Joint media release: Investing in the Territory's circular economy

Regional and remote communities across the Northern Territory will soon have better access to recycling infrastructure. 

The Federal and Northern Territory Labor Governments are co-investing $2.3 million under the Recycling Modernisation Fund to improve waste processing capacity across the Northern Territory.

With additional funding from industry the total investment is $8.3 million. 

Seven projects will address gaps in the Territory’s waste recycling capabilities including in the remote communities of Galiwin’ku, Gapuwiyak, Ramingining and Milingimbi in East Arnhem Land. 

The projects will also grow local businesses, keep waste out of landfills and recycle waste into valuable new commodities such as construction materials.

Combined, the 7 new projects are expected to support 12 construction jobs, 18 ongoing positions and process almost 12,000 tonnes of waste glass, plastic, tyres, paper and cardboard each year. 

 
The Government’s Recycling Modernisation Fund is turbocharging Australia’s circular economy so that when a product is no longer useful or required for its initial purpose, it is either reused, recycled or remanufactured.

Projects already announced for Recycling Modernisation Fund investment will add over 1 million tonnes of processing capacity every year, keeping our waste out of landfill and supporting new jobs.  

Round 2 of the NT Recycling Modernisation Fund will be opening soon.

More information on the Recycling Modernisation Fund is available at:
Investing in Australia's waste and recycling infrastructure - DCCEEW
NT Recycling Modernisation Fund | NT.GOV.AU

Quotes attributable to the federal Minister for the Environment Tanya Plibersek:

“The Albanese Labor Government is committed to working with states and territories and industry to better manage waste in locations like regional and remote Northern Territory,” Minister Plibersek said.

“We recognise there are challenges making it difficult to recycle, reuse and remanufacture waste in smaller and isolated communities, which have dispersed populations and where kerbside collection is not feasible.

“This investment in new and upgraded infrastructure through the Recycling Modernisation Fund is driving improved waste processing including in the remote communities of Yuelamu, Nyirripi, Willowra and Atitjere in the Central Desert region of the Northern Territory. 

Quotes attributable to the Northern Territory Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water Security, Lauren Moss:

“Establishing new recycling infrastructure is a key action of the NT’s Circular Economy Strategy 2022-2027 and these projects will help to improve recycling and resource recovery across the Territory.

“By working closely with industry and the Australian Government, the Territory government is improving environmental outcomes and realising economic opportunities of a circular economy for the benefit of all Territorians.”

Quotes attributable to the Member for Solomon, Luke Gosling: 

“It hasn’t always been easy to properly recycle in our regional areas like the Top End, but it’s more important than ever that we have the best mechanisms in place to get this right.

“I’m proud to be part of an Albanese Labor Government that has clear and firm targets for moving towards net zero emissions, fighting climate change, improving recycling technology, and supporting our beautiful environment.

“There’s so much more we can do in this space, and this investment is an important first step.”

Quotes attributable to NTK Industries Managing Director Andrew Jones:

“To have a new ‘world class’ glass recycling plant in Holtze that has the capacity to recycle around 75 % of the Northern Territory’s waste glass will see a greener future for the Northern Territory 

“The project will divert 6,000 tonnes of waste glass from landfill and process it into a range of products including insulation material used in construction, a fluxing agent used in bricks and ceramics, as well as processed into asphalt for roads and pavements.

“In addition to being great for the environment, this project will create four construction jobs during the building of the plant phase with a further three permanent roles created to operate the new glass recycling plant.”

Background – funded projects

NTK Industries received $325,000 towards a $650,000 new glass recycling plant in Holtze that will recycle approximately 75% of the Northern Territory’s waste glass. The project will divert 6,000 tonnes of waste glass from landfill and process it into insulation material used in construction, asphalt for road construction and a fluxing agent that is used in bricks and ceramics. The project will create 4 construction jobs and 3 ongoing positions.

The City of Palmerston received $100,000 for a $200,000 cardboard compactor at the Archer Waste Transfer Station to put in place a more sustainable approach to cardboard recycling. The project will divert 203 tonnes of waste cardboard from landfill each year with the compacted cardboard being sent to Visy Brisbane for recycling. The project will create 2 construction jobs and process 203 tonnes of waste cardboard per year.

East Arnhem Regional Council received $100,000 towards $202,800 in recycling infrastructure upgrades in the remote communities of Galiwin’ku, Gapuwiyak, Ramingining and Milingimbi. The upgrades will improve the communities’ capacity to sort recyclable materials including cardboard, paper, plastic and glass. The project will support 2 ongoing positions and divert 42 tonnes of waste from landfill per year.

Central Desert Regional Council received $102,262 to construct recycling bays in four remote communities: Yuelamu, Nyirripi, Willowra and Atitjere at a project cost of $204,500. The bays will enhance the sorting of waste streams including tyres, cardboards, plastic and glass. The project will create 3 construction jobs, 4 ongoing positions and divert 200 tonnes of tyres and 3.6 tonnes of waste plastic from landfill per year.

Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia received $238,628 for a new $560,000 recycling centre in Yulara. New infrastructure will significantly increase the volumes of materials recovered from current recycling streams such as plastic bottles, aluminium cans, glass and cardboard.  The project will create 2 ongoing positions and divert 300 tonnes of waste from landfill per year.

Alice Springs Town Council received $63,800 grant for a new $127,600 granulator to process plastics into smaller materials at their Regional Waste Management Facility. The granulator will pre-process High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) plastics to supply to local businesses for further recycling. The project will support 1 ongoing position and process 0.8 of a tonne of waste plastic per year.

Northern Waste Reduction Services has been granted $1,400,930 to develop a new $6.3 million tyre recycling plant in Katherine with the capacity to recycle and repurpose the majority (75%) of Northern Territory’s end-of-life tyres. The project will divert 5,000 tonnes of waste tyres each year and process them into valued-added products suitable for road surfacing, footpaths and playground soft fall. The project will support 3 construction jobs and 7 ongoing positions.