Sod turning for $3 million investment in reducing waste

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Published
4th April 2022

Waste not, want not! Construction has begun on the new $3 million Resource Recovery Centre at the Yeppoon Landfill.

Turning the first sod on the site today, Livingstone Shire Mayor Andy Ireland said the new facility, expected to be complete by November, would divert close to 3000 tonnes of waste from landfill each year.

“This is a massive turnaround,” Mayor Ireland said.

“This Resource Recovery Centre will streamline the sorting of reusable, recyclable and recoverable materials that otherwise might end up in landfill.

“It is crucial that we extend the life of our landfill cells for as long as possible by reducing what gets dumped, because building new ones is unbelievably expensive.

“Residents will be able to pull up and sort their recyclables from waste in the one facility.”

Councillor Andrea Friend, Portfolio holder of Water, Waste Management and the Environment, thanked the Queensland Government for contributing $625,000 towards the project.

“Reducing waste is a big challenge and Council greatly appreciates the funding contribution from the Queensland Government to help build this important facility for our community,” Cr Friend said.

“The Resource Recovery Centre will also help expand the lifetime of the current landfill cell by about four years due to the diversion of waste.

“It’s absolutely critical that we invest in projects that help reduce waste and contribute to a sustainable future.”

Member for Keppel and Assistant Education Minister Brittany Lauga said the Queensland Government was pleased to have invested $625,000 to the project through the Resource Recovery Industry Development Program.

“This investment will help increase capacity to process additional waste, deliver environmental and community benefits and create more jobs,” Ms Lauga said.

“This upgrade will mean thousands of tonnes of waste can be diverted from landfill every year.

“Waste management is a critical issue for all levels of government, and everyone in the community, so the less we put into landfill the better.”

For further information about the project, visit https://www.livingstone.qld.gov.au/resource-recovery-centre