Waste Authority Planning Day
The Waste Authority held its annual planning day on 26 February 2026. During the planning day the Waste Authority:
- Considered feedback received on the final round of consultation conducted in December 2025 on the draft Beyond WAste 2030 Waste Strategy and Roadmap.
- Reflected on the previous year; and considered an environmental scan identifying key themes, opportunities and risks relevant to the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Strategy 2030 (the Waste Strategy) and Western Australia’s waste policy context and State priorities.
- Discussed an Australian jurisdictional snapshot and global trends relating to initiatives and approaches elsewhere in comparison to Western Australia; and progress made against high-level avoid, recover and protect targets measured in 2023-24 in the current Waste Strategy; along with discussion on successes and challenges faced in 2025-26.
- Participated in an interactive schematic mapping activity to determine key elements and interdependencies for Waste Strategy priorities. The mapping activity provided a visual experience of how everything is interconnected, identifying gaps, solution pathways and providing vital feedback loops.
- Considered strategic advocacy at the State Government level and through the Commonwealth Government to progress key initiatives to support the Waste Strategy and the State’s move towards a more circular economy.
- Supported the retirement of the Program Risk and Performance Committee (PRPC), with its role and responsibilities integrated back into the Waste Authority, with support from the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation’s Audit and Risk Management Committee.
The retirement of the PRPC removes areas of overlap and duplication between meetings of the Waste Authority and the PRPC, allowing the Waste Authority and Department to focus on delivery of the new Waste Strategy and Roadmap, along with other circular economy priorities.
- Noted the Australian Government’s Productivity Commission Inquiry Report into Australia’s circular economy: unlocking the opportunities in the circular economy to improve materials productivity and efficiency in ways that benefit the economy and the environment, and acknowledged alignment with Western Australia’s circular economy initiatives.
Final draft Beyond WAste 2030 Strategy – Western Australia’s Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Strategy and supporting Roadmap
At a special meeting held on 31 March 2026, the Waste Authority approved the final draft Beyond WAste 2030 – Western Australia’s Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Strategy 2030 and supporting Roadmap.
The final draft Waste Strategy and Roadmap reflects feedback from the final round of consultation conducted in December 2025, and it anticipated to be released following relevant approvals in mid-2026.
Draft 2026-27 Waste Authority Business and Action Plan
At its meeting on 22 April 2026, the Waste Authority approved its draft 2026-27 Waste Authority Business and Action Plan. The Plan outlines priorities and key initiatives in 2026-27 and supports the imminent Beyond WAste 2030 – Western Australia’s Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Strategy 2030.
Finalisation of the 2026-27 Business and Action Plan is currently underway, after which it will be presented to the Minister for the Environment for his consideration. Following approval, it will be published on the Waste Authority website in the new financial year.
2024-25 Waste and recycling data report
The Waste Authority considered the Waste and recycling data report for 2024-25.
The Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Regulations 2008 require liable persons, including local governments, recyclers and large non-metropolitan landfills to report waste and recycling data annually to the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation.
The data reported by liable persons and supplementary sources is used to measure progress towards targets in the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Strategy 2030.
Following some edits, the data report will be provided to the Minister for the Environment for his noting, prior to the web-based report being published on the Waste Authority website, including analysis and statistics presented through dynamic dashboards.
Members noted the Australian Government is currently preparing its National Waste and Resource Recovery Report 2026, which will also be released in a web-based format. Its release will follow the public release of Western Australia’s Waste and recycling data report for 2024-25 on the Waste Authority website.
WasteSorted Schools key achievements 2020-25
The Waste Authority noted with great interest, a WasteSorted Schools Key Achievements 2020-2025 report, highlighting some great outcomes with waste in Western Australian schools, including:
- Accredited WasteSorted Schools typically implemented 19 specific waste, avoidance, reuse and recycling actions each year.
- Weekly waste-free lunch programs operating in 100 schools engaged approximately 50,000 students, resulting in an estimated 1.5 million waste-free lunches each year.
- 90 per cent of accredited schools engaged in organic waste recycling via compost bins, worm farms, chickens or a FOGO kerbside service.
- 69 per cent of accredited schools participated in the Containers for Change program.
- Huge reductions on waste to landfill, e.g. Beeliar Primary School reduced waste to landfill by 81% or 50 tonnes per year over a five-year period.
- There are also many indirect outcomes for schools involved in the WasteSorted Schools Program including improved student leadership and learning, building whole school community involvement, and improved waste behaviours in students that are taken home and influence families, households, and the broader community.
Next meeting
The next meeting of the Waste Authority will be held on 22 July 2026.
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