Finding new and innovative ways to manage waste in Queensland will help pave the way to a more sustainable future.
A day after passing the Waste Reduction and Recycling Bill in Queensland Parliament, Minister for Environment Leeanne Enoch visited Substation33's electronic waste recovery facility today.
"Our vision is for Queensland to become a zero-waste society, where waste is avoided in the first place, and the waste we do produce is reused and recycled," Minister Enoch said.
"Yesterday's passing of legislation, and which reintroduces a waste disposal levy for Queensland, will ensure we are armed with the tools needed to fight the war on waste.
"We need to start seeing waste as a valuable resource and the waste levy will help attract investment, develop new industries and products, and grow jobs across the state in the resource recovery sector.
"Importantly, it will open the door for new markets and innovative approaches to resource recovery like Substation33's Innovation Lab which has designed and developed new products.
"Substation33 has designed and developed new products, like flooded road 'smart' warning signs, electric 'e-bikes', 3D printers and a vertical garden monitoring system, from waste recovered from its electronic waste recycling operations.
Tony Sharp, Founder and Manager of Substation33 said that they divert around 200,000kg of e-waste each year.
"Our biggest impact though is a social one—developing skills and giving opportunities to youth and the long-term unemployed," Mr Sharp said.
"Over 100 of our volunteers have moved into sustainable paid work. Social enterprises can make a huge difference in helping to build Queensland's recycling industry.
"The waste levy is a great idea because Queensland is way behind the rest of the world in terms of managing waste and we can make a difference."
