More than 20 e-waste recycling projects have received state government funding, with about $4 million allocated to a Western Australian group.
More than 20 e-waste recycling projects have received state government funding, with about $4 million allocated to a Western Australian group.
The first round of the state government’s Infrastructure Grants Program, a funding pool of more than $6.5 million, has been allocated to 21 projects across the state.
Welshpool-based Total Green Recycling received $1.98 million to upgrade its e-waste recycling plant infrastructure and $1.92 million was allocated to Scipher Technologies for its advanced photovoltaic project.
In May last year, Scipher Technologies acquired Total Green Recycling with the $15 million funding backed by Clean Energy Finance Corporation and the Australian Business Growth Fund.
The state government also allocated Total Green Recycling $151,200 to increase its operational bin storage capacity, and $131,851 to procure storage cases.
Total Green Recycling general manager Evan Cocks said TGR continued to operate under its own name while being a subsidiary of parent company Scipher.
Mr Cocks said the team was thrilled to be the recipient of the grant allocation.
“Over our 15 years of operating an e-waste business the team has accumulated a broad knowledge of the available technologies available in the market to achieve the best safety, efficiency and recovery outcomes for e-waste recycling,” he said.
“We are grateful that the state government has recognised our bid as a worthy project to invest in to address the e-waste problem and is backing up its policy to ban e-waste from landfill with significant investment into industry and public facilities.
“Assuming everything goes smoothly, we expect total project completion by the end of 2024, with some of the equipment coming online and adding value as soon as the end of 2023.”
Environment Minister Reece Whitby said e-waste was a rapidly growing stream of waste, with the $6.5 million funding aimed to increase reuse and recycling pathways for electronic items.
"Banning e-waste disposal to landfill means we can recover valuable materials that would otherwise be lost, and in the process, build local industries as well as protect the environment," he said.
"This is an important step in moving our state closer to its goal of a circular economy. I look forward to seeing these projects delivered and in operation."
Other recipients of the state government grant include Auscon Metals, with $556,500 towards the construction of its e-waste facility and processing plant, and $456,000 for Cyber Computer Recycling and Disposal Pty Ltd for its comprehensive solar photovoltaic recycling facility.
