The Australian and Queensland governments are working together to reduce waste and greenhouse gas emissions while creating jobs and supporting agriculture in Queensland.
Minister for the Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek and the Queensland Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef Meaghan Scanlon announced that Earthborn Australia’s Palmwoods organics processing facility would receive $1.5 million in funding to upgrade the facility.
The project will generate six new construction jobs and six new permanent positions. When the plant is finished, it will be able to produce high-quality soil improvers from an additional 22,000 tonnes of organic waste annually.
Minister Plibersek stated that organic waste going to landfills results in around 13 million tonnes of carbon emissions.
“The increased composting capability of this facility will help us reach our national target of halving the amount of organic waste sent to landfill by 2030. We’re not only reducing landfill waste and greenhouse gas emissions, but we are making Queensland soils more productive,” Minister Plibersek said.
According to Minister Scanlon, the Queensland Organics Strategy and Queensland Organics Action Plan laid out a clear road map for avoiding producing organic waste and reducing its environmental effects. Minister Scanlon added that it perfectly aligns with the work of Earthborn Australia.
“Food waste not only increases household budget costs — estimated at $2200 a year — it also has a serious impact on our environment as unwanted food and garden waste dumped in landfill produces damaging methane gas,” Minister Scanlon said.
The Minister stated that by 2030, they aim to halve the quantity of food waste generated, divert 80% of organic waste from landfill, and achieve a 70% organic recycling rate.
Assistant Minister for Education, Assistant Minister for Regional Development and Senator for Queensland Anthony Chisholm said the initiative benefits Queenslanders from the suburbs to the bush.
“This grant will increase the amount of diverted food and organic waste by 22,000 tonnes per year which is then processed into high-quality, comport which can be used to enhance agricultural soil, in landscaping, roadsides and urban parks. This is great for the environment, great for local jobs and for agriculture,” Minister Chisholm added.
