What is a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF)?

A MRF is a facility that receives mixed recyclable materials from yellow-top bins, like:

• glass bottles
• plastic containers
• cardboard
• paper
• steel
• aluminium cans.

​​​​​A combination of innovative technologies and equipment are used to separate these materials into high quality products.

What’s happening?

Logan City Council, Ipswich City Council and Redland City Council are constructing a MRF to manage recyclable materials collected from our region’s residents.  

The MRF will efficiently sort recyclable materials from residents’ yellow-top bins and supply a range of quality products for reuse and remanufacturing. The facility is not a landfill and will not receive general waste or increase emissions. 

Funding for the Material Recovery Facility is proudly provided by the Australian Government, the Queensland Government, and in association with Greenovate Pty Ltd. Greenovate is a beneficial enterprise created by the Councils to manage the development and operation of the MRF.

The target opening date of the MRF is 2027.  

Where will the new facility be located?

The MRF will be located within Logan City Council’s existing Browns Plains Waste and Recycling Facility, which is also home to the popular Logan Recycling Market.

The Browns Plains site offers environmental and economic benefits. It was chosen because of its size, central location to all Councils, proximity to existing infrastructure, and appropriately zoned land ready to accommodate this type of facility.

When will construction commence and how long will it take?

Construction is expected to begin in late-2024 with a target opening date in 2027. Construction will be managed to minimise disturbance to local residents

Why is this needed?

South East Queensland has a fast-growing population – Logan, Ipswich and Redlands are expected to grow significantly in the years ahead. With this population growth comes an increasing volume of recyclables being produced by these communities and rising costs of waste recovery.

The MRF will benefit local communities, the economy and the environment by efficiently sorting mixed recyclables into high quality products which can be remanufactured into new products, rather than landfilled – leaving a cleaner, greener environment!

What are the benefits?

Taking control of resource recovery in our region means that we can positively influence our future and maximise value to our ratepayers. We are working towards building a circular economy where materials are reused, recycled or remanufactured more, and less waste is produced in the first place.

The facility will:

• Efficiently sort materials and reduce waste to landfill.
• Ensure high purity and resale value of the sorted materials.
• Create greater certainty and stability of the cost of processing recyclables to benefit ratepayers.
• Support the delivery of Councils’ Waste Management and Resource Recovery Strategies and will contribute to State and Federal recycling targets.

Additionally, operation of the facility is expected to create at least 17 new local jobs.

How the MRF will work  

The MRF will use state of the art equipment to sort recyclable collected in residents’ yellow-top recycling bins.

The materials will be transported by recycling bin collection trucks to the new facility during weekday business hours, avoiding residential streets.

Recyclable materials will be sorted and baled at the facility and onsold to industry to produce new products.

The facility will incorporate solar and energy efficient design. It will also be designed to comply with environmental, engineering, and other standards and will be designed to minimise noise, dust or odour disturbance to local residents.  

To see how facility sorts recyclable material see MRF processing diagram (PDF 1.24 MB).

Project updates

October 2024

Earthworks Commenced.

Browns Plains Landfill Community Consultative Group

Logan City Council hosts a regular public meeting at which residents are invited to attend and discuss the management and future use of the Browns Plains Waste and Recycling Facility, including the MRF project. This forum is called the Browns Plains Landfill Community Consultative Group. To find more information about the group and how to register, see Browns Plains Landfill Community Consultative Group.