New $3m Palm Island recycling centre to be built

Palm Island will soon be able to process its own recycling as part of a $3m project, with the small community currently forced to ship it to the mainland at a high cost. See what else is changing.

Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council CEO Michael Bissell, Townsville MP Scott Stewart and Palm Island Mayor Mislam Sam.

Palm Island will soon be able to process its own recycling as part of a $3m project, with the small community currently forced to ship it to the mainland at a high cost.

Dubbed a ‘circular economy centre’, the facility will recycle, have a men’s shelter and diversionary program under one roof.

The investment is expected to create jobs and support programs aimed at reducing domestic violence and anti-social behaviour.

The diversionary program, which is currently operational on the island, will relocate to the new facility when it is complete.

The recycling centre is part of the Palaszczuk Government’s goal of recycling and diverting 80 per cent of waste from landfill by 2030.

Mayor Mislam Sam said the Palm Aboriginal Shire Council had already finished a recycling project which took 500 tonnes of scrap metal off the island, and put out 20 public bins with waste management, which has left to an additional 2000l of waste removed form public spaces each week.

Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon said the island was right in the heart of the reef and had so much environmental and cultural value, “which is why the community is keen to reduce waste, recycle and look after Country.”

Shipping waste to the mainland was not cheap, Ms Scanlon said.

Big projects on the island at the moment include work on the sewerage system, of which Mayor Sam previously said about 80 per cent did not work properly.

The council CEO Michael Bissell said the investment would support ongoing employment opportunities once open.

“Reflecting we live in a tropical paradise in the middle of the Great Barrier Reef, council’s two waste management objectives on Palm Island, a) all waste goes off the Island and there are zero discharge to land and waters; b) we are committed to leading practice and innovative waste management solutions that drive reuse and recycling and keep waste management costs and risks low,” Mr Bissell said.

The 2021 census lists the island’s population at 2138, but it is thought there are regularly up to 4000 in the community at any time.

Townsville MP Scott Stewart said the new facility would support the council’s integrated focus on caring for land and sea, while also growing their economy.

“It’s important to have more services like this on Palm Island as not only do they help create good jobs but also help ensure people are supported in the community,” he said.

Originally published as New $3m Palm Island recycling centre to be built