REDUCING LANDFILL AND LIFTING RECYCLING CAPACITY IN QUEENSLAND

Over 69,000 tonnes of waste will be diverted from Queensland landfill every year thanks to the Albanese and Palaszczuk Governments together funding more than $12.79 million for six new recycling projects.

This investment will increase waste recycling capabilities across South East Queensland including the Gold Coast, Logan, Toowoomba and Brisbane, as well as in Rockhampton.

In a boost for the economy and jobs, the six projects will support 82 construction jobs and create 116 ongoing positions. 

The new infrastructure will sort, process and transform waste plastics, paper, cardboard and glass into new products for use in agriculture, manufacturing, construction and sustainable food-packaging.

Industry is playing its part and contributing an additional $24.4 million to these important projects.

This funding is part of a $1 billion boost to recycling infrastructure nationally, with the Albanese Government’s investing $250 million through the Recycling Modernisation Fund and state and territory governments and industry also contributing.

The Government is working to build a circular economy where materials are reused, recycled or remanufactured more, and less waste is produced in the first place.

Nationally, investments like this will add over one million tonnes of processing capacity across the country every year, almost doubling the volume of waste to be recycled, keeping valuable materials out of landfill while supporting new jobs.

In Queensland, funding from the Queensland Recycling Modernisation Fund (QRMF) improves waste processing and grows the recycling industry across the state.

The next round of the Recycling Modernisation Fund will target advanced solutions for plastics that are hard to recycle.  Applications close in November.  More information can be found at www.dcceew.gov.au.   

Quotes attributable to Minister for the Environment and Water, Tanya Plibersek MP: 

“Boosting recycling isn’t just good for the environment, it’s good for jobs – for every one job in landfill there are three jobs in recycling. 

“We know people want to do the right thing and recycle their waste, but the reality is there aren’t the facilities to do it.

“The previous government promised to boost recycling but fell woefully short. We’re determined to turn that around. This funding is supporting new recycling infrastructure and helping Queensland communities recycle more.

“We want to better protect nature for our kids and grandkids – and that takes all levels of Government working together.”

“Investment in recycling is great for nature and great for jobs.”

Quotes attributable to Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles MP: 

“Queensland is growing rapidly and we need to do more to keep waste out of landfill and turn it into useful new products.

“Businesses are ready to take advantage of the economic growth emerging from the opportunities presented by global shifts in demand for cleaner, greener, and more responsibly sourced products.

“Partnering with industry on sustainable recycling opportunities means we are kickstarting projects that are expected to create a total of 116 new recycling industry jobs once operational.

“These projects support decarbonisation and are a great example of our move towards a circular economy, where as much valuable material as possible is diverted from landfill through reuse, recycling and remanufacturing.

“We’re committed to supporting innovative ways to turn waste into something that boosts industries like manufacturing and creates jobs.”

Quotes attributable to Queensland Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef, Leanne Linard MP:

“Supporting resource recovery initiatives is crucial to sustaining the future of Queensland’s environment. 

“This grant funding also boosts the state’s economy − it’s a win-win for Queensland.

“By supporting re-use, recycling and remanufacturing here in Queensland, it’ll help achieve our goal to divert 80 per cent of waste from landfill and hit 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.”

Further information:

QRMF forms part of the Queensland Resource Recovery Industries 10-year Roadmap and Action Plan.

For more information on the Recycling Modernisation Fund: Investing in Australia's waste and recycling infrastructure - DCCEEW

For more information on QRMF: Queensland Recycling Modernisation Fund | State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning

Funded projects

AA Sunstate Packaging, Meadowbrook – $480,079 to install specialist new equipment to transform soft plastics into packaging for the manufacturing and agricultural sectors.

Action Products, Richlands – $810,897 to install a new shredding and recycling line that will add more recycled plastics into the manufacture of injection-moulded spacers for reinforcement mesh used in the construction industry.

Disruptive Packaging, Yatala – $3,432,129 to establish a new remanufacturing plant for their award-winning Unicor® sustainable food-packaging that replaces wax cardboard cartons in the food industry.

IQ Renew, Toowoomba – $3,200,000 for a new plastics recycling facility that will process hard and soft plastic waste and turn it into fence posts, pipe resin and other plastic aggregate replacement products.

Re.Group, Location to be confirmed  – $4,500,000 for a beneficiation plant that will sort and reprocess glass into valuable glass products.

Kriaris Recyclables Processing, Rockhampton – $373,521 to install and operate an upgraded baler and conveyor for liquid paperboard, plastic and aluminium beverage containers that can also process cardboard and paper into bales for effective transportation.

ENDS