By PHILIP HOPKINS
A MELBOURNE-based company that uses its own innovative technology aims to set up a recycling plant in Morwell that would make the Latrobe Valley a leader in sustainable waste management and the circular economy.
Plastec Recycling, a pioneer in processing consumer plastic waste, aims to repurpose discarded soft plastics into valuable products, reducing landfill waste and help create a new economic driver for the region.
The soft plastics includes the packaging that shoppers previously placed in those waste bags at Coles and Woolworths.
“That’s bread bags, chip wrappers, plastic contaminated with paper labels, inks, food scraps, which makes them unusable for most recyclers,” the company’s owner/director Steve Rawson, a mechanical engineer with more than 20 years’ experience in the recycling industry, told the Express.
Those plastics are often deemed unrecyclable by conventional methods.
The company’s feedstock has been expanded to include agricultural wrap used in bulk bags such as food, animal feed and fertilisers.
Plastec Recycling has developed an advanced mechanical (no chemicals) recycling process that it says achieves more than 90 per cent yield without the need for extensive cleaning or energy-intensive procedures.
The company processes mixed plastic waste, including Polyethylene and Styrene, into a broad range of products.
One of Plastec’s most successful solutions is recycled plastic aggregate, which can be incorporated into traditional concrete.
“It has a whole load of benefits – it lightens the concrete, takes weight out of it, creates extra fire resistance, lowers water demand during batching, and improves flexibility,” Mr Rawson said.
The recycled aggregate has been taken up by concrete companies and large corporations and used in large construction projects, including Coles car parks, council civil works, and even in the concrete used at Glenhuntly train station.
Plastec Recycling, previously based in Mordialloc, is looking to establish a factory in Morwell to scale up production and introduce new recycled plastic products such as shipping pallets, sheeting, and industrial packaging.
To achieve this, the company requires a minimum 2500-square-metre site with sufficient power capacity (1000kVA) and located at least 500 metres from residential areas.
“We don’t stockpile large amounts of plastic; we bring it in as we need it and bring it into the door,” Mr Rawson said.
Plastec recently made a major presentation to Latrobe City Council, emphasising the recycling plant in Morwell would bring numerous environmental, economic, and social benefits to Gippsland.
In terms of environmental impact, the plant will help divert thousands of tonnes of plastic waste from landfill, reducing pollution and support Australia’s commitment to sustainability.
Job creation was also noted, with the company anticipating hiring around 30 local workers within the first 15 months of operation, with potential for further growth and the creation of multiple indirect jobs.
The local impact would see support for businesses in the areas of mechanical maintenance and fabrication, plumbing, electrical and other mechanical services, as well as economic growth, by providing an innovative recycling solution.
Plastec Recycling says it will also attract investment and business opportunities to the region.
The use of recycled plastic in construction materials will contribute to more sustainable
building practices across Victoria, and support for agriculture will be strong, as there are future plans to include recycling agricultural plastics, such as silage wrap, providing a sustainable solution for local farmers.
Mr Rawson said Plastec Recycling was actively engaging with major waste producers and industry stakeholders, including the newly established Soft Plastics Stewardship Australia (SPSA), which is awaiting an ACCC decision on its role in managing soft plastic waste.
“The company is poised to collaborate with SPSA and other partners to process stockpiled soft plastics currently stored by major retailers,” he said.
With the right facility in place, Mr Rawson said Plastec Recycling would be ready to scale up operations and contribute greatly to solving Australia’s plastic waste crisis.
