Victoria lights up with recycled plastic innovation
Shannon Smyth, SV’s Markets Acceleration Manager, Sonja Terpstra, Member for North‑Eastern Metropolitan Region (Victorian Parliament) and Glenn Gambetta, CEO of Plasgain | © Kit Photography Victorian-made plastic light poles diverting waste from landfill have hit the market in a big win for recycling and innovation.
This groundbreaking project demonstrates the state’s commitment to transforming waste into valuable, practical products while supporting local manufacturing and the circular economy.
'Lighting up Victoria with poles made from recycled plastic is a bright prospect for our circular economy future.'
Drouin-based manufacturer Plasgain is scaling up production of Plaspole, which repurposes post-consumer plastic waste such as milk bottles, yoghurt containers, and soft plastics. The facility can produce 7,500 light poles annually, using around 300 tonnes of plastic waste — enough to fill one and a half Olympic swimming pools.
Plasgain received $250,000 in Victorian Government funding through the Circular Economy Infrastructure Fund: Materials, in February 2024.
Since 2021, Sustainability Victoria has funded 28 projects on behalf of the Victorian Government, increasing Victoria’s annual processing capacity for plastics, glass, paper, cardboard and tyres by 321,000 tonnes, and generating more than 300 jobs.
Sustainability Victoria is working to accelerate new markets for recycled material by de-risking innovation. Victoria’s efforts to recycle more locally can be matched with new uses for that recycled content, which can be turned into new products, commercialised and used in the real world.
The Plaspole features a structural inner core that consumes 40kg of recycled plastic per pole — roughly 2,000 bread bags — diverting materials that would otherwise end up in landfill
The Plaspole in place, and a close-up look at the inner core | © Kit Photography Compared to traditional steel poles, Plaspole reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 35% and significantly lowers reliance on virgin materials, making it a shining example of how sustainable innovation can cut waste and emissions without compromising quality.
The Plaspole project highlights the innovative spirit driving Victoria’s transition to a circular economy — turning yesterday’s waste into tomorrow’s infrastructure and reducing Victoria’s need to import new materials and use virgin plastic products in future urban development.
'This project showcases successful collaboration between government, industry and businesses to reduce waste and boost resource recovery.'
20 years of changing what’s possible
For two decades, we have led the way to a sustainable future – cutting waste, driving down emissions, and turning policy into real action across homes, communities, and businesses.
But none of it happens without you, Victoria. Your choices. Your drive. Your belief in a better way.