The Riverina recycler on Wednesday unveiled two facilities that are expected take the stench out of landfill – and, at the same time, save money.

But to save money, you have to spend money.

More than $2.2 million was laid out for an upgrade of Kurrajong’s existing sorting machine and acquisition of a new machine that breaks down glass into sand.

Kurrajong expects the investment will take 2300 tonnes of recyclables out of landfill every year – and will boost the recycler’s production capacity to more than 20,000 tonnes a year.

“Our operation now has the ability to meet the expected growth of the Riverina and Murray regions for the next six to 10 years,” Kurrajong Waratah chief executive Steve Jaques said.

The recycler used Wednesday’s opening to show representatives from Riverina councils the glass crusher in action as it processed glass at a lightning speed of 10 tonnes an hour.

It is hoped councils – and engineering companies – will look to finely crushed glass as an alternative to sand in the construction of roads and other projects such as landscaping or as filler underneath concrete.

Glass is one of the most expensive materials to dump at landfill sites.