As electronics and electrical items have become essential to the lives of most Western Australians, e-waste has become one of the fastest-growing waste streams in Australia.
In support of WA’s Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Strategy 2030 (waste strategy), it is important to increase the recovery of valuable materials in many electrical items which are lost when sent to landfill. The aim is also to protect the environment from hazardous materials contained in e-waste and protect people from the risk of fires caused by batteries.
The WA Government will deliver a statewide industry ban on e-waste disposal to landfill by 2024 which supports the objectives of the waste strategy:
- Western Australians recover more value and resources from waste
- Western Australians protect the environment by managing waste responsibly.
E-waste Infrastructure Grants Program
Show moreThe Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (the department) will administer more than $10 million in grant funding from 2023 through a series of competitive grant rounds.
The grants program supports the ban by funding increased e-waste collection, storage and/or reuse including e-waste processing/recycling.
Consultation
Show moreThe first consultation period commenced in January 2023, whereby industry and the community were encouraged to provide feedback to the WA Government via the Ban on e-waste disposal to landfill in Western Australia consultation. This consultation period closed on 31 March 2023.
View the following documents:
- Consultation summary report
- Consultation submissions.
- Decision regulatory impact statement
- Cost benefit analysis of options for an e-waste landfill ban in WA.
Building on the first consultation, a second consultation period ran from September to November 2023, seeking public comment on the consultation draft of the Waste Avoidance and Resource (e-waste) Regulations 2023. An information paper was provided for guidance.
View the following documents:
Next steps
Show moreThe final regulations, scheduled to commence on 1 July 2024, will see Western Australia implement a regulatory ban of e-waste from disposal to landfill. Items banned in Phase 1 includes those covered under national product stewardship schemes, or with material recovery pathways available as an alternative to landfill such as:
- screens, information technology and telecommunications
- lighting and lamps
- large appliances when used in a home, office or professional environment
- batteries
- temperature exchange equipment when used in a home, office or professional environment
- medical devices.
View the following document:
Potential future phases of the e-waste to landfill ban in WA are likely to include more items once material recovery pathways are established. For instance, future bans may be brought into effect once the Australian Government has committed to developing a regulatory scheme to reduce waste from small electrical products and solar photovoltaic systems.
Compliance and enforcement
Show morePhase 1 regulations will commence from 1 July 2024 for regulated e-waste items. We will take an education-focused approach as part of the introduction of these changes; however, action may be taken by the department where warranted when an environmental or human health risk has been identified.
If you suspect regulated e-waste is being unlawfully managed or disposed of, please report it to the department’s Pollution Watch hotline 1300 784 782 (24 hours) or email pollutionwatch@dwer.wa.gov.au.
Exemptions
Show moreFor exemption inquiries please email ewaste@dwer.wa.gov.au or phone 08 6364 7000.
