Seven Charities receive funding under the Charitable Recyclers Rebate

• More than $350,000 awarded under the Charitable Recyclers Rebate  

• Funding assists in managing illegal dumping and littering at donation sites across WA 

• 5,100 tonnes of unwanted or unusable goods are left at charity donation points each year in WA 

Seven charities have received a total of $357,361 this financial year under the State Government’s Charitable Recyclers Rebate program to assist charities with the costs of managing illegally dumped, littered and unusable items left at donation sites.  

This funded program rebates the waste levy paid by charitable recyclers on unusable material left at their facilities. 

The program has been provided funding each year to charitable recyclers since 2016 when the initiative was introduced.  

Charitable recyclers regularly dispose of material that is illegally dumped at their premises (at donation bins or shopfronts), as well as well-intentioned but unusable donations that cannot be recycled or reused. The cost of disposing of this material to landfill diverts significant funds from charities.  

Funding supports eligible charitable recyclers to reduce the substantial costs incurred in disposing of items deposited or illegally dumped at drop-off sites that cannot be reused or recycled. It helps charities to focus on delivering environmental and social benefits.  

Charitable Recyclers participating in the rebate program: 

• Alinea Inc 

• Anglicare WA 

• Crossways Community Services 

• Good Sammy Enterprises 

• RSPCA WA 

• St Vincent De Paul Society (WA) 

• The Salvation Army Salvos Stores 

Western Australians are being asked to visit charity websites to find out what goods and materials can be accepted, and how to go about donating. To report illegal dumping, contact the Pollution Watch Hotline on 1300 784 782 

Adrian Wiley, Director Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery, Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, said over 5,000 tonnes of unusable donations are left for charities to dispose of and this has a direct financial impact. 

“Donating items to charities is something we want the WA community to continue to do however, we want to make sure that items being donated can be on sold and people only gift the good stuff. 

“Inappropriate donations and illegal dumping take time and money away from these charities and reduces their ability to provide their important services to our community,” he said. 

“If you are unsure what can be donated, please contact your local charity to see what they can and can’t accept.” 

For more information on the Charitable Recyclers Rebate, please visit Charitable Recyclers Rebate | Waste Authority WA