The Western Australian government will invest AU$17.8 million to boost the state’s capacity to recycle decommissioned solar panels and embedded electronics batteries.
Announced under the state’s Remade in WA initiative, the funding package aims to divert complex electronic waste from local landfills, establish a self-sustaining domestic recycling industry, and create skilled manufacturing jobs within the state.
The state will allocate the lion’s share of the funding, AU$13 million, to establish comprehensive collection, transport, and commercial processing pathways for end-of-life solar panels.
The program will service both residential rooftops and commercial solar farms, ensuring that valuable, critical materials such as copper, silver, and aluminium are recovered and fed back into the local economy rather than being lost to landfill.
An additional AU$3 million has been earmarked to support local governments in deploying dedicated collection points for embedded batteries. This initiative targets high-risk household items and consumer electronics, including e-rideables, e-scooters, and smaller smart devices, providing communities with a safe and highly accessible disposal pipeline.
The remaining AU$1.8 million will fund the ongoing delivery and regulatory oversight of both programs.
Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourn said the targeted funding focuses heavily on environmental preservation and restoring natural landscapes for future generations.
“These programs will reduce waste to landfill, recover valuable materials, and improve how we manage complex waste streams like solar panels and embedded batteries,” Swinbourn said.
Energy, Decarbonisation, and Manufacturing Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson echoed the sentiment, stressing that the rapid transition toward becoming a clean energy powerhouse necessitates a robust circular economy.
“More solar panels and batteries are coming into use every day and we need systems to manage them at end-of-life,” Sanderson said.
She added that the investment would provide a welcome boost for local West Australian businesses, manufacturing capabilities, and regional employment.
