The Australian and Queensland Governments are investing over $13.3 million in new recycling initiatives to divert 68,000 tonnes of waste from the state’s landfill.
This initiative, which will support 147 construction jobs and create 83 ongoing position, will close gaps in Queensland’s waste recycling capacity in remote communities such as Atherton, Moura, Mareeba, and Thursday Island, benefiting local businesses.
With the help of the new infrastructure, glass, plastics, paper, tyres, and cardboard will be sorted, processed, and recycled to create new goods for use in manufacturing, construction, and agriculture.
The industry is also pitching in with an additional $39.7 million for these critical projects, the government said in a media statement.
“The Albanese Labor Government is committed to working with states and territories and industry to better manage waste in locations like regional and remote Queensland,” said Minister for the Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek.
Queensland Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development Steven Miles stated that the new initiatives are anticipated to generate a total of 83 new employment in the recycling industry once they are fully operational.
“Creating new jobs, projects and opportunities through grant funding such as this are a key focus, recently highlighted in the Queensland New Industry Development Strategy as an important industry needed to support decarbonisation,” Miles noted.
Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef Leanne Linard is urging the re-use, recycling, and remanufacturing in Queensland, which will help the state achieve its goal of diverting 80 per cent of waste from landfill and reaching 65 per cent recycling by 2030.
“It’s imperative that we find ways to avoid adding to landfill, and in turn, contribute to our net-zero emissions goals through better waste management. These new projects certainly tick these boxes,” Linard remarked.
The $250 million Recycling Modernisation Fund (RMF) established by the Albanese Labour Government is boosting Australia’s circular economy by ensuring that when a product is no longer required for its original purpose, it is reused, recycled, or remanufactured.
The Queensland Recycling Modernisation Fund (QRMF) and the Regional and Remote Recycling Modernisation Fund (RRRMF) provide funding to improve trash processing and boost the recycling industry in Queensland.
