Published on Friday, 13 November 2020 at 12:35:11 PM
The EMRC has been successful in securing two Western Australian Government WasteSorted grants totalling $115,775 to further its innovative work in waste reduction in Perth’s Eastern Region.
- $56,775 has been allocated to set up new drop off points for expanded polystyrene and aerosols. These products are labelled the ‘Troublesome Two’ because of difficulties in their safe disposal currently faced by households.
- The second grant, of $50,000, will enable the EMRC work closely with the Circular Economy Alliance Australia (CEAA) to develop and deliver high level capacity-building training packages and education programs aimed at key people across all tiers of government, business, industry and the community sector.
Perth’s Eastern Region currently lacks locations where empty aerosols and polystyrene can be dropped-off, resulting in them being landfilled or placed in household recycling bins. The grant will help establish a drop-off point within each of the EMRC’s six member Council areas.
The Tackling a Troublesome Two project will ensure the provision of at least one drop-off point in each of the EMRC’s six member Councils, so that aerosols and expanded polystyrene (EPS) can be discarded safety and conveniently by the region’s 370,000 residents. The new collection points will be serviced by existing EMRC and member Council operations staff and will be supported by a comprehensive waste education program.
The proposed project builds on the successful waste recycling initiatives already undertaken by the EMRC, such as the Battery and Compact Fluorescent Light Collection Program.
EMRC CEO Marcus Geisler said: ‘People in Perth’s Eastern Region are currently asked to take aerosols to a household hazardous waste drop-off point at the EMRC’s Red Hill Waste Management Facility. However, this option is determined as unsatisfactory because of the considerable distance between Red Hill and most suburbs in Perth’s Eastern Region.
‘Only 3% of the 9,000 tonnes of expanded polystyrene generated in Western Australia annually is recycled. 30% is landfilled where it persists for hundreds of years, and because it is very lightweight but bulky, it takes up valuable space in landfill cells. The EMRC’s Waste Education team receives a high proportion of enquiries about the correct disposal of both aerosols and EPS, with many people frustrated by a lack of disposal options. More local drop-off points will help alleviate this issue and benefit the environment at the same time.’
Mr Geisler added: ‘The second grant will help the EMRC and the CEAA spread the word about the benefits of the circular economy among influential leaders in government and the private sector help ensure Western Australia becomes the 'go to' State in terms of achieving a circular economy.
‘A circular economy is a waste avoidance strategy where materials are kept in the economy until all their economic value is extracted. Only then are the reduced waste materials sent to landfill. It is a highly-efficient and effective of means of boosting local economies and reducing adverse environmental effects. We look forward to promoting our valuable work with the CEAA.’
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Media contact:
Richard Whitehead
Communications Coordinator
Direct: (08) 9424 2255
Mobile: 0449 238589
Email: richard.whitehead@emrc.org.au
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