The Australian, Queensland, and local governments have joined forces to deliver AU$54 million in funding aimed at transforming organic waste processing infrastructure across South East Queensland.
Delivered through the SEQ City Deal, a tripartite partnership between the federal, state, and local governments, the initiative seeks to divert significant volumes of green and food organic waste away from landfills and convert it into valuable, reusable resources.
Currently, organic material comprises a significant proportion of household rubbish sent to landfill, despite its potential for recovery.
This major investment will assist SEQ councils in constructing new facilities and upgrading existing sites to streamline the collection, sorting, and local processing of organic matter.
Queensland Minister for the Environment and Tourism Andrew Powell said the program is a vital step forward in improving the state’s long-term recycling performance.
“Being able to recycle more green and organic waste means this material can be turned into valuable products like compost and mulch instead of being buried in landfill,” Powell said.
“We’ve already supported more households to get green bins on the kerbside, and this investment will help councils build the infrastructure needed to process that material locally.”
The South East Queensland City Deal Organics Processing Program will allocate funding through two distinct categories to accommodate varying council needs.
Stream 1 will target small projects with a value of up to AU$3 million, while Stream 2 is reserved for major infrastructure initiatives exceeding AU$3 million.
The program is expected to drive economic benefits alongside its environmental goals, creating local jobs in construction and facility management while fostering a stronger regional circular economy.
Applications are officially open for eligible councils across South East Queensland. Submissions for both funding streams will close on July 1.
