Resource Recovery recipients to turn Queensland’s trash into Queensland’s treasure

Acting Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning Stirling Hinchliffe has today announced the next five recipients of the Palaszczuk Government’s innovative $100 million Resource Recovery Industry Development Program (RRIDP).

The first of its kind in Queensland, the RRIDP aims to revolutionise Queensland’s resource recovery industries by supporting projects and businesses that divert waste from landfill, reduce stockpiling and create jobs.

Mr Hinchliffe said the first recipient for the dollar-for-dollar co-funded Stream One was announced last week, following a highly competitive application and assessment process.

“Over 120 applications from across Queensland were received which is a fantastic result and demonstrates the interest and capacity for the development of this industry,” he said.

The next five recipients of RRIDP funding are:

  • Astron Plastics – Wacol – $2.5 million – diverting 6,300 tonnes pa of soft plastic waste
  • Cairns Regional Council – $295,400 – diverting 18,735 tonnes paof construction and demolition waste
  • Elliott Agriculture – Roma – $325,000 – diverting 2,256 tonnes pa of organic waste
  • Townsville City Council – $60,000 – diverting 572 tonnes pa of general waste
  • Horne Group – Hervey bay – $265,882 – diverting 4,297 tonnes pa of construction and demolition waste

Total State Government funding: $3.446M

Total Diversion: 32,160 tonnes per annum

Mr Hinchliffe said there are three steams of funding available under the $100 million program, including:

  • Stream one: dollar-for-dollar capital grants of between $50,000 and $5 million to provide funding for infrastructure projects which will enhance or build new facilities or for capital investments in new processing and technological capabilities.
  • Stream two: incentives to attract or expand major resource recovery operations that will divert significant amounts of waste from landfill, reduce or prevent stockpiling and recover substantial resources.
  • Stream three: support toward capital intensive, long lifecycle projects that require a contribution towards investigations to assist with investment decisions for Queensland.

“Government’s number one priority is to create jobs across Queensland.

“For this round of Stream One, projects were assessed on multiple criteria including to contribution to development of the industry, (tonnes per dollar) for rates of diversion, and projects that addressed waste that is historically hard to get rid of.

“I’m advised many of the applications had merit but unfortunately not every proposal can be funded.

“For those companies that missed out, there may be additional funding streams available and we encourage them to continue working with the Department on future opportunities.”

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