Regional Recycling Set For Boost Under New $487 Million Fund

New funding will support regional councils in expanding recycling services and improving waste management infrastructure across communities such as the Burdekin. Photo source: Burdekin Shire Council

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The Burdekin could benefit from improved recycling services and waste infrastructure under a new $487 million Queensland Government investment designed to increase recycling rates and reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.

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The newly launched Waste Reduction and Recycling Activation Fund forms part of the Government's Less Landfill, More Recycling 2035 strategy and will deliver funding over five years for councils and industry to expand recycling services and resource recovery projects across Queensland.

Among the key initiatives is an $11 million Regional Recycling Transport Fund, aimed at helping regional councils move recyclable materials to processing facilities and making recycling projects more financially viable.

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The package also includes funding for kerbside recycling, education campaigns, illegal dumping initiatives, recycling technology and new resource recovery infrastructure.

Environment and Tourism Minister Andrew Powell said the investment would help strengthen Queensland's recycling sector.

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"Less Landfill, More Recycling 2035 is our plan, and this investment is how we're getting on with delivering it,” said Mr Powell.

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"We've already made strong progress by putting the right incentives in place so councils and industry can invest with confidence and deliver the recycling infrastructure Queensland needs."

Mr Powell said the funding would make it easier for councils to expand services while supporting regional jobs and reducing waste.

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Local Government Association of Queensland chief executive officer Alison Smith welcomed the return of transport funding for recycled materials.

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"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," chief executive officer Alison Smith said.

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