About the Project
Australia now produces 2.6 million tonnes of plastic waste each year, equating to 102 kg per person. Of this, only 13% of plastic is recovered and 84% is sent to landfill.
National Waste Report 2022
The Recycled Plastic Panels project is being led by Daniel Mee who just wanted to buy some recycled plastic panels to make a cupboard. But searching for them led him to find the Precious Plastic community, which led him to learn more about plastic recycling, which led him to learn that it's not that hard, which led him to experiment in his shed, which led him to meeting amazing people, which resulted in the Recycled Plastic Panels community project!
While the principle of recycling plastic is basic - heat it to the correct temperature so it melts ready to be formed into something new - making it a worthwhile activity is not. Circular economies require all parts of the circle to be working or it will collapse, as we saw with Redcycle. Our approach is to engage the community with hyper-local collection, cleaning, sorting, production and buying of recycled products. It's not going to solve the plastic problem - we still need large-scale industrial solutions to solve that 2.6 million tonne tsunami that hits Australia each year - but we are repairing the community's relationship with recycling plastic from forgettable trash to useful resource.
So what's the plan?
There are a few different types of people when it comes to recycling. There are the no-waste superstars: they put their landfill bin out once a year, make their clothes and don't buy anything in a packet. Then there's the waste-conscious: they have a multiple bin system under the kitchen sink, home compost their food scraps, shop at bulk food stores with empty passata jars and love Craig Reucassel. Many people, though, don't think about waste much: they're disengaged. Sure, they'll try to do the right thing but, at the end of the day, the only time they think about waste is when the landfill bin is full. People that chuck their takeaway meal containers out the car window.... don't even 😤.
There's actually a lot more waste-conscious people in a community than you think and they're super keen to help make sure that non-kerbside recyclable plastic waste is diverted. This group, along with no-waste superstars, help drive the recycling community and reengage those who didn't see a reason to care.
The RPP community plan.
Engagement and education workshops gets the word out of the project and those that are interested become members.
Project members are advised what, when and where their clean plastic can sent. When sorting parties occur, and any changes/updates to the project.
Super Collectors and passionate individuals and participating businesses/organisations that are willing to become collection hubs for their local area.
Sorting Parties are held regularly at community centres and encourage everyone to hang out for a few hours to sort the plastic. They're catered and will often be combined with other complimentary activities/workshops.
Collection & Manufacture of the clean, sorted plastic is done at a workshop. Shredders shredding, heat presses pressing, finishing tables for finishing.
Tinkers and Makers around the community then buy the panels to make their own products. From CNC hobbyists in their back yard sheds to established furniture makers; school projects to council facilities - just like the wood from a local hardware store, the panels will be used from anyone who needs 100% recycled plastic panels.... like Daniel who wanted to make a cupboard.
The online shop will provide a way for makers to sell back to the community that diverted the plastic thus closing the loop on the recycling process. Project members will be offered member rates but anyone in the local area can buy and contribute to the circular enconomy.