Government funding for Nannup recycling shredder

10/10/00
A grant for $1,880 from the State Government's Waste Management and Recycling Fund has provided Nannup with a recycling alternative for waste office paper from local businesses, Environment Minister Cheryl Edwardes said.
The fund, administered by the Department of Environmental Protection, returns money to the community by funding projects that create environmentally responsible uses for waste otherwise destined for landfill.
Before the grant was allocated to the Nannup Telecentre, used office paper was being stockpiled in ever increasing piles, with the risk of breaching business confidentiality.
After using the grant to buy the town's first paper shredder, the telecentre will be able to support local enterprises including worm farms and manufacturers of hand made paper products.
Nannup Telecentre co-ordinator Cheryle Brown said the shredder had overcome concerns about confidentiality in reusing waste office paper.
"The telecentre has always been a drop off point for waste newspapers, which are re-used by the local community for mulch, compost, chook nests, and a range of art and crafts projects," Ms Brown said.
"But nobody was interested in using the paper from offices because of the privacy aspect. So shredding was the obvious answer.
"The shredder provides an opportunity for community members to get rid of their confidential papers at no cost."
Ms Brown said the shredded paper was kept at the telecentre, where people were welcome to come and help themselves.
The shredder had provided an opportunity for Nannup to divert all of its waste paper from landfill.
"The project has been another step in a broader community focus in Nannup on recycling," Ms Brown said.
The town has an active recycling group of members who meet every fortnight to consider new and existing recycling initiatives.
Mrs Edwardes said the fund provided nearly $2.8 million in grants to 102 waste reduction projects throughout Western Australia in 1999-2000.
Interest in the grants was growing rapidly, with 167 applications for grants received in two funding rounds in 1999-2000.
The high levels of community interest in the grants had placed a considerable administrative burden on the evaluation and assessment process.
The department had responded by adapting administrative practices to provide faster approvals and more frequent opportunities to apply for grants.
"We have moved from six-monthly to two-monthly funding rounds to give organisations more chances to apply for grants, and to provide faster turnarounds," the Minister said.
"Also, it is planned that future payments will be made by electronic funds transfer, thereby eliminating any delay associated with preparing and clearing cheques.
"However, payments will continue to be linked to achievement-of-project milestones to ensure money is only paid once projects are delivering real environmental gains."
Media contacts:
Steve Manchee on 9421 7777
Cheryle Brown, Nannup Telecentre on 9756 3022