfill on average.
• Produces alternative fuels, reducing carbon emissions.
• Prevents roughly two tonnes of CO₂e for every tonne of waste processed into fuel – one tonne saved from landfill, another from fossil fuel replacement.

“Every tonne of dry waste diverted from landfill saves roughly one tonne of CO₂e. Every tonne of alternative fuel produced to replace fossil fuels saves approximately another tonne of carbon,” says Henry Anning, CEO of ResourceCo’s Energy business.

         

 

Aligned with a sustainable future

This partnership supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that we have committed to through the UN Global Compact. By working with ResourceCo, we are helping to advance these shared global priorities:

• SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth: Supporting local jobs and sustainable industries through resource recovery.
• SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities: Contributing to inclusive, community-focused business practices.
• SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production: Keeping valuable resources in use for longer, avoiding landfill, and promoting a circular economy.
• SDG 13 – Climate Action: Reducing carbon emissions by replacing fossil fuels and diverting waste from landfill.

 

Continuing the momentum

For us, this is just one part of a broader commitment to operate in a way that’s better for our customers, our people and our planet. Partnerships with companies such as ResourceCo help us divert waste from landfill, a key step towards our goal of reducing Scope 3 carbon emissions by 25% by 2030.

Looking ahead, we’re exploring more ways to reduce our footprint across our operations ensuring every part of our business contributes to a more sustainable future.  By turning waste into a resource, we’re making a tangible difference every day. Because at O’Brien, we believe sustainability is about action, not just ambition.