Queensland Govt announces new $487 million resource recovery infrastructure fund

The Queensland Government has announced a new $487 million Waste Reduction and Recycling Activation Fund as part of a new partnership with the state’s councils and industry in a bid to recycle more, send less to landfill and create jobs.

The $487 million investment over five years that will drive new and expanded resource recovery infrastructure across metropolitan, regional and remote Queensland while giving councils and industry the confidence to invest, said Minister for the Environment and Tourism, Andrew Powell.

“Government doesn’t build recycling facilities itself. Our job is to partner with councils and industry, remove the barriers to investment and back practical projects that get more material out of landfill,” said Minister Powell.

“Whether it’s helping councils roll out more kerbside recycling, making regional projects stack up through transport incentives or supporting new recycling facilities, this package is focused on getting better outcomes on the ground.”

He said the Waste Reduction and Recycling Activation Fund will provide practical pathways to improve recycling across Queensland, including support for councils to expand kerbside recycling and organics services, transport incentives that help make regional recycling projects viable, and capital funding to help deliver new recycling and resource recovery infrastructure. 

The package includes a $40 million increase to the Resource Recovery Boost Fund, taking the investment from $130 million to $170 million to help councils accelerate the delivery of critical recycling and resource recovery infrastructure. 

It also includes: 

• $55 million for the Kerbside Bin Activation Fund (which will continue to expand on the GROW FOGO Fund);
• $17.7 million for the Fighting Illegal Dumping Partnership Program;
• $12.5 million for the Residual Waste Fund;
• $18.5 million for the Recycle Wise Education Fund;
• $11.7 million for the Waste Technology and Innovation Fund;
• $2 million for the Statewide Recycling Infrastructure Plan. 

The package also delivers $11 million for a dedicated Regional Recycling Transport Fund to help move recyclable materials to processing facilities, ensuring regional projects have the feedstock needed to become commercially viable. 

Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) Chief Executive, Alison Smith said councils welcomed the return of transportation funding for recycled materials. 

“Councils have been consistently calling for this transportation funding to be restored because it is key to increasing recycling rates and reducing the overall amount of waste going to landfill in a state as decentralised as Queensland,” Ms Smith said. 

“We look forward to working with the government on how this transportation funding will be rolled out to councils.”