$21m recycling plant will be built in Adelaide’s south to tackle waste crisis

Three councils are teaming up to build a recycling plant in Adelaide’s south to tackle the crisis sparked after China banned the majority of waste it was receiving.

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A $21 million recycling plant will be built in Adelaide’s south to tackle the recycling crisis sparked by China’s waste crackdown.

The new plant – a joint project of Holdfast Bay, Marion and Onkaparinga councils – was previously estimated to cost $21 million and aims to be running by 2021.

The Southern Region Waste Resource Authority will build a material recycling facility at its existing Seaford Heights site in response to China’s ban on importing recyclables.

SRWRA chief executive Chris Adams said the new plant was a huge win for the environment, local government and residents.

“The unanimous support of our constituent councils will see us moving positively towards a

circular economy and reducing our reliance on recycling companies,” Mr Adams said.

“The MRF will be important in building a foundation for the circular economy so that

recyclables can be reprocessed and manufactured locally, as well as creating 20 or more

full-time equivalent jobs at the new plant, and process approximately 30,000 tonnes of

recyclable materials per annum, with the scope to move to 60,000 tonnes if the need arises.”

Mr Adams said the councils and SRWRA would work together to finalise the project

schedule and seek funding from state and federal government, aiming to begin work at the site as soon as possible this year.

“We will also continue to seek additional council and waste authority customers for the

facility to deliver better outcomes for the environment and maximise return on investment,” he said.

“SRWRA’s catchment extends from Holdfast Bay through the Fleurieu Peninsula and

Kangaroo Island, representing an estimated 388,644 people, so the potential is there to

process a large percentage of SA’s domestic recyclables at our new plant.”

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Onkaparinga mayor Erin Thompson said the China recycling crackdown had presented significant challenges for all councils, waste authorities and state and federal governments.

Since the ban, Onkaparinga’s cost to process its recycling has risen to $1.59 million per year.

”This situation has also presented us with an opportunity to move toward a goal we

should all embrace – the effective recycling and reuse of our own waste without the need to

ship these materials interstate or overseas,” Ms Thompson said.

“The added efficiencies delivered by our new processing plant will reduce our waste service

and processing costs significantly, which is better for the organisation and our ratepayers.”

Last year, SKM Recycling – which had been paying the councils for the paper, cardboard, plastics and glass in their yellow bins and onselling it in China – suddenly closed its facilities at Wingfield and Lonsdale leaving councils, including Onkaparinga, in the lurch.