Remondis Australia will be managing the logistics of a new product stewardship scheme that aims to take large plastic bag recycling to the next level, at a time when 40,000 garbage truck loads of large bags are going to landfill each year.
As the sole logistics and collection partner for the Big Bag Recovery Product Stewardship Scheme, Remondis is tasked with collecting, sorting, counting and bailing polypropylene and low-density polyethylene bulk bags and sacks.
‘Big bags’ are the bags that carry products and ingredients to all sectors of industry and our homes – such as fertiliser, seeds, animal feeds, flour, salt, sugar, milk powders, sand, gravel, mulch and cement.
Once captured, the bags are processed into reusable resin pellets, which will then be remanufactured into new products like school seats, or as feedstock for advanced recycling into high-tech uses such as batteries.
“As a global leader in waste management and sustainability, Remondis is honoured to play a leading role in the groundbreaking Big Bag Recovery scheme,” said Julian Ryan, senior project manager with Remondis Australia’s Integrated and Managed Services division.
“Through industry leadership, cooperation and common sense, we can make a staggering difference in terms of giving these bags a second life, thereby reducing landfill.”
A priority for Remondis is identifying industries and regions across Australia where the bags and sacks are used, ahead of a staged establishment of drop-off points at local council, community group and commercial locations to maximise recovery. This will involve extensive liaison with industry and local government.
Remondis’ in-house digital team is developing an innovative app to assist with coordination, which the company said will be pivotal for a large network of contractors who will be the backbone of the program, and relied on to maximise reclaim rates.
Previously, Australia has exported a large proportion of used big bags to other countries for disposal, with many ending up in landfill. With these countries now deciding to restrict these types of imports, and Australia recently implementing its own export restrictions, pressure has mounted for sustainable homegrown solutions.
Stephen Richards, managing director of Industry Waste Recovery and the man who established the Big Bag Recovery programme, said the scheme embodies circular economy best practice.
“This is a responsibility-based industry-led scheme with massive environmental and social benefits as the end result,” Richards said.
“Pulling together businesses, consumers and collectors takes a lot of work and cooperation, but also provides the opportunity to maximise the plastic as a reusable resource, many times over.
“It’s about actions and outcomes that are measured, achievable, shared and repeatable. We’re particularly pleased to have partnered with globally-respected Remondis to take the scheme to the next level.”
According to Remondis, some 60,000 tonnes of big bags are used in Australia each year, with a large percentage ending up in landfill, burnt or buried on farms – or 40,000 garbage trucks loads.
The company said this comes at a cost of more than $150 million per year in landfill replacement and environmental management costs, and creates the equivalent of nearly six million tonnes of CO2.
Any business, council or community group who may wish to be involved in the scheme should contact Remondis directly on 1300 424 422.
