A new facility, situated in Altona North, Victoria, aims to process over one billion plastic bottles annually, equivalent to more than 150 bottles per Victorian.
The Circular Plastics Australia’s Project Symphony is funded by a $6 million joint investment from the Australian and Victorian Governments, along with over $45 million from Circular Plastics Australia. The project has not only created 60 construction jobs but also sustains more than 45 ongoing positions.
With a commitment to building a circular economy, the federal government is striving to reduce initial production in Australia and encourage better reuse, recycling, or remanufacturing of materials. The national focus on enhancing recycling capacity has already resulted in a yearly increase of over a million tonnes and the creation of 3000 jobs, including 414 in Victoria. The Recycling Modernisation Fund, with contributions from all states and industries, is set to provide a $1 billion boost to Australian recycling efforts.
Victorian Minister for Environment, Steve Dimopoulos said, “These projects will mean more materials are being reused, repurposed and recycled, which brings us closer to reaching our target of diverting 80 percent of waste from landfill by 2030”.
Facilities like the one in Altona North are a model for the necessary infrastructure to boost recycling and job creation in Australia and will play a role in recycling bottles from the state's recently launched container deposit scheme.
The state’s container deposit scheme presents a significant opportunity for Australian commerce to capitalise on sustainable practices. Procurement Australia stands for embracing and integrating recycled materials into supply chains, as it fosters responsible procurement in the climate-conscious market. Find out more about our ever-growing sustainability solutions.
Source: https://wastemanagementreview.com.au/new-facility-to-recycle-more-than-1-billion-plastic-bottles-every-year/