Cwth renews new push to boost remote-area recycling

Regional and remote areas of Australia will get new or expanded recycling facilities after $7 million in new federal funding was announced this week.

The grant funding will be made available through the Recycling Modernisation Fund and will be additional to the 23 projects that have already been identified in regional and remote Australia through joint funding with state governments that are valued at $39 million.

Federal Assistant Minister for Waste Reduction and Environmental Management Trevor Evans Projects said projects that would be eligible for the new funding could range from community sorting stations to AI technology and have a co-investment value from $10,000 to $1 million.

The federal
government is also working with the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation
(APCO) to explore and develop waste collection partnerships in regional and
remote areas, including potentially collaborating with other product
stewardship schemes.

Federal Environment
Minister said Sussan Ley said the new RMF funding would help tackle the
city-country imbalance when it comes to recycling opportunities.

“Regional
and remote communities often face unique challenges but that doesn’t make
recycling any less important, and it doesn’t change the fact that people want
the chance to do the right thing for the environment.

“We are
prepared to invest in that opportunity through projects that provide local
solutions to local problems, that increase local employment, provide economic
benefit, and solve transport logistics complexities,” she said.