RECYCLED PLASTICS NOW A BASE FOR MAJOR ROAD, RAIL AND LANDFILL PROJECTS THANKS TO REGIONAL NSW INNOVATION

An Albury manufacturer transforming the plastic bottles from our recycling bins into a high-tech ‘geotextile’ for major civil engineering projects is helping reduce landfill, championing sustainability in the infrastructure industry and proving innovation is thriving in regional NSW.

Deputy Premier and Minister responsible for Resources John Barilaro said "Geofabrics Australasia’s ‘Bidim Green’ geotextile is the first of its kind made in Australia and a fantastic example of regional NSW leading the way in next-generation manufacturing."

Mr Barilaro said specialist engineers and manufacturers at the company’s state of the art Albury factory had led the design and development of the geotextile, which is used in road, rail, mining and landfill projects to help seal and stabilise soil and control liquids.

“Geofabrics’ groundbreaking product is a great example of regional excellence and shows exactly what our skilled regional workforce can achieve when given the conditions to succeed,” Mr Barilaro said.

“This is a company that’s been operating in regional NSW for more than 30 years, with a staff that is proud to go to work each day and create world-leading products that make an absolute difference to the quality and convenience of our everyday lives.”

“In 2019, the NSW Government identified the ingenuity of this company and showcased the capabilities of its Albury factory to a visiting envoy of international investors and today we celebrate their continued success.”

Dennis Grech, CEO and Managing Director of Geofabrics Australasia said "Bidim Green geotextile, a variant to its existing world-leading Bidim geotextile range, contains Australian-sourced recycled plastics and was a green innovation that came amid increasing calls for greater sustainability in the construction and infrastructure industry. Many infrastructure projects are calling for improved sustainability and we’re the only Australian manufacturer in the market here that is using recycled Australian plastics as a component of a geotextile, helping to reduce waste to landfill."

Around 45 per cent of Geofabrics Australasia’s products are manufactured at its Albury factory, which employs some 46 staff.

Its original Bidim geotextile, made from 100 per cent virgin polymer, has been used in major road projects across NSW, including the new M5 interchange at St Peters in Sydney, Northern Road in Western Sydney and the Woolgoolga to Ballina road on the north coast.