The Victorian Government will invest over $10.5 million in the next three years to improve waste management and resource recovery across the state.
Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water Lisa Neville today (22 October) announced a raft of measures to cut waste to landfill, reduce litter and encourage innovation in the Victorian resource recovery sector.
Keeping to the goals of the Statewide Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Plan (SWRRIP) that was launched in June, the Victorian Government says it is working to deliver a system that maximises waste avoidance and resource recovery, and uses landfill only to dispose of materials that can’t be cost-effectively re-used or recovered.
“This $10.5 million funding package is part of our commitment to reducing our dependence on landfill and supporting new resource recovery industries,” said Minister Neville.
“We want to stimulate re-processing and end markets for recyclable materials while cutting litter and improving the way we manage landfills.”
As Victoria’s population continues to grow so does the amount of waste that is generated. New technology and evolving consumption patterns are changing the type of waste communities generate.
The $10.5 million investment includes money to help decrease the amount of waste going to landfill by supporting organics recovery projects and stimulating end-markets for recoverable materials.
Minister Neville added: “As the state’s population grows we need to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill, find ways to reduce litter and encourage the development of new industries that recycle the things we used to throw away.”