Three Infrastructure projects across Tasmania will receive a share of $1.8 million following a co-investment from the Federal and Tasmanian Governments, as Australia’s recycling transformation speeds towards a circular economy.

Federal Minister for the Environment Sussan Ley said the three projects, funded through the Morrison Government’s Recycling Modernisation Fund, would recycle 1,245 tonnes of waste every year.

“The Morrison Government is committed to protecting remote and regional areas by ensuring communities have access to recycling and that we keep waste out of landfill,” Minster Ley said.

“As the engine room of Australia’s circular economy, the Recycling Modernisation Fund is on track to leverage up to $1 billion in new and expanded recycling infrastructure across Australia.

“It is vital that Tasmania’s rural and remote areas are also included in this important roll out to help overcome the city-country divide.”

Tasmanian Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Roger Jaensch, said Flinders Council would receive $424,000 in joint funding to upgrade its waste management facility at Whitemark. Upgrades will include a sorting shed, sorting line and conveyor and a commercial glass pulveriser and shipping containers.

“Whitemark is a very remote location populated by about 300 people. Previously, it has regularly had shipments to the mainland rejected due to contamination arising from its inability to collect, separate, sort, clean, compact and store materials,” Minister Jaensch said.

“The $808,000 project will process an additional 510 tonnes of glass, paper and cardboard every year providing better recycling outcomes for the people and businesses of Whitemark.

“In addition, King Island Council will receive $686,000 in joint funding towards a just over $1 million upgrade of its existing recyclables drop-off network to overcome high freight costs and reduce contamination.”

Minister Jaensch said the West Coast Council would receive $635,000 to expand existing drop off points, construct an integrated transfer facility and roll out additional collection services.

“Problems to be overcome on the West Coast of Tasmania include small collection volumes, contamination issues and freight costs,” Minister Jaensch said.

“The upgrade will lift resource recovery rates for paper, cardboard and plastics by 66 tonnes per annum — about 53 per cent over the base rate.”

Assistant Minister for Waste Reduction and Environmental Management, Trevor Evans, said the Morrison Government is driving a $1 billion transformation of the waste and recycling industry to turbocharge domestic recycling so we can process in Australia materials that were previously sent overseas.

The $280 million Recycling Modernisation Fund, 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.

More information on the Recycling Modernisation Fund is available at https://www.awe.gov.au/environment/protection/waste/how-we-manage-waste/recycling-modernisation-fund and https://nre.tas.gov.au/environmental-management/investment-in-the-resource-recovery-sector/recycling-modernisation-fund-(plastics)-grants