State Government announces $3.2m in local recycling grants to combat China Sword
MORE than $3.2 million in grants will help SA recycling companies employ extra staff, upgrade equipment and turn more material into Australian-made products.
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MORE than $3.2 million in grants will help SA recycling companies employ extra staff, upgrade equipment and turn more material into Australian-made products.
The State Government has announced the funding for 17 companies and waste authorities, which it says will help create 36 new full-time jobs.
The money will help SA deal with the impact of the China Sword policy, which has effectively banned the importation of all paper and plastics to China.
Councils across the country are grappling with the flow-on effects, including huge increases in the cost of collecting and processing kerbside waste.
Adam Faulkner, chief executive of Northern Adelaide Waste Management Authority, said his organisation’s $250,000 grant would help cover the cost of new equipment to improve the quality of recyclable material, which in turn was helping uncover new markets in Australia.
“About half of what’s in residents’ bins is either paper or cardboard — that’s the big one we need to get right in order to continue recycling these materials economically,” Mr Faulkner said.
“With our new technology, we can produce high-quality material that can stay here (in Australia) and go back into newspaper.”
The Edinburgh-based authority has secured a contract to supply a paper mill in Albury.
That contract, and a move to begin sorting the kerbside waste for seven extra Adelaide councils from last week, has resulted in the hiring of 22 more staff. But Mr Faulkner said more could be done to address Australia’s glut of recyclable materials.
“There’s a role here for the government to step in to mandate that recycled content in the things they buy, whether that’s roads, footpaths or street furniture,” Mr Faulkner said.
“There’s also a big role for the manufacturers who make this stuff in the first place to make it recyclable rather than using single-use plastic.”
Environment and Water Minister David Speirs said the government’s investment in the sector would help maintain the state’s world-leading waste diversion results — only 17 per cent of waste is dumped.
“The State Government funding of more than $3.2 million has been matched by the applicants, unlocking more than $7.9 million of investment for 17 projects that support an estimated 36 full-time jobs,” Mr Speirs said.
Green Triangle Recyclers in Mt Gambier received $425,000 for an upgrade to its waste centre, and VISY’s Wingfield centre will use its $490,000 for equipment to improve paper and glass quality.
That will include removing wine bottle lids and seals to clean up the glass stream, leading to an extra 190 tonnes of recycled material each year.
U Pull It in Lonsdale will get $357,500 for new equipment to help recycle car parts.
The funding is part of a $12.4 million support package for the industry announced in May.
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