12 November 2022

Roger Jaensch, Minister for Environment and Climate Change

Investing in recycling and resource recovery in Tasmania

The Tasmanian Liberal Government is investing significantly in our resource recovery sector and driving the establishment of a circular economy.

During National Recycling Week, we are highlighting the historic reforms in recycling and resource recovery under way in Tasmania.

Our Government is shifting the way Tasmania thinks about waste that was previously buried in the ground, now considering it a resource that can be reused in the productive economy. 

Our Government is delivering by:

• providing $3 million to Dulverton Waste Management Authority to transform the existing open-air compost system into an enclosed, fully controlled system;
• awarding $3 million to Barwick’s to establish a regional organic waste processing facility in the south of Tasmania;
• committing up to $3 million to partner with industry to develop a rubber crumbing plant to address waste tyres in Tasmania, recently opening the expressions of interest for this grant program;
• assisting King Island, Flinders Island and West Coast Councils to improve recycling infrastructure and services by matching the $870,000 of Federal funding through the Remote/Regional Recycling Modernisation Fund;
• matching $5.5 million of Federal funding, together with private investment, to boost  Tasmania’s plastics recycling capability; and
• in addition, we will soon be releasing a targeted plastics recycling grant round to fill the gap left by Envorinex, and I look forward to having more to say on this in due course.

Importantly, in the future, investments such as this will be made using funds raised through the landfill levy, ensuring those that produce the waste, contribute to solutions for recycling and reprocessing into the future.

In addition to our significant investment in infrastructure,  we continue to progress the establishment of a Container Refund Scheme, now known as Recycle Rewards, is a key initiative of this Government that will reduce litter and increase recycling in Tasmania.

Growing our circular economy is a priority for our Government and these initiatives will play a significant role in reducing our waste and emissions, improving our environment, and creating jobs for Tasmanians.

Additional information can be found on the Department's website: nre.tas.gov.au/environmental-management/waste-and-resource-recovery/investment-in-the-resource-recovery-sector

More Media Releases from Roger Jaensch

More Media Releases from the Minister for Environment and Climate Change