State Government money funds Internet site on energy schemes

30/5/00

Environment Minister Cheryl Edwardes today announced the Australian Co-operative Research Centre (CRC) for Renewable Energy would receive $6000 from the Waste Management and Recycling Fund to develop a comprehensive report and Internet site on waste to energy schemes.
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 the funding to the CRC for Renewable Energy would support a comprehensive search of existing information on waste to energy schemes operating in Australia and around the world.
"The information gathered will be used in the production of a report and Internet site outlining the economic, technical, environmental and social costs and benefits of those schemes," Mrs Edwardes said.
"The Internet file will contain web links and references to assist students and industry to research this field in depth."
Mrs Edwardes said a number of new processes had been developed to convert domestic waste to high-grade fuel, which was burnt to recover energy. These processes usually relied on advanced biomass conversion techniques such as pyrolysis or gasification, which produced cleaner emissions than incineration.
"The research, conducted at Murdoch University, will provide a valuable basis for future decision making, as well as providing educational material for students interested in biomass conversion and waste disposal," she said.
"Most importantly, the report will provide information in a readily accessible form to enable industry, Government and the public to make better choices about waste disposal options."
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 direct 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 its web site at http://www.environ.wa.gov.au
Media contact: Steve Manchee on (08) 9421 7777