South Australia’s recycling industry will receive its biggest ever investment with eight new projects worth $111 million to build and modernise key infrastructure.
The projects will create hundreds of jobs, thanks to $35.3 million of joint state and Australian Government funding under the Recycling Modernisation Fund (RMF).
The projects include a $12 million waste paper and cardboard recycling plant in the northern suburbs of Adelaide, a $24 million material resource facility in the southern suburbs and a new $19 million glass processing plant just outside of Gawler.
Federal Minister for Environment Sussan Ley said the eight new projects are expected to create more than 500 jobs and will divert more than 205,000 tonnes of waste resources back into the manufacturing of valuable new Australian made products.
“These kinds of high-tech projects build the infrastructure that will power the circular economy in Australia, improving our ability to process our own waste and creating local jobs,” Ley said.
South Australian Minister for Environment and Water David Speirs joined Federal Assistant Minister for Waste Reduction and Environmental Management Trevor Evans at the Northern Adelaide Waste Management Authority (NAWMA) to announce the eight South Australian projects.
The new $12 million waste paper and cardboard recycling plant at NAWMA will process 40,000 tonnes of mixed waste paper and cardboard each year. That’s a third more than the 30,000 tonnes South Australia currently exports each year for disposal overseas.
“The eight projects which are worth $111 million will transform waste management in South Australia and improve our ability to process plastic, glass, paper, cardboard and tyres within the state. They will reinforce South Australia’s position as a national leader when it comes to waste management,” Speirs said.
“The new $12 million processing plant here at NAWMA will guarantee waste which was originally destined for export can be converted to into new products which is not only good for the environment but good for the economy.”
Federal Assistant Minister for Waste Reduction and Environmental Management Trevor Evans said Australia was the first country in the world to ban the export of its unprocessed waste for disposal overseas and is now leading the world in taking responsibility for our own waste.
“A key aim of the Recycling Modernisation Fund is to ensure that we have new recycling infrastructure operational in time for when the export bans are fully phased in by mid-2024 and I am delighted to say that SA will meet this goal,” Assistant Minister Evans said.
“Recycling requires large and expensive facilities however there are significant benefits beyond creating new jobs. For example, recycled paper uses up to 90% less water and 50 per cent less energy than making new paper from virgin materials.”
The announcement is on top of $4.6 million in previous RMF co-investments by the South Australian Government and industry for seven other recycling infrastructure projects recognised by the Australian Government through the Recycling Modernisation Fund, bringing the total investment in South Australia to $115.6 million.
The Australian Government’s $190 million Recycling Modernisation Fund investment, and measures to support Australia’s National Waste Policy Action Plan, will create approximately 10,000 new jobs all around Australia over the next 10 years.
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