Milk bottles and other used plastics are being combined with wood waste and turned into composite decking following the completion of a new $12 million facility just north of Launceston.
Timberlink® Australia’s state-of-the-art recycling facility is producing is producing wood plastic composite (WPC) decking and edge boards for commercial and residential use.
The facility was supported with 50-50 funding totalling $5.8 million from the Australian and Tasmanian Governments under the Recycling Modernisation Fund.
This wood composite facility is only the third of its type in Australia and will supply growing demand in the new home and renovation market.
The project in northern Tasmania created around 20 jobs during construction and 12 ongoing positions.
Tasmanian Minister for Parks and Environment Nick Duigan said it was a great example of how plastic and wood waste could be reused to make a great value-added product.
“I would like to congratulate Timberlink® Australia on the completion of their new facility and am proud that they have chosen Tasmania to establish only the third wood composite manufacturing facility in the country,” said Duigan.
“This joint investment supports a great resource recovery initiative and also aids in Tasmania’s transition to a circular economy.
At full production, the facility is expected to use about 1300 tonnes a year of recycled high-density polyethylene plastic mixed with upcycled wood residue – such as shavings from Timberlink’s timber processing facility – to make wood composite decking products.
It will reduce Australia’s reliance on importing WPC materials.
The project was supported by state and federal governments, which are backing industry investment to increase reuse and recycling in Tasmania.