Australia’s product stewardship scheme for the recovery of industrial plastic bags, Big Bag Recovery, has partnered with GT Recycling as its new processing partner to strengthen local recycling and circular economy outcomes in Victoria.
Both family-owned and operated businesses, Big Bag Recovery and GT Recycling share a commitment to delivering local solutions with real environmental impact.
Under the new agreement, GT Recycling will process bulk bags and sacks made from woven polypropylene (wPP) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) on behalf of Big Bag Recovery in its Moolap facility.
These materials are recovered through Australia’s only government-approved product stewardship scheme for plastic bags with over 15kg/l contents.
“This partnership represents a significant step forward for our national recycling efforts,” said Helena Tierney, general manager of Big Bag Recovery.
“Our partnership with GT Recycling expands local processing capacity and creates new opportunities for Australian manufacturers to use domestically recycled polypropylene pellets and actively contribute to a thriving circular economy.”
Big bags, while relatively unknown outside the agriculture, construction, and manufacturing industries, have previously been a resource that was burned, buried, or landfilled as they were thought to hold no value.
Big Bag Recovery, GT Recycling and Circular Communities Australia are now collectively on track to recycle more than 5.5 million kilograms of bulk bags each year, reflecting growing momentum for circular economy initiatives that turn waste into valuable new resources.
GT Recycling will receive and process bags locally in Victoria and also handle material from neighbouring states, including Tasmania, South Australia, New South Wales, and Western Australia.
Manufacturers will use the recycled resin pellets from GT Recycling’s Geelong facility to locally produce a range of products in Victoria, which the company said is another win for local jobs and economies.
“Our shared values as family-owned businesses mean we’re both deeply invested in long-term environmental outcomes and community-driven innovation,” said Brett McLean, GT Recycling’s business development manager.
“We’re proud to be supporting Big Bag Recovery and this vital national scheme.”
The announcement comes on the back of a big year for Big Bag Recovery and its partner company, Circular Communities Australia, which opened its first bulk bag recycling plant in Toowoomba, Queensland, earlier this year.
The partnership will broaden the reach and capacity of Big Bag Recovery’s stewardship network, while demonstrating the power of local collaboration in addressing national sustainability challenges.
Recently, Fonterra also signed on with Circular Communities Australia’s big bag recovery program, allowing its bulk ingredients customers to opt to return these bags to Circular Communities Australia for recycling.
Big Bag Recovery also joined forces with the Australian Beverages Council under its Environmental Sustainability Roadmap to 2030 (ESR30) initiative.
