What is ResiLoop?
Amidst growing pressure for industry to take responsibility for their products at end of use, the Australian Resilient Flooring Association (ARFA) has designed an industry-supported recycling scheme for resilient flooring, called ResiLoop.

Once launched, ResiLoop will be a whole-of-industry product stewardship scheme to improve the recovery, reuse and recycling of resilient flooring consumed in Australia.

The scheme has been in development since 2022 when ARFA was awarded a National Product Stewardship Investment Fund (NPSIF) grant by the Australian Government to design the scheme. Through broad industry engagement, the project rapidly completed a global review of existing initiatives, conducted collection and reprocessing trials, identified key partners and designed a potential business model to operate a national scheme in Australia.

The scheme will aim to:

• Reduce the landfilling of construction and demolition waste
• Develop local recycling capacity and end-markets
• Stimulate innovation and job opportunities in reprocessing and re-manufacturing
• Reduce reliance on fossil-fuel resources and avoid carbon emissions by recycling material
• Create a circularity mindset across the industry through shared responsibility and collaboration
• Support building projects aiming to minimise landfilling of construction and demolition wastes

 
ARFA released the proposed scheme design on 31 May 2023, after bringing the flooring industry together to collaborate on addressing the waste created and contribute to a strategic pathway towards a circular economy.  Click here for a full overview of how the scheme works

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Is flooring waste really such a big issue?
A. Construction and demolition waste is the second largest contributor to landfill in the country, accounting for 5 million tonnes annually. Flooring is one of the waste streams currently not being diverted from landfill.  Flooring installation waste is estimated at 1.8 million square metres a year. That’s 90 MCGs worth of waste annually!

Q. Why should I get involved?
A. Not only will you be playing a lead-role in improving the environmental outcomes of the industry, but those involved in the scheme will have a competitive advantage as they will be leading in their circular economy and climate contributions.

Q. Is there a direct business case/return on investment for joining the scheme?
A. Your business will directly benefit from joining the industry stewardship scheme and being recognised as a participant. As stewardship and landfill diversion is being prioritised by community, policy and regulation, you will see more and more major tenders demanding evidence of recycling, meaning those not working on stewardship will be left behind.

Similarly, ResiLoop will help make evidence of compliance with ecolabel certifications like Best Practice PVC easier, green rating tools for buildings and projects, like Green Star, NABERS, LEED etc., are all increasing scrutiny of waste management practices and contribution to the circular economy. Plus, for those currently bearing the waste disposal charges for these materials, there will be a clear financial saving! 

Q. Who can be involved?
A. The scheme requires distributors, local manufacturers, specifiers, commercial contractors, major and independent retailers, project managers, flooring accessory suppliers, recyclers, and logistics businesses to engage and act.  

Q. I install resilient floors. How do I collect and return waste?
A. Installers/floor-layers must register with the scheme and identify a Collection Point near their work. Collection Points (at Commercial Contractors, Flooring Accessory Suppliers or Retail Stores) will issue ResiLoop collection bags. Collected installation waste is returned to the Collection Point for aggregation. Only ResiLoop Member products are collected. Talk to your contractors about getting involved. Link to the brochure.

Q. How much will it cost to be involved?
A. A levy per square metre of relevant products sold, collected from Product Suppliers quarterly, will be the major funding mechanism. A low annual membership fee collected from Contractors/Retailers will also contribute.

Q. What is the levy actually funding?
A. The money raised through the product stewardship levy will fund the logistics involved in collection and tracking of waste and ongoing operations of the scheme. The scheme has been designed to strike a balance between low costs for members (and end users), whilst still have significant recycling capability and the ability to scale.

Q. What will be collected once the scheme is up and running?
A. Installation waste and stock and roll-ends of Luxury Vinyl Tile, Homogeneous and non-textile-backed Heterogeneous sheet products will be collected in the first stage of the scheme. Uplifted, end-of-life floorcoverings will not be collected at this time as we work to resolve contamination and legacy additive challenges.

Q. When will the scheme actually launch?
A. The scheme is expected to be in operation in the second half of 2024. Between now and then, ResiLoop is onboarding participants, investing in development of end markets for recyclate and fine- tuning the operations of the scheme.

Q. What geographic coverage will ResiLoop offer?
A. Initially the scheme will start in NSW, VIC and QLD which account for almost 80% of the market. As end markets for the reyclate are developed, ResiLoop will expand into other states.

Q. How do I get involved?
A. Register your interest in participating in the scheme here.

Q. Is the scheme mandatory?
A. No, it is currently a voluntary scheme.

Q. Where can I find out more information?
A. Stay up to date by following us on LinkedIn, checking in on our website, subscribing to our newsletter and reaching out to a ResiLoop representative at [email protected]