Joint media release: Boost to Tasmania's plastic recycling capacity

The Hon Tanya Plibersek MP, Minister for the Environment and Water
The Hon Roger Jaensch MP, Tasmanian Minister for Environment and Climate Change

An extra 1,700 tonnes of plastic waste will be diverted from Tasmanian landfill each year thanks to a $1.26 million co-investment from the Australian and Tasmanian Governments.

The funding will support the expansion of the I M Holdings (Tas) rigid recycling facility in Brighton.

The upgraded facility will recycle soft and flexible plastic waste including polypropylene and polyethylene, turning them into new products used in agricultural and industrial sectors.

In a boost for the economy, the upgrade will support 6 ongoing jobs.

The Australian Government’s Recycling Modernisation Fund is accelerating Australia’s circular economy so that when a product is no longer useful or required for its initial purpose, it is either reused, recycled or remanufactured.

Projects already announced under the Recycling Modernisation Fund will add an extra 1.3 million tonnes of processing capacity.

That’s equivalent to the weight of over 25 Sydney Harbour Bridges being kept out of landfill every year while creating over 3,000 jobs.

For more information about Resource Recovery and Investments in the Sector in Tasmania, visit: https://nre.tas.gov.au/environment/waste-and-resource-recovery

Quotes attributable to Minister for the Environment and Water, Tanya Plibersek MP:

“The Australian Government is committed to working with states and territories to better manage waste and increase recycling capability.

“Boosting recycling isn’t just good for the environment, it’s good for jobs – for every 1 job in landfill there are 3 jobs in recycling.

“We also know people want to do the right thing and recycle their waste and lighten their load on the planet. This funding is supporting upgraded recycling infrastructure to assist Tasmanians recycle more of their waste.

“This is a win for the environment, a win for jobs and a win for Tassie.”

Quotes attributable to Tasmanian Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Roger Jaensch MP:

“This joint investment will support Tasmania’s transition to a circular economy, where as much valuable material as possible is diverted from landfill through reuse, recycling and remanufacturing.

“I look forward to seeing the project proceed as it will turn used soft plastics into value-added products, creating jobs and business development in Tasmania while reducing the need to dispose of soft plastic to landfill.

“This follows on from the successful grant application by Timberlink for a wood plastic composite plant to upcycle plastic waste and plantation timber mill residues.

“Supporting resource recovery initiatives like these are crucial to sustaining the future of Tasmania’s environment.”