Victoria makes $3m joint investment in soft plastics recycling
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The Victorian and federal governments will invest more than $14 million in new organic recycling facilities in Victoria. The joint funding, announced on Thursday, will support seven projects across the state to divert up to 15,000 tonnes of food and garden waste from landfill.
The $14.26m will improve the quality of recycled organic products such as compost, soil conditioners and mulches by removing material contaminating them. Six of the seven organic waste recycling projects will be in regional areas, with up to 134 jobs created during the construction phase.
“When we recycle food and organic waste, we don’t just take pressure off our landfill, we create a valuable new commodity,” Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said in Melbourne on Thursday.
“Taking materials out of landfill, that in itself is good. But even better, we’re re-engineering those materials into precious new resources for our farmers.”
The governments will also jointly invest $3m for a large recycling facility in Altona in Melbourne’s southwest.
The facility will recycle 30,000 tonnes of soft plastic into food-grade soft plastic and washed flakes of low-density polyethylene.
Questions & Answers
Q.What is the total investment being made by the Victorian and federal governments?
What is the total investment being made by the Victorian and federal governments?
The Victorian and federal governments are jointly investing over $14 million in new organic recycling facilities and an additional $3 million for a soft plastics recycling facility. This totals more than $17 million in combined funding across the state.
Q.What specific types of waste will the new organic recycling facilities process?
What specific types of waste will the new organic recycling facilities process?
The new organic recycling facilities will focus on diverting food and garden waste from landfills. The aim is to improve the quality of recycled organic products by removing contaminating materials, making them suitable for compost, soil conditioners, and mulches.
Q.What will be the output of the new soft plastic recycling facility in Altona?
What will be the output of the new soft plastic recycling facility in Altona?
The facility in Altona will recycle 30,000 tonnes of soft plastic. This material will be transformed into food-grade soft plastic and washed flakes of low-density polyethylene, creating valuable new resources.
Q.How many jobs are expected to be created by these projects?
How many jobs are expected to be created by these projects?
The organic waste recycling projects are expected to create up to 134 jobs during their construction phase. The article does not specify job creation numbers for the soft plastics facility.
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