Forbes Shire Council's quarries are now using pipes made from milk bottles and other recyclables.
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The council has announced it will support the recycling industry by choosing to buy 100 per cent recycled plastic drainage pipes.
The council was looking for ways to improve the environmental efficiency of its quarries, and found products produced by regional Victorian manufacturer RPM Pipes that are made from recycled plastic sourced from kerbside waste and manufacturing scrap.
The 192-metre drainage project using 100 per cent recycled stormwater pipe for new drainage is a significant step forward in starting to close the loop for recyclable products.
"Like residents across Forbes, I want to know that the milk bottle left behind after my coffee and the detergent bottle that I have just used up are going to be recycled, not sent to landfill," Forbes Shire Council Mayor Phyllis Miller said.
"By choosing to use these 100 per cent recycled pipes from RPM Pipes, Forbes is keen to demonstrate that we can support the recycling sector without any additional cost or compromises in the quality of our infrastructure.
"We need to see that the containers and materials we recycle are put to good use - and RPM Pipes are a great example of that."
The decision to use RPM pipes for drainage in the quarries will divert the equivalent of 80,000 plastic milk bottles from landfill, RPM Pipes CEO Mr Terry Kay said.
"Our pipes are the around the same price and exactly the same quality as non-recycled pipes that are currently used across Australia, but the big difference is that we recycle the equivalent of up to 5000 milk bottles with every pipe that we sell," Mr Kay said.
"Forbes Shire Council have recognised that they can create a big win for ratepayers and for the environment - without any compromise on quality or cost.
"We have been producing our pipes for use in agriculture and mining for 20 years, but local government and civil engineering contractors are only starting to hear about us now.
"With major challenges ahead for Australia to improve recycling rates and find solutions for our plastic waste, we're pretty excited to see councils like Forbes prepared to lead the way and demonstrate support for regional Australian family companies.
"We have the capacity to be recycling a million milk bottles each week if other councils choose to reconsider what they use for stormwater drains in parks, quarries and down the sides of almost every street in the country."
Fast Fact: Australians drink an average of 2L of milk each per week. A single length of RPM 630 mm pipe is produced from the equivalent of 5000 milk bottles.
