The Victorian Government has released $2.6 million in grants from the Sustainable Infrastructure Fund to help roll out recycled materials for local construction projects.
Local councils and alpine resort management boards can apply for grants of up to $300,000 to use recycled materials such as glass, paper, cardboard, plastics and rubber to build new infrastructure including roads, footpaths, outdoor park equipment, drainages and cycleways.
This funding is underpinned by the government’s previous $4.5 million investment in the Research, Development and Demonstration program for new recycled products.
So far a $200,000 Research, Development and Demonstration grant has been used by the Government, Boral, City of Whitehorse and RMIT University to develop an environmentally friendly concrete mix using recycled plastic and crumb rubber. It will be used for a new footpath in Ailsa Street, Box Hill South later this month.
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Infrastructure projects across 79 local councils are expected to cost $8 billion over the next three years. The Victorian Government believes this will present significant opportunity for the use of recycled products.
Recycling Victoria, the Government’s 10-year action plan for waste and recycling, will invest more than $300 million to transform the state’s recycling sector, reduce waste, create thousands of jobs and set Victoria up for a more sustainable future.
Energy, Environment and Climate Change Minister Lily D’Ambrosio said the Victorian Government is supporting councils to build innovative infrastructure and make the most out of recycled materials as we continue to build a strong circular economy for Victoria.
“Victoria is leading the way in giving new life to old rubbish – transforming plastic into roads and glass into footpaths,” D’Ambrosio said.