The Andrews Labor Government will provide more than $1.1 million to fast-track industry-upgrade projects in Victoria’s recycling sector.
Minister for Environment Lily D’Ambrosio today announced that three recycling companies would share in the funding to help improve the quality of processed materials.
The Recycling Industry Transition Support fund is designed to boost the sector’s capacity to capture and reprocess plastics, paper and cardboard waste to a commercial grade acceptable to local and international markets.
Tambo Waste in Bairnsdale will receive a $130,000 grant to upgrade equipment, lift annual production by 800 tonnes and to enable future expansion by another 5,000 tonnes a year.
The project will create jobs, reduce contamination in processed plastic, paper and cardboard, and lift material to a commercially acceptable grade for local and international markets.
Australian Paper Recovery at Dandenong South will receive $475,000 as part of a $1.2 million equipment upgrade that will include new waste paper sorting and compaction equipment.
Polymer Processors, Braeside will receive a $500,000 grant to support a $3.2 million upgrade, allowing the company to purchase new plastic washing equipment and accept a wider range of plastics.
The grant will also support an upgrade of wastewater treatment and increase processing capacity of plastics by 800 kilograms per hour, giving manufacturers alternatives to virgin materials.
The funding follows more than $1 million provided in February as part of a $13 million package to help councils and the recycling sector.
Applications are now open for the next round of the Research, Development and Demonstration grants, another program to help boost Victoria’s recycling industry.
For more information on how to apply and previously funded projects, visit sustainability.vic.gov.au/research-development-grants.
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio
“These grants will help reprocess more than 48,000 tonnes of plastic, paper and cardboard each year and create 19 jobs in Melbourne and Gippsland.”
“We’re helping Victoria’s recycling sector adjust to changes in world recycling markets so that more material is diverted from landfill.”
The Andrews Labor Government will provide more than $1.1 million to fast-track industry-upgrade projects in Victoria’s recycling sector.
Minister for Environment Lily D’Ambrosio today announced that three recycling companies would share in the funding to help improve the quality of processed materials.
The Recycling Industry Transition Support fund is designed to boost the sector’s capacity to capture and reprocess plastics, paper and cardboard waste to a commercial grade acceptable to local and international markets.
Tambo Waste in Bairnsdale will receive a $130,000 grant to upgrade equipment, lift annual production by 800 tonnes and to enable future expansion by another 5,000 tonnes a year.
The project will create jobs, reduce contamination in processed plastic, paper and cardboard, and lift material to a commercially acceptable grade for local and international markets.
Australian Paper Recovery at Dandenong South will receive $475,000 as part of a $1.2 million equipment upgrade that will include new waste paper sorting and compaction equipment.
Polymer Processors, Braeside will receive a $500,000 grant to support a $3.2 million upgrade, allowing the company to purchase new plastic washing equipment and accept a wider range of plastics.
The grant will also support an upgrade of wastewater treatment and increase processing capacity of plastics by 800 kilograms per hour, giving manufacturers alternatives to virgin materials.
The funding follows more than $1 million provided in February as part of a $13 million package to help councils and the recycling sector.
Applications are now open for the next round of the Research, Development and Demonstration grants, another program to help boost Victoria’s recycling industry.
For more information on how to apply and previously funded projects, visit sustainability.vic.gov.au/research-development-grants.
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio
“These grants will help reprocess more than 48,000 tonnes of plastic, paper and cardboard each year and create 19 jobs in Melbourne and Gippsland.”
“We’re helping Victoria’s recycling sector adjust to changes in world recycling markets so that more material is diverted from landfill.”
The Andrews Labor Government is providing $10 million in grants to continue the rollout of technology that will help prevent bushfires caused by powerline faults.
Minister for Energy Lily D’Ambrosio today announced non-government high voltage customers will be eligible for grants of up to $250,000 per site under the High Voltage Customer Assistance Program (HCAP).
These grants will assist in the rollout of Rapid Earth Fault Current Limiter (REFCL) technology on high voltage powerlines by modifying electrical equipment to make it ready for REFCL operation.
High voltage businesses require substantial electricity to operate and are connected directly to high voltage distribution networks run by electricity companies. There are over 90 of these sites around Victoria.
REFCLs rapidly reduce the flow of electricity to wires that fall into contact with the ground or vegetation, preventing bushfires and reducing unnecessary power outages.
The Essential Services Commission this week amended Victoria’s Electricity Distribution Code, making it clear that high voltage customers are responsible for taking reasonable measures to protect their equipment.
The initiative is part of the Labor Government’s work to implement the recommendations of the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission and the Powerline Bushfire Safety Taskforce.
Applications for the High Voltage Customer Assistance Program will be open until 20 February 2019. For more information visit energy.vic.gov.au.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio
“We’re taking action to reduce the risk of bushfires and protect communities across Victoria.”
“REFCLs reduce the risk of fire from a fault on high voltage powerlines by up to 60 per cent – that’s why we’re making this significant investment.”
The Andrews Labor Government has appointed 25 directors to Victoria’s seven Waste and Resource Recovery Groups.
The Waste and Resource Recovery Groups are implementing the Labor Government’s Recycling Industry Strategic Plan with local councils across Victoria.
The 25 directors, including nine reappointments, commenced their roles on 1 August.
The directors bring a broad range of experience to their roles with diverse backgrounds including energy programs, engineering, resource efficiency, local government, infrastructure development, sustainability, waste management and environmental policy.
These appointees will ensure the Groups have the skills and experience needed to deliver a safe, resilient and efficient recycling system in Victoria.
These appointments have increased board representation of women, people with disabilities and Victorians from culturally or linguistically diverse backgrounds.
The Labor Government has invested record funding of more than $100 million over the last four years to improve the waste and resource recovery system.
Learn more about the Waste and Resource Recovery Board appointments at environment.vic.gov.au.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio
“I congratulate the appointees and look forward to working with them as we strengthen Victoria’s waste and recycling sector.”
“We’re making sure Victoria is equipped with the people and resources it needs to reduce waste and costs to households.”
The Andrews Labor Government has appointed 25 directors to Victoria’s seven Waste and Resource Recovery Groups.
The Waste and Resource Recovery Groups are implementing the Labor Government’s Recycling Industry Strategic Plan with local councils across Victoria.
The 25 directors, including nine reappointments, commenced their roles on 1 August.
The directors bring a broad range of experience to their roles with diverse backgrounds including energy programs, engineering, resource efficiency, local government, infrastructure development, sustainability, waste management and environmental policy.
These appointees will ensure the Groups have the skills and experience needed to deliver a safe, resilient and efficient recycling system in Victoria.
These appointments have increased board representation of women, people with disabilities and Victorians from culturally or linguistically diverse backgrounds.
The Labor Government has invested record funding of more than $100 million over the last four years to improve the waste and resource recovery system.
Learn more about the Waste and Resource Recovery Board appointments at environment.vic.gov.au.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio
“I congratulate the appointees and look forward to working with them as we strengthen Victoria’s waste and recycling sector.”
“We’re making sure Victoria is equipped with the people and resources it needs to reduce waste and costs to households.”
The Andrews Labor Government has withheld support on the proposed National Energy Guarantee until it supports lower bills, lower emissions and more renewable energy jobs for Victoria.
Minister for Energy Lily D’Ambrosio moved with other jurisdictions to postpone approval of the NEG at today’s COAG Energy Council meeting in Sydney.
Josh Frydenberg is no longer seeking blind endorsement on the NEG prior to its uncertain passage through his own party room.
Victoria will only support the NEG if the following conditions are met:
Emissions reduction targets can only be allowed to increase over time and never go backwards
Future targets will need to be set by regulation
The targets will need to be set every three years, three years in advance
Establishment of a transparent registry, with access by regulators and governments to ensure the NEG is working in the best interests of consumers.
Victoria has also received assurances that the requirement to strengthen the transparency of the registry will be met and relevant state regulators will have access to the registry to perform their functions.
The Victorian Government remains deeply concerned at the extreme profits being reaped by big energy companies at the expense of Victorian families and businesses.
A more transparent registry will help prevent price gouging by big energy companies.
Victoria will work to deliver a NEG that supports local jobs and drives down energy prices.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Energy Lily D’Ambrosio
“The National Energy Guarantee needs more work and we have always been clear – we won’t sign up to any scheme that threatens Victoria’s renewable energy industry and the thousands of jobs it’s creating in our state.”
“We’ll continue to seek improvements to the NEG and carefully consider whatever comes out of Malcolm Turnbull’s party room.”