AUSTRALIA (From news reports) -- Visy has unveiled a major $48 million upgrade to its recycling and remanufacturing facility on Gibson Island in Brisbane.

The company said the upgrade is part of Visy Executive Chairman Anthony Pratt's commitment to investing $2 billion over the next decade, $700 million of which will be spent in Queensland, to reduce landfill, reduce emissions, and generate thousands of green collar Australian manufacturing jobs.

According to a news release from Visy, the recycling and remanufacturing campus will feature new state-of-the-art paper optical sorting equipment that will help divert up to 39,000 metric tons of curbside paper materials per year from going to landfill.

Pratt expressed his delight at the renovation, saying "This is a very proud day for our company because we're not only manufacturers, we're actually in the landfill avoidance business which is good for greenhouse gas reduction."

Visy said it will recycle and remanufacture this kerbside waste from many Queensland households into 100% recycled paper and corrugated boxes for the state's farmers and well-known food and beverage businesses rather than sending it to a landfill.

Meanwhile, Pratt praised Premier Palaszczuk and her government "for their foresight and dedication to practical environmental reforms."

"You, Premier and Deputy Premier Miles, are champions of Queensland manufacturing and under your leadership, Queensland has become an economic powerhouse," he said.

The revamp, which was made feasible by the Queensland Government's co-investment support, is expected to minimise landfill by up to 20 kg per Queensland household each year.

The corrugated box factories owned by Visy, including the brand-new one in Hemmant, will then get the 100 per cent recycled paper.

"We are transforming Australia's recycling and manufacturing sectors through these initiatives," said Pratt.

During development, the Gibson Island project supported hundreds of employment, and it now hosts even more manufacturing positions.