Not only was Kangaroo Island, in SA, one of the first locations in Australia to ban the use of plastic bags, but now the KI Council has gone a step further in helping the planet by installing 27 outdoor settings, 900 bollards and a staircase, all made from recycled plastic.
Ian Woolard, Co-ordinator Civil Works, Kangaroo Island Council, said, ‘We were looking for a product that would stand up the elements experienced on the South coast of Kangaroo Island and one that would incur the minimum ongoing maintenance cost to Council’. As a result of choosing to use recycled plastic KI council has diverted approx. 22,000 kg of plastic waste from landfill in 2010-11 alone.
Six years ago Kangaroo Island started the trend by purchasing recycled plastic seats for their school. More recently the local Landcare Group built a staircase out of garden panels and the Kingscote Jetty was also refurbished with Enduroplank™ decking as part of a trail by the South Australian government to see if recycled plastic proves more durable and cost effective than timber
All of this adds up to an estimated 35 000 kg of plastic waste which has been diverted from landfill and made into Replas recycled-plastic products for use throughout Kangaroo Island.
Not bad for an island with a population of 4500!
"It’s good to see the council following through with the use of recycled products"-Tahlia Sellen, local resident.
"Conventionally we would have gone for timber structure but we have been reluctant to do this because of the ongoing costs of maintenance and potential durability issues. The Replas product allowed us to erect a structure that will minimize these costs and provide a better outcome for visitors"-Ian Woolard, Co-ordinator Civil Works, Kangaroo Island Council.
