Logan City Council has joined forces with two south-east Queensland counterparts in a united bid to get a local waste and recycling facility built.
Logan City Council, Ipswich City Council and Redland City Council have formed the SEQ Sub-Regional Waste Alliance, which represents more than 700,000 residents.
They have now lodged a joint funding application for a regional Material Recovery Facility through the Queensland Recycling Modernisation Fund, which has up to $40 million to invest in recycling solutions across the state.
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The proposal is the only MRF project involving three councils in the region.
A site for the new facility is yet to be determined, but if funding is secured, it is hoped it will be operational within three years. It would recycle waste from all three councils.
Mayors from the three councils within the alliance said the joint MRF project could stimulate investment, create jobs and help develop a sustainable local circular economy.
Logan mayor Darren Power said partnering with other councils made economic and environmental sense.
"I know our community wants a cleaner, greener environment and we are delighted to be working with neighbouring councils to explore new and more efficient ways to recycle," Cr Power said.
"This is a great opportunity for the other levels of government to support us through the QRMF to achieve positive outcomes for all three communities."
Ipswich mayor Teresa Harding said a combined approach to recycling would help all councils in the alliance deliver on the state government's waste diversion targets.
"We have a shared goal within this alliance to build a material recovery facility and create a new, collaborative approach to recycling and waste management that will bring numerous benefits to our communities," Cr Harding said.
"We need the Queensland and Australian governments to support the alliance in delivering this important project for the SEQ region, the state and the nation."
Redland City mayor Karen Williams said her council recognised the importance of waste infrastructure in the improvement of waste management in that region.
"In planning for the future, we need to ensure economies of scale by collaborating with others and planning for the right infrastructure and services at the right time," Cr Williams said.
"We now have the opportunity to work with other south-east Queensland councils to explore opportunities for shared resource recovery infrastructure and programs and I look forward to positive waste management outcomes for our communities."
The SEQ Sub-Regional Waste Alliance was formed after a 2019 Expression of Interest campaign seeking partners to help find innovative and efficient methods of waste disposal and resource recovery.
The worldwide EOI campaign was in response to significant changes in waste management in recent years.
The changes include tough new restrictions on sending items collected from yellow lid bins to be recycled overseas.
In June this year, the SEQ Sub-Regional Waste Alliance agreed to develop a business case for a new MRF in the region and to seek funding support from other levels of government.
If sufficient funding is secured, the facility would be designed, constructed and operated by an experienced contractor selected through a tender process.
The QRMF is a co-contribution fund between the state and federal governments with each investing $20 million. Any funding granted must be matched dollar for dollar by the successful applicant.
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