A $10 million fund for e-waste projects has led to new facilities and advanced equipment to improve community recycling centres across Western Australia.
More than half of the 35 ventures funded by the infrastructure grants program run by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation are now complete and helping to divert thousands of tonnes of electronics from landfill.
Circular Economy Executive Director Adrian Wiley said businesses and local councils responded to the statewide ban on e-waste disposal to landfill by expanding their storage, reuse and recycling capacity.
"When the ban came in last year, industries sought innovative ways to process e-waste to recover valuable resources and minimise environmental impacts," he said
"At the same time, councils needed facilities to collect electronics and store them securely until they can be repurposed.
"The City of Wanneroo was granted nearly $19,000 to build a facility which is expected to handle 80 tonnes of e-waste annually.
"The Shire of Dardanup Waste Transfer Station, supported by a grant of almost $22,000, received more than 20 tonnes of e-waste in 2024-25."
The shires of Northam and Donnybrook Balingup have also completed projects that boost their ability to collect and manage electrical items for reuse or recycling.
In addition, businesses such as Total Green Recycling have used their skills and knowledge to support the state's sustainability goals.
The company was awarded more than $2 million across three major projects, with the bulk going towards e-waste processing equipment at its Welshpool facility to increase recycling from 3,600 to 5,000 tonnes annually.
The remaining funds went towards boosting collection and storage capacity to enhance the recycling efforts of local councils, charities and small businesses as well as supporting compliance with the state's landfill ban.
Charity projects have also been a highlight of the infrastructure grants program.
Sam's Spares in Gosnells used a $74,000 grant on equipment to erase corporate data from devices before refurbishing and donating them back to the community, while the Salvation Army expanded their tag and test capacity with $58,000 funding.
"Last year, 80 per cent of the devices renewed by Sam's team of volunteers were gifted to public school students," Adrian said.
"The Salvation Army bought 40 new test and tag machines and trained staff to use them, allowing more donated electrical goods to be tested as functional and re-sold in an additional 22 stores across the state.
"Charities, companies and local governments have together completed 22 projects."
The E-waste Infrastructure Grants Program began in February 2023, with a second round in February 2024, to support Western Australia's e-waste to landfill ban.
In round one, $4,582,380 was awarded to 20 projects and in round two $5,303,371 went to 15 projects.
