The Federal and State governments have committed money towards assessing the viability of a plastics recycling industry in Far North Queensland.

Regional Development Australia will receive $150,000 in funding from the Federal Government and $50,000 from the State Government as part of the project.

Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch said the funding signalled the Morrison Government’s commitment to establishing new recycling infrastructure in rural and regional Australia that would see numerous economic and environmental benefits for the region.

“This funding recognises our need to build diverse industries beyond tourism while creating new jobs for Far North Queensland,” Mr Entsch said.

“If we can establish a plastics industry in an area like Far North Queensland that will see us process locally generated waste resources into useful value-added products for community benefit, including local jobs, then we can roll this out to other regional and remote communities across Australia.

“But most importantly, it’s good for the environment. Better-managed waste means less litter and debris ending up in our precious oceans, reefs and beaches.”

Queensland Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef, Leeanne Enoch, said establishing new plastics industries in Queensland provided a once-in-a-generation opportunity to improve waste
management and recycling capability as Australia moves to take care of its own waste.

“There are around three times as many jobs in recycling as landfill, so increasing our resource recovery is not only good for the environment, it’s good for the economy,” Ms Enoch said.

“We’re committed to improving Queensland’s recycling rate so that we can reach our target of 75 per cent recycling by 2050.”