Australia’s DCCEEW Outlines Recycling Modernisation Fund to Expand National Waste and Recycling Infrastructure

On January 5th, 2026, the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) of Australia provided details on the Recycling Modernisation Fund (RMF) as part of the government’s national approach to managing waste and advancing recycling infrastructure, which is implemented as part of the broader National Waste Policy Action Plan. The RMF aims to expand Australia’s capacity to sort, process, and remanufacture materials such as glass, plastics, tyres, paper, and cardboard by co-funding new and upgraded recycling facilities with an overall investment target of around AUD 1 billion, including contributions from the Australian Government, state and territory governments, and industry partners; funded projects are already increasing processing capacity by over one million tonnes annually and supporting a circular economy transition. The RMF operates through multiple funding streams including mainstream, plastics technology, regional and remote infrastructure allowing jurisdictions to direct funding to priority recycling gaps, and encourages expanded domestic recycling capacity to support the nation’s waste export regulation and sustainable resource recovery