In a world where one persons trash is another persons treasure, i'd argue the first person wasn't thinking creatively enough about the trash.
Justin Slater
THE HISTORY OF REPLAS
From humble beginnings in Ballarat, to over thirty years of being Australian leaders in the recycled plastic manufacturing industry.
OUR STORY
In the late 70’s, brothers Brad and Russell Muller started a business venture in Ballarat, Victoria, centred on developing kerbside collection and material recovery facilities, pioneering the kerbside recycling industry. For years, Russell and Brad experimented with a variety of mixed waste plastics, using modified second-hand machinery to suit the waste material.
With the reprocessing of waste plastic from kerbside collections and driven by the shear amount of waste going to landfill, Brad and Russell, along with friends George and Cathy Mingin, founded Australian Recycling Technologies (ART) on the 26th March 1991, and registered Replas Products to distinguish their products from competitors.
The team, with only 3 employees, developed technology and designed moulds and work procedures to take the plastic waste and reprocess it into useful items like inground hydrant and valve boxes and the famous Hume Setting, installed on the Hume and Western Highways.
In 1992, ART Replas Products was recognised for their recycling efforts by The Banksia Environmental Foundation, a well-established not-for-profit organisation dedicated to working with Government, industry, and community to focus attention on the recognition of excellence in sustainability. In 1992, ART Replas Products won the Banksia Environmental Award for Recycling. In 1993, Replas moved to their current location and employed 22 people.
In 1999, Keep Australia Beautiful Awards State Judge, Brian Klemm, visited ART Replas Products as an entrant for the Resource Management section of the awards.
“To use material that would usually be burned, being used for marketable products with no waste, it’s a fantastic venture.”
In 2010, Replas opened a distribution centre, known as The Replas Resource Centre (RRC) in Carrum Downs, Victoria. The establishment of the RRC has enabled the company to ensure consistent quality of service and product. Along with the RRC, the Sales Office is home to the Replas Environmental Centre (REC). The Replas Environmental Centre (REC) is one of the largest plastic recycling centres in the southern hemisphere. A visit to the REC offers an innovative and interactive learning experience and gives visitors an opportunity to discover some of the answers to the problems faced by our planet.
Replas now produces a range of over 200 products and has grown to become Australia’s leading mix plastic product manufacturers. Replas is also at the forefront of technology, now boasting a range of state-of-the-art machinery tended by the latest robotic technology.
At Replas, we see waste as a valuable resource, and are part of making this world more sustainable. What is the environmental cost in not being involved in the circular economy? By re-thinking your selection and procurement to recycled plastic products, you become the true recycler. Everyone touches plastic and we must be more accountable and responsible if we are to drive demand for recycled plastic products.
