Joint media release: $11 million to boost recycling in NSW

The Hon Tanya Plibersek MP, Minister for the Environment and Water
The Hon Penny Sharpe MLC, New South Wales Minister for the Environment, Energy, Climate Change and Heritage

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The Federal and NSW Labor Governments are co-investing $11 million to transform the recycling industry in NSW.

Nine new projects will create almost 100 jobs and improve recycling infrastructure across metropolitan and regional NSW.

The projects boost NSW’s ability to remanufacture plastic, paper, cardboard and tyres and will increase waste processing capacity by more than 20,000 tonnes each year.

The funding round has been strongly supported by industry which will contribute an additional $18.5 million to these important projects.

All Australian Environment Ministers have committed to working with industry to design out waste and pollution, keep materials in use, and foster markets for a circular economy by 2030.

Quotes attributable to Minister for the Environment and Water, Tanya Plibersek MP:

“Labor wants to see a circular economy in Australia – more local jobs to support recycling, and less waste going to landfill.

“We know that for every 1 job in landfill there are three jobs in recycling. Every bit of rubbish that ends up in landfill is a missed opportunity.

“We also know people want to do the right thing and recycle their waste. This funding is supporting new recycling infrastructure as well as helping regional communities in NSW recycle more of their waste.

“We want to better protect nature and reverse decline for our kids and grandkids – and that takes all levels of Government working together.”

Quotes attributable to NSW Minister for the Environment, Energy, Climate Change and Heritage, Penny Sharpe MLC:

“The nine businesses receiving this support are playing an instrumental role in our transition to a circular economy.

“These industry leaders will allow NSW to recycle more waste and use less plastic.

“It’s not only a win for the NSW recycling industry but for our economy, creating almost 100 jobs.

“The NSW Government is committed to reducing plastic waste to protect our natural environment and reduce harm to our marine animals.”

Read more about the Recycling Modernisation Fund and the Remanufacture NSW program:

Investing in Australia's waste and recycling infrastructure - DCCEEW
Remanufacture NSW | NSW Environment and Heritage

Background – funded projects

Plasmar NewGen received $1,092,050 to increase its capacity to recycle more waste plastic and expand the end markets for recycled products. The project will address infrastructure gaps in NSW and reduce the amount of plastic going to landfill. The project will create 26 ongoing positions.

Delta Plastic Pty Ltd received $218,000 to commission a shredding machine to process rigid High Density Poly Ethylene (HDPE) into HDPE pellets. The project will create 2 construction jobs and 8 ongoing positions.

Re.Group Pty Ltd received $2,881,150 to improve the quality of its facility’s outputs to ensure strict specifications for the export and remanufacturing of recyclable materials are met. The project will create 10 construction jobs and 1 ongoing position.

TrendPac Plastics received $3,000,000 to construct a recycled HDPE flaking, washing and pelletising plant which will process over 3,000 tonnes per year of post-consumer HDPE. The waste HDPE will come from material recovery facilities and is presently exported. The project will create 12 construction jobs and 4 ongoing positions.

Disruptive Packaging Pty Ltd received $1,405,287 to convert recovered materials to resin. This will enable local manufacturing and stop thousands of tonnes of polystyrene and waxed cardboard going to landfill. The project will create 54 construction jobs and 45 ongoing positions.

SAMI Bitumen Technologies Pty Ltd received $2,128,651 to use proven technology to increase the demand for recycled rubber from tyres in constructing and maintaining roads in NSW. The project will create 10 construction positions.

Auslink International Pty Ltd received $116,140 to help divert and reprocess LDPE and HDPE waste plastics. The project will use shredding and granulating technology to produce single polymer recyclate and increase NSW’s plastics reprocessing capacity. It will create 2 ongoing positions.

Egans Asset Management Pty Ltd received $94,650 to trial a project in which single use cardboard is cost-effectively reused, repurposed and recycled to manufacture workstation partitions, a high value end product. The project will create 1 ongoing position.

Max Mattresses & Furniture Pty Ltd received $161,150 for a trial project to recycle foam waste into crushed foam inserts for use in new bedding and homeware products such as cushions, beanbags and pillows. The project will create 6 ongoing positions.