Waste Management and Recycling Fund grant - Shire of Carnamah

1/7/98

Environment Minister Cheryl Edwardes today congratulated the Shire of Carnamah for being one of the first recipients of a Waste Management and Recycling Fund grant.

The fund, WA's first environmental trust fund, will be financed by the landfill levy and used to sponsor innovative recycling and waste reduction projects throughout the State.

The landfill levy, which came into force today, applies to landfill sites in the Perth metropolitan area and is costed at $3 per tonne for domestic and commercial waste and $1 per tonne for inert waste from the building and construction industry.

"It has always been the Government's intention to reinvest the money raised from the landfill levy back into the community," Mrs Edwardes said.

"The fund has been set up as a sponsorship mechanism to provide financial assistance to communities, industry and local government with new and innovative ideas on reducing or recycling all types of waste.

"Each year, an expected $4 million raised from the levy will be paid into the fund to support local government kerbside recycling schemes, public education programs, regional recycling, cleaner production, recycling industry development, recycling and waste auditing programs and directly to the community in the form of grants.

"I believe this funding will be the incentive many have been waiting for to get their recycling idea or project up and running. Applications for grants will be called for every six months and will be managed by the Advisory Council on Waste Management with the support of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)."

Mrs Edwardes said she was pleased to be able to announce the first recipients of the grants.

"Response to the first round of grants has been overwhelming," she said.

"The quality of the proposals demonstrates the community has a real commitment to the reduction and recycling of waste.

"I extend my congratulations and encouragement to the Shire of Carnamah one of nine successful applicants who will share in more than $75,000."

The Shire of Carnamah was allocated $12,000 to establish a recycling facility.

"This recycling facility will recycle paper products, green waste, aluminium, car bodies, waste oils and glass," Mrs Edwardes said.

"The council has rezoned some land it holds freehold within a council reserve for the special purpose of a waste recycling centre.

"This move demonstrates the council's commitment to successfully reducing the amount of waste going to landfill."

Mrs Edwardes said the council would build the recycling centre which would consist of a fenced area with a large shed. The total project is worth $24,000 of which more than $21,000 is the direct cost of infrastructure.

The Minister said it was particularly pleasing to note that the recycling centre was to be operated by the Lions Club of Carnamah with proceeds being returned to the community.

Mrs Edwardes said the next round of grants would be advertised on 4 July 1998 and encouraged groups to apply. The applicants who were not successful in this first round would be automatically held over and reconsidered in the next round of grants.

Application forms and details of the grant scheme can be obtained direct from the DEP, Level 4 Westralia Square 141 St George's Tce Perth, ph (08) 9476 7407 or from its web site at http://www.environ.wa.gov.au

Media contact: Nicole Trigwell (08) 9421 7777.