The City of Launceston has invested in Polly to better combat the huge amount of polystyrene  – one of the most widely used plastics on the planet – that makes its way into landfill each year. 

Polly is the first council owned robot of its kind in Tasmania. 

The robot works by melting polystyrene, also known as styrofoam, into ingots, which are then transported for recycling. 

Launceston mayor Albert van Zetten said people would now be able to dispose of their polystyrene for free at the Waste Centre. 

"Polystyrene in landfill is a particular concern because it takes up a large volume of air space compared to its weight," Mayor van Zetten said.

"It's also a concern in the environment because it's manufactured from petroleum based plastic and does not biodegrade easily - it simply breaks up into smaller and smaller pieces that make their way into our waterways and other sensitive parts of the natural environment.

"As a Council we're thrilled to be able to install this machine at the Launceston Waste Centre and to cut down on the amount of polystyrene that is going to landfill in Northern Tasmania and I'd certainly encourage people to drop their polystyrene off for recycling.’’