The Western Australian government will fund more than AU$3.7 million to upgrade waste management infrastructure and boost local recycling capability for 16 regional and remote local councils across the state.
The funding, provided jointly by the federal and state governments under the Recycling Modernisation Fund (RMF), aims to improve the sorting, processing, and storage of materials affected by national waste export bans, including plastics, tyres, paper, and cardboard.
The joint initiative targets the unique logistics and transport hurdles faced by regional communities. Projects span from the Kimberley to the Great Southern, focusing on tailored solutions to keep reusable resources out of local landfills.
Among the primary recipients, the Shire of Derby/West Kimberley will receive AU$576,308 to upgrade the access road to the Derby Waste Management Facility to an all-weather standard.
The Shire of Dowerin has been allocated AU$521,664 to build nine transfer stations serving seven Wheatbelt shires, while the City of Albany has been allocated AU$220,640 to expand processing of cardboard and expanded polystyrene.
Other significant allocations include AU$348,258 for a new Recycling Hub in Plantagenet, AU$333,135 for cardboard baling in East Pilbara, and AU$323,385 to install a cardboard shredder at Esperance’s Wylie Bay facility.
Smaller grants will fund local tyre recycling programs, community collection points, and bulk-bin infrastructure across rural depots.
Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt said the funding delivers practical, locally driven solutions that help keep valuable materials circulating in the Australian economy while generating regional jobs.
Western Australian Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourn echoed those sentiments, noting that the tailored upgrades directly support regional communities to reduce landfill reliance and transition toward a circular economy.
“Regional and remote communities face unique waste management challenges, and this funding will help local governments deliver practical recycling and resource recovery improvements tailored to local needs,” he said.
The funding builds on 14 RMF projects already delivered across WA, which have added 237,700 tonnes of annual processing capacity to the state.
All 16 newly funded infrastructure developments are scheduled to be fully operational by June 30, 2027.
