Meaghan Scanlon and Sam O’Connor clash over destination of empty popper boxes

Two of the Gold Coast’s most prominent MPs have clashed again – and this time it’s over tiny drinks containers used by children. Here’s the juice.

Bonney MP Sam O’Connor has branded the state government “chaotic” and secretive after it emerged that 126 million empty ‘poppers’ had been shipped to India.

However Gaven MP and Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon has hit back at what she called a “bizarre attack”.

Ms Scanlon and federal counterpart Tanya Plibersek in March announced a new facility was to be built on the Gold Coast to handle the millions of liquid paperboard drink containers submitted for recycling through the Containers for Change scheme.

The Stapylton facility, which is expected to be operational by June next year, is being built by sustainable building materials manufacturer saveBoard ahead of a new federal law taking effect, which will ban Australian waste being shipped overseas.

Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon using a reverse vending machine in Helensvale.

Mr O’Connor, who is the LNP’S shadow environment minister, questioned whether the facility would be able to handle the volume of containers required and highlighted the fact that tens of millions had been shipped to India in the past five years.

“While thousands of Queensland school kids have been playing their role in recycling, they’ve been let down by the chaotic Palaszczuk Labor government who have been secretly sending our rubbish overseas,” Mr O’Connor said.

“Up to 126 million fruit juice and milk poppers have now been sent to India and the Palaszczuk Labor government has no idea what’s happened with them.”

Mr O’Connor questioned why recycling facilities were only now being announced in Queensland.

“It shouldn’t take half a decade to sort this out. This is another example of how the chaos and crisis of the Palaszczuk Labor government is standing in the way of delivering basic services,” he said.

“From next year, shipping this waste will be illegal under the export ban, and it’s looking unlikely the Palaszczuk Labor government will be able to comply by recycling locally.

“Despite announcing a new Gold Coast facility that will be able to recycle poppers, there’s no opening date or any details, and it is unclear if they will be able to process the full volume of paperboard recycling.”

Shadow Environment Minister Sam O'Connor.

Ms Scanlon dismissed the claims, saying an audit of the company exporting poppers overseas showed “no indication” they were not being recycled.

“All containers collected and processed via the containers for change scheme are recycled – it’s required under our legislation,” Ms Scanlon said.

“Why would anyone pay for these items, export them, just to send it to landfill?“It’s a bizarre attack by the LNP that makes no sense and shows how financially inept they are.”

Ms Scanlon also said the new facility at Stapylton would have capacity “well beyond” what was needed for drinks containers.

“The announcement to partner with saveBoard for a new facility on the Gold Coast will alone divert 3250 tonnes of waste away from landfill each year – many of those liquid paperboard containers like poppers,” Ms Scanlon said.

“That’s well beyond the 1400 tonnes of liquid paperboard collected since containers for change started.”

MARCH 28: COAST GETS JOBS, HOUSING BOOST ... FROM POPPERS

USED juice poppers binned by children at Gold Coast schools are being eyed to help to build new homes in the city in an innovative way to ease construction supply headaches.

Amid ongoing supply issues with construction materials manufacturer saveBOARD is to build a new facility at Stapylton which will turn the containers and other recyclables into boards used in building.

The facility will be the company’s first in Queensland and is expected to begin churning out the badly-needed materials by the middle of next year.

“This project is providing an opportunity for Queenslanders to help transform the construction industry,” saveBOARD CEO Paul Charteris said.

“... Our Queensland facility will be making high-performance low carbon building materials from everyday packaging waste.

“Not only is it a functional building product, it looks great as well.”

Paul Charteris, co-founder and CEO of saveBOARD

The Gold Coast facility will be built with the help of more than $1.7 million in grant funding from the Queensland Recycling Modernisation Fund (QRMF) – a joint initiative of federal and state governments.

Federal Minister for the Environment Tanya Plibersek said the fund was “turbocharging Australia’s circular economy”, while her state counterpart Meaghan Scanlon said it help reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill.

“With this funding, saveBOARD in particular expects to divert 3,250 tonnes of waste away from landfill each year,” Ms Scanlon said.

“Their new facility will divert used beverage cartons collected through the Container Exchange refund points, soft plastics and other mixed fibre materials such as coffee cups into low-carbon building products that are substitutes for plaster board, particle board and plywood.”

Cartons ready to be recycled at a saveBOARD facility in Warragamba, NSW.

Senator Murray Watt, who is based on the Gold Coast, said the city would also benefit from the new jobs created.

“Not only are there obvious environmental benefits, but once operational, 12 full-time jobs will be created at their new Queensland facility,” he said.

“saveBOARD already has operational facilities in New Zealand and Western Sydney, so we know they have a track record of success.

“It’s great to see the Gold Coast being next cab off the rank for these important investments.”

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