The Northern Territory will receive $1.24 million federal and territory funding to deliver more than 5,700 tonnes of waste from landfill annually.
Funding for four new projects will address gaps in the Territory’s waste recycling capabilities including in the remote communities of Lajamanu, Laramba and Engawala. Three project sites are near Darwin and Katherine.
The investment is expected to support at least 12 ongoing jobs and 14 construction jobs, and with additional funding from industry the total investment is $2.6 million.
The new and upgraded facilities will process waste plastics, tyres, paper and cardboard, and glass, and turn them into valuable new commodities such as irrigation pipe and rigid plastic produce bins.
The federal Government’s Recycling Modernisation Fund is accelerating Australia’s circular economy so that when a product is no longer useful or required for its initial purpose, it is either reused, recycled or remanufactured.
Projects already announced under the Recycling Modernisation Fund will add an extra 1.3 million tonnes of processing capacity.
That’s equivalent to the weight of over 25 Sydney Harbour Bridges being kept out of landfill every year while creating over 3,000 jobs.
When combined with co-investment from all states and industry, the Recycling Modernisation Fund will give a $1 billion boost to Australian recycling.
Territory businesses and organisations can apply for a Circular Economy NT (CENT) Grant for projects that create or improve recycling, reuse or remanufacturing of waste currently going to landfill.
“The…Government is committed to working with states and territories and industry to better manage waste in locations like regional and remote Northern Territory,” said the Federal Minister for the Environment Tanya Plibersek.
“We recognise there are challenges making it difficult to recycle, reuse and remanufacture waste in smaller and isolated communities, which have dispersed populations and where kerbside collection is not feasible.
“This investment in new and upgraded infrastructure is driving improved waste processing including in the remote communities of Lajamanu, Laramba and Engawala.
“The announcement builds on recycling projects we’ve already funded in Yuelamu, Nyirripi, Willowra and Atitjere in the Central Desert region.”
Applications close 5 January 2024. To learn more and apply visit nt.gov.au/CENT