Tasmania EPA Greenlights Sims Metal’s New Recycling Facility in Launceston

The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Tasmania has granted approval for the development of a new metal recycling facility in Rocherlea, a northern suburb of Launceston, according to an official announcement on its website.

The facility, to be built and operated by Sims Metal, will have the capacity to process up to 25,000 tonnes of metal annually. Scrap material will be sourced from various public, municipal, and industrial streams. Once received, the materials will be cut, baled, and boxed on-site before being shipped to the Australian mainland for further processing.

According to the EPA’s assessment, the proposal meets the environmental standards required under Tasmania’s Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994. The delegate of the EPA Board concluded that the facility could operate in an environmentally sustainable manner, provided that specific conditions are met.

Key conditions include restrictions on the types of waste accepted at the facility, mandatory screening procedures, designated areas for hot works, and limits on stockpile sizes and separation distances. Additionally, the site must be equipped to treat any contaminated stormwater and retain all fire wash water in the event of an emergency.

Public consultation on the proposal was open for 28 days starting from April 30, 2025. Notably, no public objections or representations were received during that period.

Further details about the approval and assessment documents are available on the EPA Tasmania website: epa.tas.gov.au.

Source: EPA Tasmania