As Australia’s resource recovery sector continues its transition towards a circular economy, operators are increasingly investing in technologies that not only divert waste from landfill but also create higher-value end products. Victorian resource recovery specialist Sycle is a prime example of this shift.
Headquartered in Avalon, Victoria, Sycle has established itself as one of Australia’s fastest-growing integrated waste management and remanufacturing businesses. Guided by its vision to “make waste valuable,” Sycle transforms recovered materials into high-quality, sustainable products that help build a cleaner and more resilient future.
Delivering on that vision is a commitment to maximising resource recovery through responsible recycling and remanufacturing. By investing in advanced processing technologies and innovative resource recovery infrastructure, Sycle creates lasting environmental, social and economic value, while helping drive Australia’s transition to a circular economy.
What differentiates Sycle is its commitment to moving beyond waste collection and landfill diversion.
Through investment in advanced recycling and remanufacturing infrastructure, the company is building the capability to process more material annually, positioning itself as a contributor to Victoria’s future circular economy infrastructure.
Today, Sycle operates a network of facilities across Victoria, including Avalon, Fyansford and Sunshine. These facilities play a role in recovering materials from construction, demolition, commercial and industrial waste streams, transforming them into high-quality products that support sustainable resource management. The company’s Sunshine operation alone can recover up to 80 per cent of waste material, while the broader business has achieved landfill diversion rates of approximately 90 per cent.
Sycle’s operations currently support more than 200 local jobs and manage a fleet of over 1,000 commercial skip bins servicing Victorian industry and communities.
With their 2028 target established, Sycle is positioning itself as one of Victoria’s most ambitious recycling and remanufacturing businesses. Through continued investment in advanced resource recovery infrastructure, the company is transforming construction, demolition, commercial and timber waste streams into high-quality, specification-grade recycled products for landscaping, infrastructure and construction applications.
One area experiencing strong growth is coloured mulch.
Produced from recovered timber waste, coloured mulch delivers the environmental benefits of traditional mulch while offering better visual appeal for commercial landscaping, local government projects, sports fields, road reserves and public spaces.
By converting waste timber into a premium landscaping product, Sycle is extending the value chain of recovered materials and creating new market opportunities for recycled resources.
To support this growing demand, Sycle recently invested in an advanced EDGE TRC622 ColorPRO colour trommel system, further strengthening its capability to manufacture high-quality coloured mulch at scale. By converting recycled timber into premium coloured mulch, operators can achieve 30 to 70 per cent higher product value than natural mulch. Automated colour trommel systems also deliver uniform colour application, good throughput and reduced labour costs.
“We were well acquainted with Ryan and the Focus Enviro team having dealt with them over the years. We knew that they would not only recommend equipment that would meet our needs but would also provide the high level of service and support going forward,” said Simon Penno, engineering manager, Sycle.
Unlike conventional colouring systems, the unit has been purpose-built for mulch colouring applications. The machine combines a large-capacity 12.6m³ (16.5 yards³) feed hopper, complete with forward/reverse feed conveyor, variable speed controls and a 2m x 6.9m (6’ x 22’) long spiral drum to ensure consistent mixing and dye distribution throughout the material.
The ColorPRO combines controlled material flow with an intelligent colour application system to produce a consistently vibrant, premium-grade mulch while reducing colourant wastage.
Up to 50 per cent less water is required during the colouring process. Using less water also reduces colourant consumption, speeds up drying times and lowers the risks of mould. The result is a high-value product that meets the standards of commercial landscapers, local government and infrastructure projects. Industry data shows that lighter, lower-moisture mulch also delivers freight savings. With some producers increasing truck payloads from 15 pallets to as many as 20 pallets per load. This not only reduces transport costs but also improves overall productivity.
This ColorPro dye trommel offers production rates of 500³/hr enabling Sycle to process large volumes of material efficiently while maintaining good product quality and colour consistency.
Its automated colour application and intelligent process controls minimise operator intervention, maximise uptime and delivers a streamlined production process, allowing the business to respond quickly to growing customer demand.
“Sycle’s investment in the EDGE ColorPro reflects a broader shift across Australia’s resource recovery sector, where success is increasingly measured not only by the volume of material diverted from landfill, but by the value created from it,” said Ryan McParland, product specialist for Focus Enviro.
As demand grows for premium recycled products and sustainable construction materials, investments in advanced processing technologies will become increasingly important.
By producing specification-grade, coloured mulch from recovered timber, Sycle is demonstrating how innovation can enhance product quality, strengthen commercial returns and help set a higher benchmark for Australia’s resource recovery industry.