Sussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Minister for the Environment) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr Speaker. It is the largest recycling facility of its type in the world. And, as BINGO have said, they've been encouraged to invest in master recycling assets because of government policy that supports the development of a sustainable domestic recycling industry. The construction of this project has created 400 jobs. It will generate 200 jobs once operational, and it will achieve a 90 per cent recovery rate from landfill, which is incredible.

Last week I was in the electorate of the member for Mallee, and we visited Integrated Recycling, a company that takes plastic like vine covers and poly pipe and turns it into railway sleepers that have been approved for use by Metro Trains and V/Line. Not only are these sleepers more sustainable than concrete or timber; they actually outlast them. The Minister for Defence Industry delivered Defence's first recycled road, at RAAF Base Point Cook in 2020. The project consumed 600 kilos of waste plastics and 210 tonnes of concrete waste rubble as sub-base material. It demonstrates our determination to support our recycling agenda through government procurement. Construction, demolition and commercial industrial waste are the next phase of a very busy waste agenda for this government, but they are all about protecting the environment, creating jobs and growing the economy.

See this speech in context