Local governments across Western Australia will be given a financial incentive to use recycled construction and demolition waste in civil projects as part of a new $350,000 sustainability scheme.
The Roads to Reuse: Local Government Incentives Program provides a payment of $5 per tonne of recycled construction or demolition product used by local governments and sourced from accredited suppliers.
The program aims to close the recycling loop, support local jobs and investment, and move Western Australia towards a more circular economy.
Payments are capped at $35,000 per local government, equating to 7,000 tonnes of product, and issued on a “first come first served” basis.
The initiative was announced by Western Australian Environment Minister, Reece Whitby, at the 2022 Waste and Recycle Conference.
“Recycling construction and demolition waste is a priority for the Western Australian Government and can play an important role in achieving the state’s material recovery targets and a more circular economy,” Mr Whitby said.
“The use of recycled products can be very cost effective, while delivering time, labour and water savings during construction on top of significant environmental benefits.”
Construction and demolition waste is a priority in the Western Australian Government’s Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Strategy 2030, which sets a target of increasing material recovery to 80 per cent by 2030.
The program was developed by the Waste Authority and the Western Australian Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, in partnership with Main Roads WA, the Western Australian Department of Health and the Waste and Recycling Industry WA.
Main Roads WA used more than 100,000 tonnes of ‘Roads to Reuse’ recycled products in the Kwinana Freeway widening project, as well as the Leach Highway and Tonkin Gap projects, and plans to increase use even more.
