Yulara to build drive-through recycling base
An innovative recycling project is underway in Central Australia. Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia is building a drive through recycling centre at Yulara, the resort in the shadow of Uluru.
The business received a grant of nearly $239,000 towards the $560,000 centre from the $3.8million NT Recycling Modernisation Fund, an initiative of the Territory and Federal governments.
Seven projects will address gaps in the Territory’s waste recycling capabilities, including in the remote communities of Galiwin’ku, Gapuwiyak, Ramingining and Milingimbi in East Arnhem Land.
The aim is to grow local businesses, keep waste out of Territory landfills and recycle waste into valuable new commodities, such as construction materials
The Voyages project will support two jobs and divert 300 tonnes of waste from landfill per year.
Technical services manager Mark Blain says recyclables, such as plastic, glass, and cardboard will be dropped off at the centre and then sorted by trained staff. He says some of the waste, such as glass, will be reused at Yulara.
“We have purchased a pulveriser, which will enable us to pulverise, rather than crush, glass and reuse it for a host of things – in concrete, for roadfill or to retain moisture in soil.”
To date, projects supported through the NT Recycling Modernisation Fund are expected to create a total of 12 jobs during construction and 19 during operation, and process nearly 12,000 tonnes of waste glass, plastic, tyres and paper and cardboard waste each year.
Grants include the City of Palmerston being awarded 100,000 for a $200,000 cardboard compactor at the Archer Waste Transfer Station and Central Desert Regional Council receiving $102,000 to building $204,500 recycling bays in four remote communities: Yuelamu, Nyirripi, Willowra and Atitjere. The
Northern Territory Recycling Modernisation Fund supports infrastructure projects that recover or recycle waste material subject to export bans. Round 2 of the Recycling Modernisation Fund is now open.
Grants of at least $20,000 are available on a 50:50 co-contribution basis.
To find out more visit NT Recycling Modernisation Fund nt.gov.au/recycling-modernisation-fund
