Glass and manufacturing facility being built in Qld

Work has begun on a $500 million glass and manufacturing facility being built at Stapylton on the Gold Coast, which is part of a $700 million investment by Visy in Queensland.

When completed, the facility will be able to manufacture 1 billion glass containers annually. According to Qld Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, this will help the state become self-sufficient when it comes to glass packaging and support the growth of Queensland-based beverage companies.

“Queensland is currently a net importer of glass packaging and currently doesn’t manufacture enough to supply the local market,” Palaszczuk said.

“This new facility will not only make Queensland glass packaging self-sufficient but also sets us up to be a net exporter.

“It will also divert up to 40,000 tonnes of glass out of landfill.”

The new facility will recycle glass from the state’s kerbside bins and from Containers for Change deposit sites. The recycled glass will be used to make bottles and jars for the local food and beverage industry.

Visy’s $700 million investment not only includes this $500 million glass and manufacturing facility but also a new $150 million cardboard box factory at Hemmant and $48 million for upgrades at its Material Recovery Facility at Gibson Island.

Visy’s Executive Chairman, Anthony Pratt said:

“Recycling is an important weapon against climate change and this glass bottle factory has the technology to help enable Australia to go from 30% recycled glass content in bottles to 70% recycled glass content in bottles which is world’s best practice.

“And it ensures that the majority of Queensland’s recyclable recovered glass containers from the state’s Container Deposit Scheme and kerbside recycling bins are remanufactured in Queensland.”

Construction is scheduled for completion in 2025.

Image credit: iStock.com/bunhill