Victoria is set to have the capacity to process an additional 8000 tonnes of plastic annually, thanks to joint funding from the Federal and Victorian Governments.
Geelong-based recycler GT Recycling will also contribute $1.7 million to the project, bringing the total investment for upgrading and expanding its current Geelong facility to $4.7 million.
The funding will support GT Recycling’s solutions, which include recycling of plastic, cardboard and paper, flexible packaging such as tarps as well as landfill diversion.
The investment comes under the Recycling Modernisation Fund, which aims to encourage the usage of clean and green technologies within the waste industry.
Federal Minister for the Environment Sussan Ley said the expanded Geelong facility will help to process and extract value from the almost 188,000 tonnes of plastic waste that Australia would have shipped overseas each year prior to the government’s ban on exporting waste.
“Our export ban on mixed plastic waste started in July this year, with the ban on unprocessed single polymer plastics starting in July 2022. That is why it is vital that we have the technology and infrastructure in place to manage and process plastic waste onshore,” Ley said.
“GT Recycling is making a significant investment to increase its plastic processing capacity which means more jobs for Victorians, more reasons to recycle and a better outcome for the environment.”
Member for Geelong Christine Couzens said she is proud of the work GT plastics is doing in the recycling sector and the funding will help position them as a leader in recycling innovation in Victoria.
“I am excited to see world-leading technology at work right here in Geelong, helping to reduce waste and prevent harmful plastics and other materials from ending up in our beautiful environment,” Couzens said.
The Federal Government has committed $190 million to the Recycling Modernisation Fund, part of a wider billion-dollar transformation of Australia’s waste and recycling capacity that is expected to create 10,000 jobs over 10 years.
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