FAQs

What is PET Plastic?

PET is short for polyethylene terephthalate and is a clear, strong, and lightweight plastic widely used for packaging food and beverages such as soft drinks, juices and water, meat trays, produce punnets and bakery items. PET is recyclable and is coded number 1.

What is rPET Plastic?

rPET is made by recycling polyethylene terephthalate (PET) such as plastic bottles. Once processed, the rPET can be used to make new plastic bottles and other forms of food packaging such as tubs, punnets and trays.

 

Choosing products packaged in rPET helps create a circular economy by keeping these precious materials that have already been extracted from the earth in circulation. Progressive companies that are embracing sustainability such as Asahi and Coca-Cola Europacific Partners are using rPET in their packaging as it saves energy, resources, and diverts used plastic from landfill.

What is HDPE Plastic?

HDPE is short for high density polyethylene and is commonly used in milk bottles, personal care packaging such as shampoo and body wash and household products such as laundry detergent and bleach bottles. Its toughness makes it difficult to tear and impact resistant. It can be made translucent or opaque. HDPE is recyclable and coded number 2.

What is rHDPE Plastic?

rHDPE is made by recycling high density polyethylene (HDPE). Once processed, the rHDPE plastic can be used to make new food grade and non-food grade plastic bottles and other forms packaging such as jars, vials, jerrycans and cubes . Like rPET, choosing products made from rHDPE  helps create a circular economy by keeping these precious materials that have already been extracted from the earth in circulation.

What does food grade recycled resin mean?

Food grade is resin certified as suitable for food contact meaning material is suitable to come into direct contact with food.

What is Pre-Consumer Resin?

Pre-consumer resin is material diverted from the waste stream during manufacturing for example faulty packaging, off cuts and scrap. PCR was previously known as Post-Industrial Resin (PIR).

What is Post-Consumer Resin?

Post-Consumer Resin is material waste that has been consumed and is generated by households or by commercial, industrial and institutional facilities.

What is a Container Deposit Scheme (CSD)?

Container Deposit Schemes (CDS), also known as Return and Earn schemes, refer to the collection of drink containers and receiving a cash refund for each container returned. Currently, South Australia, Northern Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, the Australian Capital Territory and Western Australia have Container Deposit Schemes. Tasmania and Victoria have announced their scheme models which are expected to launch in late 2022 and 2023 respectively.

What is a Material Recovery Facility (MRF)?

A Material Recovery Facility (MFR) sorts recyclables (typically packaging) into various product streams such as PET Plastic, HDPE Plastic, soft plastics, aluminium, glass etc.

What is Feedstock?

Feedstock is the supply of recycled bales, scrap or material (through kerbside collections or CDS sourced) to provide input into the processing of recycled resin.

How do I apply for a job with Circular Plastics Australia?

A career at Circular Plastics Australia is a unique opportunity to join an organisation that is transforming the circular economy in Australia. Please use this link to view current opportunities.