Brightmark to build advanced plastics recycling plant in Australia

Brightmark, a global waste solutions provider in San Fransisco, has announced plans to construct an advanced plastics renewal facility for the Parkes Special Activation Precinct in New South Wales (NSW), Australia.  

Brightmark says it will be the first new circular economy business in the Parkes Special Activation Precinct, as well as the first-of-its-kind advanced recycling, plastics renewal facility in Australia. Construction of the facility will be done in partnership with the NSW government, as part of its commitment to driving economic growth and prosperity in the area.  

“Brightmark is excited to expand our waste solution footprint into Australia, setting the new gold standard in advanced plastic recycling," says Bob Powell, Brightmark founder, and CEO. “Collaborating with the NSW government in their Parkes precinct is ideal due to the sustainably-minded business environment and community; and its location as a transportation and logistics hub.”  

The facility will repurpose all types of plastics (1-7) to be ultra-low sulfur diesel, wax and naphtha to produce fully circular plastics. The construction of the facility will also bring economic opportunity to the Parkes Special Activation Precinct, as it is supported by an AUD $260 million investment and will lead to the creation of 100 new jobs.   

The plant is expected to be operational by 2025, with construction planned to start in mid-2023. It will be capable of processing 200,000 tons of scrap plastics back into the circularity market. Special Activation Precincts are delivered by the NSW government and funded from the $4.2 billion Snowy Hydro Legacy Fund.   

“We are excited to be building what will be the largest facility of its type outside of America,” says Shakil Rahman, Brightmark senior vice president of global plastics development and origination. “Processing up to 200,000 tons of waste plastics back into the circularity market, creating import replacement products and assisting Australia to lower its carbon footprint.”  

“This is a huge opportunity for Parkes and regional NSW to get a slice of the AUD $66 billion global plastics recycling industry which will bring strong economic growth and jobs to the region,” says Paul Toole, the deputy premier and minister for regional NSW. “Brightmark’s AUD $260 million investment in Parkes sends a clear message to other global companies; Parkes is the perfect place to invest, now and into the future.”