News
8 July, 2024
Green thumbs up for Caboolture recycling plant
A recycling plant in Caboolture is transforming glass bottles and polystyrene into building materials, supported by funding from the Miles Government.
A recycling plant in Caboolture is transforming glass bottles and polystyrene into building materials, supported by funding from the Miles Government.
The Casafico operation, backed by a $175,000 investment from both Queensland and the Federal Labor Government through the Recycling Modernisation Fund, is part of Queensland's broader effort to tackle waste and promote sustainability.
Currently, the plant is diverting 653 tonnes of waste from landfill while producing products for the building industry and creating 12 local jobs.
The plant manufactures Vetro Uno, a rendering product made from 66% recycled glass, replacing virgin sand. By the end of July, it will begin producing a levelling coat made from recycled polystyrene, which is used in building surfaces before rendering. By mid-2025, Casafico will also produce Tecoblock masonry blocks made from mixed waste, further reducing reliance on quarried materials.
The Queensland Government is pushing for greater innovation in recycling and resource recovery with the $45 million Queensland Recycling and Jobs Fund.
This fund supports large-scale projects targeting commercial and industrial waste, renewable energy technologies, and recycling of electrical products and batteries.
The fund aims to help industries grow recycling capacity and reduce waste, including addressing the growing problem of solar panel waste.
State Development Minister Grace Grace emphasized the government's vision for a zero-waste society, where waste is reused, recycled, or remanufactured.
She also highlighted the importance of the fund in tackling waste challenges and helping to reach Queensland’s 2030 waste diversion targets.
Assistant Minister for Regional Development, Anthony Chisholm, underscored the economic benefits of recycling, noting that for every job in landfill, three are created in recycling.
He added that Queensland is backing 24 recycling projects, which will create 740 jobs and process an additional 364,000 tonnes of waste.
Riccardo Mucci, Managing Director of Casafico, expressed excitement about the plant's role in diverting waste and creating jobs, contributing to both environmental sustainability and the local economy.
