Making the case for a potential plastic recycling and production industry in Far North Queensland
Regional Development Australia (RDA) is a national network of committees working to drive economic growth around the country, with RDA Tropical North focusing on Far North Queensland.
RDA Tropical North and Cairns Regional Council identified an opportunity to create a plastics recycling hub in the region, which would align with local, state and federal government policies to promote a circular economy, reduce the use of single-use plastics, and develop domestic recycling capacity.
In 2020 the group commissioned a feasibility study to consider whether a recycling facility would be viable and provide benefits to the community, including a business case for investment in the project.
Image credit: Regional Development Australia Tropical North Inc
RDA Tropical North engaged RPS to support an investigation and business case into the development of the recycling facility, as a pilot for future regional centres across Australia.
RPS’ economic and environmental experts conducted market analysis and research to inform its report. Our investigation found the preferred option for a recycling hub would be a plant that recycled HDPE (high density polyethylene) and PET (polyethylene terephthalate). These plastics would be sourced from commercial premises within a 150-kilometre radius of Cairns. Analysis by RPS experts found a multi-polymer recycling plant could provide the following benefits:
As part of the business case, RPS also outlined a delivery plan for the project.
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