Drowning In Plastic
Many plastics are a simple, momentary convenience, often ending up in landfill, or as litter, scattered across the country, where they take hundreds of years before breaking down into microplastics. The existing plastic supply chain utilises petrochemicals to make new plastics. According to WWF, on average, Australians use 130kg of plastic per person each year, with only 12% of that being recycled. More frightening still, up to 130,000 tonnes of plastic is likely to make its way into our waterways and our oceans, endangering marine wildlife.
And unfortunately, recycling itself can be confusing for everyday Aussies. Plastic bottle tops, for example are generally destined for kerbside recycling bins, screwed on firmly to the bottle they came with. But what may come as a surprise to many, is that the lids are simply too small for most industrial recycling facilities, and leaving the lids on these bottles can deem them a contaminant, which means they cannot be processed and end up in landfill after all.
Who We Are
The Precious Plastic movement is a global community committed to finding a solution for plastic pollution, and we are a husband and wife team driven by a passion for the planet! We self-funded and launched Precious Plastic Melbourne in 2019 with an aim to repurpose the usually discarded plastic lids, and other plastic waste materials.
What We Do
Unfortunately, most plastics are designed for single-use purposes before being discarded, however it is an incredibly versatile material, made to be strong and durable.
So in 2019 we began collecting plastic bottle caps, not only because they’re typically destined for landfill, but also because they are compact to store, simple to process, and come in a wide range of colours. Within the first few weeks of announcing the initiative, we were contacted by businesses and individuals, offering to collect the lids, or become a collection point for their local area.
Once the lids arrive at our Melbourne warehouse, they are cleaned and sorted into their respective grades of plastic (this step is crucial, as we don't add any bonding agents to our plastics - this means that our finished products are also 100% recyclable). The lids are then sorted into colours before being shredded. They’re then fed into an injection mould machine to heat, melt and inject the plastic into a mould, creating a new product out of the reprocessed plastic. Products are then allowed to cool, before adding any finishing touches.
To date, we've collected over 300,000 plastic bottle caps! With these, we're currently producing a range of useful products (such as these!), working alongside members of our community so that they too can have an impact and create goods out of their own plastic waste.
Aside from creating a circular economy, we also focus on educating, and encouraging communities to find creative ways to salvage their plastic waste. In 2021, we will also begin offering workshops and tours, aimed at schools and individuals, teaching people about recycling contamination as well as the advantages of local recycling and manufacturing.
