$40.5m material recycling facility opening soon in Qld

Construction of a $40.5 million material recycling facility (MRF) on the Sunshine Coast is close to completion, with the facility set to be operational by the end of the year.

Claimed as the largest new investment publicly-owned recycling infrastructure in South East Queensland in a decade, the MRF will be able to process 60,000 tonnes or more per year to recover glass bottles, plastic containers, cardboard, paper, and steel and aluminium cans, supplying a range of products for re-use across several industries.

“The facility will sort glass bottles and jars, paper, cardboard, plastics, steel cans and aluminium cans from household and business yellow-lidded bins at 98% purity — the highest quality of any Australian recycling facility,” said Sunshine Coast Council Mayor Mark Jamieson.

Combined with industry-leading intelligent sorting equipment, the extra recycling capacity will help reduce waste-to-landfill and create new circular economy opportunities in downstream markets.

Funding for the facility has been through a tripartite funding agreement between all levels of government, with $22m from the Palaszczuk government’s Recycling and Jobs Fund, $13.5m from Sunshine Coast Council and a $5m contribution from the Albanese government’s Recycling Modernisation Fund.

“To protect our environment, we have set ourselves an ambitious goal of diverting 80% of waste from landfill and recycling 65% of materials by 2030,” said Queensland Environment Minister Leanne Linard.

Sunshine Coast Council Environment Portfolio Councillor Maria Suarez said the facility would help Council deliver the Sunshine Coast Waste Strategy and build on its goal to be a zero-net emissions organisation by 2041.

Image credit: iStock.com/Luca Piccini Basile