Funds for establishment of Centre of Excellence in cleaner production

24/12/98

The John Curtin International Institute and the Curtin University of Technology will receive $86,625 to assist in the establishment of a Centre of Excellence in cleaner production.

Environment Minister Cheryl Edwardes today announced grants of nearly $1 million for 35 projects from the Waste Management and Recycling Fund.

Western Australia's first environmental fund is financed by a landfill levy which came into force on July 1 this year, and is used to sponsor innovative recycling and waste reduction projects throughout the State.

Cleaner Production (CP) is a rapidly growing internationally-recognised process for achieving effective environmental and economic outcomes.

The goal of CP is to avoid generating waste in production systems while minimising the use of energy and materials. It reduces production costs, energy consumption, pollution and health risks.

Industries look at internal processes with a view to reducing the generation of waste and using the most efficient manufacturing techniques. The benefits of reducing the amount of raw materials and energy used, waste generated, energy consumption and recycling of waste products produced means many companies improve their bottom line.

Research indicates there is a general lack of knowledge and expertise in the Cleaner Production field in Australia. In WA the range of comprehensive CP education, information and research services is minimal.

Recognising the need and having approved a Master's program and a post graduate scholarship in the area, the John Curtin International Institute and Curtin University of Technology are establishing a Chair in Cleaner Production.

The grant from the Waste Management and Recycling Fund will allow Curtin to establish a Centre of Excellence in Cleaner Production, offering a range of services and products to industry.

Mrs Edwardes congratulated the successful applicants who will share in $915,316 of Waste Management and Recycling Fund grants. This round of grants brings the total amount of funding provided in 1998 to nearly $1 million.

"Each year, an expected $4 million raised from the levy will provide financial assistance to local communities, industry and local government with new and innovative ideas on reducing or recycling all types of waste," she said.

"I believe this fund is an incentive to Western Australians who are dedicated to recycling and waste reduction. It will help provide the impetus to reduce the State's waste by half.

"The quality of the applications received by the Advisory Council on Waste Management supports this. Generally grants are made on a dollar-for-dollar basis."

The advisory council selected 35 successful grant applicants in the following six categories:

·      waste classification and information;

·      regional recycling;

·      cleaner production and industrial waste reduction;

·      recycling and waste processing industry development;

·      public education and promotion; and -

·      State co-ordination of local government recycling and waste reduction.

An additional category, municipal recycling services, will be included in the 1999 funding grants. This will provide a performance-based incentive to support local government kerbside collection systems.

The levy applies to landfill sites in the Perth metropolitan area and is costed at $3 per tonne for domestic and commercial waste going to putrescible landfill and $1 per tonne for inert waste from the building and construction industry going to inert landfill. It is paid by all those who generate waste and use landfill sites.

Grant applications are invited every six months. The next grant round will be advertised on January 9, and will be open for a six-week application period. Application forms and details are available from the DEP by telephoning (08) 9476 7407.

Media contact: Nicole Trigwell 9421 7777