Safety note: Admin approval is an initial review, not a guarantee that every detail is correct. Check important or urgent claims with official sources and report anything inaccurate or unsafe.
Source and credit: Contributor's own report
Rockhampton Council Warns Recycling Costs Are Blocking State Targets - Rockhampton, QLD
Smart summary
Rockhampton Regional Council says the rising cost of transporting recyclable waste hundreds of kilometres is making it difficult to meet Queensland's recycling targets.
Rockhampton Regional Council is warning that the increasing cost of transporting recyclable waste is making it difficult for the regional Queensland council to meet state recycling targets. The council is seeking financial assistance from the Queensland Government as it continues to send large quantities of household recyclables to a processing facility on the Sunshine Coast.
Around 10,000 tonnes of household recyclable material collected across the Rockhampton region is transported approximately 600 kilometres for processing each year. The long-distance journey has become a significant expense for the council, particularly as fuel and transport costs continue to rise.
Waste services currently cost Rockhampton Regional Council about $3 million each year, with more than one-third of that amount going towards transportation. The council says the cost of moving recyclables is substantially higher than it would be if suitable processing facilities were available closer to the region.
The problem began after a private materials recovery facility in Rockhampton was destroyed by a battery fire in 2020. Since then, the council has been unable to attract another private company to establish a replacement facility locally. As a result, recyclable materials collected from households continue to be transported long distances for processing.
Council figures indicate that the cost of sending recyclable materials for processing is around $300 per tonne. By comparison, councils in south-east Queensland can pay approximately $100 per tonne because processing facilities are located closer to collection areas.
Rockhampton Mayor Tony Williams has called for government assistance with transportation costs. The council says increasing recycling volumes can create additional expenses because more material needs to be transported to facilities outside the region.
The issue comes as Queensland works towards broader recycling and waste-reduction targets. The state's waste strategy includes an overall recycling target of 65 per cent by 2035, while major regional communities such as Rockhampton are expected to significantly reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill.
The Queensland Government has said it is providing support for recycling infrastructure in regional areas. Environment Minister Andrew Powell said the government is also designing a new fund that would help regional councils with the cost of sending recyclable materials to processing facilities.
The council's situation highlights the logistical challenges faced by regional communities where recycling infrastructure is not located close to population centres. While increasing recycling can reduce the amount of material sent to landfill, transporting recyclable materials hundreds of kilometres can add substantial financial and environmental costs.
The Australian Council of Recycling has also called for broader reforms to Australia's packaging system, arguing that responsibility for recycling costs should be shared more across the supply chain. The federal government has said it is working with states and territories on waste reduction and harmonising packaging and recycling policy.
For Rockhampton, the immediate issue remains the cost of transporting household recyclables. The council is seeking support while authorities consider how new funding and infrastructure programs could improve recycling services in regional Queensland.
CouncilRecyclingRegionalRockhamptonProcessing
Rockhampton Regional Council is warning that the increasing cost of transporting recyclable waste is making it difficult for the regional Queensland council to meet state recycling targets. The council is seeking financial assistance from the Queensland Government as it continues to send large quantities of household recyclables to a processing facility on the Sunshine Coast.
Around 10,000 tonnes of household recyclable material collected across the Rockhampton region is transported approximately 600 kilometres for processing each year. The long-distance journey has become a significant expense for the council, particularly as fuel and transport costs continue to rise.
Waste services currently cost Rockhampton Regional Council about $3 million each year, with more than one-third of that amount going towards transportation. The council says the cost of moving recyclables is substantially higher than it would be if suitable processing facilities were available closer to the region.
The problem began after a private materials recovery facility in Rockhampton was destroyed by a battery fire in 2020. Since then, the council has been unable to attract another private company to establish a replacement facility locally. As a result, recyclable materials collected from households continue to be transported long distances for processing.
Council figures indicate that the cost of sending recyclable materials for processing is around $300 per tonne. By comparison, councils in south-east Queensland can pay approximately $100 per tonne because processing facilities are located closer to collection areas.
Rockhampton Mayor Tony Williams has called for government assistance with transportation costs. The council says increasing recycling volumes can create additional expenses because more material needs to be transported to facilities outside the region.
The issue comes as Queensland works towards broader recycling and waste-reduction targets. The state's waste strategy includes an overall recycling target of 65 per cent by 2035, while major regional communities such as Rockhampton are expected to significantly reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill.
The Queensland Government has said it is providing support for recycling infrastructure in regional areas. Environment Minister Andrew Powell said the government is also designing a new fund that would help regional councils with the cost of sending recyclable materials to processing facilities.
The council's situation highlights the logistical challenges faced by regional communities where recycling infrastructure is not located close to population centres. While increasing recycling can reduce the amount of material sent to landfill, transporting recyclable materials hundreds of kilometres can add substantial financial and environmental costs.
The Australian Council of Recycling has also called for broader reforms to Australia's packaging system, arguing that responsibility for recycling costs should be shared more across the supply chain. The federal government has said it is working with states and territories on waste reduction and harmonising packaging and recycling policy.
For Rockhampton, the immediate issue remains the cost of transporting household recyclables. The council is seeking support while authorities consider how new funding and infrastructure programs could improve recycling services in regional Queensland.
Western Australian man faces court after an alleged incident involving an airline crew member at Perth Airport, with police continuing their investigation.
A 19-year-old man has been charged with six offences after allegedly failing to stop for police during a cross-border pursuit involving Queensland and N...
Residents near Orange in regional New South Wales are calling for dust testing on four unsealed roads amid concerns about naturally occurring asbestos.
Queensland Police have charged an 18-year-old South Gladstone man after a National Security Hotline tip triggered a counter-terrorism investigation into...
Residents are being urged to take precautions as high temperatures affect several regions, with some inland communities expected to experience maximum t...
New training technology at Mount Isa TAFE is giving students the opportunity to experience mining, construction and transport machinery before entering...
A contract worker has died at Regis Resources' Duketon South mining operation in the Goldfields, prompting investigations by Work Safe and Western Austra...
Northern Territory Police have launched an investigation after a person died in a serious road crash in Alice Springs, prompting renewed attention to ro...
More than 100 cars and motorcycles joined a community gathering in Ellenbrook to show support for a 13-year-old boy allegedly attacked and threatened wi...
