Ep #62 Closing the Loop: Solving Construction's Plastic Waste Problem with RecycleAll

In this episode, Damien Collins from RecycleAll and NeverStop Construction shares his journey from plumber to eco entrepreneur, and how building some of Melbourne's most celebrated sustainable projects — including the prototype for the Nightingale Housing model — led him to tackle construction's most overlooked problem: plastic waste.

The conversation explores the circular economy opportunity hiding in plain sight on every building site, from cable spools and polystyrene packaging to PVC pipe offcuts. Damien explains how RecycleAll's app-based bin system makes on-site waste separation simple, contaminant-free, and commercially viable — and why it often costs builders less than traditional landfill skips.

We dive into the 18 months of groundwork required to build relationships with processing partners, the landmark RMIT study on construction site packaging waste (a world first), and what Extended Producer Responsibility could mean for the industry. The episode also covers the devastating axing of Sustainability Victoria, the future of waste-to-energy, and why mandatory stewardship schemes are the missing piece in Australia's circular economy puzzle.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

• RecycleAll's origin story — born from frustration on a city of Yarra job site
• How the bin system works and what it actually costs builders
• Processing partners, contamination-free supply chains, and the end market
• The RMIT global first study on construction site packaging waste
• Extended Producer Responsibility and voluntary vs. mandatory stewardship
• Sustainability Victoria's axing and what it means for recycling infrastructure
• Waste-to-energy and the future of landfill in Australia
• Advice for eco entrepreneurs: passion, immersion, and learning by doing

LEARN MORE

RecycleAll: https://www.recycleall.com.au 

NeverStop Construction: https://www.neverstop.com.au/

Sustainable Builders Alliance (SBA): https://www.thesba.com.au

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