Residents of Casey and Cardinia Shire will help divert up to 120,000 tonnes of waste – some 12,000 truckloads – from landfill each year, thanks to a $38 million commitment by the Turnbull Government, through the Clean Energy Finance Corporation.
A new $65 million composting facility will collect food and organic waste from the City of Casey and Cardinia Shire’s kerbside green waste bins and turn it into high grade compost for use in local gardens and parks.
Six other councils in Melbourne’s south east have signed up to have their waste collected and delivered to the South Eastern Organics Processing Facility for processing.
“The facility will be able to produce up to 50,000 tonnes of compost each year,” Minister Greg Hunt said.
“That’s a lot of waste from Koo Wee Rup and Pearcedale that won’t be ending up in landfill.”
All Australian governments have committed to a new National Waste Policy and to work together to better manage waste.
“While avoiding the generation of waste is our first priority, we also need to harness opportunities for reuse, recycling, reprocessing and energy recovery,” Minister Hunt said.
“The Turnbull Government recognises that converting waste to compost can play a part in Australia’s long-term waste solutions.
“This is a great project for the people of our community and I encourage you to use the kerbside recycling for your food and garden waste.”