NEWS DESK Proudly published by Mornington Peninsula News Group Pty. Ltd
PHONE: 03 5974 9000
Published weekly and distributed to Frankston, Frankston South, Karingal, Langwarrin, Seaford, Baxter and Somerville
Circulation: 28,320
Audit period: Apr 2018 - Sept 2018
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Editor: Brodie Cowburn 0401 864 460 Journalists: Brodie Cowburn, Liz Bell, 5974 9000 Photographers: Gary Sissons, Yanni Advertising Sales: Anton Hoffman 0411 119 379 Real Estate Account Manager: Jason Richardson 0421 190 318 Production and graphic design: Marcus Pettifer, Dannielle Espagne Group Editor: Keith Platt 0439 394 707 Publisher: Cameron McCullough REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS: Peter McCullough, Stuart McCullough, Craig MacKenzie, Ben Triandafillou ADDRESS: Mornington Peninsula News Group PO Box 588 Hastings 3915 Email: team@baysidenews.com.au Web: baysidenews.com.au DEADLINE FOR NEXT ISSUE: 1PM ON THURSDAY 17 NOVEMBER 2022 NEXT ISSUE PUBLICATION DATE: TUESDAY 22 NOVEMBER 2022
An independent voice for the community
We are the only locally owned and operated community newspaper in Frankston City and on the Mornington Peninsula. We are dedicated to the belief that a strong community newspaper is essential to a strong community. We exist to serve residents, community groups and businesses and ask for their support in return.
A FOOTPATH on Stotts Lane made by Replas using recycled materials. Picture: Supplied
Supermarket soft plastic recycling scheme suspended THE soft plastic recycling scheme which has been running at major supermarkets has been put on hold. REDcycle, the company responsible for the soft plastic recycling program running at Coles and Woolworths, has recently suspended its collection. It says that it cannot currently offload the plastic it receives, and has pointed the finger at its “offtake partners”. REDCycle has two soft plastic offtake partners - Carrum Downs recycler Replas, and Close the Loop. In a statement on its website, REDCycle said that Replas has “experienced significant pandemic-related downturns in market demand as well as other challenges including the delayed commercialisation of new products.” A fire has affected Close The Loop’s ability to take on plastic. Replas is a Carrum Downs-based company which recycles mixed plastics into new products. It has operated since 1991, and some of its clients
include Frankston Council and Parks Victoria. Replas general manager Paul Hone says that the recycler is “currently utilising the maximum amount of soft plastics we can at this time.” “Replas is still processing and manufacturing with soft plastics collected through the REDcycle program,” he said. “Replas is committed to assisting RED Group, by taking as much stored soft plastic as is technically feasible for us to process and manufacture with. “Plastic waste is widely recognised as an environmental issue. Here at Replas, we are focused on finding a home for this waste in the form of recycled plastic products. In order to take on more waste and strengthen the circular economy, we need industry and government to work together to drastically increase demand for recycled plastic products.” Replas says it does not believe recent developments will affect its pro-
duction in the near future. In an address at an annual general meeting last week, Coles Group CEO Steven Cain confirmed that “disappointingly (...) our long-term, softplastic recycling partner REDcycle has advised us that they have had to pause the collection of soft plastics from our stores.” REDCycle estimates that Australians return more than five million pieces of soft plastic for recycling a day. It announced it had stopped its soft plastics collection on 9 November, but says it is “committed to having the program back up and running as soon as possible.” “For the short term, consumers are encouraged to put their soft plastics in their home rubbish bin. Please do not put it in your home kerbside recycling bin (unless the Curby program is available in your area) as it is not recyclable in that system,” REDCycle said. Brodie Cowburn
Celebrating 50 years at BlueScope Western Port Half a century of operations was
Since 1972, when the plant
celebrated on 3 November 2022
opened its doors as John Lysaght
at Hastings, home of BlueScope’s Victorian COLORBOND® steel
Our Local Communities are our homes.
We create and inspire smart solutions in steel, to strengthen our communities for the future.
manufacturing site. As the Mornington Peninsula’s largest private employer, BlueScope Western Port hosted an anniversary celebration for
Australia, it’s estimated that it has employed around 10,000 people from the region. The foundation for the next 50 years has been well laid. In March, we opened our new service
current and past employees,
centre, with a steel processing
and unveiled a commemorative
capacity of more than 100,000
plaque.
tonnes per annum. The $34 million
Over 50 years, around 40
facility is an investment in the
million tonnes of COLORBOND® steel, ZINCALUME® steel, and
jobs and strengthens Victoria’s
TRUECORE® steel has been made.
latest technology, secures local manufacturing industry.
Thank you to the Mornington Peninsula community for your support for over 50 years. • New website • Podcasts • Job vacancies scan me
PAGE 2
Frankston Times
15 November 2022
Visit our new website at www.bluescope.com/western-port to find out more about job vacancies, sustainability and our community activities.