Plastics recycling facility to be built in Queensland

The Australian Packaging Covenant has announced joint funding of a state-of-the-art plastic recycling facility to be built this year in Queensland.

Stan Moore, CEO of the Australian Packaging Covenant (APC), said, “The APC has identified a need to increase the recovery and recycling of plastic waste in Queensland, and industry - through the APC - is pleased to collaborate with the Queensland Government and Replas to make this happen.”

The APC and Queensland Government will provide equal funding totalling over $600,000 towards the establishment of the plant in South East Queensland.

The Replas facility will be the only operation in Queensland able to process a full range of soft and rigid waste-plastic packaging materials. This will divert plastic packaging waste like shopping bags, shrink-wrap films and sterile wrap from landfills.

The facility will reprocess locally collected plastic waste and initially produce products such as bollards. These can then be used for infrastructure throughout Queensland, returning this resource to the community that created it. Additional products will be added to the production line over time.

Recycled-plastic products provide an alternative to timber that is not only more durable, but also better suited to harsh environmental conditions. This could prove a boon in areas such as North Queensland which experience high temperatures year round.

The facility will utilise the latest robotic technology developed by Replas.