The NT Government will commit to more recycling as part of what it’s calling the “Circular Economy Strategy” which will see government, councils and industry collaborate to increase recycling and reuse of materials while encouraging investment and business creation.

The new recycling strategy will also see a renewed push to phase out single-use plastics by 2025 at the same time the government is planning to build a manufacturing facility to produce single-use plastics.

Environment Minister Eva Lawler said more than one hundred million containers were returned by Territorians to approved depots under the container deposit scheme last year.

“This is what a circular economy does, it supports business and jobs. Applying circular economy principles means turning waste into a valuable resource, which keeps it out of the environment where it can cause harm, and inside the economy where it can create value, local jobs and economic growth,” she said.

According to the NT Government, the new strategy will enhance the partnership between government, councils and industry to:

• Encourage investment and business creation in resource reuse and recycling;
• Phase out and ban problematic single-use plastics by 2025;
• Inspire innovation and adoption of resource recovery and recycling technology through partnerships and collaborations with research institutions and industry;
• Strengthen the NT’s procurement framework to incentivise the use of recycled materials in government-funded projects; and
• Explore achievable cost-effective targets for use of recycled content in building and civil construction.

It was unclear how the government reconciles its plan to phase out single-use plastics, while actively promoting a new manufacturing facility at Middle Arm that would produce single-use plastics.

Under the strategy, the Territory Government and the Commonwealth will invest $11 million in new recycling infrastructure ensuring more access to recycling opportunities in remote and regional areas.

This includes the already announced $7.2 million for the construction of a materials recovery facility in Katherine to boost recycling capabilities for the Big Rivers region.

“We will create opportunities to grow local business focusing on keeping waste out of landfills and recycling our waste into valuable commodities,” Ms Lawler said.

The Katherine Materials Recovery Facility will meet the needs of areas that are currently without access to recycling facilities.

Ms Lawler said the remaining $3.8 million will be made available to businesses, local government and not-for-profit organisations through the NT Recycling Modernisation Fund.

Under this fund, grants of $50,000 or more on a 50:50 co-contribution basis will deliver infrastructure projects that will create or improve the recovery, sorting, processing, reuse, recycling or remanufacturing of plastic, paper and cardboard, tyres and glass.

To apply for grants from the $3.8 million Recycling Modernisation Fund visit: https://nt.gov.au/industry/business-grants-funding/nt-recycling-modernisation-fund.