February 3rd, 2022Recycling transformation
The Federal Government’s transformation of Australia’s recycling sector steps up another gear with the Australian and Victorian Governments jointly announcing 13 new projects that will see 136,000 tonnes of plastics, paper, glass and tyres made into new products while creating new jobs and new investment in the Victorian economy.
Minister for the Environment Sussan Ley announced $36.5 million in joint funding for projects under the Australian Government’s Recycling Modernisation Fund (RMF) and the Victorian Government’s Recycling Victoria Infrastructure Fund.
Minister Ley said the Morrison Government’s $190 million contribution to the RMF was facilitating unprecedented investment in recycling infrastructure, with the combined Commonwealth, state, territory and industry co-investment model on track to reach around $800 million.
“This latest round of projects includes a joint PET recycling venture that will process the raw plastic equivalent of one billion drink bottles each year to produce over 22,000 tonnes of recycled PET bottles and food packaging,” Minister Ley said.
“It also includes remanufacturing projects, new products that will re-make waste into garden pots, railway sleepers and corrugated pipe.
“The co-investment model is exceeding all expectations and showing that materials can be recycled and remanufactured to create new products and new jobs while helping our environment.”
Senator for Victoria Sarah Henderson said the Morrison Government is driving a $1 billion transformation of our waste and recycling industry to turbocharge domestic recycling so we can process in Australia materials that were previously sent overseas.
“It’s fantastic to see industry partnering with Government through the RMF, creating local jobs and innovating regional facilities,” Senator Henderson said.
The following local project have received funding:
Ballarat electorate
- Replas received $735,000 for their Advanced Polymer Feedstock project. Replas will increase its mixed-soft plastic reprocessing capacity to include problematic, low bulk density plastics. It will use these to produce Polyrok, a stone aggregate replacement used in the construction of kerbs and footpaths.
Corangamite electorate
- Fulton Hogan received $740,000 for their Lara Glass Processing Hub. Glass from local councils will be crushed and incorporated into asphalt products to build local roads. The project will process the equivalent of 40 million 330ml glass beer bottles each year.
Bendigo electorate
- Tambo Waste received $1.02 million to wash recycled glass products diverted from landfill at its California Gully site near Bendigo. At Tambo Waste Bairnsdale, the MRF upgrade will include a glass recycling facility which will be able to crush glass into fine sand for local re-use on roads.
The $190 million Recycling Modernisation Fund investment and measures to support Australia’s National Waste Policy Action Plan will create approximately 10,000 new jobs all around Australia over the next 10 years.
For more information see https://www.environment.gov.au/protection/waste/how-we-manage-waste/recycling-modernisation-fund
