Green cash flows

The shot in the arm for composting in Shepparton, alongside improved recycling measures in neighbouring shires, have been helped along by Victorian Government support aimed at easing recent recycling pressures.

Western Composting Technology in Shepparton was handed $215 000 towards a $717 000 boost to its composting operations.

It is hoped this will help divert an additional 4500 tonnes of organic material from landfill each year ‘‘by using commercial food waste from commercial collections in the Barwon and South West Victoria regions, the Goulburn Valley, LoddonMallee and north-east Victoria,’’ according to a government statement.

An almost $1 million upgrade to the Moira Shire’s Cobram resource recovery centre to enable industrial waste sorting will be assisted by about $500 000 in funding.

Benalla’s council will benefit from $440 000 to install a bestpractice resource recovery transfer station, aiming to lift the amount of material not going to landfill from 35 per cent to 55 per cent.

Mitchell Shire was given $500 000 towards a new $2.5 million resource recovery centre on council land, while Campaspe Shire received almost $300 000 towards projects, including a new opt-in kerbside food and garden organics collection service.

The funding was available as part of the second round of the government’s Resource Recovery Infrastructure Fund, managed by Sustainability Victoria.

Sustainability Victoria chief executive officer Stan Krpan said the fund aimed to support the development of infrastructure which improved the collection and processing of recycled materials.

‘‘With recent changes to international recycling markets, infrastructure investments are crucial to ensuring we continue to develop our local industry, and in doing so, facilitate innovation and create jobs.’’

Mr Krpan said the government was investing in programs to develop markets for recovered resources, facilitate private investment in resource recovery infrastructure, and educate households and businesses about how to better manage waste.

Meanwhile, the third round of the funding pool is now open for applications, and $3 million is available by way of infrastructure grants of between $40 000 and $500 000.

Story by Thomas Moir from The Shepparton News - “Green cash flows.”