Crisafulli Government delivers Australian-first textile recovery facility with Salvos

• Salvos Stores Recovery Facility opens in Ipswich thanks to Crisafulli Government’s $4.9 million investment.
• The Australian-first facility can transform up to 5000 tonnes of used clothing and textiles into new products every year.
• The Crisafulli Government is delivering a plan for Queensland’s future and is committed to cleaning up Labor’s mess on waste. 

An Australian-first textile recovery facility has opened, backed by a $4.9 million Crisafulli Government investment to help Salvos Stores tackle one of the world’s fastest growing environmental challenges. 

Each year 200,000 tonnes of clothing goes to Australian landfills, but this new Ipswich facility will ensure more unusable textiles are recovered and remade into new products. 

This state of the art Australian-first infrastructure has been delivered through the Crisafulli Government’s major investment, in partnership with The Salvation Army. 

The new automated facility will use advanced Artificial Intelligence and robots to sort and decontaminate textiles on a large scale, including sorting by material type and removing buttons and zippers. 

The technology will ensure sellable items go to Salvos Stores for resale, while unwearable items are recycled. 

This new facility will reduce waste going to landfill and get more use out of clothing and textiles.  

Salvos Stores are working with businesses to turn old textiles into products such as sound‑proofing and insulation, and to recover good fibres that can be remade into new fabric and blankets. 

During their decade of decline, the former Labor Government allowed landfill rates to skyrocket, recycling to go backwards and Queenslanders were forced to pay more.  

Minister for the Environment and Tourism Andrew Powell said the investment to deliver this new facility highlighted the Crisafulli Government’s focus on delivering a better environment for Queensland. 

“The Crisafulli Government has supported the delivery of this Australian-first facility that will turn today’s waste into tomorrow’s products,” Minister Powell said. 

“This facility will reduce the amount of textile waste going to landfill, but it will also unlock new economic opportunities and support Queensland’s transition to a sustainable economy. 

“After a decade of decline under Labor recycling rates went backwards, but we are determined to change that. 

“We recognise the critical need for waste infrastructure in Queensland, and we are taking action to deliver it through this new nation-leading facility.” 

Head of Salvos Stores Nic Baldwin said this achievement was a proud moment for Salvos Stores and reflected their deep commitment to innovation and caring for the planet we all share. 

“It’s about taking real, practical steps to reduce textile waste and keep more out of landfill, while continuing to find new ways to generate vital funding for the life-changing programs of The Salvation Army,” Mr Baldwin said.