How to recycle rigid plastics

In 2019-20, Australia recovered 326,600 tonnes of plastic.¹ There are numerous plastic recyclers operating who will accept rigid plastics for recycling. This may be offered as a pick-up or drop-off service. Plastic scrap bins may also be provided for collection on-site. Use the directory on this page to find a plastic recycler near you.

¹Australian Plastic Flows and Fates Study 2019-20.

Why recycle?

Plastics are made from non-renewable resources such as oil, gas and coal. Rigid plastic waste is generally post-industrial plastic such as factory defects or products that are broken or worn down. Recycling plastic conserves natural resources, diverts non-biodegradable waste from landfill and enables the production of new plastic products. Recycling 1 tonne of HDPE plastic saves around 1.1 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions or 2.7 average household energy usage per year.¹

¹Australian Plastic Flows and Fates Study 2019-20.

Rigid plastics such as water tanks are collected and may be pressure cleaned for reuse. Otherwise, they are shredded into smaller more manageable pieces which are washed to remove contaminants and melted down. New stabilisers and colourants may be added, depending on what the final product will be. This material is then chopped into pellets and ready for reuse in new plastic manufacturing.