In what it is calling a plastic recycling breakthrough, Pact Group is now manufacturing its iconic SULO bins using plastic packaging waste from household recycling bins.
The bins are now being made with up to 100 per cent recycled plastic, although Pact notes that recycled content depends on bin colour and excludes lid, wheels and axles.
After extensive testing and trials, the new 120L and 240L SULO bins are being made using recycled HDPE resin sourced from household recycling bins, such as empty shampoo, detergent and sauce bottles, and plastic lids from jars and bottles, mixed with old, recycled wheelie bins.
The plastic bottles, jars and lids are sorted, shredded and washed, and then turned into a high-quality resin at the Pact-operated Circular Plastics Australia (CPA) recycling facility in Laverton, VIC, which is a joint venture with Cleanaway Waste Management.
The resin is blended with recycled plastic pellets made from end-of-life bins which are collected from local councils and waste management companies across Australia and processed at Pact recycling facilities in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.
The new SULO bins are manufactured in dark colours such as black and dark green rather than the traditional green or blue which reflects the wider range of colours from the recycled plastics used in their creation.
Using recycled resin to manufacture new SULO bins reduces the need to use virgin resin sourced from fossil fuels and can significantly reduce the carbon emissions and water usage from the manufacturing process.
Incorporating up to 100% recycled content instead of virgin resin in the manufacture of 50,000 240L MGBs can cut CO2 emissions by 478 tonnes and save 23.4 million litres of water. [1] This is equivalent to planting 717 trees[2] and filling nine Olympic size swimming pools[3].
SULO bins are used for general waste, recycling, food and garden organics (FOGO), and glass collection and have been rolled out to more than 200 local councils across Australia, as well as for commercial customers.
Shareef Khan, executive general manager Pact Recycling & Reuse, said making SULO bins from up to 100% recycled plastic could be a game-changer for local council sustainability goals.
“By using discarded plastic packaging and old mobile garbage bins, we are able to provide a reliable and high-quality source of recycled plastic to make new SULO bins and reduce the environmental impact for local councils who adopt these bins," Mr Khan said.
"We have created a circular economy for kerbside bins and the plastic waste that householders put in them by creating new products from old ones."
[1] Based on 240L two-wheeled black or grey mobile garbage bins (excluding lids, wheels and axles) comprising up to 100% recycled HDPE resin compared with the same bins manufactured from virgin (i.e. newly made) HDPE resin. Comparison made using SULO Carbon Calculator
[2] This figure represents the number of trees planted and grown to maturity that would be needed to absorb the relevant amount of carbon dioxide saved.
[3] Based on FINA specifications for Olympic standard pools (50m x 25m) with a minimum depth of 2m.
