Australian Paper dismissed criticism of recycled paper as it opened its new $90m wastepaper recycling and de-inking plant in Victoria.
Australian Paper, owned by Nippon Paper Industries, said its Maryvale Mill facility in the Latrobe Valley had begun producing recycled copy paper and would soon extend into envelopes and printing papers.
“We are committed to meeting the growing demand for premium, local recycled paper,” said Peter Williams, COO, Australian Paper. “This plant will take up to 80,000 tonnes of wastepaper out of Australia’s landfill each year, which is enough to fill a tennis court to more than twice the height of the Eureka Tower.”
The company brushed aside some vocal industry critics who claim that the processing and de-inking of recycled paper is actually worse for the environment than using ‘virgin fibre’ harvested from sustainable forests.
“We don’t look at it that way at all,” said Craig Dunn, senior marketing manager for sustainability at Australian Paper. “Recycling paper has great environmental benefits by lowering carbon emissions. We’re taking tonnes and tonnes of waste and diverting it from landfills. We have more than 31,000 tonnes of bailed waste stockpiled in Melbourne that was collected just over the past 12 months, mostly shredded waste from offices, so there’s no shortage of materials. Customers are increasingly focused on recycled paper and it’s important that we respond to demand in the marketplace.”
The Australian Government has ruled that it will purchase 100% recycled papers from 1st July this year. “We’re hopeful that all government departments, federal and state, will recognise the sustainability advantages of Australian-made, 100% recycled paper over imports when making their purchase decisions," said Williams. "The environmental benefits of the project will be significant. Importing recycled paper made overseas only adds to Australia’s landfill and also generates significant sea-freight emissions. In contrast, removing 80,000 tonnes of wastepaper from Australia’s landfill saves up to 200,000 tonnes of carbon emissions every year, which is equal to taking more than 70,000 cars off Australia’s roads.”
The Maryvale project received funding from both Federal and Victorian governments and has won the support of environmental groups Planet Ark and Green Capital.
"We applaud this initiative,” said Paul Klymenko, CEO of Planet Ark. “It’s a great win for recycling and creates green jobs when we are seeing a decline in Australian manufacturing in other areas.”
The construction phase of the plant supported about 1,000 Australian jobs and the ongoing operation will provide flow on employment for around 250 people, mostly in the local manufacturing and wastepaper collection industries.