Sustainable packaging manufacturer Orora has commenced operation of its new $25 million glass beneficiation plant in Kingsford which will significantly increase South Australia’s glass recycling capacity.
The new plant will process up to 150,000 tonnes each year – equivalent to about 330 million wine bottles or 750 million beer bottles.
Orora produce glass packaging for customers across the beverage industry, including wine, beer, carbonated soft drinks, kombucha, water and olive oil.
The beneficiation process involves removing impurities from broken glass by crushing, cleaning and sorting it. This delivers crushed, contaminant-free glass known as ‘cullet’ ready for manufacture in new products.
The new plant uses optical technology, a first for South Australia, and will help the company to achieve 60 per cent recycled content for glass containers by 2025.
South Australia has the nation’s most established container deposit scheme, operating since 1977. Orora will extract even higher value from glass returned under the 10c deposit scheme in South Australia.
Orora currently uses 80 per cent of the recycled glass from the South Australia container deposit scheme and this volume is expected to increase.
Minister for Climate, Environment & Water Susan Close said that “This new beneficiation plant will significantly increase the amount of glass that is recycled in South Australia each year.
“Increasing recycled content will deliver environmental benefits including reducing the energy needed to manufacture glass products, as well as diversion of waste away from landfill.
“Consumers are increasingly demanding recycled packaging, and this project makes a significant contribution to the circular economy and the sustainability of the glass industry in this state,” Close continued.
The plant has been supported by $8m in grant funding from the state and federal governments.
The opening generated 12 local jobs and a further 100 via suppliers and contractors during construction.
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