A new $40.5 million material recycling facility is set to open by the end of the year.
With industry-leading intelligent sorting technology, the facility at Nambour 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 quality products for re-use across several industries.
Construction was funded via $22m from the State Government’s Recycling and Jobs Fund, $13.5m from Sunshine Coast Council and a $5m contribution from the Federal Government’s Recycling Modernisation Fund.
State Environment Minister Leanne Linard toured the new facility with Member for Nicklin Rob Skelton, Mayor Mark Jamieson and Environment and Liveability Portfolio councillor Maria Suarez last week.
The Sunshine Coast material recycling facility (MRF) is the first new build and largest new investment in publicly owned recycling infrastructure in South-East Queensland in a decade.
The extra recycling capacity and intelligent sorting equipment is expected to deliver improved recycling, helping to reduce waste-to-landfill and create new circular economy opportunities.
Ms Linard said there was a concerted effort to be more eco-friendly.
“To protect our environment, we have set ourselves an ambitious goal of diverting 80 per cent of waste from landfill and recycling 65 per cent of materials by 2030,” she said.
“One way we will achieve our goals is to support greater re-use, recycling and remanufacturing of recyclable materials and this new materials recycling facility will help us do that.”
Mr Skelton was confident locals would frequent the facility.
“Sunshine Coast residents are keen recyclers and they’re telling me that they’re keen to do even more to reduce, re-use and recycle waste,” he said.
Mr Jamieson said the centre was of enormous benefit.
“Scheduled to open by the end of 2023, the new Nambour Materials Recovery Facility is set to deliver an even smarter solution to recycling in our region,” he said.
“This new high-tech MRF will be able to process more than 60,000 tonnes of recyclables each year, which truly is impressive.
“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 per cent purity – the highest quality of any Australian recycling facility.”
Ms 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.
“More than 80 local jobs have been created during construction and 18 new full-time positions have been established to run the facility when it commences operation later this year,’” she said.
“The initiative is yet another example of how we as a council are driving our aspiration for the Sunshine Coast to be Australia’s most sustainable region – healthy, smart, creative.”
