The Andrews Labor Government is supporting Victorian businesses and councils to improve their recycling practices and expand their operations to recover valuable products and reduce waste going to landfill.

Minister for Environment Lily D’Ambrosio today officially launched Repurpose It’s new $8.5 million washing plant facility in Epping – which will recover and treat materials previously destined for landfill and convert them into valuable resources.

The Labor Government invested $500,000 from the Resource Recovery Infrastructure Fund into the project, which is the first of its kind in Australia and will divert more than 500,000 tonnes of construction and demolition waste from landfill each year.

Repurpose It are partnering with Labor Government projects, including the Level Crossing Removal Project, Metro Trains, North East Link and the Western Distributor to integrate waste into road and rail infrastructure across the state.

The grant comes from the first round of the Resource Recovery Infrastructure Fund, which has awarded $14.5 million to support 47 projects through three rounds of the program.

The latest round of the Resource Recovery Infrastructure Fund is now open – with grants between $40,000 and $500,000 available to support greater sorting, improve recovery and reprocessing priority materials such as plastic, paper, cardboard and glass.

A further $1.2 million is also available to support the market development of recycled materials, under round two of the $4.5 million Research, Development & Demonstration Program.

Applications for the fourth round of the Resource Recovery Infrastructure Fund are now open. For more information and to apply for funding, visit sustainability.vic.gov.au.

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

“We’re supporting large-scale infrastructure projects like this one to reduce Victoria’s dependence on landfills, create new jobs and drive investment.”

“Our Recycling Industry Strategic Plan is helping Victoria’s recycling sector adjust to changes in world recycling markets so that more material is diverted from landfill.”

Quote attributable to Member for Thomastown Bronwyn Halfpenny

“The very best recycling technology is available right here in Epping – investing in projects like this one is not only good for the environment, it’s helping to support local jobs and industry.”