AUSTRALIA – The Australian national government has invested A$20 million (US$13.38m) to support the development of Recycling Plastics Australia’s new domestic soft plastics recycling facility in Kilburn.
This center is expected to divert 14,000 tonnes of soft plastics from South Australian landfills annually. It will process materials such as shopping bags, crisp packets, and food wrappers, turning them into feedstock for new packaging.
This initiative aims to enhance Australia’s recycling supply chain capabilities, allowing soft plastic waste to be returned to packaging.
Recycling Plastics Australia chair Peter Gregg stated, “Recycling Plastics Australia has a proud history of leading the circular economy by recycling difficult-to-process plastics.
“We are grateful that the Australian and South Australian Governments have supported this A$40 million (US$26.76m) project to transform soft plastics recycling in Australia.
“This funding will see our Kilburn site in South Australia become the prominent soft-plastic recycling processor in the country, with materials recycled here and sold into local and global packaging markets.”
The announcement of the Kilburn project coincided with the Plastic Free July campaign, promoting the reduction of plastic pollution among Australians.
In addition to funding recycling centers, the Australian government is focusing on improving packaging design through new national packaging laws.
These laws will mandate that packaging be designed by circular economy principles, ensuring it can be safely recovered, reused, recycled, and reprocessed.
On a national scale, the government is increasing recycling capacity by over one million tonnes per year and creating over 3,000 jobs, more than 600 of which are in South Australia.
Last year, the Federal and NSW Labor Governments co-invested A$11 million (US$7.36m) to transform the recycling industry in NSW.
This investment supported nine new projects, created almost 100 jobs, and improved recycling infrastructure across metropolitan and regional NSW.
These projects boost NSW’s ability to remanufacture plastic, paper, cardboard, and tyres, increasing waste processing capacity by more than 20,000 tonnes annually.
Industry has strongly supported the funding round, contributing an additional A$18.5 million (US$12.38m) to these important projects.
All Australian Environment Ministers have committed to working with industry to eliminate waste and pollution, keep materials in use, and foster markets for a circular economy by 2030.
Minister for the Environment and Water, Tanya Plibersek MP, emphasized the importance of a circular economy in Australia.
“Labor wants to see a circular economy in Australia – more local jobs to support recycling, and less waste going to landfill. We know that for every job in landfill, there are three jobs in recycling. Every bit of rubbish that ends up in landfill is a missed opportunity,” said Plibersek.
“We also know people want to do the right thing and recycle their waste. This funding supports new recycling infrastructure and helps regional communities in NSW recycle more of their waste. We want to protect nature better and reverse decline for our kids and grandkids – and that takes all levels of Government working together.”
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