Yarra Ranges Shire Council has turned the lights on Australia’s most innovative and sustainable light pole – the first light pole made with recycled plastic.
Lighting a path to Pinks Reserve Netball Facility in Kilsyth, Victoria, the Plaspole offers a sustainable solution to traditional light poles manufactured from steel, providing a substantial environmental benefit whilst reducing the volume of plastic destined for landfill.
Designed to support the circular economy by incorporating post-consumer waste materials, the structural inner core consumes 40kg of plastic waste such as milk bottles, yoghurt containers and soft plastics – the equivalent of 2,000 bread bags per pole.
“We’re proud to be the first council in Australia to install the Plaspole – a ground-breaking innovation that reflects our commitment to sustainability,” said Mayor, Jim Child.
Sustainability Victoria, on behalf of the Victorian Government, has provided $250,000 in funding to Drouin-based Plasgain to support the manufacture of Plaspole and hopes to see more councils across the state embracing the innovative light pole in its projects.
Sustainability Victoria CEO, Matt Genever said the project was a fantastic example of how everyday waste can be transformed into a valuable resource.
“By repurposing post-consumer plastics into durable infrastructure, we’re not only reducing landfill but demonstrating what’s possible when we take an innovative and collaborative approach,” said Mr Genever.
With the capacity to manufacture 7,500 light poles per year, 300 tonnes of post-consumer plastic waste including soft plastic, will be used in their production – the equivalent of one and a half Olympic swimming pools of water, Council said in a statement.
In a technical leap forward, the Australian-made Plaspole minimises its environmental footprint cutting emissions by 35% while maintaining durability.
