- $242,657 committed to Western Australian community groups
A total of 26 community groups will receive a share of $242,657 in grants for projects to reduce waste, improve recycling and provide community education.
The first round of the 2018 McGowan Government's Community Grants Scheme (CGS) was announced today by Environment Minister Stephen Dawson.
Projects funded include 'The Salty Blue Creation Station for Ningaloo' community recycling centre in Exmouth, which will transform plastic waste into products for resale.
A total of $34,015 in funding will be provided to the Cape Conservation Group to establish the recycling centre, providing an opportunity for community engagement and education on how to live low waste, with less plastic.
The Ravensthorpe Regional Arts Council's 'Art for Waste Awareness' project will receive $7,781 to put together community workshops focused on upcycling marine litter into decorative pieces in an effort to minimise single-use waste.
The CGS is administered by the Waste Authority and funded through the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Account. For further information and updates on future funding rounds, visit the Waste Authority's website.
Comments attributed to Environment Minister Stephen Dawson:
"The 26 projects that received grants under this round of CGS funding are great examples of committed community groups seeking to reduce waste, boost recycling and protect the environment.
"Initiatives like these help increase awareness and education around our understanding of the benefits of waste avoidance, reuse and recycling.
"Supporting these communities-focused projects will help the McGowan Government achieve the Western Australian Waste Strategy targets of diverting 65 per cent of municipal solid waste in the Perth metropolitan region and 50 per cent in major regional centres from landfill by 2020.
"I commend these groups for their efforts and look forward to the outcomes of these innovative and engaging projects."
Minister's office - 6552 5800
Community Grants Scheme First Round 2018 recipients
ABC Foundation - $7,725.65 for Don't Rubbish Country - a free car recycling program, offering a free collection service for old cars, recycling car bodies and making inexpensive car parts available to the Carnarvon community through the local tip shop.
Bedfordale Connect - $9,666 to tackle waste at the Bedfordale Bush Markets. The Towards a Waste Free Future program will promote recycling at the markets through a range of activities including a recycling hub, children's waste education activities, a washing up station, stallholder and volunteer workshops and re-useable bags.
Care For Hedland Environmental Association - $845.54 for Port Hedland Rags to Bags - a program creating reusable bags for use by the Port Hedland community in an effort to reduce single-use plastic. Local artists will paint designs on the bags, which will be made from rag fabrics by local group Ashburton Aboriginal Corporation.
Dunsborough Community Garden - $6,249.10 for the Cut to the Waste program to establish a compost heap and worm farm at the Dunsborough Community Garden, along with workshops and handouts produced for community members.
Esperance Growers Market (EGM) - $9,600 for the Waste Not Want Not program, set to run over a full year. Under the initiative, EGM will run two group workshops a month that focus on waste management and reduction topics, as well as two further workshops focused on the creation and distribution of 'upcycled' reusable shopping bags.
Fremantle Education Resource Network (FERN) - $9,600 to partially fund the FERN Organic Waste Management Project. Funding will help establish a permaculture demonstration and education site at the FERN community hub in Fremantle.
Green Skills (Albany) - $25,023 for a 12-month community engagement project across the Great Southern that will engage the public, community groups, home-schoolers, local governments and school canteens (through workshops, facility tours, festivals and peer to peer think tanks). The Connecting Communities, Councils and Canteens to the Circular Economy program aims to engage 20,000 people and reduce landfill waste by over 70,000 kilograms.
Green Skills (Denmark) - $4,594.83 to support the Sew Cool Stage Two - The Denim Project - a creative waste diversion and community education program aiming to divert waste from landfill; educate on the impact of fast-fashion; and demonstrate the diverse potential for upcycled clothing items for resale.
Greenbatch Foundation - $21,288 for the Event-based Plastic Beverage Bottle Reduction Project - a mobile event trailer promoting avoidance of single-use plastic beverage bottles at metro and regional events, as well as resource recovery through the Greenbatch facility.
Hamilton Hill Community Group Project #1 - $1,395 for the Plastic Bag Eradication Programme to support information workshops focused on the harmful effects of plastic, and educating on plastic bag alternatives and resources to make reusable shopping bags.
Hilton Harvest Community Garden - $5,850 for the One with Waste program. Using the grant, the Buds n Blooms group will run monthly waste workshops focused on minimising waste by utilising the principles of recycling, reusing and repurposing.
Jurien Bay Community Resource Centre - $942.30 for the Community Garden Compost Bins initiative - providing a composting facility for use in the community garden.
Kununurra Agricultural Society - $2,550 in funding to purchase slip on recycling stations (trailer tops) for use at local events.
Kununurra Neighbourhood House (KNH) - $15,133 for the KNH - Recycling Goes Bush program which transports second hand clothing and household items to remote indigenous communities.
Lake Monger Community Garden (LMCG) - $2,000 to establish composting bays and chicken coops, as well as hold talks on the benefits of composting, as part of the LMCG Waste Recycling Programme.
Marra Worra Worra Aboriginal Corporation - $18,617 for the Source Separated Domestic Waste Collection program, providing Fitzroy Crossing locals with custom designed and labelled bins - enabling source separation of waste at home.
Millennium Kids - $16,000 to enable 100 young people to participate in the Waste Free Movement program. The funding will allow participants to attend community workshops and skill building sessions where they will learn practical waste reduction initiatives, share ideas and encourage behaviour change in the wider community.
Northam Farmers Market - $13,184 for the Reduce Plastic Use - It's all in the bag program. Funding will be used to put on workshops at Farmers Markets and community events which will include discussion on the effects of single-use plastic and food waste on the environment, making beeswax wraps, and composting and worm farming demonstrations.
Pinjarra Community Garden - $2,807 for the Waste to Riches program. Funding will be used to purchase a commercial food processor and collection drums to recycle local food waste into composting material, worm farm food and chicken feed.
Rainbow Coast Neighbourhood Centre - $11,000 to the Great Southern Waste Warriors! initiative, for a series of targeted children's workshops and activities focused on family food waste.
Ravensthorpe Regional Arts Council - $7,781 to run community workshops focused on upcycling marine litter into usable items and decorative pieces, helping avoid single-use rubbish. The Art for Waste Awareness workshops will highlight the environmental impact of plastic and provide guidance to the community on how to minimise non-biodegradable materials in their day-to-day lives.
Salty Times (Cape Conservation Group) - $34,015 to establish a community recycling centre in Exmouth with the capacity to recycle plastic waste locally and turn it into products for resale. The Salty Blue Creation Station for Ningaloo project will provide an opportunity for community engagement and education on living low waste - with less plastic - and raising awareness on the issue of marine debris.
Santa's Workshop (Outcare) - $2,456.36 for the Toys Recycled 4 Girls and Boys initiative. Funding will be utilised to purchase professional promotional materials with recycling messages for use when project volunteers attend talks and demonstrations, as well as for equipment to repair toys.
Waroona Community Resource Centre - $6,370 for the Waroona Waste Not project to provide partial funding to purchase worm farms and compost tumblers for the community garden, as well as host waste workshops on recycling, composting and building home gardens.
Waste Recycling Education Network - $3,470 to assist in the construction of eight recycling drop off stations to help remove and recycle problem items in the waste stream. The project will be completed in partnership with Fremantle Men's Shed, who will build the recycling bins.
William Langford Community House - $4,494 for the Waste to Earth project, designed to engage and educate local families about the benefits of reducing organic and recyclable waste to landfill. The education program will comprise of workshops and mentoring, as well as equipment purchases and excursions.
