The Port Pirie Regional Council is seeking a grant of $2 million from the Federal Government under its Jobs Fund Projects program.

Council won a $150,000 grant from Zero Waste.

The council’s chief executive officer, Andrew Johnson, said the project had its merits.

“We have received support from other councils around the region and it will create jobs in Port Pirie,” he said.

“It could also create jobs in surrounding council areas if they adopt a two-bin system.”

Dr Johnson said there was also the possibility of a charity set up.

“You could pick out the items that are fixable and recyclable and outsource to a local charitable organisation,” he said. “It would be like a big garage sale.”

He thought the funding application ticked all the right boxes, but would have to wait until next month to learn whether they had been successful.

“We have told the Federal Government that if they supply the infrastructure we can support the employment that this project would

create,” he said. “The project is ready to go.”

At the latest council meeting, Cr Dino Gadaleta backed the idea and praised Dr Johnson.

The project has widespread support from councils across the region including Copper Coast, Yorke Peninsula, Flinders Ranges, Barunga West and Barossa.

A facility based in Port Pirie could

create 20 direct jobs with independent consultant, Tonkins, indicating that there would be as many as 38 full-time jobs in the initial stages of the project.