New $10 million program to promote use of recycled materials

• New $10 million ReMade in Queensland (ReMiQ) program to support Queensland manufacturers in remanufacturing recycled materials
• Eligible manufacturers and recyclers can access matched grant funding of between $50,000 and $2.5 million for projects that increase the reuse of existing recycled material streams in manufacturing or enable diversification to remanufacture new waste streams
• Guidelines for this exciting new round of grants are now available

Queensland manufacturers are set to recover, recycle and reprocess more sustainable products with help from the Miles Government’s $10 million ReMade in Queensland program.

The grant round is an initiative of the $1.1 billion Recycling and Jobs Fund.

This new round will be called ‘ReMiQ’ as a targeted round of the existing and very successful Made in Queensland (MiQ) program.

ReMiQ will help local small-to-medium sized manufacturing and recycling businesses adopt remanufacturing processes that reduce waste and energy costs, reuse materials that might otherwise end up in landfill and convert these materials into new manufactured goods.

The ReMiQ program will drive the manufacturing sector’s delivery on the Queensland Government’s Waste Management and Resource Recovery Strategy, which aims to recover 80 per cent of all waste and achieve 65 per cent recycling rates across all waste types by 2030.

Thanks to direct investment through ReMiQ, Queensland’s manufacturers will be supported to make the most of waste and recycled material streams to develop new products, grow their businesses and drive better environmental and economic outcomes. Direct investment in businesses through the implementation of modern advanced technologies and processes will also help create the manufacturing jobs of the future. 

Guidelines for the new grant round are now available on the Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water’s website www.rdmw.qld.gov.au/ReMiQ

Applicants can submit an Expressions of Interest (EOI) for grant funding between $50,000 and $2.5 million to support projects that increase the reuse of existing recycled material streams in manufacturing or enable diversification to remanufacture new waste streams.

Expressions of interest for the ReMiQ program open 16 January, with submissions closing 19 February 2024.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Manufacturing, Glenn Butcher:

“These grants build on our Government’s investment in Made in Queensland grants, Manufacturing Hubs Grants and Manufacturing Energy Efficiency Grants. This means local Queensland businesses are benefiting from more than $145 million in direct investment from this Government.  Importantly, our investments in these programs have created and supported more than 7000 jobs across Queensland.

“Helping our manufacturing industry adopt greener practices that are good for business and the environment is a significant step in the journey.

“We know that there is a growing demand for manufacturers to demonstrate sustainability measures and this grant is just one more way the Miles Government is backing Queensland manufacturers to be globally competitive.

“Growing opportunities for business means more, good, secure jobs for Queenslanders.”

Quotes attributable to Acting Minister for the Environment and Great Barrier Reef and Minister for Science and Innovation, Grace Grace:

“The $1.1 billion Recycling and Jobs Fund, which is supporting the ReMade in Queensland initiative, helps Queensland’s transition to a circular economy, where products and materials are retained for their longest possible use then recycled or reused.

“A circular economy maximises the value of our products and materials by reducing waste and pollution, reducing precious materials going to landfill, and mitigating greenhouse gas and carbon emissions.

“By assisting manufacturers recover, recycle and reprocess materials into more sustainable products, ReMade in Queensland is another significant step towards a circular economy for our great state.”

Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister for Train Manufacturing, Regional Development and Jobs, Bruce Saunders:

“We know there is global interest in ensuring manufacturing processes use recycled materials as much as possible to reduce waste and create a cleaner economy.

“These grants will help businesses with the equipment and technology they need to use clean recycled materials, harness new opportunities and most importantly, create new jobs.”

Quotes attributable to Macalister MP, Melissa McMahon:

“This grant will be a game-changer for eligible manufacturers and recyclers and I’m so proud it was launched at BlockTexx in the Macalister electorate.

“This business is a prime example of a manufacturer recycling and reprocessing sustainable products!

“I am proud to be part of a government that encourages a circular economy to reduce waste and energy costs.”

Quotes attributable to BlockTexx Director, Graham Ross:

“We know how important it is to reduce waste heading to landfill and transition to smarter, more sustainable ways of working.

“Remanufacturing offers us the ability to do both, and support from the Queensland Government will enable small-to-medium sized Queensland businesses to be globally competitive in this area.”

Further Information:

Queensland manufacturers seeking information about project eligibility criteria, key timeframes and assessment criteria should visit www.rdmw.qld.gov.au/ReMiQ

ENDS

Media contact: Lizzy Aboud – 0474 811 004