QLD's plumbing industry trials zero waste program

QLD’s plumbing industry trials zero waste program

A pilot program introduced by Queensland’s plumbing industry is being supported by the Queensland Government, with off-cuts of PVC pipes and fittings used in the construction industry being diverted from landfill.

The Construction Plastics Recycling Scheme will see collection bins used at seven participating locations across south-east Queensland, providing the means for PVC off-cuts to be collected and recycled, with the waste material also audited and recorded.

The Queensland Government has allocated $26,000 to the Master Plumbers’ Association of Queensland (MPAQ) to support a six-month trial for the scheme.

The seven collection locations across Queensland include Beenleigh Plumbing Industry Climate Action Centre, Caboolture Hospital, The Star Casino Site Gold Coast, Labrador Reece Plumbing Store, Prominence Outlook Pallara, Queen’s Wharf Brisbane Development (Towers 1 and 2) and Woolloongabba Tradelink Store.

The program is set to be administered by MPAQ and the Plastics Industry Pipe Association of Australia (PIPA), in conjunction with Iplex, Reece, Tradelink, and Vinidex.

Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon said the program aligns with the State Government’s goals to divert and recycle materials.

“Our vision is for Queensland to be a zero-waste society, powered by a circular economy – where waste is reduced, and resources are recovered and re-used,” Scanlon said. “Initiatives like the Construction Plastics Recycling Scheme can play an important role in achieving this.”

MPAQ Executive Director Penny Cornah said MPAQ and PIPA greatly appreciated the Queensland Government’s support for the scheme.

“This pilot not only promotes PVC recycling and the identification of the volume of PVC off-cuts generated on construction sites, but it also raises awareness of the positive sustainability benefits and long-life attributes of plastic pipes, which last more than 100 years,” Cornah said.

“If the scheme can eventually be introduced throughout Queensland and Australia the benefits are clear, both in terms of responsible diversion of PVC off-cuts from landfill and their re-use into new recyclable long-life pipes”.

To learn more about the scheme, click here.