This program is now closed for applications. Details of the funding recipients are available in the Minister for Environment’s media statement.
Background
The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation has developed the Guideline: Better practice organics recycling to define and benchmark what ‘better practice’ means for organics recycling facilities regulated under Part V Division 3 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (WA)
The guideline:
- enables better environmental management outcomes in the organics recycling industry by preventing impacts to the environment, water resources, public health and amenity
- provides guidance to operators of organics recycling facilities to achieve the waste strategy target for all waste to be managed and/or disposed to better practice facilities by 2030
- supports the waste strategy vision for Western Australia to become a sustainable, low-waste circular economy in which human health and the environment are protected from the impacts of waste
- increases industry and community understanding of the regulatory process
- supports innovation and growth in the organics recycling industry by providing a benchmark that operators can use to inform the development of alternative approaches to achieve environmental performance objectives.
WasteSorted Grants – Organics Infrastructure Program 2022–23 (WSGOI)
The WasteSorted Grants – Organics Infrastructure Program is a State Government initiative intended to fast-track existing organics handling and processing operators in transitioning to better practice aligned with the Guideline: Better practice organics recycling. The program is administered by the Waste Authority and funded through the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Account (WARR Account).
The program had a total of $1,000,000 in funding available for projects in 2022-23.
A maximum $200,000 grant limit applied per operating site.
Program objectives
The objective of this program is to deliver better practice operations rather than simply increasing output. Delivering better practice operations is expected to support improved product quality, which will in turn support markets for recycled organics.
Projects were required to demonstrate they met one or more of the following objectives:
- address priority aspects and environmental performance objectives listed below
- support a higher benchmark of environmental management, beyond the existing regulatory controls and outcomes
- support ongoing outcomes of improved protection of the environment, public health and/or amenity beyond the life of the funding.
|
Priority |
Aspect |
Environmental performance objective |
|---|---|---|
|
High |
Odour |
Protect the environment by preventing and, where that is not possible, minimising odour emissions that may cause pollution or environmental harm. |
|
Medium |
Emissions to land and water |
Protect the environment by preventing and, where that is not possible, minimising emissions to land and water that may cause pollution or environmental harm |
|
Lower |
Point source emissions to air |
Protect the environment by preventing and, where that is not possible, minimising point source emissions to air that may cause pollution or environmental harm. |
|
Dust |
Protect the environment by preventing and, where that is not possible, minimising dust emissions that may cause pollution or environmental harm. |
|
|
Noise |
Protect the environment by preventing emissions of unreasonable noise and maintaining compliance with the assigned levels in the Environmental Protection (Noise) Regulations 1997 to prevent pollution and environmental harm. |
|
|
Emissions of litter and debris |
Protect the environment by preventing and, where that is not possible, minimising emissions of litter and debris that may cause pollution or environmental harm. |
|
|
Fire prevention and management |
Protect the environment by minimising the risk of fires and be sufficiently prepared in the event of a fire to prevent and, where that is not possible, minimise pollution and environmental harm. |
|
|
Vectors |
Protect the environment by minimising the risk of attraction, refuge, growth and spread of vermin and pests to prevent pollution and environmental harm. |
Who was able to apply
Applicants who hold a licence or works approval for food organics and garden organics (FOGO) handling and processing at a prescribed premises regulated under the following categories:
- Category 61A/62: solid waste facilities or depots (waste transfer stations), premises on which FOGO is stored, sorted and/or processed; or
- Category 67A: compost manufacturing and soil blending, premises on which FOGO is stored pending processing, mixing, drying or composting to produce commercial quantities of compost or blended soils.
Applications for prescribed premises handling and processing other organic feedstocks such as garden organics only and regulated under the above categories were eligible, although were considered at a lower priority in the assessment process.
What could be funded
Funding was available for projects implemented in Western Australia, handling or processing waste wholly or primarily sourced in Western Australia.
Examples of infrastructure that could be funded by the program included:
- air extraction systems or aeration systems
- odour treatment systems (e.g. biofilters)
- enclosures (e.g. sheds)
- hardstands
- leachate and storm water management infrastructure
- relevant monitoring equipment
- other equipment/infrastructure that addresses focus aspects.
Contact details
For enquiries regarding the WasteSorted Grants – Organics Infrastructure Program, please contact the program coordinator on 6364 6945 or wsgoi@dwer.wa.gov.au.