The Queensland Government has awarded over $27 million to 34 recipient through the Regional Recycling Transport Assistance Package (RRTAP).
Environment Minister Leeanne Enoch said the grants would help create long-term sustainable jobs and allow regional Queenslanders to take part in the state’s “war on waste.”
“This is a win for our environment and a boost for regional employment, which is an important part of the state government’s recovery plan: Unite and Recover for Queensland Jobs,” she said.
“There are unique challenges when recycling and re-using waste in Queensland’s regional communities and this package will assist with the cost of accessing recycling services.”
Grants of up to $250,000 have been allocated to regional businesses, councils and charities to help fund the cost of transporting recyclable material from regional Queensland to facilities where it can be recovered or processed and turned into new products.
“There are three times as many jobs in recycling as there are in landfill, so every initiative that helps to increase recycling is supporting more employment,” Enoch said.
A variety of businesses, charities and local councils from Tambo to Townsville, Mareeba to Mackay are among the recipients.
Darryl Barber, Executive General Manager of the Endeavour Foundation’s Work portfolio, said the grant was fantastic news for the charity’s recycling operations in regional Queensland.
“It will help Endeavour Foundation ensure the ongoing employment of 185 regional Queenslanders through our document destruction and recycling programs, more than 90 per cent of whom have an intellectual disability,” he said.
“Through this grant we will be able to divert 2980 tonnes of recyclable materials from landfill in regional towns including Townsville, Warwick, Rockhampton, Cairns and Gladstone.”
As the largest operator of waste transfer stations in Queensland, Barber said the Endeavour Foundation is committed to supporting the state’s environment. He added that activities supported by the grant include paper, cardboard, e-waste and sawdust recycling.
“We’re constantly looking to find new and innovative ways to reduce waste in Queensland and this grant ensures we can do that, while continuing to provide meaningful employment to people with a disability in regional towns,” Barber said.
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