The federal and South Australian governments have signed a National Partnership on Recycling Infrastructure, with each contributing to a $30 million program that will support up to half the cost of new recycling projects.
Each will provide $15 million to the funding pool, with the federal government’s share coming from its $190 million Recycling Modernisation Fund, announced in July last year.
Grants of between $500,000 to $10 million per project are available to eligible “private sector, non-government organisations and local government organisations” to “increase the capacity for domestic sorting, processing and manufacturing of materials affected by the waste export bans.”
The federal government plans to phase out all exports of unprocessed waste by July 2024, and grants support local reprocessing of waste plastics, paper, glass and tyres, which are each subject to bans.
“The funding in South Australia will be focusing on partner projects that are investigating new technology and equipment related to mixed plastics reprocessing, improving the recovery and separation of soft plastics, and increasing glass re-manufacturing,” said SA environment minister David Speirs.
“Unlocking the potential in these materials and keeping resources circulating through our economy increases our resilience to supply chain challenges and creates local jobs while also benefiting our environment.”
Applications are open until February 26 at 5 pm (ACDT). Applications and eligibility information can be seen here.
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