APR ChemCycle is pioneering the way forward with soft plastic recycling and making a positive impact in the process.
The family business, established by Darren Thorpe, started out recycling cardboard, then transitioned into kerbside recycling.
APR discovered that the key contaminant in recycled materials was soft plastic. Each year, more than 400,000 tonnes of soft plastic are currently sent to landfill in Australia.
“It was obvious that residents wanted to recycle their soft plastics, but there wasn’t really an outlet to do so,” says project developer Henry Cox.
In 2021, APR began a pilot program in Dandenong South using advanced chemical recycling technology to convert soft plastics into commercial-grade oil, to be used by refineries to make the raw materials for new plastics.
“With normal recycling, you take a plastic, sort it, clean it, then melt it down into a resin,” says Mr Cox.
“We’re taking it a step further and vaporising it.
“It’s the same process, but with more heat, then you cool the vapours down and you’re left with an oil that can be used by refineries.”
Following the success of the pilot, APR is now building Victoria’s first Advanced Chemical Recycling facility in Maddingley, near Bachus Marsh.
In early 2026, APR also plans to open an automatic soft plastic sorting facility in Dandenong South.
“The idea is to physically show people what happens if your soft plastics are recycled with APR ChemCycle, so that they can be proud to be part of the program,” says Mr Cox.
“It will be amazing to have these facilities operating, but we can’t take our foot off the pedal.
“We really need to increase the volume to have a bigger impact and recycle more plastic.”
One such business that has benefited from partnering with APR ChemCycle is Quest Carpets in Dandenong
The carpet manufacturer has been working closely with APR for the past five years, with the aim of diverting as much waste as possible from landfill to recycling.
“As a business that is passionate about sustainable manufacturing and reducing our environmental impact, we have been grateful for the partnership with APR,” said Quest Carpets factory manager Brad Wilson.
“With the assistance of timely and considered professional advice provided by APR, we have been able to divert over 42 per cent of our waste from landfill to recycling.”
Mr Cox encouraged Greater Dandenong businesses interested in recycling soft plastics (of any colour) to reach out.
