Recycling plant to generate profit from waste plastic

The memorandum of understanding was signed at the University of Sydney by the government of East Timor (Timor-Leste) and Mura Technology, a joint venture between Australia’s Licella Holdings and the UK’s Armstrong Energy.

Mura will assist in establishing the chemical recycling plant via RESPECT, a new not-for-profit organisation that will be able to buy plastic waste from community groups and sell products derived from waste processing. Surplus cash proceeds will then be used help finance community projects.

Demetrio do Amaral de Carvalho, Timor-Leste’s secretary of state for the environment, said: "This is an exciting collaboration for us. Not only will it make a big difference in plastic waste reduction and reduce harm to our cherished marine life, but Timor-Leste can be an example to the rest of the world about what this technology can achieve and the benefits it will have for the planet."