Jennifer Pittorino
The inner-west has once again been the decided location for a million dollar facility which is causing concern from residents.
Tottenham is the spot where Australia’s first $2.5 million soft plastics and e-waste recycling facility has opened, which will turn hard-to-recycle items into a new concrete material.
Nearby Brooklyn resident Carmen Largaiolli said her concerns as a neighbouring resident worry her given Maribyrnong’s existing pollution.
“The operation is approximately 1600 metres north of Brooklyn which is already one of Australia’s pollution hotspots,” she said.
“And adjacent to Sunshine residential homes and a major shopping centre.”
Having only heard about the facility for the first time last week, Ms Largaiolli has suspicions the state government skipped the community consolation phase.
“If this project was exempt from community consultation, this is an injustice to us residents as governments and other authorities continue to impose on our health and amenity by increasing the amount and density of industrial activity which seems never-ending in my experience,” she said.
The state government said the CDRC Global facility will process soft and hard plastics found in e-waste into an environmentally friendly product called RESIN8 that can be used in concrete, masonry bricks, blocks, pavers and asphalt.
“As far as I know RESIN8 is the raw material , the broken up bits of plastic that they want to use to reinforce some sort of road base or concrete base which means potential airborne microplastics,” said Ms Largaiolli.
“Not to mention potential noise and air pollution of PM2.5 from truck traffic which is a concern to the area.”
According to the state government, at full capacity the facility will process around 6,650 tonnes of hard and soft plastics each year, the equivalent of around 330 garbage trucks which Ms Largaiolli said she doesn’t believe is accurate.
“I don’t believe the 330 figure. I think it will be something like double,” she said.
“Given the way plastics are formed and are so light, that number of large substances will mean more trucks.”
In a media release, the state government said RESIN8 is being trialled by Hobsons Bay council, where 1,350 kilograms of soft plastics will be turned into asphalt for a local road project.
Maribyrnong council chief executive Celia Haddock said, council issued a planning permit in January 2024.
“Following a public notice period per statutory guidelines, for the soft plastics and e-waste recycling facility in Tottenham,” she said.
“In terms of air quality and truck emissions, the warehouse was existing and would have previously been operating in a similar manner. Council welcomes commitments to diverting waste from landfill; including recycling soft plastics which aligns with our Zero Waste Policy and facilitates the circular economy.”
Hobsons Bay council and the state government were approached for comment.
