New bench seats at iconic Australian tourist hub made from 430,000 plastic bags

With around 650,000 visitors per year, Western Australia’s Rottnest Island has become a mustsee destination for international travellers.

Known for spectacular scenery and its adorable population of selfie-loving quokkas that were made famous last year by tennis champion Roger Federer, the island now has another major talking point for visitors.

A series of bench seats along a 45km walking track were installed on Friday, all constructed from recycled plastic bags.

With over 430,000 plastic bags diverted from landfill to create the benches, state environment minister Stephen Dawson said the move is part of a push to reduce waste in Western Australia.

“It’s fantastic to announce this new sustainability initiative during Plastic Free July, which engages the community in a discussion about waste avoidance, which is at the top of the waste hierarchy, with a focus on reducing our use of plastic,” he said.

But apart from the environmental benefits of the recycled materials, Mr Dawson said the plastic products were also chosen for their functionality, aesthetics and easy maintenance.

Named after the indigenous aboriginal population, the Wadjemup Bidi walking trail also includes sections of boardwalk developed with reused plastics.

“Rottnest Island wants to be recognised as a sustainable must-visit tourism destination and projects like the Wadjemup Bidi and its extensive use of recycled plastic products is proof of this commitment,” Western Australian tourism minister Paul Papalia said.