The Morrison Government has announced $7 million for recycling in regional and remote Australia as it continues to create jobs and help our environment by turbocharging Australia’s waste and recycling industry.

Minister for the Environment, Sussan Ley, said the funding will help build new or expand existing recycling facilities to deal with waste glass, plastics, tyres and paper in remote and regional areas, and would help tackle the city-country imbalance when it comes to recycling opportunities.

“I come from a regional area that is very progressive when it comes to waste and recycling, but there are just over 630,000 Australians who do not have access to any form of kerbside recycling,” Minister Ley said.

“Regional and remote communities often face unique challenges but that doesn’t make recycling any less important, and it doesn’t change the fact that people want the chance to do the right thing for the environment.

“We are prepared to invest in that opportunity through projects that provide local solutions to local problems, that increase local employment, provide economic benefit, and solve transport logistics complexities.

“They could range from community sorting stations to AI technology, and have a co-investment value from $10,000 to $1 million.”

The funding under the Recycling Modernisation Fund will be in addition to the 23 projects that have already been identified in regional and remote Australia through joint funding with State Governments (value $39 million).

The Australian Government is driving a $1 billion transformation of our waste and recycling industry expected to create 10,000 new jobs over the next ten years.

For further information on the RMF is available here.