A $23 million recycling plant has opened in Adelaide amid calls for Australians to take greater responsibility for their waste.
The Materials Recovery Facility at suburban Kilburn will be able to process about 50,000 tonnes of recyclables each year.
Owned by the Central Adelaide Waste and Recycling Authority, it includes an interactive education centre with a glass viewing wall and an elevated walkway, to give school and community groups a unique view of the recycling process.
Executive Officer Rebekah Schubert said the authority's goal was to build the local circular economy by prioritising local markets.
"We want to see South Australia's recyclables processed right here in South Australia," she said.
"This facility means we will always have somewhere for our recycling to go and we will keep this local at every opportunity."
Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley said that the Kilburn plant was at the forefront of a national transformation of the recycling industry.
"We need to recycle more, to take responsibility for our waste and to help Australians better understand the value of recycling for our environment and our economy," the minister said.
South Australian Environment Minister David Speirs said the new plant would enhance the state's reputation as a leader in waste management.
"With the ability to process up to 50,000 tonnes of recyclables per year or the equivalent of 5000 trucks worth, this will greatly increase our ability to process materials right here in South Australia," he said.
"This is not only good for the environment but good for the economy with three times as many jobs created for every tonne of waste recycled or reused instead of going to landfill."
