Free to a good home: we're giving away our plastic recycling machines
We're giving one Australian school, small business, not-for-profit or community organisation a complete plastic sheet press and CNC setup. It's yours for the cost of writing 200 words.
Why we're doing this
We've upgraded. We now run two bigger machines that can handle more volume than we could when we started out.
Which leaves us with our original setup, gathering dust, working perfectly. This is the gear we learned on. It's where we figured out what a sheet press actually does, how much plastic it takes to make one board, and how powerful it is to hand someone something made from waste they recognise. It was a brilliant starting ground for us.
Sitting here, it recycles exactly zero kilograms of plastic. In the right hands, it could run for years. A school teaching kids what really happens to a milk bottle. A makerspace turning local waste into furniture. A small business proving a circular product line is possible.
So rather than let it gather dust, we're passing it on.
What you get
Sheet press
- MIR Press double station heat press, 40cm x 50cm platen
- Model HEST HTD2-45, 1800W, 8.2A, 220V
- Digital temperature and timer control
- Sliding double station base, so one sheet cools while the next one presses
CNC router
- FoxAlien Masuter 3
- Upgraded 300W spindle
- Upgraded Nema 23 stepper motors
- Spare rubber timing belts
- Spindle vacuum attachment
- Original spindle and stepper motors also included
Moulds
- 1 x 400mm x 400mm x 5mm
- 1 x 400mm x 400mm x 10mm
Materials to get you started
- 10kg of shredded LDPE and HDPE
Everything is used and in full working order. The press platens and moulds carry heat staining and surface marking from years of use, which is exactly what you'd expect from equipment that has done real work. It comes as-is, with no warranty.
What you can actually make with it
You take clean plastic waste, the sort that usually can't go in your kerbside bin, and shred it into flakes. The press applies heat and pressure to melt those flakes into a solid sheet, a bit like a giant panini press for plastic. What comes out looks like a speckled, marbled board. Every sheet is different, because every batch of waste is different.
Then the CNC router cuts that sheet into whatever you want. Coasters. Signage. Shelving. Stool tops. Jewellery. Planter boxes. Parts for other projects.
The point isn't really the object at the end. It's that people can see, with their own eyes, that the thing they were about to throw away had somewhere else to go. We've never found a more effective way to teach that.
Who can apply
This giveaway is open to Australian based organisations only. Your organisation must be located in Australia, and the machines can only be delivered to an Australian address. We can't ship overseas.
You need to be one of the following:
- An Australian school or educational institution
- An Australian small business
- An Australian registered not-for-profit or charity
- An Australian community organisation, makerspace, men's shed, community garden or similar
You'll also need somewhere safe to put it, someone willing to learn how to use it, and a real reason for wanting it.
Individuals applying on their own behalf aren't eligible. This needs to reach a group of people, not a garage.
How to apply
1. Read the terms so you know what you're taking on, including the freight arrangement.
2. Fill in the form. It takes about ten minutes. We ask about your organisation, where you'd put the machines, and how you'd use them.
3. Write your 200 words. Tell us why you need it, or what you'd do with it. This is the part we actually judge on. Plain and specific beats polished and vague every time.
Key dates
| Applications open | Wednesday 19 August 2026 |
| Applications close | 11:59pm AEST, Tuesday 1 September 2026 |
| Winner contacted | By Sunday 6 September 2026 |
| Announced publicly | Week commencing 7 September 2026 |
What we're looking for
We're looking to support groups and organisations working in the circular economy. Specifically, we want this equipment to do three things.
Recycle more. How much plastic will actually get diverted because you have these machines?Â
Raise awareness. Education is the whole reason Banish exists. If your plan helps people understand where their waste goes and what else it could become, that counts for a lot with us.
Create opportunities for people. Skills, training, employment, volunteering, or simply access to equipment that a community would never otherwise get near. Tell us who benefits and how.
We'll also weigh up whether it's realistically going to get used. We'd rather give it to a group with a modest plan they'll definitely follow through on than an ambitious one that needs everything to go right.
You don't need a slick application. Some of the best answers we get to anything are typed in a hurry by someone who really means it.
Questions we expect you'll have
Do I have to pay for delivery?
Banish covers freight up to $250 to an Australian address. If your location costs more than that, we'll tell you the exact figure before you commit, and you can choose whether to cover the difference or pass. We'll never surprise you with a bill.
What condition is it in?
Used and working. We've run it ourselves and it does the job. The platens and moulds are stained and marked from use. It's supplied as-is with no warranty, no guarantee of performance and no ongoing support from us, so please factor that in.
Do I need special power?
No. Both machines run off a standard Australian power point. No three phase power or special wiring needed. Worth knowing: the press draws 1800W (8.2A at 220V), so it wants its own 10A outlet rather than sharing a power board with other heavy equipment. It's also rated for dry indoor locations only. Your organisation will still need to handle its own testing and tagging and workplace safety requirements.
Do I have to do anything for Banish in return?
No. There are no obligations. We're not asking for posts, photos, reports or promotion. If you want to share what you make, we'd love to see it, but it's genuinely not a condition.
Can I apply on behalf of my workplace?
Yes, as long as you're authorised to accept equipment on their behalf. Please check first.
Can I apply for just one of the machines?
No. It goes as one complete set to one recipient.
How many applications can I submit?
One per organisation.
Ready?
One Australian organisation is going to open a very large box in September. Might as well be yours.
Applications close 11:59pm AEST, Tuesday 1 September 2026. Read the full terms and conditions.