Mareeba recycling centre to transform banana plastic waste

The plastic waste generated by banana farms in the Far North will be transformed into plastic bags and clips to protect the fruit when a recycling centre opens on the Atherton Tablelands by the end of the year.

 Enviroplas Recycling Director Marc Jackson said he would employ 45 people across three shifts a day to process 6000 tonnes of agricultural, commercial and consumer plastics a year once the recycling centre is fully operational at the Mareeba site.

 Mr Jackson credits Regional Development Australia (RDA) Tropical North’s development of a Business Case for a Regional Plastics Hub in assisting his successful application for a $1.08 million grant through the Queensland Recycling Modernisation Fund.

 Mr Jackson has a 30-year history in the banana industry and has worked overseas where the circular economy is an important part of the banana growing process for countries supplying larger supermarket chains in the European Union.

 “If developing nation countries can work with circular economies then we should also set an example in Australia,” he said.

 “I’ve consistently had questions from the growers buying my plastics about recycling, but it is very hard to justify the cost to set up a factory with the return on investment.

 “I needed the grant to make the centre feasible as the operating costs with electricity, labour and transport are phenomenal.

 “I have a trial underway with three large banana farms and they are paying for their plastics to be taken away for recycling.

 “I’m gobsmacked by how much plastic I pick up with about 600kg per farm per week compacted ready for the arrival of the recycling equipment.

 “I have been working with the growers to train their staff to sort the plastics into different polymer groups and they are noticing that cleaning their shed at the end of the week is a much simpler process without plastic lying around all over the place.

 “My aim is to manufacture plastic bags and other items required for the banana industry on site and will introduce traceability where each farm can have their plastics recycled into products with their specifications.”

 RDA Tropical North Chief Executive Officer Sonja Johnson said plastic waste from the Far North either ended up in landfill or was freighted to Brisbane and recycled products then transported back to the region.

 “The recycling funding offered by the Queensland Government presented an opportunity for RDA Tropical North to put forward a Business Case that would help local projects provide the data necessary to successfully apply,” she said.

 “Enviroplas Recycling was one was one of five Far Northern projects to receive some $1.7 million in grants through the Queensland Recycling Modernisation Fund and the Regional and Remote Recycling Modernisation Fund through the Federal Government’s Recycling Modernisation Fund.

 “RDA Tropical North continues to assist Enviroplas Recycling by keeping the business connected with relevant agencies to assist with expanding its potential for regional development.”

 RDA Tropical North Chair Hurriyet Babacan said her work in the region has shown that the circular economy would be one of the key areas for future job growth.

 “It is pleasing to see Enviroplas Recycling creating this opportunity to grow jobs on the Atherton Tablelands,” Professor Babacan said.