The circular economy

A circular economy is restorative and regenerative by design. This means materials constantly flow around a ‘closed loop’ system, rather than being used once and then discarded. In the case of plastic, this means simultaneously keeping the value of plastics in the economy, without waste and leakage into the natural environment.

Everyone has a role to play in building a circular economy

Circular Plastics Australia is building the largest and most advanced collection, sorting and recycling facilities in Australasia.

Progressive businesses like Asahi Beverages and Coca-Cola Europacific Partners see PET plastic as a valuable resource that can be recycled and turned into new bottles for their beverages.

Consumers have an important role to play too by placing recyclables in the recycling bin or taking advantage of their local Container Deposit Schemes (CDS) as well as buying products that use recycled packaging.

From a linear economy

  • Take

  • Make

  • Waste

To a
circular
economy

  • Use

  • Recycle

  • Make

This is how we do it

Watch how Circular Plastics Australia is transforming the local circular economy.

A successful local circular economy

  • Consumers Recycle

  • Collection & Sorting

  • CPA feed material into wash

  • Production of rPET-resin

  • CPA is quality compliant

  • rPET bottles manufactured

  • rPET food packaging manufactured

  • Consumers repurchase rPET packaging

How consumers can contribute to building a local circular economy

Step 1 – Recycle right

The first step is to ensure you recycle right at home through your kerbside collection. Most councils have a website which will tell you what is accepted, and many bins list the materials that can be put in them.

Also – look for products with the Australasian Recycling Label. This easy-to-read label provides clarity about what packaging can be recycled and tells you where to put each element of the packaging. It removes confusion, saves you time and reduces waste going to landfill.

Download the Recycle Mate App. The Recycle Mate App helps you recycle anywhere in Australia. All you need to do is take a photo or type the name of an item you would like to know more about and Recycle Mate will give you recycling and disposal advice specific to your location.

Step 2 – Buy recycled

To build a circular economy, consumers also have a role to play by consciously purchasing products in packaging made from locally recycled content.

Look at the product’s label. Is the packaging made from recycled plastic? If so, has it been made from locally sourced recycled content?

Our projects

Our projects combine the complementary expertise of the joint venture partners and provide end-to-end solutions to accelerate the local circular economy.

Circular Plastics Australia (PET) is a joint venture between Pact Group, Cleanaway, Asahi Beverages and Coca-Cola Europacific partnerships.

To date, two PET recycling facilities have been built. The first, in Albury NSW, commenced operations in December 2021. The second facility, in Altona North VIC commenced operations in December 2023. Each facility will recycle more than 20,000 tonnes (or equivalent of 1 billion 600 ml PET plastic bottles) each year.

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Circular Plastics Australia (PE) is a joint venture between Pact Group and Cleanaway.

This state-of-the-art facility will process more than 20,000 tonnes of HDPE and PP plastic milk bottles, containers and food tubs (approximately half a billion packs each year).

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