South Australia’s waste management and recycling sector will get a $1.7 million boost with the state government approving a range of projects to help reduce the amount of household waste sent to landfill.
The funding delivered through Green Industries SA will assist councils to upgrade and modernise waste collection and recycling services to increase the kerbside diversion rate through innovation and improved efficiencies.
Twenty-two regional councils will also benefit from transport subsidies which will support councils’ continued recycling efforts by offsetting some of the extra costs associated with processing and transporting collected recyclables.
Minister for Environment and Water David Speirs said the $1.7 million is for three programs – one to reduce food waste sent to landfill, another to help councils modernise their collection systems and the other is for regional council transport subsidies.
“Improved waste management is not only good for the environment, but it contributes to South Australia’s economic growth by creating jobs and developing new business opportunities to recycle and reuse our resources right here in South Australia,” said Speirs.
“The single, largest remaining area for improvement in council kerbside systems is food waste which makes up to 40 per cent of the weight of household residual waste bins sent to landfill.
“By supporting councils to improve their collection of food waste we can lower waste management costs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create a valuable resource like compost.”
Seven councils have been awarded funding under the Kerbside Performance Plus (Food Organics) Incentives Program for their commitment towards implementing systems which assist with the diversion of food waste from landfill.
Councils receive a subsidy for the cost of bench-top containers, compostable bags and production of householder education material.
Twelve local government organisations have also received funding to help modernise their collection services to increase landfill diversion, decrease contamination levels and improve data collection.
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