Planet Ark receives Government funding to put report on Internet and CD-ROM

30/5/00

Environment Minister Cheryl Edwardes today announced Planet Ark Environmental Foundation would receive $5000 from the Waste Management and Recycling Fund to transfer the foundation's Recycling Report onto CD-ROM and the Internet.
The grant was just one of 43 approved projects worth almost $1.1 million announced today by Mrs Edwardes.
Mrs Edwardes said the Waste Management and Recycling Fund was making a significant contribution to reducing the State's waste, with today's announcement bringing the total of grants approved since July last year to more than $4.2 million.
"The Waste Management and Recycling Fund was introduced in July last year as the State's first environmental trust fund, and has proved an invaluable incentive to local government, industry and community groups dedicated to recycling and waste reduction," Mrs Edwardes said.
"By sponsoring innovative recycling and waste reduction projects, the fund will help to significantly reduce waste and minimise environmental impact."
Mrs Edwardes said that while Planet Ark had headquarters in Sydney, the national significance of the project warranted funding through Western Australia's Waste Management and Recycling Fund.
"The Planet Ark Recycling Report is being heralded as the most definitive look yet at the state of recycling across Australia. It covers all aspects of recycling, including kerbside, drop-off, at home re-use, green organics and commercial/industrial recycling," Mrs Edwardes said.
"The report also examines in detail the local government approach to recycling. The report comprises statistics and case studies that demonstrate the innovative approaches being taken across Australia to minimise waste through recycling."
Mrs Edwardes said the project had received financial support from a number of organisations, with Western Australia's grant matching the contribution from EcoRecycle in Victoria. Support had also been forthcoming from private industry groups and Environment Australia.
"The transfer of the Recycling Report onto CD-ROM and the Internet will provide the public with easy access to recycling information that is relevant to their needs. Planet Ark will update the information periodically to ensure the site remains a valuable and up-to-date tool," she said.
Mrs Edwardes said the Waste Management and Recycling Fund was raised through a landfill levy introduced on 1 July 1998. The levy applied to all landfill sites in the Perth metropolitan area.
"Each year, about $4.5 million is raised from the levy and paid into the fund. The fund supports direct grants to the community, local government kerbside recycling schemes, public education programs, regional waste recycling, cleaner production, recycling industry development, and recycling and waste auditing programs," she said.
"The fund is providing a great opportunity for many applicants to get their recycling or waste management ideas up and running."
Mrs Edwardes congratulated successful applicants in the latest funding round, who will share in a total of $1,089,838.
"The response to all four funding rounds has been overwhelming, with the numbers of high quality applications increasing with each round," she said.
Application forms and details of the grant scheme can be obtained from the Department of Environmental Protection at Level 4, Westralia Square, 141 St George's Terrace, Perth; by telephone on (08) 9222 8608 or from http://www.environ.wa.gov.au
Media contact: Steve Manchee on (08) 9421 7777