Territorians will soon benefit from seven projects that will offer improved access to recycling facilities across the Northern Territory that will mean better overall waste management, the Federal and Territory governments say.

The total investment for the projects will reach a total of $8.3 million after the Federal and Territory governments pledged to infuse $2.3 million under the Recycling Modernization Fund. The developments will be addressing holes in the Territory’s waste recycling capabilities as well as in the far-flung communities of Galiwin’ku, Gapuwiyak, Ramingining and Milingimbi in East Arnhem Land.

Subsidized projects include NTK Industries’ new glass recycling plant in Holtze; a cardboard compactor for Palmerston’s Archer Waste Transfer Station; recycling infrastructure upgrades for East Arnhem Regional Council; new recycling bays in four remote communities for Central Desert Regional Council; a new recycling centre in Yulara for Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia; a new granulator for Alice Springs Town Council’s Regional Waste Management Facility; and a new tire recycling plant in Katherine for Northern Waste Reduction Services.

The Federal Government is committed to working with industry, states and territories to better manage waste in regional and remote areas, Federal Minister for the Environment Tanya Plibersek said.

“We recognise challenges are 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,” Ms Plibersek said.

The seven new projects are seen to support 12 construction jobs with 18 ongoing positions. They are also expected to process around 12,000 tonnes of waste glass, plastic, tires, paper, and cardboard annually.

These projects will add more than one million tonnes of processing capacity every year, keeping waste out of the landfill.

“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,” she said.

The Federal Government’s Recycling Modernisation Fund will “turbocharge” the “circular economy” so that when a product is no longer useful for its initial purpose, it will be reused, recycled, or remanufactured, Territory Environment Minister Lauren Moss said.

The Recycling Modernisation Fund is a national initiative that expands Australia’s capacity to sort, process and remanufacture glass, plastic, tires, paper and cardboard.

“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,” Ms Moss said.

“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,” she said.