FUNDING BOOST TO EXPAND KERSIDE COLLECTIONS

The Andrews Government is supporting Victorian councils to improve and expand their recycling kerbside collections to recover valuable resources and reduce waste going to landfill.

Member for Footscray Katie Hall today visited Maribyrnong Town Hall to announce five projects that will share in $1.25 million to improve the collection and recycling of organic waste and glass.

The projects, worth more than $2.35 million, will be delivered in five municipalities across Victoria and are expected to create 27 jobs and divert 28,000 tonnes of kerbside food and garden waste and 1,500 tonnes of glass from landfill.

Maribyrnong City Council will be funded to expand kerbside collections, with programs to divert food and organic waste from landfill or to separate glass to improve recyclability – as well as Macedon Ranges Shire Council, Warrnambool City Council, Surf Coast Shire Council and Yarra City Council.

The funding is part of the $26.1 million Resource Recovery Infrastructure Fund that supports investment in the development of infrastructure to improve collection and reprocessing of recycled materials.

The Government is building a strong circular economy for the state and has invested more than $135 million in resource recovery, including $37 million for the Recycling Industry Strategic Plan.

For more information, visit sustainability.vic.gov.au/RRIF_Infrastructure_Grants.

Quote attributable to Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio

“This funding is helping councils divert waste from landfill and shows all levels of government working together for Victoria’s growing circular economy.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Footscray Katie Hall

“Maribyrnong City Council is doing its part to help reduce the amount of waste going to landfill – this is an important step in improving recycling services for our local community.”

“We are supporting innovative projects like these to increase the recovery of resources from waste, create local jobs and drive investment in the recycling sector.”