Piles of red, blue, yellow and white plastic bottle tops surround a team of people at the Precious Plastic FNQ workshop in Cairns.

It’s bottle top sorting time, before shredding and then ‘cooking’ using moulds to create products ranging from plant pots and hair combs to blocks for Jenga game set blocks.

“The future is hopefully raw materials like bricks, boards and plastic beams for park benches,’’ Bailey Stevenson says. He’s the Service Coordinator for Precious Plastic FNQ, a disability support service recovering plastics that would otherwise end up as landfill or litter.

The organisation has been building up over five years and now has a collection point for businesses and individuals and a team of about 15 people whose roles range from washing and drying bottle tops and sorting them into plastic types and colours to operating the machines, running an online shop and selling products at community events.

“We are loving filling a gap in the market,’’ Bailey says. “This is recycling that no one else is doing in northern Australia. It’s work that benefits our clients – they’re learning new skills, problem-solving and teamwork and in 18 months four clients have already been employed outside our organisation. What makes it even better is it’s also work that benefits the environment.”

Precious Plastic FNQ client Telena Wraith has been making and selling products for two and-a-half years and she’s also a mentor for newcomers.

“I’ve learnt about how much plastic is wasted every day and how important it is to recycle,’’ she says. “We don’t want to see plastic going into our waterways and killing fish and turtles.”

Bailey says both he and the clients are loving working in the environment sector.

“It’s a great fit. Living in Cairns, we are three steps away from natural wonders in almost any direction. Plastic waste is a threat and it’s up to all of us to help.

“This time the disability community is leading the conversation. We are showing people how to recycle better… and it’s great to hear our guys at the markets talking about things like the importance of recycling right and re-using items, the dangers of microplastics and the ways we can help our oceans.”

How you can help 

• Don’t put bottle tops in kerbside recycling bins. They’re made of different plastics and are too small to be accurately sorted at most recycling facilities. They contaminate loads and jam sorting machinery.
• Bring clean, label-free plastic bottle tops to 3/127 Anderson St, Manunda from 9am-4pm on weekdays.
• Volunteer to wash, dry and sort bottle tops.
• Learn more at www.preciousplastic.gslservices.com.au