McGowan Government boosts plastic and tyre recycling in Western Australia

• $20 million to improve plastic and tyre processing in WA
• State Government funds will be matched by the Federal Government
• Expression of interest process commenced for new plastic and tyre reprocessing facilities

The McGowan Government has today committed $20 million to boost capacity for local processing of waste plastic and tyres in Western Australia.

$15 million dollars in grant funding will be provided to support local processing of plastics and tyres and the development of infrastructure in the north of the State.  Access will also be provided to industrial zoned land valued at $5 million for processing infrastructure.

The State Government funding will need to be matched or exceeded by industry investment meaning that total combined investment in local processing is likely to be greater than $60 million.

The State Government is today calling for grant applications from organisations to support new processing infrastructure, including projects in regional and remote Western Australia.

The announcement follows the March 2020 Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting, which confirmed a timetable for phasing out waste exports and building domestic infrastructure to support reuse and recycling.

WA grants will be considered for projects that can help in the domestic processing of plastics and whole tyres currently collected in Western Australia.

Proposals for economically viable projects that utilise best-practice methodology, know-how and technology, achieve value for money and maximise industry financial contributions are welcomed.

The funding is in addition to the more than $20 million already provided annually to fund waste related programs and initiatives from the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Account.

For more information or  to submit a completed expression of interest, contact  wastegrants@dwer.wa.gov.au

Applications close at 9am AWST, August 17, 2020 (late applications will not be accepted).

Comments attributed to Acting Environment Minister Francis Logan:

"This commitment from the McGowan Government is not only good for the environment, it is good for WA jobs; we know we can deliver three times more jobs when we recycle better.

"Analysis from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that in WA approximately 12,500 tonnes of plastics and 7,000 tonnes of tyres would be captured as result of the export ban on certain wastes. This represents a huge opportunity for industry in WA.

"As a State Government moving towards a circular economy we are seeking expressions of interest from innovative and entrepreneurial organisations to help us grow local processing capacity for waste and ensure these valuable materials are reprocessed locally."

Minister's office - 6552 5800