Recycling Plastic Waste to everything from homewares to bespoke wheel stops at Western Sydney Airport Project!
Martin Ruffell introduced our speaker this week, Brad Scott. Brad lives in the seaside town of Robe, SA, and took us on an amazing journey of what is possible from a small business start up to a leading company turning everyday plastic waste into useful products—and building a whole new industry around his business.
Brad and his wife had been travelling around Australia for 18 months and decided to put their roots down in the beautiful seaside resort of Robe S.A. Brad found an empty shed and so began his recycling of plastic waste.
Inspired by YouTube videos and his chemistry background, Brad built machines from scrap metal to recycle plastic.
Brad made the point that “we don’t just recycle – we chemically engineer” and from here he blew our minds away with what you can do with plastic bread tags!
One standout initiative is the partnership with Aussie Bread Tags for Wheelchairs. Brad processes around 50 kg of bread tags each month, turning them into products that help fund wheelchairs for people in need. It’s a win-win: less waste, more impact.
Brad is now crafting everything from bowls and jewellery to homewares—using materials like Styrofoam and the bread tags.
Brad’s work has caught the attention of big names like Country Road, Dulux, and Second Sphere Partners, helping the business grow while staying true to its values: sustainability, innovation, and community.
He’s also founded the Australian Micro Recyclers Association, bringing together small recyclers across the country to share ideas and build a stronger circular economy.
I think we all could have listened to Brad’s story for hours. It was so stimulating to hear how one small start-up is creating a new world through innovation and collaboration … turning waste into something meaningful.
