The Tasmanian government will invest more than AU$10 million for projects that support the state’s waste and resource recovery sector.
The funding will be delivered to 30 infrastructure projects designed to boost the local circular economy.
Minister for Environment and Climate Change Guy Barnett revealed the government had doubled its investment from AU$5 million to more than AU$10 million to meet unprecedented demand for the third round of the High Priority Infrastructure Grants program.
The competitive, independent assessment process, overseen by the Tasmanian Waste and Resource Recovery Board, attracted a record number of applications from local councils, community organisations, and businesses.
The funding injection will support eight infrastructure initiatives in the South of the state, 10 in the North, and 12 across the North-West.
Combined, these projects are projected to divert a massive 64,416 tonnes of material from landfills every year, transforming rubbish into valuable inputs for reprocessing and reuse.
The government grants have leveraged substantial private co-investment, driving nearly AU$15 million worth of total project value across regional Tasmania.
“This strong demand reflects the success of the program to date and the increasing confidence in the waste recovery sector as an emerging driver of economic activity,” Barnett said.
“This funding is leveraging significant co-investment from industry, helping to grow local businesses, create jobs and strengthen Tasmania’s circular economy.”
Tasmanian Waste and Resource Recovery Board Chair Pam Allan stated the grants represent a vital economic and environmental milestone for the state.
The funding will focus on driving strategic investment into critical, high-priority waste streams including construction and demolition materials, industrial waste, tyres, organic recovery, and plastics processing.
“Waste and resource recovery is not just an environmental priority, it is an increasingly important part of Tasmania’s economy, supp local industry, regional jobs and new market opportunities,” Allan said.
“They will also boost strategic investment in the circular economy, including plastics processing, organics recovery and reuse systems.”
