Joint media release: Victoria set to repurpose more food and garden waste

The Hon Tanya Plibersek MP, Minister for the Environment and Water
Ingrid Stitt MP, Victorian Minister for Environment

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The Albanese and Andrews Labor Governments are set to divert an extra 50,000 tonnes of Victoria’s food and garden waste from landfill each year. 

The $3.56 million co-investment will allow waste management business, Repurpose It, to expand its facility’s capacity to recycle organic waste. 

The project will see Victorians food and garden waste turned into compost - creating high-grade soil blends for nurseries, landscape contractors and builders.
Five concrete containers will be developed to store and break down organic material – allowing metropolitan Melbourne to be able to process food and garden waste, instead of transporting it to regional compositing facilities. 

Based in Epping, the upgraded facility is set to also reduce more than 21,000 tonnes of carbon emissions, while maximising the value of resources that would otherwise go to waste. 

The upgrade will create 15 ongoing jobs and support 45 construction jobs during development. 

The project’s funding is backed by over $14 million of investments from the Commonwealth Government’s Food Waste for Healthy Soils Fund and the Victorian Government’s Circular Economy Organics Sector Transformation Fund, which both aim to improve the state’s capacity for composting. 

The Federal Government’s Food Waste for Healthy Soils Fund is helping Australia recover 80 per cent of its organic waste and halve the amount sent to landfill by 2030. 

To learn more, visit dcceew.gov.au/environment/protection/waste/food-waste. 

The Andrews Labor Government’s Circular Economy Organics Sector Transformation Fund aims to support Victorian businesses develop new or enhance existing infrastructure to process organic waste more effectively. 

To learn more, visit sustainability.vic.gov.au/grants-funding-and-investment/grants-and-funding.

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

“In Australia, around 13 million tonnes of CO2 is created as a result of organic waste going to landfill.”

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

“The increased composting capability of this facility will help us reach our national target of halving the amount of organic waste sent to landfill by 2030.”

“We’re not only reducing landfill waste and greenhouse gas emissions, but we are creating jobs and making Victorian soils more productive.”

Quotes attributable to Victorian Minister for Environment Ingrid Stitt:

“This infrastructure investment will provide a much-needed solution for metropolitan Melbourne’s food and garden waste, supporting Victoria’s commitment to halve the amount of food and garden waste going to landfill. 

“This funding will deliver five new composting tunnels, which will speed up the composting process and reduce odour.

“This new infrastructure will increase Repurpose It’s composting capacity by 50,000 tonnes, to 290,000 tonnes per annum. 

“It’s good news for jobs too, with 45 jobs to be created during construction and a further 15 ongoing positions.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Scullin Andrew Giles:

“This announcement is a fantastic example of the job opportunities that come alongside taking action to reduce our carbon emissions.”

“For the 60 people who will benefit from local jobs, this significant investment in my electorate will make a real difference.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Thomastown Bronwyn Halfpenny:

"This infrastructure upgrade in Epping will greatly improve Victoria's ability to shift waste away from landfill."

"This project is set to provide lasting benefits to the state's environment, along with creating more local jobs."