It will create dozens of direct jobs when construction starts in coming months
Asahi Beverages, one of the leading beverage companies in Australia and New Zealand, is building a new recycling plant that will substantially increase the amount of recycled PET plastic produced in Australia each year from local waste.
The decision to build the world-class facility in Albury/Wodonga was confirmed recently after Pact Group Holdings Ltd, Cleanaway Waste Management Ltd and Asahi Beverages formally entered a joint venture to deliver the project.
It will create dozens of direct jobs when construction starts in coming months. It is anticipated the facility will recycle the equivalent of around 1 billion 600ml PET plastic bottles each year.
The bottles will be used as a raw material to produce new bottles plus food and beverage packaging in Australia to help close the loop on recycling.
This will see the amount of locally sourced and recycled PET produced in Australia increase by two thirds – from around 30,000 tonnes currently to over 50,000 tonnes per annum according to Pact Group.
Other major environmental benefits it will deliver include reducing Australia’s reliance on virgin plastic, the amount of plastic waste sent overseas and the amount of recycled plastic Australia imports. Solar energy will power part of the facility.
The $45 million facility will be located at the Nexus Precinct, 10km north of Albury/Wodonga’s CBD in NSW and will be among the first businesses located at the new industrial precinct.
Over the course of the build, the project is expected to create over 300 direct and indirect jobs, with tradespeople, engineers and technicians among the roles that need to be filled. Announcements will follow regarding the hiring of these roles.
Construction will start towards the end of the year, pending approval from Albury Council, and is expected to be fully operational by December 2021.
