The McGowan Government is calling for expressions of interest for grants to help boost the processing capacity for Western Australia's 80,000 tonnes of mixed paper and cardboard waste.
The expression of interest is advertised on the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation's website and is open from today (June 26) to 9am on July 27, 2020.
The Council of Australian Governments agreement on March 13, 2020 confirmed a timetable for phasing out waste exports and building domestic infrastructure to support reuse and recycling.
Mixed paper and cardboard will be subject to the national export ban commencing on July 1, 2024. It is important that the McGowan Government considers all proposals that will contribute to a more competitive and sustainable domestic market for mixed paper and cardboard collection, reprocessing and sale.
As part of the national response to the ban on waste, the Federal Government is asking industry and State and Territory governments to work together to bring forward project proposals that deliver a national solution for mixed-paper recycling in Australia.
Funding may be made available from the State Government and matched by the Australian Government for one or more selected projects.
As stated by Environment Minister Stephen Dawson:
"Export bans on paper and cardboard open up new opportunities to explore local processing of recycled materials, and we are committed to finding a solution that is right for Western Australia.
"The McGowan Government is investigating options for local processing to help achieve its recycling targets.
"We are seeking industry proposals for increasing capacity for processing mixed paper and cardboard, and look forward to working with the Federal Government on proposals that will contribute to a more competitive and sustainable domestic market.
"The McGowan Government is committed to a sustainable, low-waste, circular economy which is key for protecting our environment for future generations."
