Visy has confirmed a $700 million investment in Queensland recycling and re-manufacturing, and plans to relocate its current glass re-manufacturing operations.
The investment is part of Visy executive chairman Anthony Pratt’s 2021 pledge to invest $2 billion in Australian recycling and clean energy infrastructure over the coming decade, he says it will create thousands of new green collar, well-paying Australian manufacturing jobs.
Under the plan, the company will invest $500 million to build a new glass food and beverage container recycling and manufacturing facility in Yatala; build a new $150 million corrugated box factory at Hemmant; and invest $48 million in major upgrades to the company’s Material Recovery Facility (MRF) on Gibson Island.
Visy will relocate its current glass re-manufacturing operations from South Brisbane to Yatala, expected in 2025, paving the way for the site along the Brisbane River to be used as the International Broadcasting Centre for the 2032 Olympic Games.
“This is the largest investment Visy has ever made in Queensland,” said Pratt, “and is part of my pledge to invest $2 billion in Australia over the decade.
“I commend Premier Palaszczuk and her Government for its leadership in support of Australian manufacturing. This $700 million investment confirms the Government’s economic plan to grow the State’s economy and create advanced manufacturing jobs is working. Under Premier Palaszczuk’s leadership, Queensland has become a global powerhouse for manufacturing.”
The projects is expected to create 900 jobs in construction, and support 300 green collar, remanufacturing jobs once operational.
Pratt said the state-of-the art factory will help towards increasing the recycled content in Visy’s glass packaging to 70 per cent, reduce landfill, and reduce the use of natural resources by using the most modern energy efficient manufacturing technology available.
The facility, which will produce about 1 billion glass containers a year, will support Queensland’s world class, iconic beverage manufacturers. The company’s new $150 million corrugated box factory at Hemmant will service Queensland’s thriving agricultural sector, supporting farmers and growers across Queensland.
Visy’s upgrade to its MRF at Gibson Island will see up to an additional 30,000kt of material diverted from landfill. Visy currently recycles 250,000 tonnes of material from kerbside collections a year, and says it is proud to service the majority of South East Queensland’s recycling needs.
Pratt said it was important to recycle because as things decay in the landfill they emit methane gas, which he says is up to 84 times more harmful than CO2. “Recycling is an important weapon against climate change and the Queensland Government is to be congratulated for its support for practical environmental measures, like recycling, that all Queenslanders can participate in,” he said.
