Spreyton Materials Recovery Facility officially commissioned, valued at $24m

The operators of a new recycling facility say that it is the “most advanced of its kind in Tasmania” and will almost double the state’s current processing capacity.

Recycling being sorted at the $24 million Spreyton Materials Recovery Facility. Picture: Supplied.

It has been dubbed “the most advanced facility of its kind in Tasmania” and now the Spreyton Materials Recovery Facility been officially commissioned.

The facility will process household recycling from Northern Tasmanian councils.

Owners Veolia say that the $24m facility can sort around 20,000 tonnes of paper, glass, plastic and metals from more than 100,000 households across the region.

It is believed that this would almost double the state’s current processing capacity.

Veolia ANZ CEO Richard Kirkman said the facility was a “game changer”.

“The Spreyton Material Recovery Facility represents a major step forward for Tasmania’s circular economy agenda,” Mr Kirkman said.

“It will increase recycling rates, improve the state’s capacity to process materials locally, and costs at the same time.”

Inside the new $24 million Spreyton Materials Recovery Facility. Picture: Supplied.

To reach “practical completion”, the facility requires some “additional refinements”.

“As our facility has the most hi-tech sorting AI available, we expect to continue to optimise our operations as time goes on,” Mr Kirkman said.

“The plant is on the cusp of supercharging Tasmania’s recycling.

“As an example of ecological transformation in action, the facility supports the government’s

agenda to build a state where nothing is wasted and where 80 per cent recycling and recovery rates are achieved by 2030.”

Mr Kirkman said Veolia funded, designed, and constructed the facility in consultation with Dulverton Waste Management and various northern Tasmanian councils.

“When the councils joined forces, the economies of scale meant we have the potential to reduce gate charges, which allows funds to be redirected to other initiatives such as recycling education.

“This is important because it means everyone is invested in improving recycling rates and reducing any contamination in bins, which benefits everyone.

“The higher quality recycling we receive means we can return more material to the market to be made into new products.

“It’s a win-win for everyone.”

Originally published as Spreyton Materials Recovery Facility officially commissioned, valued at $24m