Regional and remote areas of Australia will get new or expanded recycling facilities after $7 million in new federal funding was announced this week.
The grant funding will be made available through the Recycling Modernisation Fund and will be additional to the 23 projects that have already been identified in regional and remote Australia through joint funding with state governments that are valued at $39 million.
Federal Assistant Minister for Waste Reduction and Environmental Management Trevor Evans Projects said projects that would be eligible for the new funding could range from community sorting stations to AI technology and have a co-investment value from $10,000 to $1 million.
The federal government is also working with the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) to explore and develop waste collection partnerships in regional and remote areas, including potentially collaborating with other product stewardship schemes.
Federal Environment Minister said Sussan Ley said the new RMF funding would help tackle the city-country imbalance when it comes to recycling opportunities.
“Regional and remote communities often face unique challenges but that doesn’t make recycling any less important, and it doesn’t change the fact that people want the chance to do the right thing for the environment.
“We are prepared to invest in that opportunity through projects that provide local solutions to local problems, that increase local employment, provide economic benefit, and solve transport logistics complexities,” she said.