Coalition to spend $190 million diverting tonnes of waste from landfill

The Government has announced a $190 million scheme to tackle recycling – and create thousands of new jobs at the same time.

The Federal Government has announced a huge, multimillion-dollar “waste and recycling plan” that is expected to create more than 10,000 new jobs.

The Morrison Government will commit $190 million to a new Recycling Modernisation Fund (RMF) that will generate $600 million of recycling investment and drive a “billion-dollar transformation” of Australia’s waste and recycling capacity.

Under the scheme, more than 10,000 jobs will be created to build and later operate recycling plants and over 10 million tonnes of waste will be diverted from landfill to the making of useful products.

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The RMF will support investment in new infrastructure to sort, process and remanufacture materials such as mixed plastic, paper, tyres and glass.

The fund will boost the nation’s recycling capacity ahead of a key deadline set by the Council of Australian Governments to ban exports of unprocessed waste in 2024.

“As we cease shipping our waste overseas, the waste and recycling transformation will reshape our domestic waste industry, driving job creation and putting valuable materials back into the economy,” Minister for the Environment Sussan Ley said today.

Minister for the Environment Sussan Ley said the scheme was a “once in a generation opportunity” to transform the industry. Picture: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

“Australians need to have faith that the items they place in their kerbside recycling bins will be re-used in roads, carpet, building materials and a range of other essential items.

“At the same time, we need to stop throwing away tonnes of electronic waste and batteries each year and develop new ways to recycle valuable resources.”

Ms Ley said the new scheme was a “once in a generation opportunity to remodel waste management, reduce pressure on our environment and create economic opportunity”.

Meanwhile, Assistant Minister for Waste Reduction and Environmental Management, Trevor Evans, said the plan would boost jobs and the economy as well as benefit the environment.

“Our targeted investment will grow Australia’s circular economy, create more jobs and build a stronger onshore recycling industry,” Mr Evans said.

“Australian companies are turning plastics and household waste into furniture, decking, fencing and clothing, and we are developing new domestic markets for recycled materials by setting national standards for recycled content in roads and making recycled products a focus of procurement for infrastructure, defence estate management and general government purchasing.”