Construction has officially started on the ACT's new Materials Recovery Facility at Hume, which the territory says could save about $10 million a year. The previous facility burned down on Boxing Day 2022 after batteries were placed in a yellow recycling bin. Veolia will run the new facility for 20 years, and it will include a glass washing and crushing system. Both the ACT and Commonwealth governments have contributed $10.5 million each. The facility is expected to open in early 2028.
Tyre Stewardship Australia has welcomed a federal parliamentary committee report on the tyre industry and urged the government to act on its 12 recommendations without delay. The recommendations include national rules for end-of-life tyres, a staged move away from onsite burial of mining tyres, and support for regional and remote areas. Chief Executive Lina Goodman said off-the-road tyre recovery rates had risen from 9 per cent to 21 per cent since 2021. Consumer research commissioned by the group found 91 per cent of Australians support national rules for used tyres.
Two Frankston City Council waste projects have been selected as finalists in the 2026 Waste Innovation and Recycling Awards. The council is a finalist for Community Engagement Success of the Year, for its rollout of the FOGO food and garden organic bin service, and for the Operational Excellence Award, for the Frankston Regional Recycling Recovery Centre. Since the FOGO service began, food waste in red household bins has fallen by 20 per cent, and less than 1 per cent of FOGO bin waste is contaminated. The awards gala will be held on Thursday 29 October.
Mount Egerton Primary School will open a new opportunity shop called The Eco Treasure Shop on campus. The shop, which will be run by students, aims to promote sustainability and a circular economy. Donation bins for the shop are located in the school's bus stop, where residents can drop off pre-loved items such as clothes, books, and toys. The shop will operate on Friday mornings from 9am to 10am, with proceeds going towards purchasing new gardening tools for the school's sensory and vegetable gardens.
