Western Australia

 News, Western Australia

WA community CDS grants close this week

Western Australian not-for-profit organisations, schools and community groups have until Friday, March 27 to apply for a grant of up to $2,000 to help them establish a donation or refund point for beverage containers.

The state government opened up the offering of a total of $200,000 in community grants on February 28. The aim is to support the introduction of Western Australia’s upcoming container deposit scheme, Containers for Change.

The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation is administering the grants and specified that the funding can be used for infrastructure such as bins, cages, skips, security stands, fences, tippers, sorting equipment and trailers.

Priority will be given to applicants providing employment outcomes for people with disability, long-term unemployed people, and under-served remote and regional areas.

More information about the container deposit scheme community grants can be found at http://www.dwer.wa.gov.au/cds

WA environment minister Stephen Dawson said that the financial assistance would help communities, charities and not-for-profit organisations deliver donation or refund points, and assist in filling gaps in the refund point network in regional and remote areas.

“Containers for Change is all about giving people an incentive to recycle their drink containers, so they don’t end up littering our streets, communities and waterways.

“We know from other States where container deposit schemes have been introduced that the 10-cent refund for eligible containers creates great opportunities for the whole community – from jobs, to local fundraising, to environmental benefits,” he said.

 Circular Economy, Latest News, Waste & Resource Recovery, Western Australia

West Australians invited to contribute to local waste reform

The Western Australian Government has encouraged the community to give feedback on two consultation papers on waste reform in WA – ‘Closing the loop: waste reforms for a circular economy’ and ‘Review of the waste levy’.

Comment on the papers can be provided over a 12-week period via an online consultation at http://www.dwer.wa.gov.au/consultation/waste-reform-consultation

The proposed reforms support implementation of the “Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Strategy 2030″ aimed at helping the State Government meet its commitment to having at least 75 per cent of waste generated in the State being reused or recycled by 2030.

Closing the loop: waste reforms for a circular economy outlines legislative proposals to improve waste management in WA including:

  • reforming landfill and solid waste storage facility licensing under the Environmental Protection Act 1986;
  • reviewing the application of the waste levy at waste facilities, including new measures to reduce long-term solid waste stockpiling;
  • targeting illegal waste disposal through new compliance and enforcement mechanisms; and
  • strengthening of waste reporting and tracking in WA to ensure the proper disposal of waste.

Meanwhile, the Review of the waste levy canvasses broader strategic issues related to the waste levy’s design, including the geographical area of the levy, and a schedule of future levy rates. To allow time for the review to be completed, the government hold any increases to the waste levy for 2020‑21.

WA Environment Minister, Stephen Dawson explained that becoming a sustainable, low waste, circular economy was key for protecting the environment for future generations.

“The proposed waste reforms outlined in these two papers support the state government’s commitment to increase the reuse and recycling of waste generated in the state and ensure human health and the environment are protected from inappropriate or illegal waste disposal,” he said.