The Queensland Government has increased the Resource Recovery Boost fund to $130 million to bolster council recycling rates.
Over the last decade, waste sent to landfill in Queensland increased from 1.7 million tonnes in 2015 to nearly 2 million tonnes today, while recycling rates have gone backwards.
The State Government is looking to deliver a better environment for Queensland by launching a new strategy to reduce rubbish and boost recycling.
The Resource Recovery Boost fund will support councils in building critical waste infrastructure to divert waste from household red bins to green and yellow bins.
Under the first round, $60 million will be available, with councils able to apply for up to $2 million for small projects with local and regional benefits or apply for more than $2 million for major projects with regional or state-wide impact.
Queensland Minister for the Environment and Tourism, Andrew Powell, said that supporting councils to build infrastructure was crucial to ensure they are equipped to recover valuable resources from waste.
“Queensland is ranked third last in national recycling rates, and we are determined to turn that around,” Powell said.
“We have been working with councils to boost recycling rates across Queensland and this funding will help build the infrastructure they need.”
The Resource Recovery Boost Fund will complement other funding programs, such as the Growing the Recovery of Organic Waste via Food Organic and Garden Organics (GROW FOGO) fund which to date has funded almost half a million new green bins and diverted more than 100,000 tonnes of organic waste from landfill.
The government is also helping consumers to navigate recycling programs, investing $2.4 million to extend a partnership with Recycle Mate – a free app which gives users quick advice on how to dispose of and recycle used household items.
The three-year extension will ensure residents get reliable information on local and safe disposal opportunities for all types of waste.
To learn more about Recycle Mate, visit: Recycle Mate
To learn more about the Resource Recovery Boost Fund, visit: Resource Recovery Boost Fund | Environment, land and water | Queensland Government
