The Australian and Northern Territory Governments have co-invested over $2.3 million for 7 new projects to improve the Northern Territory’s ability to recycle its waste and reprocess it into valuable new products under the Australian Government’s Recycling Modernisation Fund.
The new projects, valued at a total of $8.3 million, address gaps in the Territory’s waste recycling and reprocessing capabilities and will grow local businesses, keep waste out of Territory landfills and recycle the Territory’s waste into valuable new commodities such as construction materials.
This funding is in addition to $7.2 million which will go towards a new materials recovery facility in the Northern Territory so that un-serviced areas can access recycling facilities.
Combined, the new facilities are expected to support 12 construction jobs, 19 ongoing positions and process almost 12,000 tonnes of waste glass, plastic, tyres and paper and cardboard waste each year.
Quotes attributable to the federal Minister for the Environment Tanya Plibersek:
“The Australian Government is committed to overcoming the city-country divide and ensuring that Australia’s remote and regional areas can properly manage their waste in line with circular economy principles.
“In a circular economy when a product is no longer useful or required for its initial purpose, it is either reused, recycled or remanufactured for use in another product or process.
“Government and industry investment in new and upgraded infrastructure through the Recycling Modernisation Fund is supporting the circular economy by adding over 1 million of tonnes of additional sorting, processing, and recycling capacity per year by July 2024.
“This is good for the environment, good for jobs and good for Australia’s circular economy.”
“Industry has also played an important part in helping the Northern Territory on its way to a circular economy by recognising the importance of this critical infrastructure investment and contributing $5.9 million towards the 7 projects.
Quotes attributable to the Northern Territory Minister for Northern Australia and Trade Hon Nicole Manison:
“The Northern Territory Government is committed to growing the Territory economy through sustainable development and the waste sector can play a major role in that growth.
“The circular economy industry can be a major contributor to achieving a $40 billion economy by 2030 and we want to make sure Territorians have access to recycling facilities particularly for glass, tyres, plastic and paper.
“The Northern Territory Recycling Modernisation Fund will help grow our domestic waste and recycling industry and ensure we have the infrastructure needed to support the industry now and into the future.”
Quotes attributable to the Northern Territory Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water Security Hon Lauren Moss:
“Establishing new recycling infrastructure is a key action of the NT’s Circular Economy Strategy 2022-2027 and these projects will help to improve recycling and resource recovery across the Territory.
“By working closely with industry and the Australian Government, the Territory government is improving environmental outcomes and realising economic opportunities of a circular economy for the benefit of all Territorians.”
Quotes attributable to the Member for Solomon Luke Gosling:
“It hasn’t always been easy to properly recycle in our regional areas like the Top End, but it’s more important than ever that we have the best mechanisms in place to get this right.
“I’m proud to be part of an Albanese Labor Government that has clear and firm targets for moving towards net zero emissions, fighting climate change, improving recycling technology, and supporting our beautiful environment.
“There’s so much more we can do in this space, and this investment is an important first step.”
Quotes attributable to Northern Waste Reduction Services Managing Director Peter Wesley:
“The new tyre recycling plant is going to be a great addition to our business, the town of Katherine and for the Territory as a whole.
“Having the capacity to recycle a huge volume of tyres in the NT that have reached their end of life will see substantial environmental outcomes for the Territory, and we are excited to process new products from the waste tyres be it for roads, footpaths or children’s playgrounds.”
The Australian Government’s Recycling Modernisation Fund (RMF) is turbocharging Australia’s circular economy so that when a product is no longer useful or required for its initial purpose, it is either reused, recycled or remanufactured.
RMF investments will add over 1 million of tonnes of processing capacity every year, keeping our waste out of landfill and supporting new jobs.
Round 2 of the NT Recycling Modernisation Fund will be opening in the coming weeks.
More information on the Recycling Modernisation Fund is available at https://www.awe.gov.au/environment/protection/waste/how-we-manage-waste/recycling-modernisation-fund and at https://nt.gov.au/industry/business-grants-funding/nt-recycling-modernisation-fund
