Japanese drinks manufacturer Asahi Beverages will construct a $45 million recycling facility in NSW via a partnership with Pact Group Holdings and Cleanaway Waste Management trading as Circular Plastics Australia.
The plant, scheduled to be in operation by December next year, will be situated within 10km of Albury/Wodonga and will process roughly 1 billion 600 ml PET plastic bottles annually to produce new bottles and food packaging.
It will increase the volume of PET recycled in Australia by around 66 per cent to reach more than 50,000 tonnes each year and reduce Australia’s reliance on imported recycled PET.
“We already have our beverage manufacturing plant in Albury,” said Asahi CEO Robert Lervasi. “We are delighted to expand our presence there and create more local jobs.
“We are very pleased to be contributing to the creation of a truly circular economy and can’t wait to get this project started.”
Around $5 million was contributed to the project by the Australian Environmental Trust.
