-->

Demolition & Recycling, Industry News, Latest News, Queensland

QLD trials plumbing pipe recycling program

A new pilot program will see offcuts of PVC pipes and fittings used in the construction industry saved from landfill in Queensland.

The Queensland Government has provided $26,000 to the Master Plumbers’ Association of Queensland (MPAQ) to support a six-month trial for a Construction Plastics Recycling Scheme.

The scheme is administered by MPAQ and the Plastics Industry Pipe Association of Australia (PIPA), in conjunction with Iplex, Reece, Tradelink, and Vinidex.

It will see collection bins used at seven participating locations across south-east Queensland, providing the means for PVC off-cuts to be collected and recycled, with the waste material also audited and recorded.

Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon said the government’s plan is for the state to be a zero-waste society, powered by a circular economy.

Related stories:

“Initiatives like the Construction Plastics Recycling Scheme can play an important role in achieving this,” Scanlon said.

“With collection sites across the south-east, it’ll be easier for the construction industry to divert their PVC off-cuts from landfill and have them recycled. That’s good news for the environment, good for businesses’ bottom line and great for resource recovery jobs.”

MPAQ Executive Director Penny Cornah said MPAQ and PIPA greatly appreciated the Queensland Government’s support for the scheme.

“We know that PVC can be recycled up to seven times without any noticeable lessening of quality,” Cornah said.

“This pilot not only promotes PVC recycling and the identification of the volume of PVC off-cuts generated on construction sites, but it also raises awareness of the positive sustainability benefits and long-life attributes of plastic pipes, which last more than 100 years.

“If the scheme can eventually be introduced throughout Queensland and Australia the benefits are clear, both in terms of responsible diversion of PVC off-cuts from landfill and their re-use into new recyclable long-life pipes.”

Participating locations under the scheme are:

  • Beenleigh Plumbing Industry Climate Action Centre
  • Caboolture Hospital
  • The Star Casino Site Gold Coast
  • Labrador Reece Plumbing Store
  • Prominence Outlook Pallara
  • Queen’s Wharf Brisbane Development (Towers 1 and 2)
  • Woolloongabba Tradelink Store

Leave a Reply

Send this to a friend