The state government is boosting recycling in Victoria with funding set aside to help create new commercial opportunities for recycled products, and for the implementation of new separated glass and organic waste drop-off points across regional Victoria.
More than $8 million will go to 45 new projects across Victoria to accelerate the state’s nation-leading transformation toward a circular economy.
Some of the 22 projects by research institutes and businesses supported by the Circular Economy Markets Fund (Materials) fund include a new process to reuse glass from solar panels in construction, and a recycled plastic solution for construction structures that significantly reduces the amount of concrete required.
A further nine projects will receive over $1.5 million to avoid waste and increase materials efficiency through the Circular Economy Business Support Fund, with one recipient introducing a new reusable wine keg service for events to replace wine bottles.
The Circular Economy markets Fund (Organics) will provide $1.87 million to 14 projects that remove barriers and accelerate the adoption of recycled organic products, including developing a market for compost suitable for use on sporting fields that can be blended with turf to nourish Melbourne’s sporting grounds and public open spaces.
“These grants will help support innovative ways to use recycled materials getting value from our waste, and helping to achieve our goal of diverting 80 per cent of waste from landfill by 2030,” said Lily D’Ambrosio, Minister for the Environment and Climate Action.
“Building a circular economy isn’t only about recycling. We’re supporting new business models that avoid waste, making products that last while creating new jobs and industries.”
As for regional Victoria, the state government will also invest a further $3 million to support 11 regional councils to introduce new drop-off points, allowing tonnes of glass to be recycled into new glass bottles and jars, and organic resources to be recycled into compost.
The regional councils who will benefit from this support are Buloke Shire Council, City of Greater Geelong, West Wimmera Shire Council, Hepburn Shire Council, Moira Shire Council, Towong Shire Council, Swan Hill Rural City Council, and Mansfield Shire Council.
The funding forms part of the $129 million investment to roll-out the new four stream waste and recycling service to Victoria’s regions, provided through the Transfer Station Upgrade Fund.
Last year, the fund helped 28 regional and rural councils upgrade drop-off points in areas where kerbside services might not be appropriate.
The government’s $34.9 million Regional Recycling Fund is also helping regions create local circular economies through material recovery and sorting facilities in regional Victoria.
“We’re supporting regional communities to build thriving recycling networks and build a circular economy that creates jobs and reduces waste,” added D’Ambrosio.
“We’re transforming the way we think about waste – boosting jobs in regional Victoria as we target diverting 80 per cent of landfill by 2030.”
All of the announced grants are part of the government’s $515 million investment to deliver the biggest transformation and reform of Victoria’s waste and recycling system in the state’s history.
