The Western Australia Government has offered a $2.7 million funding package to assist South West local governments to maintain Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) services.
The proposed South West FOGO Transport Rebate was detailed to councils following a series of meetings between the Environment Minister’s office, the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, and South West councils’ chief executive officers and shire presidents.
A structured rebate over a three-year period, starting at $75 per tonne, will assist councils to transport FOGO feedstock to licensed processing facilities while work continues on a long-term, regionally sustainable processing solution.
The rebate will be administered under the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act 2007, ensuring funding supports objectives of Western Australia’s waste strategy, Beyond WAste 2030.
Local governments receiving the rebate will be required to demonstrate tonnages transported and take steps to reduce contamination to maintain the integrity of the system.
The State Government will continue to work with councils and industry stakeholders to develop long-term infrastructure options, including regional transfer-station capacity and sustainable processing solutions.
Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourn said waste recovery, including FOGO, is a key responsibility of local governments, with many of the South West councils helping drive Western Australia’s early success with FOGO.
“FOGO remains an important part of the state’s growing circular economy, playing a key role in the waste hierarchy,” Swinbourn said.
“Growing the recycled organics industry supports our ambition to innovate, diversify, and foster a circular economy and local jobs, while diverting valuable material from landfill, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and regenerating soils.”
He said the support package will provide the certainty and breathing room councils need to ensure the foundations of a long-term sustainable FOGO system.
“This initiative has been designed to assist regional local governments in maintaining a strong approach to waste reduction,” Swinbourn said.
“I strongly encourage the South West councils to take up this offer and continue to work on delivering FOGO services to their communities.”
For more information, visit: www.wa.gov.au
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