The Federal and Tasmanian Governments have entered into a landmark agreement that will deliver a $16 million boost for the state’s recycling industry.
Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley and Tasmanian Environment and Parks Minister Roger Jaensch have announced the signing of an $11 million joint funding agreement between the federal and state government.
According to Ley, the partnership under the $190 million Recycling Modernisation Fund will leverage an additional $5.5 million from Tasmanian industry to further develop plastic recycling.
“Investing in the latest recycling technology just makes sense as Australia moves towards becoming a circular economy in which we shift the focus from ‘take, make, use and dispose’ to a more circular approach where we maintain the value of resources for as long as possible,” she said.
Jaensch added that the funding provided through the national partnership agreement was expected to result in over $16 million being injected into the resource recovery industry in Tasmania.
“This is a substantial investment in recycling in Tasmania that will help to grow the resource recovery sector and create a circular economy in Tasmania,” he said.
“Over the next four years the Tasmanian Government will provide up to $5.5 million in grants, which will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Federal Government through its $190 million Recycling Modernisation Fund.
“This will leverage additional matching investment from businesses with new ideas and technologies that can turn waste into resources and new products, adding value and creating jobs in Tasmania.”
Assistant Waste Reduction and Environmental Management Minister Trevor Evans said the investment will create a high-quality recycled material that will then be available for industry to make into new products.
“Tasmanians need to know that their waste is a valuable product, not a problem that needs to be solved or put into the ground,” he said.
“Our Recycling Modernisation Fund recognises that and will make sure that Tasmania reaps the benefits.”
Further details of the grants program will be released shortly, with applications to open before Christmas.
Related stories:
- Tasmanian Budget allocates $30M to waste and resource recovery
- $190m recycling fund to turbo charge recycling capacity
- Envorinex opens Tasmania’s first soft plastic recycling plant
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