Rino Recycling has invested $100 million to develop a world-first waste management facility in Pinkenba, capable of handling the most complex waste streams with unprecedented efficiency.

Daniel Blaser, General Manager of Rino Recycling, says the company partnered with Northern Ireland’s CDE and Ireland’s Turmec, global leaders in waste processing innovation, to design and build the fully automated hybrid plant, which is the first to combine wet and dry waste processing.

“The facility uses the most advanced, high-performing, and efficient recycling technologies available globally,” Blaser says, in order to achieve an industry-leading 95 percent recovery rate.

It’s capable of processing up to 1.5 million tonnes of construction and demolition (C&D) waste annually into high-quality recycled materials, which can be seamlessly reintegrated into Brisbane’s construction and civil industry.

“By maximising resource recovery, Rino minimises the amount of waste being sent to landfill and reduces the need for quarrying new materials,” Blaser says.

“And by providing an inbound solution for both wet and dry waste material, and producing high-quality outbound materials in the same location, we’re streamlining logistics and reducing the number of trucks and drivers on the road.”

Beyond its processing capabilities, Rino Recycling has embedded sustainability into every aspect of the facility’s operations. A 548 kilowatt rooftop solar system generates approximately 25 percent of the plant’s energy needs, while an advanced water management system captures, filters and recycles water used in the wet processing stage, making the facility ‘water neutral’.

It all adds up to a significant impact on Brisbane’s environmental footprint. A Queensland Economic Advocacy Solutions (QEAS) study calculated that for every tonne of product delivered to Rino’s customers in inner Brisbane, Rino saves approximately 25.2 kilograms of CO2 emissions.

The facility prevents over 38,483 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually – equivalent to taking 8,564 cars off the road, or planting 636,320 trees each year.

In April 2023, the Clean Energy Finance Corporation backed the project with $75 million in debt financing, in recognition of its potential to enhance Australia’s recycling capabilities.

Right place, right time

The facility’s location in Pinkenba, just 14 kilometres from Brisbane’s CBD, was chosen due to its accessibility to major infrastructure, and availability of industrial land – factors that are increasingly limited in inner-city areas. Blaser says this location provides significant operational and logistical advantages.

“Being close to major transport corridors, ports and infrastructure projects allows for efficient material disposals, reducing transport emissions and costs,” he says. “Our central position supports collaboration with construction, demolition and civil industries, to facilitate a good supply of high-quality recycled materials.”

Blaser says it’s no coincidence this world-first facility has been established at a time when Brisbane is experiencing a period of rapid growth, with an ambitious infrastructure pipeline set to transform the city over the coming decade. By 2031, Brisbane’s building economy is projected to be 41 percent larger than it was in 2021.

“With Brisbane’s significant infrastructure pipeline, growing population and the Queensland Government's Waste Management and Resource Strategy aiming for a zero-waste society, Rino Recycling was established to address Queensland's growing waste management challenges and the increasing demand for sustainable construction materials,” he says.

Rino is already working closely with major commercial developers and government entities to integrate recycled materials into their projects. The company’s Quarry Certification, awarded by Queensland’s Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), strengthens its position as a trusted supplier, particularly in government projects where strict sourcing guidelines apply.

By providing builders and contractors with sustainable alternatives to virgin materials, without compromising quality or performance, Blaser says Rino is helping its customers to align with green building certifications, such as Green Star, and meet their own sustainability targets.

“We also provide data on carbon savings and landfill diversion to the companies we work with,” Blaser says, “to support them in achieving their Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) goals, and help ensure their projects meet sustainability reporting requirements.”

Recycling recognised

In 2024, Rino Recycling was honoured at the Lord Mayor’s Business Awards, winning the Dentsu Environmental Sustainability in Business Award, the ISPT Investment in Brisbane Award, and the particularly prestigious Optus Platinum Award for overall excellence, open only to the winners of each business category.

“We saw the awards as an opportunity to highlight the impact of our facility,” Blaser says, “and to connect with key industry leaders, government representatives and potential partners who share our commitment to sustainability.”

Blaser says that recognition has created new opportunities for sustainability and growth. “It has driven new business opportunities,” he says, “with increased interest from green building initiatives and ESG-focused organisations looking to integrate high-quality recycled materials into their projects.”

With the city set for a decade of transformation leading into the 2032 Olympic Games, Rino Recycling is ensuring that progress and sustainability go hand in hand – helping developers and investors build a cleaner, more resource-efficient future.