Projects that will divert PVC materials, plastics, polystyrene and glass into new products are the first to be funded under the $40 million Queensland Recycling Modernisation Fund (QRMF).
Queensland Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon and Federal Member for Moreton Graham Perrett announced the new funding at pipe manufacturer Vinidex in Coopers Plains at the weekend.
Vinidex has received $652,525 for equipment to increase capacity to shred, wash and micronise waste PVC materials for remanufacture into new products.
Other newly funded projects announced were Ability Enterprises, Wilsonton, which will receive $513,306 for a plastics recycling project to operate in South West Queensland and Casafico, Morayfield, which will receive $175,000 for a manufacturing plant as well as a mobile plant that will process plastics, polystyrene and glass in into premium products for the building and construction industry.
Scanlon said more than 150,000 tonnes of waste will be kept out of landfill annually through the Queensland Recycling Modernisation Fund and channelled into increasing the amount of recycled content in manufacturing thanks to these projects.
“By supporting reuse, recycling and remanufacturing here in Queensland, it’ll help achieve our goal to divert 80 per cent of waste from landfill and hit 65 per cent recycling by 2030.
“We want to stop as much waste as possible from ending up landfill, and in turn increase recycling, create new products and drive down the impact we have on the environment. These new projects tick these boxes.”
Tanya Plibersek, Federal Minister for the Environment, said the fund is turbocharging Australia’s circular economy.
“We need cutting edge waste management and recycling facilities,” she said. “That’s why the Federal and Queensland Labor governments are co-investing $40 million to create new or expanded facilities, employ Queenslanders and increasing manufacturing using recycled materials.”
Once operational, the new projects are expected to create a total of more than 300 new recycling industry jobs.
Vinidex is a leader in Australian manufacturing and the supply of advanced pipe systems and solutions. The new equipment, funded by the QRMF, will enable the company to divert 1000 tonnes of PVC waste away from landfill each year.
Vinidex Chief Executive Officer David Birch said closing the loop by quadrupling the use of recycled waste materials is an important pillar of the company’s 2025 sustainability vision.
The QRMF is a joint initiative of the Australian and Queensland Governments with a combined investment of $40 million. Queensland industries involved in the initiative contribute at least half of project costs, delivering more than $80 million in new investment for Queensland.