The Victorian Government is investing $1.7 million into 12 projects to improve the collection, storage and reprocessing of e-waste across the state.
“This will create 37 new jobs, divert 6600 tonnes of e-plastics from landfill per year and increase e-waste reprocessing capacity by an additional 13,250 tonnes annually – the equivalent to over 900,000 LCV TVs,” Energy, Environment and Climate Change Minister Lily D’Ambrosio said.
“The government’s ban on e-waste to landfill in July 2019 paved the way for electronic items to be safely disposed of, reducing the harm these items have on the environment and human health and ensuring valuable resources from discarded electronic goods don’t go to waste.”
The state government has also allocated $560,000 to 17 organisations through the Investment Support Grants – Packaging program.
The program allows small to medium sized businesses, not-for-profit organisations and social enterprises to invest in projects that reduce, recover and reuse packaging materials such as plastics, paper and cardboard.
According to D’Ambrosio, this funding round will create 52 new jobs and divert more than 5500 tonnes of waste from landfill each year.
Among the recipients is family-owned business Happy Planet Toys, which manufactures a fully recyclable toy product made from recycled milk bottles.
“We are helping businesses to reduce packaging, to give new life to our waste, and reduce the impact of disposable packaging on our environment,” D’Ambrosio said.
Related stories:
- VIC offers $2M in grants to improve e-waste infrastructure
- VIC landfill levy deferred as part of $3B Business Resilience Package
- VIC Greens call for 23 new recycling facilities by 2025