Queensland’s $45M boost for large-scale recycling projects

The Queensland Government announced a $45 million package to boost Queensland’s recycling industry, aiming to meet the state’s waste diversion targets, create jobs, and support a clean energy future.

The package, targeting large-scale, high-recovery projects, was unveiled on the Gold Coast during a Community Cabinet meeting.

Part of the government’s $2.1 billion waste and resource recovery package, this initiative includes $1 billion in household waste levy rebates for Queensland councils and the $1.1 billion Recycling and Jobs Fund.

“This government has a vision for Queensland to become a zero-waste community, where waste is avoided, reused, recycled, and remanufactured to the greatest extent possible,” said State Development Minister Grace Grace during her visit to BMI Group’s Stapylton Resource Recovery Centre.

The facility diverts over 185,530 tonnes of waste from landfills annually by processing construction and demolition waste into usable materials such as roadbase and chipped timber for landscaping soils.

This facility was partly funded by a $2 million grant from the Queensland Government’s Resource Recovery Industry Development Program (RRIDP), creating 16 full-time jobs.

The new funding announcement builds on previous efforts to foster a sustainable resource recovery industry through programs like the RRIDP and the Queensland Recycling Modernisation Fund.

These initiatives have supported 48 projects, diverted over 1.46 million tonnes of waste from landfills, resulted in over $425 million in capital expenditure, and created around 560 jobs across Queensland.

“The recycling industry has told us that to achieve some of Queensland’s 2030 waste diversion targets, there is a need to concentrate effort towards large-scale projects with co-investment from the Miles Government – so that’s exactly what we are doing,” Minister Grace emphasised.

“Today we are unlocking $45 million in funding for projects tackling waste in three key areas: commercial and industrial waste, renewable energy technologies, and electrical and electronic products and batteries.”

Environment Minister Leanne Linard highlighted the environmental and economic benefits of the initiative.

“The Miles Government is strongly committed to protecting Queensland’s iconic natural environment, and reducing waste through increased resource recovery is an important part of our plan,” Linard stated.

“Recycling is not only good for the environment. It’s good for the economy as well. We know that for every one job in landfill, there is the potential for three jobs in recycling, reuse and remanufacturing.”

Suzanne Toumbourou, CEO of the Australian Council of Recycling, praised the government’s investment. “The Australian Council of Recycling applauds the Queensland Government’s $45 million investment in maximizing resource recovery and scaling recycling, particularly through the focus on renewable energy technologies and electronic products,” Toumbourou said.

Nick Badyk, COO of BMI Group, also underscored the importance of government support.

“With $2 million in grant funding from the Queensland Government, BMI Group commissioned the $5.92 million Construction and Demolition (C&D) plant at our Stapylton Resource Recovery Centre in April 2022,” Badyk explained.

The $45 million package further aims to enhance Queensland’s recycling capabilities, ensuring a cleaner environment and a stronger economy.

With these efforts, the Queensland Government said it is well on its way to recovering 80 per cent of all waste and attaining a 65 per cent recycling rate across all waste types by 2030.