Reusing Australian Waste Plastics

Green & White Patchwork

Irrigated farmland hugs the Murray River like a tight fitting sweater. The combination of reliable water, desert climate, fertile soil and farming expertise has awarded the Mallee District farms the reputation as being among the best in the world.

Conditions are ideal for growing vines, especially table grapes. Prior to harvest, the landscape turns a patchwork of green and white. The white being the film that covers grape vines before harvest and protects them from hail, rain, frost, sunburn and wind. These vine covers add significant value to the crops, both in quality and quantity.

This film is wrapped tightly around the vine and is exposed to the harsh elements 24/7. Unsurprisingly, the film has a limited lifespan and historically, was removed to landfill. But good news, because nowadays the film is collected by IR and used as an important resource in producing their product range.

A Quality Resource

IR recovers and repurposes waste plastics at our manufacturing facility in Mildura. It is close to where plastics are first used for local agricultural, industrial and consumer applications.

What was once considered unavoidable waste, is now viewed as a quality resource for the circular economy.

The plastics IR typically reuses include:
→  Agricultural films: Vine covers, cotton wrap, grain bags, silage films
→  Polystyrene sourced from: Local industry, retailers, building & construction, and growers
→  Rigid & other plastics: Agricultural pipes, drums and tanks

Win / Win / Win

The collection of discarded vine covers is a win / win / win. It’s a win for the growers who have their bulk waste plastic removed at no cost. A win for Integrated Recycling who collect a quality resource. And importantly, it’s a win for the environment with waste plastic not sent to landfill or disposed of in other environmentally damaging ways.

A Simple Idea

Fifteen years ago, the concept of repurposing grape vine covers into vine posts seeded the roots of Integrated Recycling. The fledgling IR entered into agreements with a handful of local farmers to collect their discarded vine covers. The number of farms that utilise IR’s free service has grown every year since the program’s inception.

Thriving in the Circular Economy

The circular economic system tackles global challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, waste, pollution and the decline in our finite resources by minimising waste and by maximising the efficient use of resources. IR utilises waste plastics as a resource which has both market and environmental advantages.

$2Trillion Circular Economy Boost

By Noel Towell, The Age March 23, 2021

The Australian economy could enjoy a boost worth nearly $2 trillion in the next 20 years if the nation abandons its “take, make, use, waste” approach to resources   >> Read More

National Waste Policy Action Plan

Minister tours Mildura factory

Whether Australia stands knee deep in waste plastic in 2030 will be determined by the success of the National Waste Policy Action Plan   >> Read More