The Andrews Labor Government is creating jobs and investing in circular economies by helping businesses find new uses for recycled materials.

Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio today launched a new $5 million grant program that will help Victorian businesses, research institutes and industry commercialise innovative uses of recycled materials.

The Recycling Victoria Markets Acceleration Fund will increase both demand for and uptake of recycled products in Victoria, facilitate partnerships between research institutes and industry, help a diverse range of Victorian businesses grow and support local jobs and industry.

The fund is part of a $30.46 million Markets Acceleration Package delivered under the Government’s $515 million investment to transform the waste and recycling sector and set Victoria up for a more sustainable future.

In 2019 to 2020, the Government diverted 69.7 per cent of waste generated across all sectors from landfill, more than any other year.

The fund focuses on projects using paper and cardboard, plastics, tyres and glass, which are all subject to the national waste export bans. Grants are also available for projects that focus on emerging materials such as e-waste and textiles.

The Government has already funded circular economy success stories such as the development of cutting-edge recyclable mattresses and bed bases as well as recycled plastic railway sleepers, which are now used on Melbourne’s Level Crossing Removals.

In 2019 to 2020, 90.6 per cent of recovered waste remained onshore for reprocessing. Only 9.4 per cent, or 1.04 million tonnes, was exported for further reprocessing, a decrease of 6.8 per cent from the previous year.

For more information about the Recycling Victoria Markets Acceleration Fund visit https://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/grants-funding-and-investment/grants-and-funding.

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

“These grants are part of our investment to transform Victoria’s waste and recycling sector, creating jobs, supporting industry and innovation and building new markets for recycled materials.”

“We’re working with businesses and research bodies to realise the benefits of a circular economy and help achieve our goal of diverting 80 per cent of waste from landfill by 2030.”