The Federal and Western Australian governments have allocated more than $30 million to boost the state’s waste and recycling infrastructure.
The latest funding is offered through the Western Australian Recycling Modernisation Fund’s second round, which seeks to help grant recipients build, expand, or upgrade waste processing infrastructure. Ultimately, this will support the phase-out of exporting certain types of waste plastics, tyres, mixed paper, and cardboard.
Up to $5 million worth of industrial-zoned land is also on offer.
“Boosting recycling isn’t just good for the environment, it’s good for jobs – for every one job in landfill there are three jobs in recycling,” said Federal Minister for the Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek. “We know people want to do the right thing and recycle their waste, but the reality is there aren’t the facilities to do it.”
The funding will be available for projects focused on increasing the recovery of materials that can be reused or recycled and improving the capacity for sorting, processing, and manufacturing of materials affected by waste export bans.
Both the state and federal governments will contribute a maximum of two-thirds of the project costs, while the applicants are required to fund at least one-third of the cost.
“Western Australian businesses are embracing waste as a valuable resource that can create jobs, spark innovation and deliver strong environmental outcomes,” said WA Minister for the Environment Reece Whitby. “This is a significant investment to transform WA’s waste and recycling industry, helping address critical infrastructure gaps while supporting the waste export bans.”
The WA Recycling Modernisation Fund is investing a total of $70 million in grant funding to address critical infrastructure gaps in the state’s waste management.
Applications for the funding will be accepted until 13 October. For more information on eligibility and how to apply, visit the Western Australian Government’s website.
