Western Australians are turning waste into economic opportunity, recycling a massive 4.7 million tonnes of material in 2024–2025, propelling the state’s recycling rate to 62 per cent, up from 42 per cent a decade ago.
A major driver of this progress is the Containers for Change scheme. Since launching in 2020, the initiative has seen more than 5.73 billion 10-cent containers returned, handing back over AU$573 million in refunds to locals and raising more than AU$22 million for community groups, schools, and charities across Western Australia.
To sustain momentum, the state government is expanding state recycling infrastructure and funding processing facilities.
Key investments include AU$13 million dedicated to establishing transport and processing pathways for end-of-life solar panels to handle growing renewable energy waste.
Additionally, a AU$16 million upgrade to Veolia’s Bibra Lake facility will allow it to process an extra 40,000 tonnes of mixed paper and cardboard each year.
Onshore industrial processing capacity is also expanding, with new tyre recycling sites in East Rockingham and Neerabup capable of handling more than 45,000 tonnes of tyres annually per location.
Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourn noted that three decades after National Recycling Week began, recycling has evolved beyond keeping waste out of landfill.
“It is about creating value from materials that would otherwise be thrown away, supporting local jobs and building a stronger circular economy,” Swinbourn said.
“National Recycling Week is an opportunity to celebrate the contribution Western Australians make every day to reducing waste and recovering valuable resources.
“I encourage everyone to keep reducing, reusing and recycling because every action contributes to a cleaner environment and a more sustainable future for our state.”
